I Had Me An Adventure!

It lasted exactly one hour. Oh, but how exciting an hour can be!

A friend of mine invited me over to chat and have a little ice cream after my kids went to bed last night. She was house sitting for a neighbor. I arrived at the house at 9pm exactly. We decided to go out on the deck. We chatted about things that most women do, you know, sister's in Zion and all that.

We weren't out there too incredibly long, it was just to be a quick little visit before bed. She goes to open the door to go in and the door is locked. Yep, locked. That was the exact moment I realized there were no stairs leading to the ground. We were trapped on the deck, probably, 12 feet in the air, in the dark, at someone's house who wasn't even there. It wasn't to long after that, that my friend decided she was going to climb down. Mind you, she wearing flip flops. There was a porch swing below, and her plan was to lower herself to metal pole that the swing swung from(Does this sentence make sense? I don't really care.). I was so scared she was going to get hurt, but no, she made it, with just one scrape on her arm. Then she took off running around the corner of the house to see if the front door was locked. I guess it was, because she didn't come back right away.

So there I am, on some strangers deck, trapped, and by myself. All I could think was that this was the most exciting thing that has happened to me in a long time. I also noticed the fireflies are already out, I usually don't start looking for them till June. So finally, I see my friend, threw the window, in her kitchen next door. She is using the phone. She comes out on her deck and says that they have an escape ladder. Her husband comes out with a box. And I'm thinking, seriously? You think I'm actually going over the side of this thing? He throws the box up at me, I try to catch it, but the box had flipped in mid-air, so when I caught the box, the escape ladder fell out the side. So, my friend climbs back up on the porch swing, and hands me the ladder. I hook it to the side of the deck, and the ladder falls to the ground with a clank. I have a realization, they really expected me to climb over the side of this deck.

This was one of those moments, a moment when you reach deep, deep, down, to find what you're made off. I grabbed a deck chair, (cause I'm short) and swung my leg over the side. It took a minute of adjusting, but I climbed down that flimsy feeling ladder, until I felt grass under my feet. Of course, my friend and her husband were there to stabilize the ladder and other wise guide me down. It was pretty scary and I was shaking, but I was laughing too. I thanked her husband and we walked to the front of the house where I was parked, we laughed, we hugged, and we said good night. I drove home and pulled in my garage at 10:01 pm.

One hour! But tell you what! Who needs speed? All you need to do is dangle 10 feet in the air from a deck--instant adrenaline rush! I was amping for at least two hours.

Memorial Day List

• Everyone has fun stuff to do over weekends like this. I do not. What's it like to have fun and friends and be invited places? I don't know.
• My family used to go up Big Cottonwood Canyon (in Utah) on Memorial day and have a dutch oven breakfast. It was a blast. We would roast marshmallows for smores and play cards while we waited for the hot coals to cook the food. If I could be anywhere I wanted today, that is where I would be.
• So I made my blog private for a couple of days. Did you notice? It was kind of an accident, but then I just didn't fix it. Then I seriously considered just taking the blog down for good. Mostly it's cause people like to look, but not comment. You know, maybe I'm insecure and all, to rely on other peoples comments for positive reinforcement, but I hate it when over ten people read, but only one comments. What's the deal? It makes me think of the whole public goods/freeloader problem. Are you a freeloader? Do you get enjoyment from reading Leslie's blog, and then don't contribute by commenting? When was the last time you commented on Leslie's blog? Freeloader? I thought so.
• I am about 20 pages from the end of Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder. I have read it very slow. I started it on Friday. I love this author so much. It's just pure joy for me to read her books. I don't want it to end. She has another book, Sea Glass, coming out in September. At least I have something to look forward too!
• Leslie wants a vacation. No, Leslie NEEDS a vacation. Just somewhere far away from the husband's all consuming family. Something involving a beach would be great. Throw in a little bit of Valerie Pack, and I would be in heaven.
• Actually, I think that's about it. Cheerio.

The Secret

I know the secret. Yes, I do!

The secret to what, you ask? The secret to having an awesome birthday. Well, to tell the truth, there are two secrets. Yes, that's right. I said two. Today is your lucky day, my friend! For today I share my secrets with you.

Secret #1

Plan your own birthday party.

I mean think about it, your chances of getting a birthday party thrown for you like double or something when you do it yourself! See, two years ago, I invited my friends to go bowling and to eat at Sweet tomatoes. Then last year, we bought tickets to see Stephenie Meyers. This year, my friends didn't let me get away with not having a party, we ate and played games. (pictures later in post)

Secret #2

Spread the birthday festivities out over as many days as possible.

This is how it's done:

Thursday, May 7th-You get your first birthday card in the mail, it's from your parents. The card tells you how much joy and happiness you bring to their lives.

Friday, May 8th-Your friend brings you a cookie bouquet and your Husband takes you to the Star trek Movie

Sunday, May 10th-You get flowers from your husband, cake and presents at Grandma C's, and don't forget the Star Trek cups from Burger King!Tuesday, May 12th- Lunch with Gail, an absolute must!! Thanks again, Gail!

Friday, May 15th-Party with my friends!

Go ahead, give these secrets to an awesome birthday a try! Your next birthday can be awesome too!

Nothing Much

I have nothing funny to write, but would like to point out that my sister is funny too! Check her out here at Mommy Knows Nothing

I say she ripped me off, she says I inspired her.

What do you think?

Hiding In My Yard

You might find:
A flowering burning bush..... a red dianthus....
a place for the toads....and the beginnings of a strawberry patch!HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!!

Well Look Who It Is

It's me! Hooray!

1. I turned in my paper and a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. If anyone ever says Triangle Shirtwaist Fire to me ever again, I just might throw up on them. Don't say I didn't warn you.


2. I am now 29. What? Still younger than you? Huh, I never seem to catch up. Crap.


3. Isn't it funny how on the last day of class, everyone is best friends all of a sudden?


4. We went and saw the Star Trek movie. It was wicked awesome. Go see it. Oh come on! If you love me, you'd go see it. Just so you know, Leslie was once the biggest Star Trek fan in in Sandy, Ut. (That's not true, I had a friend who's parents started the fan club U.S.S. Kelly, and you probably don't even know what that is.) I'm picky about my Star Trek. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, if an old seasoned Trekkie liked it, then you know it's good. Anyway, I guess I better shut up now before I REALLY start sounding like a dork.
5. Well, at least I don't speak Klingon.
6. Today is mother's day. My husband went to the store for strawberries and chocolate. I don't know why I can't shake this compulsion to do special things for MY HUSBAND'S family. HE doesn't even care, yet I do. There is just something not right about that. But I will make chocolate covered strawberries and we will deliver them. I don't know why, I just will.
7. Three years ago today, we got thrown out of Grandma's house, and she hasn't tried to make it right since. Is that weird? I think it is. Sometimes I wonder if it's cause we are Mormon.
8. Last year we planted one little, lonesome strawberry plant. Now we have eight large plants with lots of flowers and little green berries growing. I am amazed. Next year, we will have a bonafide strawberry patch. I think that is beautiful. I have pictures, I'll post them later this week.

Dear Blog,

I've been ignoring you. I'm really sorry about that and all, but I do have a very good reason. Or several reasons, really. Mostly it's cause I have to read a book about the Triangle Waist fire and write a 3-5 page book review. By next Saturday. And I have a final that day too. Plus I probably should do some extra credit, you know, for good measure. Not to mention the piles of laundry that have been multiplying in my hallway blocking the way to the bedrooms so as I feel like I'm hiking through a thick forest. A clothes forest--shudder. Yes, it's true, my house has gotten away from me. I held on to it so long this semester, but alas, the inevitable has happened, I HAVE LOST CONTROL. My house now mocks me. It laughs at me when I double over in pain from stepping on a little toy car. It teases me with it's stench from the garbage can, filling my nostrils with that nastiness when I enter my kitchen. But the count down has started. The semester is near the end. Then I will EXACT my REVENGE on this unruly house! I will show it who's boss around here! Until then, my sweet blog, you to will probably sit, unchanged for just a little while longer. (Unless something extremely funny happens to me, you know, it could happen.) But fear not, I will be back soon to fill you with my witty, irreverent, and useless words. Until then my love......

Hugs and kisses,
Leslie