I just felt like rambling I guess

Yesterday I finished The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson. I read Mrs. Davidson's books not because they teach me things, but because they distract me from things. Her books have light, funny humor, and her main character is middle aged, and doughy (I relate what can I say.) But what I really love about her books is the way she uses words to paint pictures of luscious, decadent, food in my head. She's like Jane Austin, but instead of torturing you with desire, and wanting for love, Diane Mott Davidson tortures you with desire and wanting for food.

You may think that I love to cook....you'd be dead wrong. I love food that will kill you. I really love it! But, I detest cooking. It's a good thing the Lord gave me no desire to cook because if I was a woman that liked to cook.....They'd have to remove windows, and call emergency services to get me out of the house.

The other day I read Brooke Gatten's blog, and she was talking about how much she loves healthy food and doesn't like junk food....It's a real good thing she's so cute, and sweet, cuz I wanted to hit her. Her sweet disposition is the only thing that saved her. I can't lie. (and I'm mean on a heavy bag. She would have gone down hard) I'm just jealous......jealous that Brooke likes vegies....raw probably. Why! Why me! I want to love vegies like Brooke!

Oh, Yeah, the book. If you are like me and love food that kills.....I recommend Diane's books. :)

Catering to Nobody (1990)2. Dying for Chocolate (1992)3. The Cereal Murders (1993)4. The Last Suppers (1994)5. Killer Pancake (1995)6. The Main Corpse (1996)7. The Grilling Season (1997)8. Prime Cut (1998)9. Tough Cookie (2000)10. Sticks and Scones (2001)11. Chopping Spree (2002)12. Double Shot (2004)13. Dark Tort (2006)14. Sweet Revenge (2007)

Just for Fun.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Amanda's Visit To UTAH!

Amanda's Visit

Amanda is Rick’s sister Tammy’s daughter. Our Amanda Zeller came for a surprise visit to our home last week. We were so happy to have her. She is a darling girl. We enjoyed her sweet disposition and easy going personality. I love her accent. It’s very cute. We enjoyed her stories about her family, friends, boyfriend, and small hometown of Davenport, WA. We just love her. Here are some of the things we did while she was here.

Cherry Hill

Hanna and Chantel strike a pose.

Amanda above and Corbin below, ride Cardiac Canyon. They look pretty relaxed.




Amanda and Corb wait in line to ride.

Sill's Cafe

One of the stories I remember from Amanda’s mother Tammy is a story of her First Scone at Sill’s Cafe.

Sill’s has been around forever. It was one on my high school hangouts. It’s still small town hospitality. You seat yourself and the regulars aren’t afraid to get up and get their own coffee if the waitress is busy.

We really enjoy these yummy large helpings of golden fried dough smothered in sweet honey butter. They go straight to your butt. But soooooooo worth it....true comfort food. Amanda didn’t finish hers, so not sure if she loved them as much as us.

UTA Frontrunner

This was something new for us too, the Utah Transit Authority’s Frontrunner. The Frontrunner is a new train that runs from S.L.C. to Ogden. We’d never ridden it before because it’s relatively new. $7 lets you ride the Frontrunner round trip and any other form of UTA transportation such as TRAX (S.LC. light rail system.) I really enjoyed it, and Amanda got a backyard view of the Wasatch Front. “Backyard” meaning....a lot of junk yards. lol.
The Frontrunner

Amanda, Corbin, and Channy on the 32 min ride to SLC.

Clark Planetarium

We went to Clark Planetarium at the Gateway. Amanda shows the weather for Washington at the 2 News Fresh Air Forecast cubby.

They were taken with this machine that had these balls that rode a wild rollercoaster around the building.

Dick’s Rock Wall

We went to Dick’s to climb the Rock Wall. It’s the largest indoor Rock Wall in the country. They all did great. Even Amanda who said she was afraid of heights. I was afraid she was going to cry at one point though. Channy and Corbin ate it up. They love to climb the wall.

The Olympic Fountain at Gateway

The Olympic Fountain is a favorite of kids. It is in the heart of the Gateway, an outdoor mall in SLC. The fountain sprays up with the beat of music, and giggles and screams abound.

Below, Corbin, Amanda, and Chantel

The Mayan

The Mayan is a jungle themed restaurant at Jordan Commons. Jordan Commons is a high school turned theater by the Jazz owner Larry H. Miller. It’s pretty cool. We went and saw Get Smart and then went to eat. The Mayan has less than average Mexican food, but the atmosphere is what you go to see. Divers high dive into pools, jungle music plays and the light show and jungle atmosphere entertain you while you eat. Maybe if you drink the food would be good too, hee, hee. We wouldn’t know.

Channy, and a bird. :)

Channy and Amanda wait to eat.

TRAX in SLC

Here Amada waits for TRAX to come so we can head home. She was tired and cold so she laid down on the hot cement to rest and warm herself.

SLC Airport

And she was off. Here is Amanda on her way to her first Air plane ride. She made it home just fine.....She’s all grown up, Tammy. Thanks for coming to visit Amanda! We’d love you to come again. There’s lots more we could do.

Ragnar Baby!!!!!! Team ONE NIGHT STAND!

Wasatchback

Run, Drive, Sleep? Repeat

This was so freakin' fun I just can't even tell you. I'm waiting on more pictures from my team mates, but here is a little taste of 181 miles of crazy fun.

http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll268/OneNightStand2008/?action=view&current=eb834c30.pbw

The ABC’s of Me

A-Attached or single: Attached, for about 22 years, and happy to be so.

B-Best Friends: Brenda Saddler. It’s a no brainer. She’s been my friend since I was 3 years old. Love her like a sister, man.

C-Cake or Pie: Both if my conscience would let me. My jeans say, “You’ve got to be kidding....right?”
D-Day of choice: Ummm, I guess Sunday because we all chill and just hang out. That is if Rick isn’t working.


E-Essential item: iPod, I can’t run without it, clean without it, watch games, do yard work. I just don’t know what I did before they invented it.
F-Favorite color: Red.....it’s a power color. :)

G-Gummy bears or worms: I ate a lot of Gummy Bears at my last race. They were the itty bitty kind, and they rocked. Thanks for bringing them Teresa.
H-Hometown: Kaysville, Ut. Great place to grow up when I was young, but now it’s not a quaint little town anymore....kinda sad.

I-Indulgences: I love any thing that has cream cheese as an ingredient. Yummy!

J-January or July: I’m with Amber on this one. January sucks!!!
What’s not to love about July? Sun, fun, fireworks, picnics, races....love, love, love July.

K-Kids: 3 kids. Love um all........I have to.....I’m their mother.
L-Life is not complete without: Rick, my kids, my family, my friends.

M-Marriage Date: May 28, 1987 (man, I hope that’s right. I’m like a dude when it comes to dates)

N-Number of Siblings: 5, 2 have passed away.

O-Oranges or apples: Oranges, juicy, yummy. Apples are just ok.

P-Phobias or Fears: I’m afraid of heights. I’m ok to look down as long as I can sit while I do it.

Q-Quotes: If you ain’t dyen’ you ain’t tryin’. My running friend Teresa gave me a magnet that said that for Christmas. Words to live by.

R-Reason to smile: The sunshine, flowers, a baby’s giggle, hugs from you kids, runners high, laughter with friends, chick flicks, flip flops, beautiful mountains, the sound of a stream, a good book on a rainy day, being in bed in a thunderstorm, a sun rise, hot cocoa by a fire, the smell of nature in the morning, Rick’s crapes, chocolate cake, good food, vacations, the sound of waves crashing, fireworks, being in love, the love of a family......I could go on and on.
S-Season: Summer, I like it HOT!

T-Tag three friends: Ummm, Alisha, Mikin, and Jill.

U-Unknown fact about me: Wow, that’s a hard one. I’m pretty much an open book. I dance around the house all the time...Ok, I sing too. :)

V-Very favorite store: Kohls, I guess. I spend a ton of money there anyhow.
W-Worst Habit: I let the wash really pile up sometimes, and I probably swear more then most women in Utah.

X-X-ray or Ultrasound: Who wants an X-ray? That’s never a good sign.

Y-Your favorite food: I really love Watermelon in the summer. :)


Z-Zodiac: Aries

Family Bowling Night

Yes, All Of Us Went!

It’s been a long time since all of us went bowling. Even when we do go....I don’t bowl, but this time I said, “What Ever!” It was Corbin’s idea. And we all had a really great time. I even WON the first game. Shocking to all of us, let me tell ya. Rick not surprisingly won the next two. It was good to hang out together. ME!


Rick giving Chantel a few pointers.

Channy!

Challis

Corbin chillin'

Go! Corbin!

Bridal Veil Falls

A Beautiful Thing To See On A Beautiful Day.

While Rick’s parents were visiting we went to Bridal Veil Falls (a 607 foot tall double cataract waterfall on the south end of Provo Canyon.) It was a nice little walk on a beautiful day. We’d been to dinner at Applebee’s in Provo and had visited Rick’s Aunt Joan, some of her grandchildren, and Rick’s cousins Heather, and Sam. We had a great day. After Provo we went to Emigration Canyon to have dessert at Ruth’s Dinner. We enjoyed our sweets on the tree shaded patio with the sound of nature all around us.