Out of hibernation

So I noticed it's been about 5 months since I've posted. This had made me realize how fast the months go by! When I posted last, I had just moved to an area near Portland, Oregon. That was 6 months ago! So now I'm back in SLC and it's snowing. I'm still adjusting to being here, since no matter what anyone says...every place is different than the next, at least in small ways. I have many new ideas, since moving away and returning. I will say that it was very cool to see Twilight (movie) up in Washington! I saw it when I came back here, and the "feeling" just wasn't the same...maybe something to do with the misty, rainy, overcast weather up there? Too many blue skies here for a vampire to exist happily!

No red rocks here!

Here's a few pics of where I live now. I traded the red, dry desert for blue water and green, leafy trees! What a difference, eh?!

Spring Hike

Flintstones Living Room

More thoughts and words

People who think too much before they act don't act too much.

The above is an excerpt from Where is Joe Merchant?
By Jimmy Buffett

Those words really made me think when I first read them. It seems that sometimes we think things through so thoroughly that we end up not acting upon anything that we've dreamt of, planned on, or set as a goal, because we think of all of the consequences. For me, I tend to think of what people will think of me. I'm very indecisive, and I find myself running in circles of indecision until I end up not acting on any choice. Thinking and thinking and thinking until I think myself right out of everything. Like right now, I can't decide on a way to wrap up this post...so for now, I'll leave it frayed at the end.

Natural wonders

My immune system could only hold out for so long I suppose, because I finally caught the nasty cold/flu gambu that is going around. But as with all things in life, there is usually something good to learn out of the bad...(usually). So I decided to try the herb Elderberry, because a) I was desperate to get over this thing really fast, and b) it was one of a very few natural medicines we had in the house. I had woken up with a terrible soar throat, which I had for three days, and I couldn't sleep, swallow, or breathe. It was 4:30 a.m. and I was convinced I had strep throat, was going to be calling in sick to work, and going to see my doctor later that day. At that early hour, I looked up Elderberry online and it mentioned many benefits related to my cold/flu symptoms. So I took two and fell asleep almost immediately. Wow, I woke up with a very minor soar throat, whereas before I couldn't even swallow my own saliva! It was a wonderful discovery, and I got a peaceful sleep after that, and I went to work and I didn't have to go to the doctor. This is, of course, my own discovery, so it may not work for everyone, but heck, it was worth a try! The second part to the story is...as I was looking up Elderberry, it reminded me of something funny that happened a few years ago. I am an avid leaf collector, and at one point in my life I thought it would be fun to make some little framed, leaf, art pieces and sell them at the farmer's market. So long story short, I picked some beautiful red leaves and put them into five art works. Well, guess what those pretty red leaves were? Poison ivy! I didn't know it until a few months later when I saw a picture at the trailhead that said "Don't touch these! Poison Ivy!" I wondered where that red itchy rash on my hands had come from!