Parents

Unlike most of my Sundays, today was not a great day for me. The lessons and speakers were wonderful but my attitude was not where it should have been to properly appreciate and utilize them for a number of reasons. I am working on it and am doing better, but I do have to say that part of that is because of my dad. I realized today that I don't think you can properly appreciate your parents until you are an adult yourself (perhaps not even fully until you are a parent). I know that I didn't...the adult part, not the parent part. :) This came to mind because of a text my dad sent me. Now I love my mother. I am proud to say that she is one of my best friends, and I am blessed to know that I can take anything to her and she'll listen and give me wise counsel. She give great hugs, feeds me my favorite foods when I visit and is willing to listen to me vent. What more can you ask for in a friend and mom? My dad, however, gives me something different. He provides both practical advice about things like my car and computer and needed absurdity. Here is why I say that: after church, I sleep. Today I woke up to a text from my dad. This is what it said, "they're out there". That's it. Nothing else. From that text we proceeded to have a quite ridiculous and entertaining texting conversation. Here is a snippet of it (with direct quotes)...

Me (response to previously mentioned text): and they have special voodoo powers
Dad: ya u betcha
Me: That's why I wear the tin foil hats
Dad: I has a luminum soot. It pertex mi fum da radiashun
Me: Does urs rip? I usta wear one but found it ripped in themost awkward places
Dad: I fixt it wid duck tape & choklet
Me: Mmmmmm...choklet. I like choklet, but duck tape doesn't taste so good.
Dad: Drawz the beez to help mi fli
Me: beez help u fli? I don't fink I'd like dat. I like da ground just fin, tank you verry much. And beez have stingers dat r ouchy.
Dad: deez r spechul traind stingerless beez, cald da grat himalayan honee bee.

I think you get the point...all in all it was a crazy and funny conversation. I love when he sends me random odd texts. We've talked about how he part of an advance phalanx of aliens from a planet (whose name I don't remember) far, far away that are thinking about taking over Earth, the nature of dark, what direction is what and a number of other things. I want to close my post with my favorite text I've received from him yet...

"I passed the test I went to Chicago for. I am a certified information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)...So now you must address us as His Royal Highness, The Dad. Ok."

I love my dad.

Just stuff...

So I just got my final grade for the past quarter that ended this past Sunday. All A's! I'm pleased if a little grumpy because of one class that was not as high as I thought it should be. In any case, I had to do a final powerpoint presentation with photos from my community for my Healthy People/Heathly Places class and I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos from it with you (the top two are my favorites)...

They have the best hotdogs EVER!

How awesome is this fountain at night?

From a little barbershop called "Country Clippers". This is their ceiling.

Local Farmers Market, fun AND tasty.

Local Park...Those are dolphins in the background, but I liked the camel better. :)

Jazz night at one of the clubs, I just liked the effect that I got...inadvertently.

These two were crazy amazing dancers. I was grateful they were willing to pose for me...never did get their names. Bummer.

And does this really need an explanation? I caught this pic at a local indoor swimming pool during free swimm. These two were hilariously cute.

School....

So I finished my last final on Sunday night and as of this moment I currently have 10 weeks of actual school (aka: 1 quarter) left before I'm officially graduated. I'm very excited! And am celebrating this achievement by doing as little as possible for the next two days.

Ostrich Festival

So this past weekend, we held the Ostrich Festival here in Chandler. It's an annual event (been going on since the 80s I think) that happens every spring. I didn't get to go this year, but here are some pictures from the past years. It's always a blast. Very fair/carnival like. Great crowds, food and fun!

I'm told ostrich riding is an art. It just looks silly to me, but...

"Yee-Haw! Ride 'em cowboy!"

"Run away, Run away!"

Ok, these jockeys are in chariots...I kept hoping for a scene outta Ben Hur to happen.

Though the ostriches have top billing, there are other critters hanging around too.

Camels are one of them and you've never seen funny until you've seen a camel race.

And my personal favorite...the pig races (I think Number 2 got distracted somewhere).

There are other critters around like a petting zoo with goats and horses and such and a pony ride for the munchkins. The think I found most amusing...when you go to the ostrich festival, not only can you see real live ostriches and watch them race and try to peck people, but you can eat and wear them too. Slightly disturbing, but I find it morbidly amusing at the same time.