It's Relay Fun!

I'm going to get serious for a moment.  As most of you know, I am a volunteer for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.  You know this because, chances are, you've gotten a letter, email, text, telegram, or carrier pigeon containing a donation request from me.  Now, I realize how hard you work for your money; how hard it is to go without the things you want.  However, I also know how hard it is to hear a diagnosis, to watch a friend suffer and to say good-bye to a loved one.  To me, there is no comparison.

Relay 2006

On February 14, 1998 my friend Dawn was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, or ALL.  Valentine's Day.  At the age of 20.  I can't begin to imagine what went through her mind sitting in the hospital hearing those dreaded words, 'You've got cancer'.

After three rounds of chemotherapy, a failed experimental treatment and a bone marrow transplant in Iowa City, a last ditch effort and 10 months in the hospital, Dawn went into remission in June 2000.  During her stay in the hospital, Dawn missed the 4th of July, her 23rd birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  Thanks to the encouragement and support of the oncology team (and a day pass), Dawn participated in her first Relay For Life event, finishing her first Survivors' Lap in a wheelchair just five months after her transplant.

That is why I Relay.

My Relay Family

 It has been my pleasure and honor these past 12 years to serve as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society.  Each year, during our Survivors' Lap, I get to see hundreds of people, a sea of purple shirts, walk their first, fifth and even last laps.  These people, these survivors, are a reminder of why I send out those letters, bake all those cupcakes and stay up all night; to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.




So this year, when that pigeon is tapping on your window, please take a moment to think about your friends and family, neighbors, co-workers or even your family pet who may have been diagnosed.  Think about why you've been asked to participate in this incredible opportunity.  Think, 'Yes, I can help'.

 

Please share my passion by visiting our website at

 www.relayforlife.org/coeurdaleneid 

and support the American Cancer Society Relay For Life!

P.S. Since beginning to write this blog a few days ago, my dad Bill passed away due to complications from prostate cancer.  As my half sister Deana continues her fight against breast cancer, I ask that you find it in your heart to help those that have passed, those that are fighting and those that have yet to be diagnosed.

Santa Goes Postal

On our monthly trip back to Idaho for a visit, we found ourselves in need of a post office.  So, since we were in the big city of Coeur d'Alene, we decided to make our way downtown.  Once we got there, Elizabeth and I decided to wait for Steve in the car and it's a good thing we did!  Minutes later as we people watched, who should appear but Santa Claus himself!! 

We were so surprised!  What?  Santa?  In October?  In Coeur d'Alene?  Why?  Well, the only conclusion to come to was that Santa, although spending most of his time in The North Pole, must spend his summers vacationing in Coeur d'Alene.  So many people spend their summer days on the lake fishing, jet skiing and boating...why not Santa?  And of course he must have been at the post office looking for early Letters to Santa, right?

I don't think Elizabeth ever believed that this man was in fact Santa no matter what reason I came up with for why he was in Coeur d'Alene in October at the post office.  Kids these days!

The Electrical Appliance Anniversary?

In case you didn't already figure it out from the title, Tuesday was my and Steve's eighth wedding anniversary.  Yes, eight long years ago Steve and I got married in our hometown of Eureka, Montana on a perfectly Fall kind of day, not unlike the day we are having now.  Warm and sunny, colorful leaves and that smell that only comes from falling leaves and pumpkins.

However, according to my "extensive" research (aka the five minutes I spent on the internet) the eighth anniversary is the Electrical Appliance anniversary.  Is it just me or have wives spent years trying to make their husbands understand that although practical a toaster or vacuum just doesn't say, 'I love you' to your wife?  And here I discover that we are in fact supposed to buy each other electrical appliances.  Do I smell burning bras??  Just kidding!  Anyway, in spite of what this random website had to say, I chose to buck the system and buy the most romantic gift possible: 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'!

And now, for your enjoyment (or amusement), here are a few photos from our wedding day;

 

Me and Steve :)

Our beautiful wedding party. L to R: Desiree, Hilary, Bill, Steve, Danny and Chris.

Granddad and me (I'm the one in the dress).

 

 With Steve's parents, Marlene and Bruce

With my parents, Joetta and Bill

The traditional cutting of the (cup)cake!

 

 

Garter Grab!

First Dance

  Father-Daughter Dance

 And now for the fun stuff!!

                   Steve, Danny and Chris karaoke style!

                  Seriously Chris, I'm beginning to think you have a 

                    not-so-secret obsession with wigs 

                  (this is one of three pictures I have of you in drag!).

        

           Friends Chris and Karen

Family friends Meg and Pat

Great Aunt Jane and Great Uncle Ray

           

         

  I don't think Uncle Ray completely understands 

how the whole bunny ears thing is supposed to work :)

As family history (and pictures) show, you are all lucky that Great Uncle Ben used his index finger!

Terry and Desiree having a laugh :)

Maybe a little too much fun (note the half empty bottle of wine; or is it half full?)!  Just kidding, Granddad was seldom photographed
any other way...it was his "thing"!



       




I have to say a lot of the other photos I have from the reception were taken with disposable cameras which, as everyone probably knows by now, aren't very good.  So, most of the photos were too dark to share. 

I had fun looking through my wedding album and sharing my photos.  For those of you who are interested, here is the link I got my anniversary gift info from:  http://marriage.about.com/cs/anniversaries/a/wedannivideas.htm

 

Chris and I Hilarious!                   

 

Let me leave you with one last photo that is one of my favorites :)  Happy Anniversary!

A-Door-Able

So, because the place we are living in is a rental and Steve works with the homeowner, we worked out a deal where she would pay us back for any fixes or upgrades we provided while living here (and believe me, there are quite a few).  One of the first things we did was replace all of the drains in the showers/bathtubs/sinks.  For some bizarre reason, they were all cracked and probably leaking under the house.  Next we removed and cleaned and/or replaced the aerators on all the faucets which were plugged with hard water scale. Yuck! Our third project was getting the previously uninstalled water softener installed. Done.  Moving on, we decided to go ahead and "winterize" the front and back doors which didn't have door stops and the seals had been gnawed by the previous renters' dogs...St. Bernard's I'm told.  And from the chew marks, holes and "doggy mines" in the back yard, I inclined to agree.  Anyway, between Steve and I we managed to get the doors looking almost like new.  Check out our hard work!

Before...

 

During...

 

After...

Although the weather stripping looks nice, it seems after all our
hard work there is still a massive space between the door and the strip thanks to the bent metal door.  Booo :(

 Please note the new jelly jar cover on 

the porch light...we also installed that :)

 

Even though the doors aren't quite wind proof just yet, they are a far cry from where they were and we are happy with our handy work.  As long as Steve is never given a paint brush, all will be well :)

Charming

For those of us who grew up in a small town we all know how charming they can be.  Or, at least, that's what we're told.  Since it had been 14 years since I'd lived in a small town, I guess I had forgotten about all the charm; the friendly townsfolk, the sense of community, the safe streets.  However, I also forgot about one other thing....

...the lack of spell check!!

LOL...welcome to small-town Montana.

P.S. Upon further reflection, this also could have been a play on words since this is a realty office and the Cougars were playing a game that night.  Hmmm....

Fish Tails

On one of our drives around the country, we went through the teeniest of towns; Fishtail, Montana.  It is literally one of those towns that you would miss if you blinked while driving through it.  However, we didn't blink and decided to stop at the local hot spot.

The Fishtail General Store

And believe it or not, this cute little store has a website.  What's really great about

it is that it gives the history of the store which has been there since 1900!

http://www.fishtailgeneralstore.com/index2.htm



Upon entering the store you immediately feel like you've stepped back in time. 

It reminded me a lot of Oleson's Mercantile on 'Little House on the Prairie' or

Fewkes' General Store at the HistoricalVillage in Eureka, MT.



Oleson's Mercantile





Fewkes General Store





 







I half expected to see bulk barrels

of sugar and flour!



This wood-burning pot belly stove has been in the store since its beginning and still acts as the stores main source of heat.  Some of the oak display cases and even parts of the deli counter are also original.

The deli counter is a very popular spot for the miners to stop for lunch or dinner.  They serve fresh deli sandwiches with plenty of fixins' and include chips, a fountain soda and a fresh chocolate chip cookie the size of my head (seriously, they are huge) for only $7!!  So yummy!!

On the way out, Elizabeth posed for a picture in the phone booth.  Although it looks a little "is this the party to whom I am speaking" (that's for you, Mom), this old pay phone is hooked up to the store's phone line (as is apparent by the sign).

I'm sure this will not be our only visit to The Fishtail General Store (um, did I mention the giant cookie?) and I promise more pictures next time (again, the cookie people).

Introducing Izzy

Let me tell you a little about our cat, Izzy.  We got Izzy from the shelter on January 1, 2002 as a companion for my belated kitty, Yoda.  Yoda seemed lonely since we were gone a lot with school and work so on New Year's Day we decided to have a look at the shelter.

When we got there, we saw plenty of pets in need of a good home but unfortunately we only had room for one.  It came down to two; a medium haired gray calico (my pick) and a short haired white tabby.  During our short visit to the cat room, this particular white tabby began flipping around in her cage, sticking her paws out and rubbing on the door.  My husband was hooked (literally)!

Now, nine years later, Izzy is still a active member of our family.  She's been through five moves, a new baby and three friends with us.  She hasn't always been the source of joy (like when she pees on things or when she hides out in the U-Haul for nine hours while we look for her) but I consider pet adoption a lifetime commitment and take my pet ownership very seriously (see new wing of veterinary office)...just kidding.  Sort of.

This picture was taken on the drive from Idaho to Montana just after loosing our other kitty, Norman.  It was a really rough day for all of us and it was VERY unusual to see Izzy cuddling with Elizabeth.  Who says pets don't have feelings??

One of her favorite activities...guarding Mom!

Despite her age and the photos above, Izzy is very active.  She spends a lot of time chasing millers and crickets in our new house (eww) and she loves to roll around in my hair!  She has several nick names, some of which I can share, including Fluffy, La Feef, Feefers, Fifi la feef and Fifi la rue (I know, get a hobby). 

                      Creepy alien eyes!

So, as you can see, we love our Izzy.  One of my favorite things about her is no matter where she is standing, when you talk to her she flips over on her side.  Many a fall has Izzy had....hilarious!