Friend Makin' Monday -#4- Fourth of July Style!

So I know that it's now Tuesday but as I am so into holidays I couldn't pass this Friend Makin' Monday up!

What are you doing this July 4th?

I am heading up to South Lake Tahoe where I'll be helping my mom and my dad pack up the house where my dad is still currently living so the renters can move in come the following Monday.

On the evening of the 4th, we'll head on down to the lake to watch the spectacular explosion of fireworks.

What is your favorite dish to pass when attending a 4th of July party or summer barbecue?

Last year was the first Fourth of July barbecue I'd ever been to and I havn't been to many other barbecues either (as much as I love them!) So I really don't have a favorite dish that I bring.

Do you have any July 4th traditions?

Every year I've watched fireworks. Years ago I even went to the extreme of making my mom drive out and sit on the side of the freeway just so we could watch some.

The past 4 years though (this will be the 5th) we've watched fireworks on Lake Tahoe. It is the biggest fireworks display on the west coast that lasts about 30 minutes and is orchestrated to music on the local radio station. It's incredible! It's been recognized in sunset magazine(along with many others, in newspapers across the country and all over the internet as one of the top 5 fireworks displays in the country. Thousands of people come (it, along with New Years are the two biggest and most crowded days in South Lake Tahoe.)

Share your favorite July 4th picture.

Along with my stolen camera were all my Fourth of July pictures from numerous past years including the entire set of pictures I took of the fireworks last Fourth of July for my digital photography class. I luckily saved a couple on a USB that I still have.

These are a few pictures from July 4th, 2008 that I took over Lake Tahoe.

(The boat in the pictures is the Tahoe Queen.)

Missed and Never Forgotten - Teri

It's been a year since this incredible woman ended her battle with liver cancer when she flew to Heaven.

Happy One Year in Heaven Teri.

You're greatly missed.

Picture by Lyrica Allmeroth

Wordless Wednesday -#12

My poppies from Eva have started sprouting!!

My Best Shot Monday - #10

A week and a half ago or so my mom and I went to my godmother's son's high school graduation. On our drive back home we stopped to take pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge.

It really is a beautiful structure.

Dear Dad, Happy Father's Day

Dear Dad,

I know that though we certainly don't always see eye to eye and that we've become masters at pushing each other's buttons, I appreciate everything you've done for me (and realize I don't tell you that enough). You've always tried your best and in all honesty, that's the best someone could ask for. You've always loved me and are quick to jump if someone or something is threatening your family and the people you care about.

I know that as I've grown up we've drifted apart but I will always have the wonderful memories of hanging on your legs with sis as you walked in the front door at night, of exploring mountains and lakes with you each weekend, of sitting in your lap and folding myself into you and your big grey jacket to escape the cold, of "camping" under the stars, of spending hours in the pool with you during the summers, of playing games, of you helping me with homework (you always amaze me with the expanse of your book smarts) and on stepping on your feet as you taught me to dance in the living room.

I hope with all my heart that when I start living with you again that we can step back, agree to disagree and know that often the reason we have such a difficult time getting along is because we're so similar and see so much of ourselves in each other.

I admire that as awful of a childhood that you had, that you continue to try to have a relationship with your father. It's allowed me to attempt to know the only grandfather I've ever known. I know that someday you'll be an incredible grandfather to my and sis' children.

I'm also incredibly thankful I get to spend father's day with you. I enjoyed going to the farmer's market and to the pancake breakfast watching you bob your head to the music playing. I'm glad I got the chance to spend the entire day with you as you're spending the night and didn't have to leave halfway through the day as you do most Sundays. I loved going to the movies (The Proposal) with you and having you tell me how much you loved watching sis and I laugh throughout the movie.

I love you with all my heart and am glad to call you mine.

Happy Father's Day!

Love,

K.

Creative Photography

This slideshow of portrait shots of two little girls is stunning and incredibly creative! 

Watch it here - trust me, it's worth it!

So You Think You Can Dance - Crash Test Dummies

So after watching So You Think You Can Dance tonight I realized I never uploaded this video from last week's episode as I'd meant to. 

This is Ashley Valerio and Kupono Aweau preforming Jazz style dance. 

The music is "Felt Mountain by Goldfrapp" and the choreographer is Wade Robson.

The point of the dance was that they were crash test dummies and the guy was one that was blown-up/beaten/torn and the girl was one that was new/beautiful/perfect.

One word to sum up this dance. Unknown. or Jaw-Dropping.

It was so different from anything I've ever seen and after adjusting to how different it was for a moment, I loved it!

It moved me unexpectedly.

If you havn't seen it - here it is!

Any thoughts?

Wordless Wednesday -#11

(Not quite) WordLESS Wednesday

So I'm off my feet for a few days as I just had ingrown toenail removal surgery. It was on both sides of both of my big toes. 7 needles, lots of gauze, an aftercare instruction sheet and 2 stylish medical boots later (along with some Tylenol with Codeine and Benadryl after the pain kicked in) and here's how I'll be spending the rest of the evening.

Friend Makin' Monday -#3

So this Friend Makin' Monday the topic is confessions. Head on over to Kasey's to see what everyone confessed!

You ready? Here are mine:

1. I have emetophobia. 

For those still trying to pronounce the word, that's a phobia (fear) of throwing up. Not just myself doing it but anyone or anything that has to do with the sight, smell, taste, sound. idea or even memory of it. And I'm not only afraid of it, I literally freak out! I have been known to have full on panic attacks surrounding it. I don't remember going a day (even when I was really young) without the fear being there. I'm also a lot better about it then I used to be-I used to go on full alert when someone simply said the words.

2. I want to work in a pediatric oncology ward in spite of having emetophobia.

Heh, I'm still working out the logistics on this one...

3. Speaking of fear-I'm afraid of fires.

I'm not afraid of candles or even fires in the fireplace but I'm incredibly afraid of house and wildfires. The first memory I can remember based around this was when a classmate's house burned down. My house was the next in line to be evacuated and many of my friends lost their homes to the Angora Fire in Lake Tahoe in 2007 which lasted from June 24th to July 2nd.

4. I once had a pair of mating dragonflies land on me.

I was camping one year when I was out swimming and two dragonflies landed on my arm. I took me a minute to figure out why they were connected together the way they were!

5. I love planning more than the reality of doing things.

I love to make extensive plans about everything, from exercise scheduling to organizing a room, but I have a hard time following through with them. I'll often end up at the results I want but I never get there the way I planned.

6. I love campfires. 

I started going to summer camps from the time I was a year old. I went to summer camps up until the time I was 13 when I started working at them. I know a hundred or so camp songs and love singing them at the top of my lungs while roasting marshmallows around a fire for the delicious and very gooey S'mores.

7. I have many favorites.

Some may call me indecisive but I can't pick favorites. My favorite color, song, movie, number and shirt change from day to day and often many times in a day.

8. I am awful about phone calls.

I don't know what it is but I have rarely pick up the phone to call people. If it's in an email it feels like a lot less work (as impersonal as it is).

9. I don't think I will ever be able to dye my hair.

I have a couple natural blonde streaks in my hair that I love and would be sad without them.

 

10. I spend way too much time online in blog-land.

'Nuff said. =]

What are your confessions?

My Best Shot Monday - #9

Hot Air Balloon and Sidewalk Art Festivals!

My day today started out at 4:00 AM. We headed out in the dark to a nearby park and staked out  seats in the wet grass. This morning was the Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Classic. Starting at 5 the balloons started filling up. Throughout the morning (5-8 AM) 30 balloons, from all over the country, were filled and let off. It was incredible! Then in the afternoon we headed over to San Rafael for the Italian Street Art Festival. We walked around and looked at huge pieces of sidewalk paintings. The artists (from all over the world) had only been working for 5 or 6 hours and some of them had already finished. (The rest are set to finish by late tomorrow afternoon.) One spot was set aside for kids though that had 1 ft x 1 ft squares that kids (some were as young as 2) were allowed to purchase to use.

 We also stopped by to say hi to my cousin who was one of the artists! 

I'm planning on getting up early again tomorrow for the second launch of the balloons!

Throughout the day I took 468 photos!! I've included some of my favorites from both events.

Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Classic

-Dawn Patrol-

-The Giant Purple People Eater and the Energizer Bunny-

-"Sushi" the fish (one of my favorites)-

-The Energizer Bunny is the tallest balloon in the country!-

-The Giant Purple People Eater (another favorite of mine)-

The Italian Street Art Festival

-My cousin and her piece-

-These guys were creating a collage of a man out of hundreds of colored squares-

-This is one of the kids squares that I enjoyed-

-This was my favorite piece, the blending was incredible!-

-Some of the kids squares were really good-

Wordless Wednesday -#10

A sculpture around 20 feet tall that as a whole spun in the wind.

Have a magical day =].

A Badger?

I was at a farmer's market one night last week and as I passed a tent that was sent up to sell annual passes to the state parks in the area when this little guy caught my eye. They had numerous animals (dead and stuffed) set up-including a coyote and a river otter. I saw this guy and had no idea what animal it was. Apparently it's a badger! They looked quite different then the only badger's I'd ever seen (which I'll admit were only ones in cartoons I watched growing up). I just loved the ears and expression on this sweet looking animal. Although I must admit that the 3-inch-long claws were a bit intimidating!

My Best Shot Monday - #8

Week-End Wordless #2