Not so Laborious

I started out September with a little vacation to Pinetop to camp with my parents. It was really nice to wear long sleeves and sit under an awning while it rained.

I would say I got away from the city life but everyone seemed to have the same idea with me and they brought their ATVs too.

The other bright side is that my car, Squirt, got his first chance to go off roading and he did pretty well. Dad already chronicled his bruises but how can you have fun if you don't get a little muddy?! here are some pics from my trip.



This was the good road on my way out. I was too busy trying not to bottom out or hit dad as he walked in front of me to take pics of the road in



Oh yeah, I got to play Uno and Cribbage with mom and dad and beat dad pretty bad. He just has no luck.

Happy Birthday Dad!

64 huh?! You are a square root, so i say you get to act like an 8 year old all over again. That's how it works right?

Hope today was fun and am looking forward to celebrating with you over labor day :)

Friday the 13th

I have often wondered if the curse of Friday the 13th was real. I mean, are people really more unlucky on one day than others?


Well, now I know what kind of bad luck it is:

It is "not realizing you have two different shoes on until 9am and you have to present to a group of 200 HS juniors" kind of bad luck.

I am sure I can pass this off right?!

Superstition:
"Oh, don't you know that you have to wear two different shoes to ward off bad luck on Friday the 13th?"

Denial:
"What? no, they are both black...you should get your eyes checked"

White Lie:
"I hurt myself so I have to wear a certain shoe on my foot to help it heal"

The white lie seems best, especially because I don't have to be specific about which foot is 'hurt'

Cherry Picking

Yesterday, we back into Pennsylvania to go to an orchard. We got to pick our own cherries.I had never actually seen a cherry tree and I assume they must get bigger because why else would those scaffold trucks that  electricians use be called Cherry Pickers? We took a hay ride (aka pick up truck bed with hay on it) to the Cherry fields and because we were there so early...and on a Wednesday, we got the whole field to ourselves!

The orchard also had a playground and and barn animals to feed, so Margot had a blast there! They have different fruits and veggies that you can pick yourself all summer long so I have a feeling the Crabtrees will be going there quite often.

Margot had been talking the whole time on the drive up about petting a cow. we weren't sure there was going to be one at the orchard but we were in luck. Margot mooed at it several times and was tickled when it finally mooed back (much deeper than expected).

Finally, Something to do in Delaware

I don't know if you have noticed but most of the big days I have had out here, are not in Delaware - they are in neighboring states. Well, Tuesday, we finally found something really fun to do in the state: Go to the Beach!

Rehoboth Beach is in Southern Delaware and is easy to get to, clean, and fun - it even has lifegaurds  a la Baywatch (same outfits and everything). We parked right behind the beach, and there was even a boardwalk with shops, and restaurants (mainly: fries, ice cream, and taffy). There is even a mini amusement park. Even though it was only about 70 degrees outside, it was really comfortable to be outside and  the water wasn't too cold either.  The water was a little choppy so there was no swimming allowed but we still played in the water.

Rango?

After two travel (and walking) heavy days we took a couple days off to stay in  the house, or at least stay local.  Michaela got a 'baby 'sauge' from Margot . 

we lounged around watching Rango on a loop. Margot is OBSESSED with the movie Rango. We will be in the living room and she will just say "Rango?" in an optimistic questioning tone, as if to say "you know what would be a good idea? to watch  Rango." We watch it at least 3 times a day and Joe, Michaela and I have started joking about all the scenes. The movie is fine the first couple of times, but after the 8th time, the plot is highly predictable. I will say though, that even having it on constantly, I do pick up on new dialogue and jokes (there is a lot of fast talking so some jokes are missed the first few times - or you know, We (or Margot) are talking over it).

As will all two year olds, Margot goes through a lot of moods in one day, and is sometimes put in time out and sometimes gives herself a timeout. This just makes me think of an episode of Full House where Michelle is put in timeout facing the wall and she sings "this is no fun, no fun, staring at the wall". But I am very impressed - Margot is good about staying in her timeout spot, and is very polite saying please and thank you all the time. 

New York City

After Philadelphia, Michaela and I had a girls day in NYC!

We drove from Delaware into New Jersey and then took a New Jersey transit train into New York City's Penn Station. Overall travel time one way is 3 hours. Not too shabby really. We got into Penn Station and had to immediately get a bagel - what else would we eat for breakfast?!

Then it was on to our first attraction: NBC Studio Tour.

I got us tickets the day before so we headed to 30 Rockefeller Plaza - missed the Today Show and didn't see any celebrities either, but that was ok. We got to tour Dr. Oz's studio, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon's studio, and Saturday Night Live's studio. They are definitely much smaller in person. Next time I come for a visit I hope to get tickets to Jimmy Fallon's show. We weren't allowed to take any photos inside which is why I don't have any to show you, but in SNL's studio the main stage was already piled high with Dell boxes because they are turning that studio into the main Olympics hub for this summer. I don't know if they will be shooting scenes there or if they are just using the space to record all the video and splice together the broadcasts. Somehow it hadn't occurred to me that they would repurpose studios during hiatus, but why wouldn't they?

Next we went down to Canal St. to have lunch with Greg and Ariana. We went to a great sushi restaurant and then walked up Canal St. and ran into Little Italy. the neighborhood was having a St. Anthony festival so the road was closed and there were lots of tents and patios set up. 

Then we found the MOMA storeand Ariana had fun with some of the items in there. this is actually a rubber/plastic bag, but I think it works as a head cover too :)

Then we got to Washington Square because I had heard there was an art festival there too, but by the time we got there (around 5pm) it had already been packed up. we walked around the park and saw some street performers. Then we parted ways with Greg and Ariana and headed back up to Times Square (Michaela was really excited to see it!)

As usual - there are people everywhere. But it is nicer now because they have closed off a section of the road so it is completely pedestrian - safer and more room to stare at all the signs and take pictures without feeling like you are in the way. We decided to eat dinner before we left the city and used an app on my phone to find a good place to eat near Times Square but not on Times Square.  We were originally going to go to the Stardust Cafe but it was packed, so we found this 'victorian' pub called Lillie's which was delicious and fun to look around.

By the end of the day when we got back on the train we were both spent. I had a couple blisters on my foot from our two days of constant walking, and we had all the aches and pains that come with a lot of fun - definitely had to 'look at the cracks in the sidewalk' once or twice. 

It was a totally fun day and Michaela is  going back in a couple weeks to celebrate her anniversary with Joe. He likes that she knows her way around now and they can go do touristy things together. 

Delaware Vacation...yeah, that's right...Delaware

I posted on facebook that I was in 'Delaware for vacay' and one of my friends said it was possible I was the first person to ever utter those words. It is true, I have never met someone who has vacationed in DE. Then again until 6 months ago I didn't even know of anyone who lived in Deleware.

Enter Michaela:

She and her husband Joe moved to DE in January for a new job for Joe. They have been getting adjusted and from what I have seen they seem to be right at home here - even know how to drive to everything fun in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware (Well, way more than me).

So I flew in on Wednesday evening but Thursday was the first chance we had to explore. Joe still had to work but I told Michaela that I wanted to see Amish Country (I think it is official:  I am an adult. what young(er) person would want to see Pennsylvania Dutch areas?). So Michaela and Margot and I hit the road for PA and got to our destination within an hour on mostly two-lane road. Although most two-lane roads here are actually state routes, they have the feel of two-lane roads. It is surprising we don't use major freeways as much here (considering  how integral they are in Phoenix). And even though people live everywhere out here, the roads don't seem too congested, everyone speeds, and there are so many trees every place feels like a small town. 

So we got to Strasburg, PA in the heart of the Amish Lancaster County and decided to take the railroad. it goes a mere 9 miles in distance but you get to see a lot of the farm country - Amish and not - and it is one of the oldest railroad routes in the US.  Plus it is something fun to do with a 2-year-old.

Later in the day Michaela and I went shopping (the outlet malls here are in Lancaster County too, which is funny to see the height of consumerism next too the simple life of the Amish). Then  that night Michaela showed me 'The Mall' in Delaware. it is very similar to our malls, only with a Target attached.

Today Joe took the day off from work and we all took the train from Wilmington Delaware into Philadelphia. That part before where I said Joe and Michaela know where everything is...yeah turns out they did not know where the train station was...it was in the middle of a lot of one-way roads so it was incredibly difficult to find it, then find parking, then know what directions to walk in to get back to the station. but we are troopers and found it. We got into Philly at noon and went straight to the recommended cheesesteak restaurant: Jim's. I got my cheesesteak 'wit whiz' and it was actually really tasty - I also now recommend wit whiz. 

Then it was on to Independence Hall - the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence as well as the Continental Congresses...let's just say it was field trip day for about 10 schools so the place was swarming with kids all wearing school tee shirts. It also meant all the tickets were sold out. So we didn't go inside but we did take pictures. I also saw the site of George Washington's first presidential home, and the  liberty bell. As we walked around we saw the Federal Reserve and the Mint - both were closed (which seems like a bad sign). And then we stumbled upon the Christ Church Cemetery where Ben Franklin is buried. 

It was a really fun day and we were all glad to get back on the train (our feet were beat). 

Tomorrow Michaela and I are having a girls day in New York City! We are going on an NBC studio tour and lunching with Greg and Ariana. 

I will post more as I have more photos :)

I am not the only one excited for vacation

I got this picture text today

Caption: Aunt Casey is coming in 3 days!

Vacation!!

In less than ten days I will be on vacation!! I haven't been on a long, non-holiday related vacation since I went to Alberta with my parents...that was a long time ago - they don't even go up that way anymore.

I am spending 8 glorious days on the East Coast staying with Joe and Michaela. We are going to go to the shore, although oddly enough it might still be chilly - that seems so weird considering it is about 107 today here - and to visit Philadelphia, Amish country, and possibly DC. Michaela and I are also going to get to spend a girls day in New York City, since Joe has kindly offered to stay home with Margot. We will go to Time's Square, maybe the Metropolitan Museum of Art and any other place we can think of (or get suggestions to go to). We are also hoping to have lunch with Greg when we go (depending on if it is a Friday or a Saturday we may see Ariana too!)

Then when I come back from Deleware I am immediately wisking off to Cottonwood to go play in the creek with the cousins! It is nice to follow a long trip with a short trip and get to see so much of my family. Funnily enough, we had a retreat at work recently and invited our employee wellness office to do a stress reduction class with us. we focused on breathing, tensed and relaxed muscles and did a visualization walking through a forest. In my forest there was creek with all the cousins playing around and sure enough, I was very relaxed when we had to open our eyes again. I think by the next day I had contacted Liz about having a creek day and it just so happened to work out to do so in a couple weeks. I don't know if it will be as 'relaxing' as in my visualization but It will definitely get my mind off work...and be super fun!

I am thinking at some point this summer my mom and I may have to have a girls vacation in the White Mountains too, since it sounds like dad might have a summer full of jury duty (no word yet). I am sure the two of us could keep ourselves entertained for a weekend...heck we might even find a creek to play in :)

6 years ago...

Around this time 6 years ago I created this blog as I headed off on my first big solo adventure to the British Isles. I diligently posted everyday about my trip and the sights I saw.

Things haven't been as interesting day-to-day since then but I am happy to say that since my first post 6 years ago I have posted 200 entries which have been viewed 2000 times and had 300 comments.

Other notable statistics from the last 6 years:

I have earned 2 degrees
Moved 4 times
Had 7 roommates
Lived with  2 cats and 1 dog (not at the same time)
Held 7 jobs (as a student and an employee)
Become an Aunt
Bought a car
Flown 10 times
Visited 5 countries, and 7 states
Met my best friend
Lost both grandmothers
Gained 4 cousins-once-removed (Anna is 6 right?)

...and done countless other things that I can't remember but know I have written down...or wisely haven't written down :)

May Day Memes

A meme is an image, video, article, etc passed around from internet user to internet user usually with some cultural connection the shared users. For instance, a well known photo might travel around the internet with different captions on it as it pertains to the various people it is sent to.

Example:

So basically people try to get clever with what they say.

Here are two I like for May:

(in reference to funny way JT sings 'it's gonna be me' lyric in an 'NSYNC song)

You are very welcome :)

I have roommated.

If there were months of activity that I failed to record...did they even really happen?

Yes, indeed they did.

At the end of February I moved into a townhouse. the house is owned by a woman I play bunco with named Laura, and we are now roommates. I definitely got the good end of this deal - I have the master bedroom and it has not 1, not 2, but 3 closets! plus a built in cabinet. The first closet is a walk in closet, and I am pretty sure it is big enough to fit my queen-sized bed into if I had wanted to. the second closet is on the outside of the walk in and faces into the main part of the room (towards my bed) with mirrored sliding doors. the third closet is on the wall shared by the walk in closet and the bathroom and it also has mirrored sliding doors so the entirety of the East wall is mirrored and closeted...needless to say it is perfect for someone moving out of a one bedroom apartment and into one bedroom.




This is only half my bedroom (the area to the right is all the closets and bathroom)



Laura has a dog named Carlos. he is a rescue mutt and 'looked like a Carlos' just like the baby in The Hangover. Carlos doesn't have any of the attributes I normally take issue with in dogs. he doesn't bark, or smell, or jump on you. Best of all, he doesn't shed either! he is a really sweet dog and Laura does all the feeding, cleaning and walking with him, so I just get to give him attention when I want to, and leave him alone when I don't. Laura of course, loves him to pieces and I joke that her favorite hobby is to stare at him.



he had just gotten a hair cut - he looks much better a little shaggier



Laura also cooks. I cook too, but more in a Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade (but hardly-homemade) style. Laura will buy the spices, veggies, and odd ingredients to make meals completely from scratch! things like carne asada, and slaw for fish tacos, and marinara sauce - you know things easily bought at a store pre-made. I am NOT complaining. It is awesome! And we eat really well. I am now just a bit intimidated to cook around her. I mentioned that one of my favorite meals to make is chicken tikka masala (Indian food). I buy a jar of tikka masala sauce, chicken, and frozen veggies and cook them together and serve over rice. She said, "that sounds good, you know I have those spices we could probably make that without buying the sauce." oh, ok...yeah we could do that (but I wouldn't know how to start).



carne asada tacos from scratch

Laura is also very funny. We have a similar sense of humor so can say very few words before we are cracking up. I recently got a great hair cut. I encouraged Laura to go to the same woman and she did. she sent me a picture of her haircut and I said it looked just like mine implying that maybe she liked me a little too much. her comeback was "yeah, but it looks cuter on me." Ha! I did LOL at that one.



somehow I can't smile like a normal person when I take my own picture (also, this was taken in front of one of my 3rd mirrored closet - bathroom to the right)

Favorite Fun Facts

So I don't know if you know this about me, but I kinda love pieces of information, trivial tidbits, knowledgeable knowhow...in other words little known facts.

In honor of Arizona's centennial, I have decided to post my 10 favorite facts about Arizona as found at az100years.org. The site posted 100 facts - and I of course read them all - but some of them aren't that fun or fascinating and therefore did not make my top 10.

Since it is president's day I will start with this one:

1) In 1912, President William Howard Taft was ready to make Arizona a state on February 12, but it was Lincoln’s birthday. The next day, the 13th, was considered bad luck so they waited until the following day. That’s how Arizona became known as the “Valentine State.”

2) Santa Cruz County (1,237 sq. miles) is the smallest of Arizona’s 15 counties, but is larger than more than 72 countries.

AND

3) The state of Massachusetts could fit inside Maricopa County (9,922 sq. miles).

AND

4) All New England, plus the state of Pennsylvania would fit inside Arizona.

5) Arizona has 3,928 mountain peaks and summits—more mountains than any one of the other Mountain States (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).
This reminds me of a comment Grandma said once about visiting Oklahoma and having a gentleman tell her she must be so excited to see real mountains. She laughed and said 'oh, I don't think you can go anywhere in Arizona and not see a mountain'

6) Arizona grows enough cotton each year to make more than one pair of jeans for every person in the United States

AND

7) Yuma, Arizona is the country’s highest producer of winter vegetables, especially lettuce

8) Jerome, Arizona was named for Eugene Jerome of New York City, who never visited the town

9) More copper is mined in Arizona than all the other states combined, and the Morenci Mine is the largest copper producer in all of North America

10) Arizona has the largest contiguous stand of ponderosa pines in the world stretching from near Flagstaff along the Mogollon Rim to the White Mountains region.


Now for a few of the LEAST fun or fascinating facts - can some of these even be considered 'facts about Arizona'?

1) Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, two of the most prominent movie stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, were married on March 18, 1939, in Kingman, Arizona.

2) The world’s largest to-scale collection of miniature airplane models is housed at the library at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.

3) Many of the founders of San Francisco in 1776 were Spanish colonists from Tubac, Arizona.

4) The world’s tallest Kachina doll, measuring 39 feet tall and fashioned of concrete, is located in Carefree, Arizona.

5) World War II brought many military personnel to train at Luke and Thunderbird airbases in Glendale.

Happy Birthday Ariana!!

My, how time flies! Ariana Mizuki Thomas is 4 years old today! And you know what? she looks good for her age :)

Ruth Elizabeth Thomas

Updated Obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-elizabeth-thomas&pid=155460642