I'm Alive

Looking skeptical














Practice run.














See the little bar under the plane? That is what we stood on right before we jumped.














Taking off














There is a teensy black speck in the middle of this photo. It is me.














Coming in to land.














Feet up, Feet up!














Feetupfeetupfeetupfeetup!!!














Is my head still attached?














I couldn't hear very well until they told me to pop my ears.














Let's do it again!

I'm going skydiving tomorrow

Everyone pray.

Today

Two cats scratched the crap out of me. My arm and hand were bleeding, and then I noticed blood on my shirt from where one had scratched my stomach. I put a band aid on my stomach and it is going to have to stay there for the rest of my life because I just tried to pull it off and I almost passed out.

Awana Week I don't even know anymore

I'll be honest - some of these kids don't smell very good.

Days off are never actually "Days off." I have been to the chiropractor, am now sitting at home listening to the satellite installation man whine about how we have vinyl siding, how something is wired somehow and he might have to drill a hole in a water pipe to get everything set up, hopefully Chad is home soon cause I clearly have no idea what this guy is talking about. Then I go to the dog-sitting job, then to the organizing job, then run a few errands, then to Awana's, hopefully with dinner in there somewhere. Dolly thinks she should be helping the Dish TV man and he said "There are two things that should never be in the house - animals and video games." And I said, "Dude, you are in the wrong house!"

I cannot stress this enough...

Do. Not. Neuter. Your. Own. Dog. Donotneuteryourowndog. Don't do it. The cost for us to sedate, clean & suture him up, pain meds and antibiotics will be much more than the cost of a neuter. I like to call the difference in costs, "The Cost of Stupidity." For those of you who understand math better than words, if A = the price of fixing your screw up and B = the price of a regular neuter, then A-B = You're an idiot.

Because I know you're all sick of me...

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? Football
2. You’re out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch or Italian
3. What’s one food he doesn’t like? Oranges
4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? Boulevard Wheat or Killian's
5. Where did he go to high school? Plattsburg High School, Go Tigers!
6. What size shoe does he wear? 12
7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Computer Parts (If!?)
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? PB&J
9. What would he eat every day if he could? Fruit roll-ups
10. What is his favorite cereal? Frosted Flakes - also likes Cheerios and Special K
11. What would he never wear? Purple Argyle
12. What is his favorite sports team? Royals
13. Who is his best friend? John?
14. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do? Put my purse on the kitchen table
15. How many states has he lived in? Two: MO, KS
16. What is his heritage? Uhhh, "DeShon" is french, that is all I know.
17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? White. Boring.
18. Did he play sports in high school? Baseball
19. What could he spend hours doing? Surfing the internet (Could!?)

ACL Repairs, Barium Studies and Power Outages, Oh My

It has been a busy two days at work. Good for business, bad for my nerves.

AWANA, Week 459,972,331

Awanas was a little crazy last night. My co-leader was home sick, so while I had a lady helping me during handbook time, the rest of the night was up to me. I have a problem with the other leaders. Usually it is the kids that annoy me, but last night I realized that if the other leaders would actually lead and supervise and participate then the kids would be under control and therefore, less annoying! I always sit with my group during the lesson time and make them stop talking, confiscate notes, etc. Most of the other leaders just sit in the back, and even those who sit with their groups don't seem to be making them behave. Am I doing it wrong? Am I supposed to let them do whatever they want? Sometimes I feel like I'm turning into my father, "Act Right!!" Mandy, can I get an Amen?

No More Vacations

I have yet to take a vacation that is worth the mess I come home to.

Who is messing with the patient reminders? Seriously, who? There is no way they are just randomly changing themselves, someone is screwing with them. Someone is sabotaging me. Someone is trying to make my head explode!!

It is beautiful today - cool, almost cold! It couldn't have been like this when we were sweating to death on the side of the road, waiting for the Tour to ride by!?

Day 4

Chad and John getting ready to bike from Sedalia back to Clinton. It was raining.

Chad with his bag of gummy bears. Who knew gummy bears are so vital to long bike rides?

Day 3

Waiting for the King of the Mountain race.

Lead car - it has huge speakers on top with announcers inside telling us what is going on with the race.

This is the last truck that is part of the race - they stop in the middle of the road, jump out, throw the signs in the back and take off again - the whole thing took like 20 seconds.

Our room at the "Historic Luxery Hotel" in Sedalia, MO.

Hotel Rothwell - and no, the coffee shop was not excellent.

Night 2 - Cabin in St. James, MO

This is Bianca. She lived at the cabin and was very sweet - I liked her black tail with the white tip.

Front of the cabin.

Back of the cabin.

Inside the cabin.

Rolla, MO

Waiting for the riders to arrive in Rolla.

The Garmin/Chipotle Team Bus. It was only moments after
taking this picture that I turned around and was scarred for life. Those European riders will get naked anywhere!

John testing his kilowatt output? Or something like that?

We ate at Alex's and La Posada, my two favorite Rolla restaurants.

First Night - Rocheport, MO

Kim and I went to the tunnel to
watch the boys ride into town.

Here they come!

So. Tired.

Katy Trail Bed & Bikefest

How many engineers does it take to install a bike rack?*

Our room at the B&B.

Kim, John, Chad

*Caption courtesy of Kim :-)

Tour of Missouri

Here they are!


Jefferson City - see the Garmin guy on the left? Click for a bigger picture.


Just before the Rolla finish line.

There they go!

Jefferson City finish line is at the top of the hill.

You could feel a very strong breeze every time they rode by.
You could also see naked men in the parking lot.
I didn't take any pictures of that.

Tour of Missouri

Here they come!
Click on the picture to see it better.


King of the Mountain race

King of the Mountain Race


Just before the Jefferson City finish line.

Mouse Hole at the B&B

Still on vacation.


This is Camry sitting like a person.

This is Dolly breaking in Chad's new jeans.