Favorite quotes

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the Sleep Talking Man website:

"Oompa loompas don't sing in heaven. They tidy up the clouds."

"Legs time! Everybody get your legs!"

"I haven't put on weight. Your eyes are fat."

"Elephant trunks should be used for elephant things only. Nothing else."

"I can't control the kittens. Too many whiskers! Too many whiskers!"

"Hey, don't... don't say anything. Why don't you put it in an email, then I can ignore it at my pleasure."

"My badger's gonna unleash hell on your ass. Badgertastic!"

"Don't leave the duck there. It's totally irresponsible. Put it on the swing. It will have much more fun"

"Falling in love is WONDERFUL. Especially when it's with me."

Visit their website. It's pretty funny! http://sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com/

Lightning strikes...and the thunder rolls

A storm knocked out our internet for several days...but now that we are back online, here's what happened this week:

Last night I went to bed early, because I wasn’t feeling well. Not sick, exactly, just uneasy. I figured I was just tired and would feel better in the morning. But I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed tossing and turning for several hours with a nagging feeling that something was about to happen. I seriously considered calling my family, afraid that something might be wrong there. But it was late. It had to be the intense thunder and lightning storm raging outside that was putting me on edge, right? Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen.

About 12:30am, still unable to sleep, I got up to unplug our laptop from the wall outlet. I was worried that a lightning strike might hit nearby and cause a power surge that could fry it. That must have been what was bothering me, right? Tragic foreshadowing. Then I went back to bed and actually fell asleep this time. About 1:00am, a huge lightning strike hit. The light was so brilliant and the bang so loud and so instantaneous that Michael and I both bolted up out of bed. So did Anne. We chatted about it for a bit then Anne and Scott went back to bed. Michael went out for a smoke and then back to bed. There was no chance of me going to sleep. I was still on edge. Besides, there was a good episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on TV.

Ten minutes later, I went out for a cigarette of my own. And the house across the street was on fire. Smoke was billowing out from under the roof. I ran back in the house and shouted to Michael. He got Anne and Scott up. They started calling 911 while Michael and I threw on shoes and clothes and ran across the street to see if anyone was still in the house. Smartly, whoever had been in the house had left their door open when they left, which told us no one was in there. Still, we shouted and shouted but got no response. Michael wanted to run in and check the rooms, but I wasn’t about to let him or anyone else run in there with no indication that someone was inside. All we could do was coax the dogs away from the house. That’s when we saw the first flames licking through the roof. At that point it was all over. A few minutes later the homeowners showed up. They had been down the street at the neighbors probably using their phone. 20 minutes later the first fire truck came. Over the next 2 hours, fire trucks continued to arrive as we watched the house burn to the ground.

We believe the house was struck by lightning and suspect that it was the metal roof that attracted it.

Here’s video:

And the house the next morning:

Pics from Chris!

Pics from Chris at Christmas lighting!

Jake, Jill, Chris, Bri, Vanna, and Seth

Chris and Jake

Chris, Jill, Bri, Vanna, and Seth on the frozen river.

Sleep Talkin' Man

This is funny: Sleep Talkin' Man


-E

Much has happened since my last blog post. I was able to get away from the ranch for a week and fly to Leavenworth to be with Michael. It was great to see Anita and Sue and Robyn and everyone at the Gingerbread Factory. Well, not quite everyone...Lisa was flying to Boston for a funeral as I was flying to Seattle. I was originally supposed to go and work at the Gingerbread Factory in October, but since I couldn't be there, Michael spent the last several weeks picking up the slack for me. He really worked his butt off. No, literally. He lost like 10 pounds.

It was a whirlwind trip. We were only in Leavenworth for 3 days, and we spent all of it in the midst of the craziness that is the Gingerbread Factory. We did sneak away to watch Christmas Lighting with Michael's brother Chris, his girlfriend Jill, and their kids, who climbed out onto the 3rd floor balcony of the Hotel Europa and lit themselves up with lights.

Here are the pictures:





We spent the next few days in Seattle cramming in multiple doctor's appointments and last-minute shopping. We were lucky enough to see Vanna in concert. This girl can really play the sax! She and Michael had called me a few weeks earlier so she could play Edelweiss over the phone. And it was really good! That is, until she bust up laughing half way through...

Live from Lake Stevens Middle School! It's Vanna Murphy on the sax:

"Low Rider"

"Play That Funky Music"

Then we were back on the plane headed to Idaho. I was so happy to have Michael with me. He brightens my day. We had a beautiful White Christmas. Mom had waited for Michael and I to decorate the tree. She wanted it "professionally done." And it turned out absolutely beautiful. I sang at the church for Christmas Eve to a full house. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of being home for 2 months aside from taking care of my dad and feeling, well, useful again....was singing at the church. The Malad Presbyterian Church has a very small, aging congregation... and no Reverend. But each week more people were coming to hear me sing. It was great to sing again for the Lord and for such an appreciative group of people. I love that church, and I'm not particularly religious.

On a side note...one morning Mom and I were sitting at the kitchen table having coffee and Michael came in. He immediately went for the coffee. But before that, he noticed that the paper towels were out and replaced the roll. Then he got his coffee and proceeded outdoors for a smoke. But before that, he noticed the garbage needed a new lining and replaced the lining. Then he went outside for his morning smoke and coffee ritual. I turned to my mom and said, "You know. I have dated other guys who were smart and funny and charming, like Michael. But none of them would have done what he just did." And it's true. It just wouldn't have occurred to them to do those things. But Michael did it without even being asked. What a sweetheart.

So, now it's January 6th, and we are in Alabama with Anne & Scott. I always look forward to visiting them. They genuinely seem excited to see us, and it is just so comfortable to be here. We all love to sit around and comment loudly on HGTV. I have long had a fear of overstaying my welcome with people. I just hate that feeling when you realize that someone doesn't want you around anymore. But I never feel that way here.

Cheers,
E