A Funeral, New Do, and Amazingly Quick Trip

So much has happened in the last couple weeks and there's lots to update therefore the need to recap quickly is important. The sooner I update and catch up, the sooner I can move forward, just keep that in mind and keep it simple.

On February 26, 2013 Dan's Uncle Harold passed away. He was the last sibling of Dan's dad still living. The other siblings all died between the ages of 60-70 and Uncle Harold lived to 82! It was great to meet him a few times and hear his crazy stories and funny one-liners. We will miss you but we know you have had a wonderful reunion with family and friends he's not seen for years.

The last time I had my hair done I asked my hair dresser to style it some way we've not done before. This is what I ended up with:

It was fun and I felt like a million bucks. Too bad I won't be able to replicate it. After pulling all these bobby pins out I wasn't surprised that I'd started to have a headache.

 

Dan's previous post gave basics of the interview process for our new job. When we flew out we had a layover at O'Hare airport. It was fun to be back "home" even if it was for a few hours.

 

 

 As we flew I took some pictures from the plane:

Chicago from the air.

 

Our potential new landscape.

 

We arrived at the student home a little after 5:00 pm and the interview process began. We stayed in the student home in a hotel-like room over night and the next day had a tour of the campus. We were also interviewed by a couple employees and signed a preliminary offer letter. With just a few hours remaining before our return flight, we visited Chocolate World before heading back to the airport. A little of what we saw and did with the few hours we had to ourselves:

Downtown Hummelstown, Dan leaving a note for our host family, Hershey's Chocolate World, the middle school on the hill, the student house we stayed in, and the landscape around the student home.

It was a quick trip but we still enjoyed ourselves.

 

Here is where I'll end for tonight. Remaining to blog (packing, drive east, new job).

 

Jealous? You Should Be!

Yes, my man is quite the man...see....



People Magazine agrees!



I know you wish you could be married to him but he's mine, all mine!

Irons in the Fire

Lately I've been turning this...

into this...

...and eventually into this.

Also, turning this...

...into this...

...or this... 

...or even this...

...and eventually into this...

...causing my living room to often look like this.

All to help this.

Greetings One and All

Amanda gave me these great trees for Christmas. They have had lots of use so far. Even though they aren't perfect trees and I'm fighting the wind with everything I put up (once even fighting the wind to keep the tree itself upright). It has been fun finding creative ways to welcome people to our home each season.

Flat Stanley had a blast hiding in our trees. (Previously posted here.)

For Dan's birthday. (Previously posted here.)

Our current decor.

I had glittery, styrofoam eggs on the tress for Easter but didn't think to take a picture.

(Too bad there's not an outlet close to our front door or they would be lit up not just decorated.)

What Have YOU Done?

This has probably gone the blog circut more than once but I thought it a fun list just the same. Feel free to do a list if you want.


How many of these things have you done?

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (The closest is the Pairs Hotel in Vegas.)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables (grown in Mom & Dad's garden)
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you weren't ill (can't remember for sure so I guess that's a no)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach (Can't remember for sure if it was midnight but I've had some pretty late night walks on the beaches in San Diego.)
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke (but never into the microphone and usually not so others can hear well.)
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone (not a fist fight)
67. Bounced a check (more times than I care to admit)
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge (driven it though)
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair (not by myself but have had people do it for me)
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap (probably didn't look like what was intended though)
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Talked yourself out of a ticket
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band (does an orchestra count?)
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need (probably)
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt (nope but tied more than one)
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one (Does putt putt count?)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite (5-star by 70s standards; needed updating for sure)
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted (had it drawn by a charicturist in Vegas once)
148. Written a fan letter (mailed it, that's another thing all together)
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Run away
152. Learned to juggle (only managed to do 2 balls one handed)
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury (was called for jury duty but never served yet)
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget (Knotts Berry Farms gold rush exhibit)
158. Written a poem (but not good at all)
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission (never officially)
162. Ridden in an ambulance
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera (even got to do this in Russia)
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers (I think I did. I remember the fad for sure.)
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics (Olympic Square only. Did attend the opening ceremonies of the Paraolympics though)
169. Can hula or waltz (and fox trot, polka, swing, Lindy, cha cha, west coast swing)
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator (but never for very long)
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your sides hurt or till you cried
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle (I think at Bear Lake, not going to get far with that body of water)
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR (taught it in high school; not certified anymore but could do it in an emergency)
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime (tried to anyway, was to shy/afraid to speak up)
200. Bought a house

Catch-up Time-Some Random Things

Multiple items and many with pictures so as much as I've tried to be brief, this is a longer post...On the plus side, it will bring me almost up to date so I can start posting about more current events. :)

Random Item #1:
I came home from work before Dan one day in April and found this waiting for me on the table:

When I asked Dan what the reason was for the flowers he said, "Just 'cuz." That's as good a reason as any for flowers if you ask me.

Random Item #2:
Sid decided that for his Senior Prom there was no one else he'd rather go with than his cousin Emily. Sid and Emily are best friends and have a blast together.

They are only 1 year apart in school and since her last name is different (she's Dan's sister's daughter) not everyone at school knows they are related. In fact, when one of the guys at school found out who Emily was going to Prom with, he commented that he'd heard Sid was a good kisser. To which, Emily replied that that wasn't going to be happening on this Prom Night!

Dan and I raced to his sister's house to be there to take the parent pictures before Prom:

Good thing Sid was running a little late, it made it easier for us to snap his picture at the freeway off ramp!

Last minute alterations to Emily's dress...

Sid waiting patiently while Emily finishes her preparations...see even cousins make cousins wait for dates. :)

One for the camera...

Our friend, Janna Farnes, does the final pinning...

Finally freed from the camera flashes!

Your door, M'Lady

Off to dance the night away...

Random Item #3:
As I was prepared to leave work the evening of June 17th, I received a call from a local florist shop asking how long I would be there.  I let them know I'd be in the office for a few more minutes and they said they had a delivery for me. When they arrived they brought me this:

As I was the last one to leave the office, my co-workers were full of questions the next day. I said the flowers were in celebration of our 1 year anniversary for our unofficial engagement. They proceeded to roll their eyes and comment on our truly being newlyweds. Well, I didn't care how sappy it sounded to everyone else, I was thrilled that Dan had done this especially since it was the first time he'd ever sent flowers to me. Hope this is the start of annual deliveries.

On a funny note, when I arrived home and told Dan about the flowers and thanked him, he said he didn't know what the yellow meant but that he thought they were pretty so chose them. I informed him that yellow meant friendship which we both thought was pretty funny.

Random Item #4:
When Dan's mom passed away she left some money for the kids to have regular family reunions. They have faithfully fulfilled her request. In 2008 we all met in West Yellowstone for a tour of the park, a talent show, and a play at the Playmill Theatre.

In 2009 we had the reunion here in Pocatello. On Sunday evening we took a tour of former family homes in town. The Horrocks have been in Pocatello for several generations so there were many stops and stories at each one.

Sunday night was a massive sleepover at Ann and Kevin's house. It was so fun for everyone when the reunion was in Boise a few years ago, and everyone stayed at Andy and Angela's, that we decided to do that here. We were all up late visiting and playing games. Eventually everyone settled down and got some shuteye.

Monday morning dawned bright and early. We gathered for a yummy breakfast before heading off to the events of the day.

First on the agenda was laser tag and black light miniature golf:

Getting our instructions

Amanda's ready for action!

Aidan & Amy

Loveland's cousin, Gideon, & Matt

Next was lunch at our house...Thank you Subway. The 6' subs were fabulous!

After everyone was full from lunch, we changed into swimming suits to go down a HUGE waterslide at Bartz's Field. As you'll see, everyone had their own, unique style:

Mark & Roman

Emily (the longest slide record holder!)

Sid

Dan

Dan & Roman and Mark & Sid

Ann's running the water at the top

Dan & Roman

Andy & Angela and your clan, we missed you!!! Ann & Kevin, thanks for planning such a fun reunion! We all had a great time:

Random Item #5:
We celebrated our 1 year anniversary on October 17th! It was a Saturday and Dan had asked to not work that day so we could do something together.

The youth from church were scheduled to go to the Idaho Falls Temple to do some work for their kindred dead. Dan and I joined them as leaders and spent a couple hours in the temple, a fabulous place to celebrate an anniversary.

The youth and other leaders headed to the cafeteria for dinner and we ditched them to go to dinner at Olive Garden. Not the fanciest restaurant but we don't have one in Pocatello so a treat for us. The restaurant was packed and the service was pretty slow. We just patiently enjoyed the time together despite the wait. The manager came by to apologize for the delays. He said that their regular kitchen staff was ill and so they had fewer than normal cooking and some not as accustomed to the jobs they had to do to make up the shortage. He offered us two complimentary desserts. Stuffed as we were, of course, we accepted! It was fairly quiet and not a big elaborate celebration but we were together and that was the best thing!