Burn Baby, BURN!

Ideal location for the wood pile?? Hmmmm......

Don't JUMP!!!

It's fun to dream. Lately, Matt and I have been dreaming about owning a 5th Wheel -- nothing big. Just instead of tent camping for winters/fall/spring. I'm not so great with cold weather.

We go and look at them often. (Free Date - like Model Homes or Test Driving Cars, it's equally fun!) This one, they let Matt walk around on!

Thank God For Geeks!

What would we do for entertainment without the geeks? Everytime a new Harry Potter book comes out, Barnes and Nobles AND Borders throw these "after hours" parties for people who want to purchase a copy of the new book at midnight and can't wait for the store to open in the morning. They've just gotta read the book TONIGHT!

Don't get me wrong... I love the books as much as the next guy - I even own all the movies... But you won't find me dressing up in character and walking the streets of Bakersfield.

It has been our tradition, to go down to the parties and people watch the night away! I have to sadly say, the award for best costume representation goes to Fresno. Bakersfield tries, but not enough people are getting into it. I think the book stores need to offer a costume contest ... you know, to make it really worth my time.

This year, we intriuged my mother enough with our stories that she too wanted to come and watch the events unfold. It is hard not to point and laugh. Wrong to do... but REALLY hard not to. The Freaks and Geeks of the world are uniting on one night - every three years or so and most people are MISSING IT!

We happened on this finding sort of mistakenly the first time. -- Up in Fresno, visiting my cousin Brad (who worked for Borders). He told us to come by since they were giving out free cookies and punch. We don't miss out on free stuff! Once there, however... the cookies and punch weren't the highlight.

Here are some alright costumes from this year in Bakersfield. They made me smile.

Famous but Nameless!

Okay, so I know that with that past entry about finding myself on the Internet SEVERAL of you decided to follow my lead and Google your name. It's okay. It's nothing to feel embarrassed or ashamed about. EVERYBODY'S DOING IT!

My husband took things a step further however, and located us on two sights (by accident). Our names are no-where to be found, HOWEVER it is us, clear as day!

Check out: http://www.wolflakespark.com/ Click on "photo gallery" from their menu, go to page [3] of their photos and we (and our entire wedding party) are the 9th picture - walking beneath a HUGE eucalyptus tree.

Also, type in: http://www.vansphotography.com/
and we are the 1st picture on their home page!

Very exciting. Enjoy!

Four Score and Seven Years Ago

Alright, not 4 score. But 7 years ago, TODAY, we met!

Look at how youthful we both were! I was so nervous that night - I was pacing the house. Just think - what if you didn't stay that week with me and my family. Where would we be now?

Loved you the very first day. Love you more today.

What a 'spectacle' I'll make

... in my new frames!

You're All Invited!

So this year, when the Broncos win the Superbowl... We'll be hosting. You're invited (If you'll root for Denver!)

Second Guessing...

Seriously, WHAT WERE WE THINKING??!!

Alright, so we went to Newport Beach last weekend - and hadn't mowed the grass since the weekend before that... It'd been like 16 days. OH MY GOSH - CRAZY GRASS! I think that we may have been a little ambitious when we decided to plant grass through the majority of the backyard. We don't have horses - we have dogs!

Matt (mainly) and I were working on mowing for 3 days... in the 104-106 heat. We filled BOTH our 'green' trash cans (which is funny, cause we had to persuade the city to allot us with two!) which hold like 2 black trash bags each, and then I filled up 18 more bags!

Please note: this is JUST the backyard.
UGhhh! We need gardeners - or just to never go on vacation again.

A Little 'Moe' Time

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time with my sister Moe. I think that we've both hit the 'lull' of summer break and attempted to fix the stagnant days by seeking out one another. We've ran errands, browsed Open Houses, and played with our animals. It was nice yesterday, just to have someone to eat lunch and watch HGTV with. Sad, I know. Poor, pitty me, the girl who has too much free time on her hands, and doesn't have to go to work. I think I'm more of a "year-round school" supporter. These summers are long.

p.s. the little black dog belongs to my brother, Wayne.

A Backyard Visitor

Yesterday, in the evening... just before the sun was down, Matt and I were watching some Scrubs on TV and from my peripheral I saw something big and brown move across our backyard grass. My first thought was "Cat Intruder" I ran to the window to double check before letting our dog army out the door. And 'what to my wondering eyes should appear' but a Red Tailed Hawk starring right at me! CRAZY! I jetted to get my camera from my purse, turned it on, aimed, and then the message "Battery depleted, shutting down" flashed across the screen. Dang it, all! You'll have to settle for this lovely photo from the 'net.

Not quite the same. Still, sooo cool! I'm going to be stalking my backyard from now on.

Another me...

Do you ever Google yourself?


Sometimes I wonder what's "out there" about me.
Today, I found this lovely picture of me in 1995. Hot.




And when I typed in Sherry L. Grimes, I found the article that one of my students wrote about me in the Bakersfield Californian... (Today, I noticed their typo too; On the front page of the Eye Street section that day, they wrote: "Readers share their toughts about the best of the best") Ohh... you've gotta LOVE the Californian!










But more fun - apparently, I also live in Montana and can do this!



















Oddly enough, this chick's middle initial is 'L' as well.

The lucky residents of Newport...

Ahhh! Newport Beach! Could it have been any better? I seriously doubt it. Bakersfield was 110 deg. and we were enjoying 65-70's. Just beautiful.

We stayed at a Marriott Resort Hotel which was exquisit. There was a restaurant, a separate bar, gift shop, spa, and a Starbucks within the hotel. It was like an airport in itself. This was the view from our 3rd floor balcony window. Yes, that is the beach you see on the horizon of that lovely golf course!!

Since it was 07-07-07 - weddings were happening all over the hotel! In fact, from our front door we spied on this!

SOO PRETTY! (Just a thought for your future Moe!)

The reason behind us staying in such a lavish location was that it was tremendously discounted IF we attended a "time-share seminar." Marriott owns the only time-share property located on the CA shoreline. We had to go see it (gorgeous) and get their 90 minute tour - THAT'S ALL! They gave us cheap hotel rates, $25 to the hotel restaurant/bar, and $50 to Fashion Island (the mall within walking distance). We went there with the mindset that WE WERE NOT INTERESTED, however, Matt and I caught ourselves actually considering the time-share concept once there! It was just SO nice! Maybe someday.

Yep! For the price of my FJCruiser, we could own a piece of this beach front property for ONE week each year!

That night, we ate at the Cheesecake Factory - a place where my stomach is never as big as my eyes! MMmmm Oreo Cheesecake! But the gift card came in handy!

The next day, we ordered room service for breakfast and then headed out to HOLLYWOOD to watch WICKED on Broadway! Oohhh SO GREAT!

I was surprised at how humorous the play was. Ga-linda was hilarious! I loved it. Those girls can sing!

We spent some more time at the mall, and in our room...

I know what you're thinking... "Who's that model? Damn good lookin!"

No...back off! Sorry Girls, he's taken!

On our way back home, we went to one of Matt's fav. spots to eat...

"Thee Original Shack." Matt has been to 3 of the 8... (5 in Hawaii, 2 in CA, 2 in CO) Really good food! They BBQ... Mmm.

Mayberry

Matt and I were invited to spend the morning of the 4th in Palm Tree Circle (a Mayberry-type community here in Bako) by one of my previous "Room 10 5-year olds." It was truely great. The parents in the gated community get together (7 years now) and coordinate festivities for the 4th. They decorated their yards, their vehicles, their children... honored veterans, provided a buffet breakfast, had my ex-kindergarteners sing "God Bless America" and "You're a Grand Ol'Flag," a parade lead by their own "grand marshall," and games with candy prizes to follow. Ordinarily, they have the local fire department come and kick-off the ceremonies - leading the parade around their circle-community. The fire department is known to give rides to anyone who wishes to jump on their truck. This year, unfortunately, the fire crew were sent on a call downtown, and were unable to attend. Even without the firefighters, it was AWESOME!





(Thanks for this picture Mary!)

My darling, loving, nurturing, caring husband SIGNED ME UP for the potato sack races. After 4 qualifying rounds, I took 2nd place to an eight year old boy. I was THE ONLY ADULT in the competition. My former students loved it....

Later Matt and I both competed in the tug-o- war competition (Girls against Boys). The Girls won... But if you ask Matt... we lost.


It's all a matter of perspective!

--So just to clarify, the girls won!!