Still No Dead Horses

On our way to Monticello, we took a detour to Dead Horse Point. It was a little further than I remember, but well worth the drive.

There were people there speaking French - I wish I could have talked to them. Parker couldn't believe that people would come all the way from France to Moab, Utah on vacation.









I don't do well with heights and my heart was pounding. Parker on the other hand was laughing at me.








The last time we were in Moab was in 2002 during the winter Olympics. Parker was just a little 5 year old and had no fear - bending over the rock wall looking for the dead horses.

Fast forward to 2011 - Parker is now a tall 14 year old - still bending over the wall. Notice the addition of new rock. Apparently in 2002, a legislator decided the wall needed to be higher. Was that because of Parker? I wonder.

Fastpitch!

This summer Parker has been playing fastpitch softball every Tuesday night this summer with a Men's team at the Cottonwood Complex - and when I say men - I mean guy's in their 30's.
Parker has spent alot of his life at the ball field. Watching his brother play baseball and his sister play softball from the time he was born. He also played baseball for four years - and made the all star team one summer.




He loves to pitch! He is constantly throwing a ball! He is always looking for someone to catch for him. Last winter he started taking lessons from a "pro". Pete Meredith is from New Zealand and played on the USA national softball team. He is trying to get boys and young men interested in the sport and he invited Parker to play with his team this summer. The team is pretty bad - but Parker loves being there!

A couple of weeks ago he played in a tournament and a coach from a team out of Blanding saw him pitch and asked if would like to come and pitch for his team at a tournament in Monticello July 22-23. Parker was excited but kind of got cold feet. Well we did go and we are so glad we did!

What a great trip and well worth it. He played for Wildcat Energy Services and he got his first WIN! In fact he got two wins! He looked like a pro! He was the talk of the town! People came to see the 14 year old kid from Salt Lake pitch! They were amazed!

We are so glad we went. I am so proud of Parker!

In the Minority

Percentages are used all the time to describe so many things - particlarly in the medical field.

It starts with newborn babies - they are ranked in percentiles. Well - it doesn't stop there.

When dentists started using "gas" to give you during procedures - I always declined - until one of my sisters told me how awesome it was. So the next time I went, my dentist asked if I wanted gas - I asked what the side effects were. He said will 99% of the people that use it have no problem - but sometimes it can affect the other 1%. Well I was part of the 1%! When I finally decided to use it, I actually threw up int he dentist chair!

So last weekend I had some strange things happening in my right eye - floaters - bright flashes - blurred vision. I got into my opthomologist today - he said floaters are part of the aging process and will never go away - your brain just adjusts and gets used to them - and that's it for about 95% of the people. However, about 5% of the populations "floaters" might be caused by retinal tears (not the watery kind - but the pull apart kind) - well - I'm part of the 5%.

Two tears in my retina - one large one small. Something that needs to be treated immediately so that the retina doesn't become detached and require surgery. So I immediately went to a retina specialist and underwent INTENSE lazer applications and freezing by nitrogen. Four hours later I was through with a very sore eye! I don't know how many drops I had - anestetic - numbing drops - dialations - but enough that I couldn't even open my eye. Gel put on a thing that helped keep my eye open and two injections to help numb the eye for the freezing process! Everyone in the room wore special goggles during the lazer process - except for me - kind of scary!

Tonight I'm finally able to open my eye without too much pain! I guess it's good they were treated before I needed surgery.

I can't wait to see what's my next minority percentage experience!!!!

Once Again....

The family resemblence must be pretty strong.....

Asked at Shavy Jones on Saturday "Are you Annie Howden's Mom?"

"No. I'm her Aunt" as I met Annie's new neighbor Andrea.....

Shows how tired I was

Shopping for fudge in the candy shop at Disneyland. I turned to Parker and Meranda and asked...

"Do you want your nuts with fudge or without?"

They didn't answer.

Disneyland 2011

Another Disneyland Vacation is in the books! A three day park hopper pass is plenty to take in everything and the crowds weren't that bad for being the 4th of July weekend.

Some things we will remember:

New Star Tours ride is a bit overrated

Soarin Over California is still awesome

Tower of Terror could/should be renamed Tower of H E double toothpicks

Water rides should be done last thing of the day (and if there if you ride anything with water with Parker - you WILL GET WET (even on Pirates)

The last ART (Anaheim Rapid Transit) shuttle bus leaves the park at 12:30 a.m. on the dot

The Carnation Cafe is one of the best places to eat - especially the banana splits

Churros definitely taste better in Disneyland

The new water show "The World of Color" in California Adventure is great

Only nerds drive the Jungle Cruise ride

The train is relaxing

They need to make a special lane for the Jazzie drivers

Early morning entry is still the best

You can now take food into the park

You can spot a Utahn (or fellow Mormon) in the crowd

Short shorts, plunging necklines and tatoos were in abundance

The Monorail is in full working condition

Don't try to figure out the logic they use to determine how to control the crowds

You need a vacation after your vacation to recuperate

(Pictures will be coming....)