Random stuff from the past week

So, after a long day of working (yes, today is Saturday and I had to catch up) I figured I should do something personal and so I'm writing a blogpost.

The only problem is this - I cannot remember what in the world I did this entire week except work. So, I'm resorting to whatever pictures I took off my camera a few days ago.

Highlights from the week include, because I suddenly remembered as I was loading photos:

• HEAT - Really hot, muggy and soul sucking ....but, you didn't know it until after it happened. We were over 100 many days and apparently it had the impact of 120 degree weather on some of them. I love humidity, but must have locked my knees talking/videotaping a neighbor and almost collapsed on the steps. Yikes!
• Pentagon Visit - Had a meeting at the Pentagon for the first time in a couple of years. Wow, the new renovations aren't that amazing, but did you know that they have a Best Buy now? Inside the Pentagon? They do have fast food places and other shops, but for some reason the Best Buy threw me off. As well as the broken escalator going UP on one of the days of blasting heat. I felt like I was supposed to become part of special forces or something. If they need some good walkers and endurance swimmers...I would probably apply. Oh wait, I'm not of age. (-:
• Mobile - I've been immersed in all things mobile lately for work. So, if you have any great ideas feel free to send them my way. I'm leading up our mobile initiative with a special focus on mobile learning. iPads, Galaxy pads, etc. are changing the learning game. Pretty cool.
• Captain America - apparently it was pretty good. I sent my husband off to it by himself so that I could do the all things mobile (see above) work I needed to get done. Sometimes I get so bored knowing how the movie ends through the previews.
• Oatmeal Cookies - the cure for using food storage that is out of date is to make multiple batches of cookies. Ok, but don't cook them all. Just freeze the dough after one tray goes in the oven. This is how to handle cookie addiction, right? Too high of a level of effort to cook the next batch to make it worth the regular sneaking.

Contrary to the look of this picture - I am not 9 feet tall. This picture proves that I did go to the pool to swim laps and the piles behind me indicate that I did some de-junking and have to run to the Goodwill. Yea!

My personal/work friend got married and had a second reception down at the chapel grounds near Mt. Vernon. Congrat to Andrea!

Loved Andrea's dress. Had a unique flair to it.

Over 100 - degrees that is

Can you tell it is over 100 around here nowadays? Can you tell it is humid?

As I get older, I get smarter. Like, instead of going out in the sun between 10-2 to get the most rays, I don't go out between 10-3:30 p.m. because the skin is a little splotchier than in days past.

Or, I have no need to prove my athletic abilities by riding a bike uphill or walking fast across sun drenched black cement in the middle of the day.

I purposely worked until 7:00 p.m. tonight so that it would be cooler while I sat in traffic coming home. And, was "elated" when my car cooled from the 113 degrees down to 98. It is always relative, aye?

Well, summer is here and has been here for a few months now and I've vowed to take advantage of it for the first time in a couple of years. I actually swam laps this weekend and may end up having a better tan line than from the knees down and elbows.

Next post - Miracle suit, or at least Improvement suit, shameless promotion

Memory Lane - from the Redwood forest...this land was made for you and me

So, I'm always looking through random family photos I've scanned and remembering little past moments.

I came across this picture - http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=784297&l=2a5da&id=674446494 - and realized all of the memories surrounding that day. It is really time to write all of this information down in my journal. The official journal didn't start until I was nine years old and so all of these little childhood memories must be captured before I completely lose my mind.

This day was most likely summer of 1977. We took a trip up the California and Oregon coast. Since I was around 5-6 years old at this time, I'm not sure of the purpose of the trip, all of the places visited or how long it was, but I do remember:

- Clam digging with some of my parents friends in Oregon and then having to actually eat the clams in a soup after the excursion. I remember thinking that was a really gross concept (eating what you just fished/clammed). Another gross, but semi-funny thing was that the clams would squirt us while we were digging.
- Wearing a bright pink Winnie the Phooh shirt. I loved this shirt and logos were very special at that time.
- Seeing huge trees at Redwood forest.
- Standing in a group of people looking up at a seemingly huge Paul Bunyeon and Babe the Blue Ox statue and having him say - "What is your name little girl?" - and me hiding behind my mom or dad and squeaking out a little "Rebecca" and having him say back "Rebecca?" and me being completely blown away because he seemed to be about 200 feet tall and how could he possibly know my voice.
- RaeLyn sitting on Paul Bunyeon's shoe and hearing him ask her who was on his shoe and seeing her terrified look as she jumped off and ran away.
- Driving on a highway looking out over the ocean and worrying about if we would drive off the cliff into the water.
- Leaving the big box of Crayola crayons on the floor in the back seat and seeing the tips melt from too much sun/heat exposure.

No wonder some little kids look at us like we are idiots when we talk to them in baby talk. They know what's going on.