and time marches on

goodness, how time marches on... I can't believe how long it's been since I updated cyberspace. lol

So high (and low?) points:

I turned 40 this year. That sucks. I guess it really hasn't been the hardest bday for me - my 25th was kinda traumatic. I threw a party for myself - it was officially a volleyball party, but just about everyone knew it was for my bday, so there were decorations and a cake (Dean and Karen - I will get you back!), and some prezzies. We played vball for around 4 hours pretty much straight, then had a great chicken dinner. 'Twas lots o' fun!

We didn't take a cruise this year, and no plans to do so. I miss that!

Oh, the U.P. ski trip in Feb was GREAT! I actually skiied all three days, a first for me (due to my back probs). so yahoo! and the best part - I tried tree skiing. What? - you ask. OMG It is so much fun. Of course I had no clue what I was getting into when I followed Greg into the trees the first time. Ok - an explanation. In downhill skiing, between the runs are wooded/treed areas. Well some fools (heehee) make paths thru the trees, and then other fools (like us) go on those paths. Those paths are anything but straight, you have to weave in and around the trees. And they're anything but flat, you go over tree roots and shrubs then drop down, you go thru ditches, etc. And the path is literally one person wide, so no room to really slow down or stop. So you just go flying on down the hill, back and forth, up and down, bumpity bump, 90 degree turn, lol, doing anything you can to keep your speed down. And as I said OMG it was so fun! After I made it down the first tree run alive and uninjured, I had to keep going back for more.

My friend Carrie and I started a yahoo group for our little group of scrappin' friends - we call ourselves the Outlaws. We didn't like the direction taken by some of the other larger groups that we did stuff with, so decided to head out on our own. And it's great. We all get along, there's no nit-picking, no childish behavior. woohoo!!! Anyway a few of us went on a weekend scrapbook retreat - we tagged along with another group. It was in the Dells, and the place was great, and most of the folks were fun. But there was a definite them and us - we didn't mingle much - so we've decided we prefer to try to do our own day and weekend retreats from now on.

Talkin' 'bout scrappin'... I'm going to another CKU. I really had decided not to go at all this year. Some of the Provo & Chicago dormies were meeting up in Anaheim, but that just didn't thrill me. And the timing was bad. Etc, etc. But for some reason, I really wanted to go to the one in Nashville in August. The timing is even worse. But I LOVE Nashville, and I *really* LOVE the Opryland Resort, which is where the event is being held. So I was grumbling to my bud Emily from WA state that I wanted to go, blah, blah, but "no one" was going. That was my excuse, you see. I had to have an excuse so I felt ok that I wasn't going. So what does my gf Emily say? "Oh well, that sounds fun, let me check with dh." Oh, NO! That isn't what she was supposed to say. And of course her dh said "sure, go" and then Greg said "sure, go" So we're going. And I emailed Carrie saying how great it would be if she could go, and that I probably shouldn't ask, but could she go... and YES, she's going to. woohoo!! And another friend of Emily's is going too. So the four of us are going to be roomies, and we're starting in dorm, just gotta find a few more folks for that. So I'm TOTALLY excited, I'm going to CKU, I'm going to Nashville, I get to see Emily, I get to spend lots of quality time with Carrie, I get to meet my new friend Becky... woohoo!!!!

ok, the other kinda big news in my mind... After years of not really wearing much for jewelry - I just keep my earrings in - but I always have worn rings to match my clothes... I got a few things from a company called Lia Sophia. And there were so many cool things in their catalog. And they have a lifetime warranty! So I decided to have a party, thinking maybe I could get a couple free things. omg You wouldn't believe it. I got over $400 worth of stuff for free. And other stuff at big discounts. I ended up with $900 retail and spent maybe $140. That rocked! But now I'm totally hooked on their stuff. Which I guess is good and bad. I look more "polished" now, with nice necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. But I've spent more money, and I know I'll keep spending it because their stuff is so cool. lol

well... that was kind of a brief (for the most part) synopsis of the last several months. yikes. Altho it was way busier than just that - with the usual volleyball, and now motorcycling, and lawn work, and for a while I was learning swing and lindy dance, etc. Life is always interesting, I gotta say that!