A Challenge is a challenge....

Um, so...I kinda hate to admit that i have participated in 2 ubsurd challenges of late...I would have to say they are not the smartest things i have ever done...but I am still alive so thats a plus.

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME:

CHALLENGE 1-The Fruit by the Foot challenge.

My friends and I were casually eating these one sunday afternoon. I serioulsy felt like i could eat a million of them...! So, the question was posed....is it possible to eat a football field length of fruit by the foot? In commemoration of the rebroadcast of the sugar bowl, Caroline and I set out to see if it was possible. Um...its not that easily possible...Caroline at 51 yards, I ate 31 yards. It was a rough weekend after that.... :)I think my nephews may have been good challengers!

CHALLENGE 2- 1/2 Gallon Challenge

I drank 1/2 gallon of milk in 5 minutes. I'd like to thank my girls for backin' me up on the challenge (Shannon, Brook, Bree: I couldnt do it with out you!) And of course, most would know I couldnt do it without my chocolate symphony bar at my side either.

Did you know dolphin CAN fly?

There once was a dolphin named TP. He lived in a vast sea. One day he looked up into the gray sky, and wondered...where the airplanes had gone. He couldnt see any because the sky was so full of pollution and the air was not circulating properly. "Oh no," he thought, "how are all the people going to get to their destinations if the airplanes are not in the sky?" His good, yet very deep thinking neighbor, Ray walked by. In passing she said, "Its an interesting study how similar dolphins are engineered like airplanes....they have the same basic shapes." With a comment like that it was only natural for TP to think he was just like an airplane. "I can fly people to their destinations," he exclaimed! So with all his might TP went out on his first flight. And it was glorius. The end.

When life gives you lemons

"When life gives you lemons you make lemonade... and then you take that lemonade on vacations!"--CM

I came to this conclusion for my single life today as I chatted with a friend. Its' basically true...this is my motto. I LOVE traveling...it makes perfect sense. Last year I was lucky to go on lots of trips at an overall decent price...this year I told myself I would cut back...and I will--some. BUT, Hey...I am where I am at in my life...and I am going to live it up! That means....I am going to go places!

Burnt Pork

ssshhhh....don't tell Emily, I dont think she reads my blog....maybe she does. But I will get an "I told you so" if she reads this, or hears about my experience. Let me explain why.

I have pork in the freezer....its been there for a long time. So, last weekend I decided I was going to cook it all up and eat it. My roommate is half jewish...(the jewish part that doesnt eat pork)...she didnt like the idea of me making pork...cuz she wouldnt get to enjoy eating it. She gave me warnings....she said...dont make pork! I didnt listen...it needed to be eaten, so I started to search for recipes. I found a handful of them...and they sounded really yummy. One recipe was for this pork stir fry, another for stuffing and pork (i already had the ingredients...so I decided to go for this one first it).

When I decided to make the pork...First of all...I couldnt find the recipe....Emily told me, this was a sign from God that I shouldnt make it. Once I found the recipe...I got to work. It seemed really basic. The recipe requires you to fry the pork over the stove on medium-high heat.....I dont know what I did...maybe i dont understand cooking pork....but i dont think i cooked it right. It came out really chewy and not edible....so, i secretly tossed it in the trash.

Its ok, I thought....I will do an easy recipe for the rest of the pork i need to cook. The next recipe i decided to just go with a marinated pulled pork for sandwiches. The instructions were to use a slow cooker. Cant go wrong with a crock pot can you? Um...apparently you can. I burnt the pork. Instead of it being soft and chewy...it was hard and crunchy! (still edible...just not the same experience).

So, I have come to this conclusion: though I still like to eat pork....its not meant for me to cook. And Emily just may have gotten her prayers answered....either that...or it was a sign from God.

Favorite Memories of 2008

Hawaiaan Sands
Car Wars!
Main Street Electrical Parade
Bicycling Portland
My Birthday!
My Softball Catch and dance in the Outfield
Cruisn' Seventh
Scottish Kilts
Slurpees with the kiddies
Minnesota State Fair
Golf Cart Tragedy
Cruise Crushes
Settlers Marathon
Neil DIAMOND! and Cocoa Visits :)

Despite all the upside downs this years has offered....its really been a memorable and fun year! 2008 was super great!

Good Times Never Seem So Good!

"You are the sun, I am the moon,

you are the words, I am the tune, play me!"

"I'd rather be... Forever in Blue Jeans"

Why I love Neil. I love Neil Diamond because of his voice! His voice is honest. It cracks...its not perfect, but that is what makes me love it. Its real. Its hard to describe...but it just kinda melts me.

Last year I went to my roomates' office christmas party. There, they had a Neil Diamond cover band! I had so much fun at the party that i realized I needed to go to a live concert. My friends just laugh at my infatuation, but I figure its now or never. My dearest friend Jean went with me, and we had the time our lives. I dont want to rub it in too much, because I know you are all jealous you didnt come with us. We had to drive in the worst utah weather this year to get there, but it was well worth it cuz the concert WAS AWESOME!

John Denver and Neil Diamond are now crossed off my bucket list....Im trying to think who is next....any suggestions?

A Reason to Rhyme, for its Scrapbooking Time!

The snow if falling, the fire is going....
the tree is lit up so bright!

Everything seems to say its that time of year...
by jolly you just might be right!

But something's amiss...it just doesnt seem right...
till Tyson calls you up in the night!

What could it be, that he needs in such haste?
SCRAPBOOKING supplies, for him to paste!

For the man that he is, he just won't admit
All he needs for Christmas is a Scrapbooking Kit!

You settle his mind,
and get him out of his bind.

Tis the season for sharing, and apparently scrapbooking too.
Its past my bedtime, and I am out of Ryhme.

Sweet holiday dreams to all of you, for it truly is the christmas season,
when Tyson is scrapbooking for very good reason!

SIDE NOTE:
Dear Santa,
Please give Tyson some scrapbooking supplies this year!
Yours Truly,
Rachel