friends and family

Sometimes when I’m on a flight, I don’t mind talking to my flight mates (if I say “mates,” do I sound as cool as an Australian?)

Like the time last Friday on my way to SLC.
This is Heather (a nurse for kids with cancer) and Ryan (helps people in Mortgage crisis). We ROCKED the First Class section on our Southwest flight (which is the first row on the left; didn’t cha know?) If only every person on the flight was as cool as us (if only).

Doh, like the time eons ago (my early 20’s feels like eons)…

There was a drunk and dirty man ranting and raving in the terminal prior to boarding. An off-duty policeman offered to let them rearrange seating so he could assist, but the plane was full and we were about to board.

I take my seat at the window, an old man took his aisle seat and, of course, the drunk and dirty man sat in the middle! What to do, oh, what to do?!

I did the only thing I could get away with… I played deaf.

Not that I know how to sign, beyond the alphabet that Annette and I would use across the room during band class, but I CAN not talk (hard to believe, I’m sure)!

Sticking my nose into a magazine worked for only a few minutes before he started in on me about how absurd it was that they weren’t serving alcohol soon enough (he was set with his miniature bottles, stashed so carefully in his carry-on) and that they wouldn’t let him smoke in the “can.” I pretended not to notice him talking until he biffed me on the arm to claim my attention. Acting startled, I turned his direction and shook my head while pointing at my ears, motioning to him that I couldn’t hear. He seemed puzzled as he asked with slow-moving lips, “Y o u c a n ‘ t h e a r m e ?” I repeated my earlier response; a shake of my head while pointing at my ears. He “hmph’d” then turned to the old man and started in on him.

When it came time for drink orders, I handed the stewardess a piece of paper that said, “Coke, please” and smiled as I nodded my head asking for confirmation that they understood. Drunk and dirty dude blurted to her that I was deaf as the wide-eyed stewardess nodded back to me.

When the flight landed, drunk and dirty dude shot up out of his seat and shoved his way off the plane, exclaiming obnoxiously about how badly he needed a smoke. Suffering through the flight as well, the other passengers let him pass. Upon my approach to exit the plane, the stewardess that brought my Coke motioned toward me as she told the others standing there that I was deaf, pointing to her ear. Slowly she said, “T h a n k s f o r f l y i n g w i t h u s !” Smiling, I replied, “Thank YOU!” As her face froze in shock, I explained that I faked that I was deaf because of drunk and dirty dude.
Some of the labies at our 3 hour Carrabba’s luncheon on Saturday…
(l-r back: RCola, Azucar, Suedonym, NitzWould, yours truly, b., Compulsive Writer, Geo
l-r front: formerly phread, Sister Pottymouth (holding her baby), Gerb, LoDown, pFlower (holding Twisted’s baby), Tiffany Twisted (by the way, my arse isn’t as big as it looks – it’s actually quite cute thankyouverymuch)
Carrabba’s proprietor, and my buddy, Clay Drinkwater
(trust me when I say it pays to know the owner)

Then I stopped by Provo to hang with this fella, Jared Smith (a.k.a. my lil’ bro), and help him get ready for his date with Angela (incidentally, we met a couple years ago when he was a waiter at Carrabba’s – that’s how I roll… does it MATTER where/how you meet a friend?). Man, I look fabulous in this picture, ifIdosaysomyself.

Retired UT County Sheriff, and my Harley Davidson riding instructor, Lance McDaniel (a.k.a. my family – that guy knows how to make me cry at the drop of a dime – I’m such a baby). He runs the service department at the Lindon, UT Harley Davidson, and I ALWAYS stop by to say HI when I’m in town (I didn’t even do any shopping this time, darnit). By the way, he really IS smiling, even though you can’t tell with the facial hair in the way!

Then some more hot South UT County momma’s got together with me for Cafe Rio in Lehi and gabbing. l-r is Tiffany, Linda, Cathy, Anita, yours truly and Amy. It was FREEZING as the camera was on timer, and nobody likes this picture of them – but I DO because they’re my friends :)

One of my boys, Jared Wardell, who’s going to Spain for a couple years :)
Jared W’s brother, Corey, who’s a magnificent (hetero) dancer.
Whenever I’m over there, he claims he’s my favorite in the family.
I usually humor him and agree (he really IS great, of course,
even though I stopped paying him by the hour for yard work
and started paying him by the job instead).
Beautiful Joy, with other peeps on the couch.

My old neighbor kid, Chris Weaver, who used to do yard work and other odd jobs for us when we lived there (he’s worth every penny – hard worker and amazing person) and the man of the hour, Jared (again). We were giggling all afternoon! Banana woman :)
…in between giggles.
Jared and Corey’s sister, Jen, and I before the next picture.
Jen and I AFTER the previous pose.

Oh. My. Goodness. THIS fella is very special to me and he married a SUPER sweet girl and have a super cute daughter with a son on the way! This day was his BIRTHDAY, so I’m glad I was in town to wish him happy happy in person! I heart you, SCHLOPPY!
Dedicated readers will remember this hunk, Colby, my fav.

But have you seen Colby’s super sweet little brother Myles? Here he is, in all his glory. WHAT. A. SWEETIE! I’m not sure where their sisters were at this moment, because I should’ve gotten a pic with those gorgeous girls too (beautiful family).And the piece de resistence (say that with your best Fronsh accent), Miss CJane and The Chief!
What’s weird about this pic is that I almost don’t want to post it for fear it makes me look like a CJane blog stalker. So I guess I need to preface the pic with the proof that we’re ACTUAL friends, pre-fame (she hates when I say that because she doesn’t really feel like she is and I really shouldn’t have to feel like I have to prove myself). “Happy favorite birthday, my sweet.” Keep The Chief away from me next time because I seriously don’t think I can resist taking a juicy bite out of that lil’ fella. MmMmMm!

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Family of Eight Portrait, Orem, UT

by Lucky Red Hen on December 8, 2008

(you may click on the picture to view a larger version)

May I just say that I miss my Utah friends more than I realized I would? (“Yes, yes you can since this is your blog,” you say.)

When we moved there 6.5 years ago, we told ourselves that we wouldn’t get attached because we’d be moving back to the NW within two years (never wanted to move there in the first place, but that’s another story).

Well, 2 years turned into five (but I’ve heard similar stories from people who’ve been there 14 years and counting) and I think the extra three years were the nitty-gritty years that solidified my soul to Utah.

Eee ghads, did I just admit that there’s a place in my soul dedicated to Utah (“Yes, yes you did,” you say)?

Yes, yes I did.

There… it’s out in cyberspace for all to witness. Yikes.

Anywho, the family featured in today’s post is absolutely one of the reasons my mind was changed about Utah. My kids are best buds with her kids, and I adore them all (which is surprising for me because I’m famous for not liking kids — they’re just so hard to be around).

(Holding up a glass of bubbling water…) here’s to my Utah friends. I adore you all.

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Lunch with Photographers in Centralia, WA

by Lucky Red Hen on November 24, 2008

Forgive my absence in posting, especially since there are so many stories to tell!

Like the ghost poop on the sidewalk, frosh art from a Burien Arts Council fundraiser (people don’t normally GO to Burien), the Twilight premier (and the altercation I started with 12 women), random pictures of people, carrots I kept taking back to Costco (not really worthy of it’s own post, so I’ll just tell you right here that no matter the ‘freshness date,’ we kept getting slimy, bitter and disgusting baby carrots) and the close-minded vs. open-minded debate.

In the meantime, how ’bout hop over to my friends blog to see me with cigarette butts (yes, there ARE pictures so it’s worth the click).

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4th of July… in November?

by Lucky Red Hen on November 3, 2008

What the freakfreak? I assembled a 4th of July blog post of our FABULOUS time at our friend’s place on Lake Sammamish (yay that we live here again because I look forward to it every summer), but somehow it didn’t get published (I don’t think). So here’s some Independence Day goodness just in time for tomorrow’s voting.

These neighbors volunteered to monitor the perimeter
and keep others a specific distance from the fireworks barge.

The view of the party from the barge.
Piper fishing (plastic fish).
You can see how close the barge was from the dock.
Check out that view… isn’t it saaweeet?!
Piper chillin’ in the tethered inflatable island.
Brett and Will… aren’t they festive in their red?
Jake and baby Roxie (red, white & blue).
The cousins minus Owen (they arrived later) and Roxie.
Um, Jack, that’s for baby’s ;)
I ADORE this picture – that’s my boy!!!
Boat going out with 99.8% of people I’m related to.
Ben and Piper are waving at you
(lotta waving on the blog lately).
Hey, Bob. I kept telling him he’s a hunk
(…kinda Clint Eastwoodesque).
That dark blob between the docks?
It’s a GIANT BEAVER that comes around
about dinner time to chew on trees
(particularly the expensive & newly planted ones).
“Heeeeeyyyyyy, I’m Brett!”
Jason getting bombarded by the pipsqueaks (Will, Alice & Piper).
This guy was channeling Mexico weather.
What a pretty lady.
Meet Bob, our host extraordinaire!
This guy reminded me of Dane Sanders.
Cute couple (she’s got fantastic eyelashes).
Ahh, backlit by delicious golden sunshine.
Something was reeeeeally loud for Alice.
Jake’s 1/2 deaf so he didn’t notice at all.
Suns going down, fireworks are a comin’.
My guy with the weird shadow hair :)
Britanny teaches you that hydrating is important
as well as sexy and hip!
The Host’s brother, Tedd, with his ammo
(we geeked out on gear talk).
Other boats starting to gather ’round for the show!
Brett helping Alice, Will and Owen with sparklers.
Bridgette and Owen.

PSA: Figure out where you’re voting tomorrow and give yourself plenty of time to wait in line!

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Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox

by Lucky Red Hen on November 1, 2008

7YO: Mom, when you was a little girl and you touched the giraffe… did you get green spots or red spots?

Me: Red (and it’s when I was pregnant with her, not so little of a girl, haha)

7YO: Oh, okay. Did they itch or not?

Me: Yes, they itched very much.

(she runs off to her room, pausing at the doorway to turn and tell me something)

7YO: Wait JUST one SECOND (pointing her finger in the air like she just had an idea.)

(she runs further toward her room and paused again, this time out of sight but within ear shot)

7YO: I mean, maybe not one SECOND but maybe ten minutes.

She was back within 10 seconds after finding the book she thought of, Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox, by Erin Dealey and illustrated by Hanako Wakiyama. Kids have interesting minds.

We will be reading it after lunch :)

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Happy Cocoa-ween

by Lucky Red Hen on October 31, 2008

No, I’m NOT nekid in the reflection.
Yes, I AM waving at you
(it’s customary to wave back)
at 1:18 pm PST on Halloween.
And, yes, I should’ve wiped the stove
down before I took the picture.
Next we fill MY mug with cocoa,
pero and hazelnut flavoring.
The little blonde girl gets only
cocoa and hazelnut flavoring in hers.

She downs her warm goodness with a
peanut butter and honey on whole wheat
sandwich, while stirring in her Tigger mug.
My mug is a handmedown from the 80’s
(thus the country blue heart
and swags of flowers).

Q: Tell me some Halloween fun things…

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Looksie What I Got

by Lucky Red Hen on October 30, 2008

Can you spy with your little eye…
CJane’s “Enjoy It!”
Look at all the delicious content (and Safeway bag)!
Look how happy she is to be here!
P.S. I’d like to publicly declare that I USUALLY use my reusable grocery bags, but I was in a hurry today and left them in the car. Hubby’s grandparents are coming tonight with my FIL, BIL & girlfriend, SIL & two girlies (her hubby’s at school tonight) in addition to us four. I guess I didn’t need to tell you who all was coming, except that I needed to so I could count how many people (12, and I used my fingers) to cook for (roast & veggies, some in the crock pot with the roast my fav way and some oiled/salted & roasted in the oven sans roast, baked potatoes, Pugliese Bread with mixed greens ala roasted walnuts, apple slices and Bleu Cheese Dressing – don’t you just love spelling it blEU?!? I do).

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Balloons of Hope

by Lucky Red Hen on August 23, 2008

Jack, Piper and I enjoyed participating in the worldwide Balloons of Hope launch today to show Stephanie and Christian Nielson how much we’re rooting for their thorough recovery.

We launched from McMurtrey’s Christmas Tree Farm on Redmond-Woodinville Road just outside Seattle (thought Nie would like the Christmas touch). It was a beautiful day! Much love from us to all the Nielson and Clark families :)

Piper found a feather and insisted it be in
the shot with Stephanie’s special wish.
Jack’s holding Christian’s special wishes from all of us.





Ready, set…
…GO!

I loved how the balloons stayed together…

…the higher…
…and higher they went.
I also arranged for a jet to do a fly-by!
(The balloons are in the heart.)

We LOVE you!
EDIT: Other Balloons of Hope launch posts…

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