Warrior

We just finished an epic road trip last night. 30+ hours in the car in 4 days from Irvine to Park City, Utah. I don't know who feels more accomplished about what: Adam for doing a bike race that was pure torture, or the Bird for sitting in a car seat that long. Check out Adam's commentary and my photos here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2283627&id=17812138&l=ad24232799.

Boy or Girl?

Sienna is mistaken for a boy all the time. I try not to be too sensitive about it. But guess what? I am. Okay? I am. She's a girl. So when she's wearing purple, don't ask if she's a boy. And if she's wearing a yellow dress that you can barely see because she's swaddled, don't ask if she's a boy. And if I dress her in grey, um, just don't try to guess.

When In Utah

I spent my first day back from vacation despondent: staring at the wall and surfing the Internet without my brain intact. Second day back from vacation I did a lot of origami. I'm happy to say that today, my third day back, I'm ready to face real life and routine and all that jazz. So, here's what I did in Utah last week:

*Took Sienna on her first plane ride. The trip there entailed lots of green poop oozing forth out of diaper and onto my hand and down the lavatory walls. That's what you get for not having a changing table, Delta. Green poop left on your lavatory wall. You're welcome. The trip back entailed sleep. That's it. Just sleep. The Bird and my arm - ASLEEP! And me reading a book. It was glorious.

*Saw lots of old friends. Old friends are the BEST! Heather and I met up in Provo with our sister soulmates, Mim and Eirene, at Cafe Rio. I ate the entire pork burrito in one sitting. And I LIKED it. We took the party to Eirene's house and chatted our heads off. We still didn't cover all we needed to. Between the four of us we have six kids! SIX KIDS! I tell you, it was trippy. Seems like just yesterday we were barreling through town in Mim's car to Blink 182. By the end of the day I'm pretty sure there was a point when everyone in the house was screaming at the top of their lungs. That's what adults get for having a day of fun and forgetting to enforce naps: nightmarish children. It was worth it though, right girls?

*Next stop: MUDDY'S! (Only Heather will appreciate this one.)

*Really, though, next stop was the homefront: Roosevelt, Utah. A place where you'd think nothing would ever change, but in fact has attracted many fine folks since I have left, what with the new hospital and all. So now they have tons of great stuff I never got to enjoy like modern dance lessons for kids and movies in the park and a walking path. Amazing stuff going on here people. Modern dance! I shiver when I think how much my life would be different if only I had learned to love modern dance as a wee little one.

*In Roosevelt the boys enjoyed a fishing trip while the girls watched chick flicks. And by chick flicks I mean "Marley & Me." What was I smoking? I hate dogs. I was bit by one when I was 17, right before junior prom (the nerve!) and have despised them ever since. The very next day, wouldn't you know it, I went for a jog and got bit by a dog. One decade later. It was like an anniversary of sorts. But, yeah, there are so many stray (and not stray) dogs in Roosevelt and NONE of them are on leashes. It should really deter me ... but, no. I just had to go. This dog was a little, yappy house dog (the biters are always the little yappy ones) that had just been let outside. It wasn't a bad bite, so I kept going. I got chased by two other dogs and got so scared I tried to hide behind a bush. It quickly became clear that they could still see me so I knocked on the neighbor's door for help. She was able to intimidate the dogs long enough for me to escape. I went back to the biting dog owner's house and told her about the dog bite. She said, "Oh, they've been checked for rabies. You should be fine." Thanks. I drove myself to the ER and got the second tetanus shot of my life. Those things hurt worse than the bite. That's the end of that. I'm fine. No agressive behavior of foaming at the mouth so far, so I feel good. When I got home from the hospital, animal control was at my door getting all the details. The next day I walked VERY slowly past Misty, Molly and Mandy, three unleashed weiner dogs who licked my ankles. GRRRRRRR. I HATE DOGS!

*Ate at two Roosevelt institutions and one up-and-comer: Marion's Variety, Round Robin and China Star. Marion's hasn't changed one bit since I ate my last BBQ burger there. Except they got rid of the penny candy. Round Robin is open only when the owner wants it to be and, when I was younger, no one knew when that would be. It would just suddenly be open, word would spread, and people would show up. The owner doesn't let some people in because of personal vendettas and may or may not yell at you, depending on how much noise you're making in the dining area. True stories, people. Best food in town. Seriously. China Star has Chinese food, Italian and Mexican. Who knew? We just go there for the Chinese food cuz for some reason that seems like what they do best. I don't know where I got that idea. It's where I discovered cream cheese wontons. Mmmmm.

*Learned a couple new words from my niece, Haven, and went to the rodeo. Not on the same day, though. That would be WAY too much fun for one day. "Pip" and "Woggely." Go ahead, try to use them in a sentence. Here's how she used them, "Hey, Mom, just pip it for me!" ??? "I don't want to get my hair wet because then it will be all woggely." You heard those words first here, folks! When they make it in the dictionary, just remember that. I think I should use FOLKS again. Because this IS a post about Roosevelt, after all.

*Also saw my wonderful old friends Shanna and Tyra and their kids. Is it just me or do kids just grow up suh fast! I love connecting with old friends. I really should make it a point to do it more.

*About that rodeo, Sienna was as calm as a clam throughout it. It was truly a sight to see. She hated the Dodger's game, oh yes! But a rodeo? She MUST have some of my Roosevelt blood. She must!