Juicy

I like figs.

I had no idea.

I knew I didn't like fig newtons.

I knew that much.

But then I was reading this article about figs and how magnificent they are, and how good they are for your body that I went straight to my mom and said, "Have you ever tasted a fresh fig?"

And she said, "Yes, of course."

(Of course of schmorse, who eats figs? I read they are only in season for a short time, so it's not like these things are bananas, mom. These suckers are rare!)

I said, "I'm simply dying to try one."

She says, "Oh Marie has some out in her orchard."

Me, "What?!" (Marie is our old neighbor who comes over for Sunday dinner.) "Well, let's go see if she has any on her tree!"

I was super excited about this. Mary was too. She even stopped her homework to come along. Seeing how it was dark, I grabbed my headlamp, and after something of a hullabaloo getting mom out the door, we finally crossed over onto Marie's property. Her property butts up to the creek, and she gets deer and other wildlife frequently.

Well, we were walking towards where we thought the trees were, when we hear a rustling in the dark. Something was definitely moving over there, but we couldn't see anything with the headlamp. Mom said she wouldn't go a step farther until she could see what was over there, but seeing how the only way to get the light to that area was to move closer, we were kind of at a stand still.

It was a bit scary, I must admit, but I was on a mission for figs, so I started moving my light around and making a lot more noise, and pretty soon you hear another loud rustling in the leaves (at which point I'm pretty sure mom thought a large bear or murderer was going to come straight at us) but we didn't see anything, so I decided all was well and forced the expedition along.

And lo and behold what did I find, but FIGS!

I was so excited.

I pulled one off the branch, took it home, opened it up, decided it looked like the underside of a starfish, took a bite, and decided I liked it.

Well, if you don't think about it looking like the underside of a starfish.

Mom and I went to sushi earlier that day, and as it was her first time, she said, "It tastes good if you don't think about it," and I think I had the same experience with figs.

Tasty if you don't think about it.

They Closed the Forest

Dad and I were going to go backpacking this weekend but we couldn't because the forest was closed.

I was so sad.

I have never been backpacking before, and felt like I was some sort of wuss because I've never done it.

I'm not interested in being a wuss.

This is where we would have hiked, had the forest not been closed:



So, we had two options:

1) Go eat lunch at the Mexican Restaurant we passed on the way up.

2) Go hike Cerro Alto with packs on, just to get the feel of things.

We went with option B.

It was so windy at the top, I'm surprised I am standing in this picture. I'm almost certain I fell to the ground immediately after this was taken.


On the way down we walked through Whooville or something. I'm not really sure about this fuzzy plant:

When all is said and done, we had a great time. It wasn't quite the same as sleeping in the great outdoors, but at least I got the experience of carrying a pack.

Also, I got two huge blisters, as usual.


These pictures are from the last time I hiked Cerro Alto, 4 years ago, and before I started getting blisters like crazy:

This is one of my favorite pictures of my parents.


It was a gorgeous morning.

I went to the library to pick up that book I ordered, and I was very excited to see what it was going to be.

It was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.

Who knew?

Has anyone ever read it?

Addicted to Books

I'm addicted to books.

I just can't stop getting them from the library. I just can't.

Growing up, we were allowed only one due date at a time.

I currently have three due dates I'm working on, seven books.

I took three books back tonight, bringing me to my current seven.

I'll wander into the library, knowing full well I have a few books to read at home, and find myself placing an order for a book that happens to come to mind.

I went to the SLO library today, and the checker-outer mentioned that I have a book ready to pick up at the Atascadero library.

Do I know what that book is?

No.

(By the way, I just left this post to go watch the Olympics, and still, after all that time, cannot think of the book I had ordered. It will be a surprise I suppose. A surprise for Monday, because I don't think I will be able to get to the library before then. This is going to haunt me all weekend...)

Okay, now I'm thinking I was wondering around the Classics section and couldn't find what I wanted so I ordered it... I wonder what it was...

So today I went with the intention of finding only one book but picked up four.

So I'm addicted to books.

Or maybe I'm just addicted to collecting.

Side Pony Sunday

I was sitting in Institute, and Tara leaned over to me, or I leaned over to Tara, I can't really remember, but someone mentioned that we needed to throw down a Side Pony Sunday. I said, "How about this Sunday?" It was agreed this was a good idea, so I waited through the prayer and immediately afterward made the announcement. I invited all women who would like to participate to come to church with their pony's high and on the side.

On Friday at the 1st annual 3rd ward RS camp out, I reminded people of the side pony nature of the coming Sunday. People were excited about it.


But not that excited.

Showed up to church today and there really wasn't as many side ponies as I anticipated. Turns out there are a few side pony pansies in our ward. BUT, we did get more than just Tara and I, so I think it turned out pretty well.

We only coordinated hair, not the black and pink theme. I suppose those people who would rock a side pony were inclined to think that black and pink would complement it well.

I do love a good themed Sunday.

OLYMPICS!

I simply adore the Olympics. I catch Olympic fever and I am hardly able to be productive. I'm pretty sure during the last Winter Olympics productivity went down about 50 percent.

I only decided to post this because there is a commercial on, but I turned up the volume so I can hear it all the way in my room.


In a vicious twist of fate my work has decided to give me more hours next week. I usually appreciate that, but this means my Olympic viewing time will be severely diminished.
I am working more because my coworker has decided to take a vacation. Probably just going to watch the Olympics all day.

I should have done that...

Ahh... I hear Men's Swimming!

Peace!