Yoo 626 - Things That Happened, Part 1

The following are things that happened at some point this year. They are now being covered in brain dump order, not chronological.

Above are pictures I took on a short Easter hike in Idaho. I spent Easter in Idaho with family I rarely get to see! It was awesome. And delicious. Also, there was a young man with a German accent who introduced himself at church. He was a BYU student like my sister and was just in Idaho for the weekend visiting a friend's family. "Note" passing ensued:

We'd watched a lot of Hunger Games with the cousins that weekend so the "Chins up!" part was a combination of an inside joke and a reference to that movie. However, my coaxing was unsuccessful and she did not end up talking to the German. Though I'm certain they'd be married by now if she had.

I stayed home from work one morning (in May? or June??) and watched a good college friend graduate from MEDICAL SCHOOL. That was pretty special. I won't even claim to understand all the work and sacrifice she's put in but I remember this being her goal from our college days and some of the struggles and setbacks she's encountered as we've kept in touch over the years. Also, per her recommendation, I started regularly checking in to #whatshouldwecallmedschool and thought of her EVERY time. It's the little things.

Calvin was rescued from the closet to play a triumphant call when her name was read and then the camera was grabbed to snap a quick picture for the memory books. A friendship forged in the cramped quarters of the Snow's practice rooms...long live the horn crew! I'm so excited for her.

Oh yes. Roscoe jumped out of our second-story window. This was traumatic for about 5 minutes. We were getting ready for bed and had our room window open to cool off the upstairs. Our upstairs is a furnace! So it was open about half-way and the screen was in place and Roscoe was lounging with his face there like he always does. Well, enter me in my PJs and Greg in his PJs and it was time to shut the window. Only, as I went to shut the window, Roscoe was like "be right back!" and he nosed thru a torn portion at the bottom of the screen and flew away.

Haha, just kidding! He's a dog so there wasn't any flying. To his credit, it was a regal leap considering the circumstances. I responded and tried to grab around his abdomen on his way out but he was committed. I watched helplessly as he landed ON HIS FEET with only a minor stumble below. The dog is now 85 pounds...this is significant. Then he popped right up and started prancing about the yard with his tongue hanging sideways out of the stupid grin plastered on his mouth.

By the time I had turned around and was beginning to sputter out "HE JUST JUMPED OUT THE #@%* WINDOW!", Greg was half-way dressed and on his way to chase him down.

Shortly thereafter pups was successfully recovered and no injuries were discovered, so all ended well. Though that screen remains scarred and the window forever closed.

Speaking of pups.

Memorial Day stroll thru Phil Hardberger Park. We had torrential downpour for most of the day so the trail was just like this. In other words, dog heaven. He loved his life.

And that's it for now.

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 430 - Snack Cake With The Mostess

Hostess.

"Where's the cream filling??" Was the cry heard round the land today.

I've never liked Twinkies. Or Ding Dongs. Or any other Hostess confection.

But Hostess Cupcakes?

I like Hostess Cupcakes.

On really exciting days, the Kyoo mom would come home from the bread store (the one with all the marked-down expired food that was still "good") with a box or two of Hostess Cupcakes.

She'd put them in the freezer.

And then we'd never ever forget that they were there and beg and beg for one after lunches.

My favorite was eating them frozen.

Probably because I'm impatient when it comes to cupcakes.

But I haven't eaten, or wanted, one in years.

Until this morning.

HOSTESS CLOSING! TWINKIES NO MORE!

The papers said. And suddenly I wanted one. more. *hostess*. cupcake.

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 423 - Locked Out

This isn't your typical "general conference weekend was amazing!" post. Mostly because I unexpectedly found myself standing in the Home Depot on Sunday morning. Wearing a sweater with BYU-Idaho emblazoned across it in big, bold letters, no less. Also dragging my Gregman and a close friend with me.

Because sinning is always more justifiable in groups?

What happened was...I locked us out of the house. Remember how we had to change locks just last Tuesday? Whelp. The locks got changed on one door but I never attached the new key to my key ring. And up until Sunday morning, I'd always just grabbed the new key whenever I left.

You're probably recognizing how easily this all could have been avoided. "Hey Kyoo! Put the new key with all your other keys!"

Trust me. Already sat thru that lecture with the Gregcritic.

So there we were, leaving the house on a quick jaunt to the mailbox together, like a grossly in love newlywed couple.

"Do you have the keys?"

"Yeah I have the keys." <-- said in a mildly annoyed tone

Because I did have the keys. The keys that let us in our front door and also our mailbox.

It wasn't until we got back and I approached the door that I got that sinking feeling. The one you get when you know you're screwed and you know no way out of it.

"Boo I don't think I have the right keys."

I knew I didn't. But I wasn't ready for full-on panic yet.

"What do you mean you don't have the right keys?? I asked if you had the keys! Can't we get in the front door?"

Ha. We couldn't get in the front door.

"The inside dead-bolt is engaged on that one."

We were stuck. Real stuck. All our windows were locked and the only door that didn't have the inside dead-bolt engaged was the one we didn't have the key to. I laughed, because that's all I could do. And also pondered my home insurance and whether or not that would cover a locksmith.

Like roadside assistance? For your house.

This is where we all need to recognize that, despite my initial ignorance, I had a stroke of brilliance.

I get those sometimes when large amounts of money are at stake. (thinking about paying a locksmith was really motivating me to be creative).

Remembering that we had just bought the new door hardware at Home Depot, and that most of their locks had the same key sequence, I called the Alishafriend. We didn't have our car keys or any form of payment so she was crucial to the plan.

And she ignored me.

So I called again.

Alisha knows that if I call twice, it's an emergency.

This time she answered, sporting her darling "morning voice". This is where I begged. And begged. And begged. Because she was still in bed.

"Hey! Friend! This is going to be a really funny story to look back on someday but right now I need you to take me to Home Depot and buy me a new doorknob...!"

That went over well.

While we were waiting we hunkered down in our storage shed to keep warm. Cause not only did I lock us out, but I locked us out on the coldest day of the year. Fifties! And the Greggers was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Originally we weren't expecting to be outside that long...

That's my "Heh...I locked us out and I'm not even cute to make up for it!" face.

Alisha came, we rolled into Home Depot, prayed for divine inspiration in the door knob aisle as to which key sequence was right, decided to just buy a bunch, and then left.

But not before Alisha ratted us out to the checkout lady.

"They're locked out of their house and are hoping one of these keys will work."

"Oh! Y'all had a little too much fun last night, didn't you?!" she replied.

"Ha! They wish that was the case."

She drove us back and I prepared myself to call a locksmith. I was feeling less confident in my plan that one of the keys would match our door.

BUT!

Lo and behold. One of them worked! And we got back in our house without breaking the door window (that was my second plan) OR calling a locksmith (third plan).

So now you know all about how I locked us out AND broke the Sabbath AND still saved the day. And gave the Alishafriend an opportunity to serve...because those are in such short supply...

I probably learned my lesson. At least, for the last 12 hours anyways, I've been really paranoid about keys.

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 406 - Lucky Tots

 

These are the Gregdriver's lucky tots. Olè!

Once upon a time we were driving to the Kyoo home. It was in the wee hours of the evening, we'd been in the car for over 12 hours, and we just wanted to get home.

Along we rolled, maybe a tad bit over the posted speed limit? I will neither confirm nor deny.

Another car leap-frogged along with us.

That's when we came to a Taco John's in Concordia, KS. And the Gregdriver needed tots. I tried to talk him out of it but the potato pull was too strong. So over we veered and thru the drive-thru we navigated.

Tots acquired.

On we drove.

And do you know what happened next?

Not less than 5 miles down the road we saw our leap-frogging friend pulled over and bathed in the flashing red and blue.

Basically, Potato Olès saved the Gregman from a pricey speeding ticket. So now it's a lucky tradition to ALWAYS pull over for tots in Concordia, KS.

A deliciously lucky tradition.

Olè!

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 370 - Shadow & Me

My dog died yesterday morning. With her cute puppy head resting on her paw. I'm told it looked peaceful. I knew she was getting old and struggling to breath. And I'd been living away from her for years. But she was still my puppy.

Shadow. Shadrick. Pupper-doggy. Whatever we were calling her that day.

I found out at work. In the restroom. While I was perusing facebook. (lesson to myself not to peruse facebook at work...). The Gregdude and Kyoo mom had debated earlier that day who would drop the news and when. They both decided it was better to wait until I was home from work.

But one of the Kyoo sisters unknowingly posted it on facebook and the news was out.

I was strong for all of 7 seconds. Telling myself I could cry and think about it later. And then I saw a picture of her and started bawling. Still very much in the bathroom at work. I stood there for several minutes trying to contain the scene before giving up and dashing down to hide in the locker rooms. There I cried for a long while. Then hopped on a treadmill and ran until my tears just looked like sweat.

I loved that dog.

Except for all those times she got out of her kennel and decided her life could not continue until she'd visited every bush in the neighborhood on her own personal puppy-trot-about. (like a walkabout but for dogs). Whoever was there to witness would call her and call her and she would just dash away with her mischievous "aren't i so cute?? just try to catch me!" dog face.

That's when we'd decide she was Morgan's dog and tell her to go catch the rogue canine. Morgan loved that! Ok, mostly we loved watching her try to chase Shadrick down. Eventually we'd offer her (Shadow, not Morgan) a piece of bread and if that didn't do the trick, we'd start up the van and make her think we were going for a ride.

Silly dog.

She was my running buddy growing up. Early morning high school track workouts, training for my first marathon, lazy evening jogs? Shadow was with me.

She'd go exploring in the ditches and run through the cornfields while I pushed onward. Ever-so-often she'd sprint to catch up, coming at me with purpose, like I was the only person in the world that mattered.

It was always really exciting when she came bearing gifts, too. I mean, she usually came bearing gifts. But moost of the time it was the fact that she'd found water and she'd wait until she was trotting right next to me to shake it all out.

"Thanks for sharing puppy!"

My favorite was the time she found a deer carcass...and then proudly, with her head held high, galloped on home by my side, with a deer leg protruding from her mouth. She acted like it was the biggest honor of her life, carrying that deer leg.

Shadrick had a personal goal to never sit still and look cute for pictures, so long as she knew we were trying to take a picture.

Family pictures with Shad always looked like this.

 

The few times I got to come home after leaving for college, her kennel was always one of my first stops. She'd bark a few times before realizing it was me. And then she'd just go crazy and lick me and let me pet her like no time had passed at all.

Dogs are cool like that. Shadow was cool like that.

I'm sure gonna miss ya, pupper-doggy. You were our first and only family dog! We begged and pleaded for years for you and loved your stinkin' cute face and paws from the very first night. I even remember your mischievous times with fondness now. And all the times we snuck you in the house to chill with us, despite what the repercussions would be if the Kyoo dad found out. May you find many cornfields to explore and deer bones to chew in the next life!

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 328 - Keys and Flat Tires

So, this dude had a birthday today.

And I now have some redeeming to do.

Let me preface this: I DID NOT FORGET HIS BIRTHDAY.

Exclamation point.

But I did forget my keys on his birthday. Which might have added a little tension to the day?

Storytime!

We spent the weekend with some of his family in Houston. There was swinging.

An attractive Gregcyclist in all his garb.

A dorky Kyoo riding his nephew's mountain bike in jeans. (spandex is so much more functional...)

Food.

Football.

And other general havings of a good time.

But on to the story. We decided to drive back early this morning to make it to church. We were right on time too. Right until I realized that my house keys were in my car at his house, 30 minutes across town. And my roommate was already at church. I needed to change so we drove to church to borrow the roommate's keys, back to my house, and then back to church again.

No big!

I mean, if you're going to pull something like that (and on a birthday, no less) right before church isn't a bad time to do it. Something about sitting in spiritual meetings with friends has a way of soothing the agitated soul...or maybe 3 hours is just enough time to forget?

Either way, it's not a good idea to pull the real doozy AFTER church AFTER a fiasco to get to church ON their birthday when you're both SUPER HUNGRY, having not eaten all day.

Common sense, right?

"Ha! Forget about common sense!", my subconscious must have said.

So, after church, we drove over to his house for a big birthday dinner with his family. Only, WHEN WE GOT THERE, I realized that my car keys were back at my house. I kind of needed them to drive my car home later so...back we went to my house, 30 minutes across town to grab the keys, (no, i did not almost forget them again as i was walking out...), and then back to the Gregdude's house.

He was so happy!

Only not really. But he handled it waaaay better than I would have. He's getting really good in these situations...should I stop testing him so often? I surely will try.

Now for the BEST story of the day.

Bike ride to a picnic at Memorial Park this weekend. Quite enjoyable. Weather was perfect. We made it the 7ish miles there and then most of the way back.

It was at about half a mile from our home base for the weekend when from behind me I hear the Gregbiker proclaim:

"I finally made it on a bike ride with no flat tires!"

"Don't get excited yet, we're not quite home!"

My pessimistic response. Don't count your chickens before they hatch, after all!

And how right I was.

A quarter of a mile later, but what do my wondering ears hear? Oh but the whooshing of air resurrecting my dude's abandoned fear!

Flat tire.

No joke. We had to get off and walk the bikes home. One of these days we are going to finish a bike ride without a flat tire!

Happy Birthday to the Gregbeau!

I'm still glad you were born.

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 323 - The New Jersey Story

Happening on the EASST adventure over a year ago now (with the alishafriend), this is the story of New Jersey. Or rather, the story of the most difficult state we've acquired to date.

The first thing to note about New Jersey is, it's expensive to get out of. All the bridges into New Jersey our free. But leaving New Jersey?

That's going to cost you.

Over $20 in our case.

We did accidentally end up on roads that forced us onto bridges during rush hour traffic a couple times...clearly we didn't know where we were going. And New Jersey milked us for it.

Not a good first, second, and third impression.

Our first foray into New Jersey got us this:

A state sign over a bridge. Less effective! Now, we'll pull over in less-than-ideal conditions to grab the pictures, but bridges are kind of an unspoken "No Go". Life value slightly higher than state sign quest.

Bitter that we'd failed on the first attempt (and lost over $20), we were determined to find a New Jersey state sign NOT over a bridge.

One wrong turn and another $4 later, we'd found it. And during the last few hours of EASST too!

The only problem was that it was in the middle of the convergence of several freeways leading onto, you guessed it, a bridge.

I won't detail exactly what we did but, sufficeth me to say, it probably wasn't legal and it definitely was not the safest thing we've ever done.

Ok, I'll give you the short of it:  abandoned parking lot, sketchy part of town (though i'm convinced everywhere in new jersey is sketchy...), and several mad dashes with camera equipment.

Standard pose.

Failed jumping pose.

An attempt to human-letter the state abbreviation.

"Hey Kyoo, which way does J face?"

*dork stamp* 

Apparently I can't process that on the fly!

Go Kyoo.

While these weren't our best pictures ever, they were still pictures with an actual state sign and we were satisfied. Also, remember the area was sketchy.

More mad dashing, praises of gratitude that the rental car (tanger prime) was still intact, and we were ready to go.

Wait, no we weren't. We decided we were hot, so we took our pants off in this abandoned parking lot (shorts underneath, let's not get scandalous here) and then we were ready to go.

I debated relaying the whole story of what happened as we were trying to leave New Jersey, but it's really more scary than it is funny and I don't feel like detailing it online! We learned a valuable lesson that day about how desperate some people are though. And I got a stern talking to from the Gregbeau and probably the Kyoo mom too about taking unnecessary risks.

(but we really needed that state sign!)

I kind of hate to say this but thru it all, I developed less-than-fond feelings for New Jersey! Shortly after the escapade we found out that Camden, NJ (we realized later that that's where we were...) is one of the most dangerous cities in the US. And let's not forget how easy it is to get into New Jersey but how expensive it is to leave! And most of their state signs are on bridges which is so inconvenient. If you know of any redeeming qualities about New Jersey, do share because I can list zero. New Jersey is not favorite!

The Campbell Soup Company headquartered there might lend to a more favorable impression...if I was in love with their soups. But I'm a store band kind of girl when it comes to soup.

In other news, I am pleased to report I have finished filing my taxes like an honorable citizen. And I was 99.9% sure that I was going to owe money this year, but TurboTax worked it's magic and I ended up with a small return. Can't hate that!

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 319 - My Garden of Eden

There is a home in south central Idaho that means more to me than just about any other home on this planet (tied for first with my Nebraska home and my own little condo). I have only fond memories of this quiet, serene little haven, lying at the edge of a small (like pop. 300ish small) farming community. Nicknamed the "Garden of Eden" by me and my sibling folk, it was the destination of choice for our annual summer vacation. Rarely did a year go by without us piling in the van for a loooong drive across Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah to go see Grams and Grandpa.

This home hasn't changed much over the years. Grameez is still there in spirit and the Grandpa does a great job of tending to her flowers and planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting a big, bountiful garden. It's a home built on love, hard work, and a testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I write this post as a feeble attempt to capture and preserve the spirit and my memories of this home, for myself and hopefully one day my children. This home, along with my own childhood home, fuels my inspirations and dreams for the home I hope to one day foster.

This home was always a joyous sight after at least 14 hours packed in a van with the family people. The excitement would build as we pulled off I-15 and turned onto the country highways that would lead us to the place. Jumping out of that mobile cage before the engine was even shut off, we'd greet the Kyoo Grameez and Grandpa with grand hugs (breathing in the distinct, pleasant smell of their home) and then rush off to spend what was left of the day playing in the ditch, swinging on the old swing, stealing raspberries off the bushes, and just taking in every inch of that glorious backyard.

Usually beginning sometime in May and continuing thru the late fall, this ditch is rushing with water. The Kyoo Grandpa has cool canals masterfully dug throughout the vegetable garden and once or twice a week he'll dam one end and divert several streams on a replenishing mission.

It has an important purpose, but to us it was the toy of the century. Oh the hours we'd spend playing in the ditch! Never mind the stern warnings coming from the adult folk inside.  

"Stay away from that ditch!" 

"You'll get a spanking if you fall in!" 

"Get your sister away from the ditch!"

These words only egged us on. We'd send make-shift boats assail on its swift currents, sit on the bridge and cool our feet in its icy massage (except it wasn't so relaxing for me because i was always terrified of the possibility of encountering a snake surfing downstream...it would have been traumatic!), and watch it gurgle past the old water pump.

Hours and hours of limitless entertainment that ditch was.

There are trees a plenty in their yard. Trees for climbing, trees for dreaming under, trees for picking apricots and apples and cherries. They're almost magical.

In the springtime the fruit trees are literally abuzz with busy bees, chaotically pollinating the sweet buds.

In the late summer their branches hang heavy with produce, shading the dozens of rotting corpses littering the ground below. The Kyoo Grameez would dutifully pick these up in 5 gallon buckets almost daily, sorting the good from the bad. Sometimes, if we weren't behaving, we'd be assigned that task.

I have never hated squirrels and worms so much in my life.

Speaking of trees, take a good look at this one.

I spent a solid afternoon one college weekend, camped in that tree with a handsaw. The Kyoo Grameez was bugged that its branches were blocking her dining room table view of the foothills and I was tasked with removing the offenders. Figured I should earn my weekend keep, you know?

I perilously and warily moved from one branch to another, sawing for what felt like hours on each one. The blisters! I sawed and the Kyoo Grameez watched from below, keeping me company and standing at the ready to, any second, call 911 if I fell to the breaking of my neck.

It was a dangerous job. Probably not as dangerous as I remember it, but you better believe I will be telling my kids all about it in a grand, embellished fashion.

The Kyoo Grandpa garage was kind of an eerily fun place to explore.

Filled with old, dusty tools and overrun with cobwebs, it has an earthy smell to it and houses the residual fruits from years of repairing and building. The Kyoo Grandpa is quite the Mr. Fixit. There's rarely an excuse to rush to the store to replace a broken machine or weathered piece of furniture. Nope. He'll take it out to his garage shop and work his magic. It's what he taught for decades and he's sure good at it.

I remember seeing this most especially during the early winters of my childhood. He had these (years multiplied by years old, i swear) snowmobiles that he'd get working without fail and off we'd go bumping along in the sled across the snow-covered fields.

We never spent much time inside the garage, but at least once a visit we'd timidly sneak inside to pull out our favorite toys.

Stick horse, perhaps?

The pogo-stick was a must.

Along with a rusty old wagon. Except, this wasn't my favorite because, as the oldest child and grandchild, I rarely actually got to ride in the wagon. I had to pull it.

But I'm not bitter...

If we weren't frolicking around outside, then us girls were buried in the basement playing for hours and hours with old Barbies.

And horses. There was even a pioneer-like carriage for them to pull! We'd make such a mess setting up houses and putting on outfit after outfit. You wouldn't expect it but I loved Barbies as a kid. I'll confess that now. But I won't tell you at what age I actually stopped playing with them on a daily basis...

...going to change the subject now. On to more favorites from their home!

Remember the Heinz ketchup bottle? Here's the original!

I still have mine centrally located above my own sink.

The Kyoo Grameez had a lot of bird plates.

They lined the lengths of her kitchen walls like so.

And then this one was randomly in the middle. Guarding the birds, maybe? I never asked about it. The shame!

The fridge is the main focal point in the kitchen. It's plastered with photographs and colorings from the grandchildren now. Along with magnets from many of the states the Kyoo grandparents have visited. I remember playing with the state magnets a lot. I thought it was a cool idea...so now I try to buy a magnet from each new state I visit. My fridge isn't quite as decorated yet though...

The stair shelves lined with plants and trinkets galore. Please notice the Taco Bell dog. (or chi-wah-wah as nicole would say!).

And let me never forget these bowls. These bowls are bittersweet memories in and of themselves. If we visited at just the right time during the summer, we'd get to spend hours in the kitchen, snapping ends off green beans and preparing bowl after bowl of them for canning.

I complained more than once about this job as a kid.

But now I kind of miss it.

On Sunday afternoons these bowls are full of popcorn. The Kyoo Grandpa loves his popcorn. Popcorn and apples are just about mandatory snacks at this time. Along with some feel-good family film. This past Sunday it was "The Waltons". (though i think the kyoo grandpa would prefer his old westerns).

Also of note, the lei I brought back from Hawaii for the Kyoo Grameez after I graduated from college. It's still hanging on the back of the office door. She never got to go to Hawaii herself but I tried to bring a little of Hawaii to her that Christmas.

Now, if I could steal 3 things from this home, these would be the first stuffed into my burlap sack:

The best egg beaters EVER. If they still make these, why can't I find them?? Also, the bath tub toy of choice growing up.

A squirrel (chipmunk?) cutting board made by mine truly, the Kyoo mom. I JUST discovered it on this last trip and loved it! Will she make one for me now? Probably not. Did I put in a request? Yes.

The Anne of Green Gables book series! Confession: I actually did take these. Though with full intentions of returning them to their rightful home when I am finished. New goal for this year:  finish them all.

There are so many little things that I love about this home. The chime of the clock from the front room. Every hour and half hour it rings its tolls! The natural light that streams into every room. Except the basement...it's kind of a semi-tamed dungeon. The hordes of pictures showcasing family and loved ones. The walls I helped to paper. The fact that there's very little cell reception in the house and only one Internet connection so it's a welcome escape from the "modern" world. I mean, the telephone on the wall still rings! Crazy, huh??

My list goes on.

But my very favorite thing is the sweet, peaceful spirit I can feel in that home. It's not a perfect home. It's seen and still sees its struggles and trials and pains like any other home. But there is truth in that home. It's filled and blessed with memories of the lives of good people lived and living there.

This is why it's one of my favorite places. Whether I'm there in person or spirit it will always be my happy, safe, beautiful Garden of Eden.

Have a great day :-)