Lost Luggage

I was yelled at by a man like I have never been yelled at before!

He was by far worse than the man who insisted on kicking the carousel, long after it had stopped rotating. He was going at it like one would with a high school vending machine.. when you can see your pack of M&M's pinched off by a spiral rod half rotated..  "No sir, kicking the carousel will not make your luggage come out." 

He even beat the Delta Diamond who showed up 12 mins before her departure insisting that her luggage would make her flight only to find herself standing in the baggage claim office in her arrival city long after her flight had landed. Not at all happy that the helpful agent at her departure city had given her the opportunity to run for her flight. Now angry at the insistence that she had to come back to the airport to pick up her luggage. Yet another passenger stomps out of the baggage office. 

I'd love to spend the next paragraph describing the magnitude of this man's tantrum... But every time I begin, eeewwww!  I just have one thing to say. It doesn't really matter if you have your AA Platinum Priority tag attached to your bag, shit happens. 

Martin's Cove 2010

This begins our handcart journey. Technically it began the day before. We put Rayce on the all night bus ride with our ward members while the rest of us (David, Porter, Ryann and I) headed to the airport. Can you believe that renting a car for a week and having it sit in the parking lot at Martin's Cove is cheaper than gas to drive there? It's true. We had no other choice, that's just what we did.

This is us leaving our hotel in Casper WY to meet up with our fellow trekers at the Martin's Cove Visitors center. Casper is about 90 minutes from MC. We donned the pioneer digs and headed out to join our group.

 There's a happy fella. We pulled into the parking lot just as the all night bus arrived. We couldn't wait to see how their trip was. Rayce came off the bus smiling.. Delirious I think. Or maybe anyone would smile when wearing a hat like that. The Bishop had wanted to create an experience that would pull everyone together without the use of technology. The teens were banned from any electronics on the bus. This was a 12 hour ride mind you. By 2am, the kids were going nuts and the adults on board were getting nuttier.. needless to say, Redbox is a great thing. They even have those out in the middle of nowhere. Shhhhhh....what happens on the bus, stays on the bus.

 Martin's Cove or Devil's Gate? Where should we go? Ah, The arrow's are pointing in the same direction.

These two are the roughest toughest pioneers. Moooove 'em out!

I quickly became victim to the sun and the wind. I now appreciate the pictures of the pioneer women who looked like they had been dragged behind their handcarts. Plus add a frumpy shirt and an elastic waistband. It's the new definition of sexy.

This photo captures the beauty of the Father/daughter bond. I love it.

Double rainbow after a micro burst came through and leveled our camp.

Give her some wood and a log and she'll entertain.

Mom, Rayce, Dad, Porter, Ryann

Ryann and Porter climbing Independence Rock. Our journey almost over, we stopped to take a look at this historical place.

Almost home. Porter and I waiting out a tornado in Denver. We had just boarded our flight when the tornado sirens went off. We waited in our seats for over an hour. I did feel bad for the folks around us. This picture was taken on Friday, we had not showered since Monday.. We Stink!

Ground Hog Day

This is a very, very important day! I struggle every year with, hmmmm, well... winter. Cold dark days are hard for me. I accept snow up until January 1st. After that, the holidays are over and its time to move on. Convincing myself that spring is just around the corner, I search the long vacated flower beds for the lofty sprig of the crocus arm to extend from the soil and waive a fine hello. Umm, Nope. To this day, NEVER, have I seen a crocus in January. But every year, I continue to look.

Now It's Ground Hog Day and all my hopes and dreams are placed in the paw of a furry rodent who is taxed with the job of determining the timing of spring. Drum roll pleeeeaassse: "The news from Punxsutawney, Pa., this morning was just what we wanted to hear: Spring will come early this year, thanks to good old Phil predicting the winter, just as he's done for 125 years"  So, It was overcast in Pennsylvania.  Phil didn't see his shadow.  Does it matter that the sun is shining here in Boise, Id? Maybe I'll take Richard out to check for his shadow. Oh boy.. More winter. 

Better make my way to the nearest beach. Kona... Here I come. 

I Believe I Can Fly Archive

2010 Reads Archive

2010 Reads

• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
• Sarah's Key :)
• Mocking Jay (Final Hunger Games)
• What I Know Now; Letters to my younger self.
• Catching Fire (The 2nd Hunger Games)
• Water for Elephants :)
• The Hunger Games :)
• Women, Food, God
• Beyond Tuesday
• One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury
• Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
• A Soft Place to Land :(
• House Rules by Jodi Picoult
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett : )
• The Art Of Racing In The Rain
• True Confections : (

2010 Travel Tracker Archive

• January: SLC (Mom & Ryann)
• NYC (Dad)
• February: Oklahoma City (Family)
• Oakland CA (Dad)
• SLC (Dad)
• March: LAX Laguna Beach (Dad, Cameron, Kyle)
• St. George Utah (Mom, Rayce, Ryann, Porter)
• April: SLC (Dad)
• Phoenix (Dad)
• May: San Francisco (Dad)
• San Jose, Oakland CA (Dad)
• June: SLC (Family)
• Oklahoma City (Dad)
• July: SLC: Lagoon, Zoo, Stewart Falls (Family)
• August: Colfax WA (Rayce, Porter and Ryann)
• October: Disneyland (Dad, Mom, Rayce, Ryann
• November: San Francisco (Dad)
• Portland (Mom)
• Utah County

Day Three: Hitchhiking & Snorkeling

Karin and I woke up early this morning to walk a mile down the beach to a restaurant that got great reviews. Walking in the sand always sounds way more romantic than it really is. It's hard to get your feet to stick and my ankles always want to turn. But besides that, the morning was beautiful. As we approached the backside of the restaurant we realized that it only opens for lunch. We walked through to the front and there was nothing there except a couple of construction workers. We approached them for directions and Karin asked if they could get us a ride. AHhh there goes my anxiety.. Now she's suggesting that we get in with one of these guys... I'm watching out cautiously.. The man says, " so and so wanted to ride into town. I'll see if he'll take you. He just went to get his daughter he'll be right back." It was something like that, but all in Spanish mind you. Ok, I'm thinking.. If he's taking the daughter with us we'll be ok.. He returns.. No daughter. Karin gets in.. I feel like I have no choice but to get in. There you go, If my friend jumped off a bridge.. Yes, I would jump too. As I'm getting in the back seat I do notice an old sippy cup that has taken on the rotting stage of day 4. Hmmm, I think, proof that a child does exist.. I guess we'll be ok. Our driver was very nice. He drove us to the small town of San Jose. It was beautiful, authentic old town. Full of one way cobblestone streets, lots of shops and a town square. He suggested we go to Jasmine's for breakfast. Great choice! We ended up dining with the Mexican Mafia.. Pretty sure.. All of these men in suits started piling in. We would've taken a picture but we were afraid for our lives. :)
Snorkel Today.. Getting the gear on. We rode the bus from San Jose to some mid point on the freeway where we had been told that the snorkeling was great. We were literally dropped off the bus on the freeway off ramp. Where do we go from here? Towards the ocean I guess.

The day before, while we were on the bottomless boat. The boat ride guy was throwing pieces of tortilla into the water so that all of the fish would come up to the top to eat and we could see them. What a great idea! Earlier at breakfast, Karin had some left over tortillas. We were about to throw them away but then I remembered the great idea from our boat driver. I wrapped them in foil, tucked them into my backpack to be used later for snorkeling.

Picture of the fish through glass on the bottomless boat.

Walking on the frontage road hoping to find good snorkeling.