We are currently on our flight back home. It has been an active visit.

But lets start at the beginning….Wed was spent fighting with the dang scanner part of our printer. There must have been a stupid Microsoft update because my laptop is no longer communicating with it, BUT yet I have no issue with the printer and copier part of it. I am so pissed off by it.

I discovered a few days prior when I was trying to scan our passports just so our family has them on record in case something happens to us when we visit other countries….who knows what would happen when we visit Canada…….LOL….crazy canucks…..grin It is just recommended that your family members have it for emergencies. Well, it wouldn’t be that big of deal…I would just figure it out when we got home…BUT then I needed to scan something for business and it was time sensitive….ggrrr On the day that I need to be tieing up loose ends and finish packing….that really pissed me off.

I ended up heading down to Kinko’s just to get the paperwork scanned…I hate dealing with pc setups that aren’t mine. I feel like an idiot, but I got it done and emailed off.

We actually slept Wed night, which is surprising. We really get to sleep the night before a trip because our brains won’t stop and then we are getting up early….like 03:30…icks. But we did do much better than normal, if we just had about 2 more hours it would’ve been perfect. And we got out on time….

This was our 1st time leaving PDX without being dropped off. We ended up finding parking ok, even with all the construction and had plenty of time to spare. When Torn booked the flight instead of ending in Minneapolis, we took another 26min flight on to Duluth and saved 3 hrs of driving….not a bad trade off…even with the quick walk from one end of the airport to the other. We liked using the small airports like Duluth, they may not have much, but there is so much less hassle.

Then we had about 2 more hours of driving and got there in decent time. Dropped everything off at the hotel, refreshed and went off to visit.

Torn’s mom made stuffed shells, which I love and had been thinking about….lol…so that was excellent. Boy, the river is majorly up…….I’ve only been up there a few times, but even I can see how high. And driving around their area we saw more deer then we ever have in all the trips we have taken together up there…..took to counting them…..within the 17 miles from their place to our hotel…one night over 60, then 37…but it went down as time went depending on weather.

When we checked the weather before we left, we saw that it was suppose to be overcast and rainy the whole time. But we got a really nice day Friday. Ironically, that was the day we went on a mine tour that went half mile underground………lol Got to see bats and see how we would never survive as miners…icks….that was horrible work.

Saturday was the rainy overcast…..ironically, it was the day we went to International Falls..so since we were outside, it was rainy…when we were in the mine it was shiny….LOL…only to us. But I got my national park passport stamped. =) Later that night as we were sitting and chatting it started to snow and then started to come down hard….must have gotten 2 inches, on May 10th!!! Crazy….wasn’t even fully melted when we got up the next morning.

The winter has lasted much longer than usual. The trees were barely getting buds on them….so MN wasn’t as green as it normally is at this time of year. And we also noticed something we never did, the woods there look “young”. I know that there is logging in Oregon and not too far from Portland, but where we live within the housing area and the surrounding parks you can tell the trees have been there for many years, may not be ancient but not new. While MN, especially where we were, has been logged so many times that the trees never get the true growth. You can even see the differences in the old pictures of the logs….they are so much thicker from years ago. Kind of sad.

Sunday we went to see the falls. We’ve seen them every time we visit, but never get tired of them. It is so cool to see the power of mother nature in the river. It is something else. When we got back from there Torn’s dad took up to one of the big hills near their property. It had been logged a couple of years ago but it was growing good. We got caught up in the under bush and found dear trails everywhere…..lol But the view from the top of the hill was worth it. It was great.

We got back to the hotel earlier then we the last few nights. We still had to get things packed up or I would be stressing it….lol Plus, I had to call mom for Mother’s Day….we can’t get a signal from Torn’s parents place….but she did get my card in time. =)

It was a good visit, playing catch up, Torn showing things on his folks pc to them. His dad got a newer model of the olympus that I have. It is really nice and he gets some pretty good pictures.

Can’t wait to get home because I had more work then I even want to think about…icks…I’m already stressing that and the gym. I have got to work my ass off on the treadmill tomorrow. We did some good hikes, but not enough to make up for my diet being blown…..grrr That is ok, I’ll get it back tomorrow, but I’m afraid of how bad I’m going to be when I have my session with my trainer Wednesday. =( Wish me luck, I’m going to need it.

We still have about 2hours left on our flight, I think I’m going to look over some the pictures that I took but haven’t checked out. Then maybe a power nap, if I can get comfortable.

**Now home playing catch up…. I really hope I have time for a post tomorrow.

Current Mood: Amused

Top mistakes men make in bed

MISTAKING PORN FOR REALITY

Just because I’m double-jointed doesn’t mean I’m capable (or willing) of twisting my body in all sorts of crazy ways. A lot of men forget that porn stars get a lot more practice than women in real life do and that it’s just plain nuts to try to imitate a lot of things they see on television. While I’m all for using my imagination in the bedroom, there is a line thin between a flexible woman and a porn star.

MAKING ME DO ALL THE WORK WHEN I’M ON TOP

I love being on top but that doesn’t mean that I love to grunt and groan and get a mean workout while he just lies there. It especially gets on my nerve when I see him cross his arms behind his head and just lay there with a smirk on his face! I know this is my time to shine, but would you mind showing some appreciation? Caress my body, manhandle my boobs—do anything that shows that you’re alive!

NOT BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHEN I WANT PLAIN OL’ MISSIONARY

Again, I’m up for experimenting, but sometimes I just want sex, old-school style. And you should be able to read my mind when I do.

NOT KISSING FIRST

If I’m not getting paid to have sex with you (just kidding), I expect to be treated with love and respect and kissing is a big part of it! I understand your carnal desire to strip me of my clothing and take me right then and there, but sneaking in at least one passionate smooch is a must.

BITING MY NIPPLES

My breasts love being played with, but they’re still a very sensitive part of my body and some men tend to forget that. Please handle with caution!

FINISHING TOO SOON OR NOT FINISHING SOON ENOUGH

I’ve come to expect that the first round will be quick and usually more about him than me; that’s why I look forward to rounds two (and three) with a lot of anticipation. If I’m letting you pass on the first try, you better make sure I get my share the second time around. But, pumping away like a jackhammer doesn’t necessarily do it for me, either. So, find that happy medium that will rock both out worlds!

ATTEMPTING ANAL SEX AND PRETENDING IT WAS AN ACCIDENT

Ahhh… if I had a nickel for every time a guy attempted this one. If you want to go that route, ask! I may or may not say yes, but don’t try to sneak it in. It never works.

**This was posted on a board that I surf……….thought it would give some of the guys food for thought……lol

Current Mood: Reflective

Alright, I’ve had a few links I’ve been waiting to share that I found interesting.

Jeremiah Wright

**Now I think he is being selfish by causing more issues for Obama, but you know he is hell lot more of American then our lovely SOB of a Vice-President…..he actually gave UP his deferent from ‘Nam and served…I swear the ones who claimed to be a Patriot the loudest are just as bad as those who those who brag that they were in Special Forces or lie about combat when they weren’t. For those who don’t know, most guys who brag like that never did it. ….most men who have seen combat don’t normally going around bragging about it and don’t talk to non-combat folks about very much or easily. What do they say “Doth protest too much”?

Commentary: Wright issue will haunt conservative media elite 

**This writer is one of the few conservatives that I can agree with most of the time.  The media and the WHITE bible thumper are such hypocrites! Look at the pieces of crap Hagee and Robertson…..they are nothing but hate.

Move over, journalists: Jon Stewart is here

**I think this is great! And true. He actually will ask hard questions that none of the main stream will ask and do it in a way that everyone knows that we aren’t buying it……..grin

Inquiry: White House delaying chemical tests

**Does this surprise you? Sadly, it doesn’t me. =(

Picture Perfect

**I would love if they would banish the extreme airbrushing……..it is disgusting!  Talk about tearing women down even more in their already oversexed, low self-esteem.  I sure in the hell don’t want my nieces trying to achieve such false standards. …grggrrr….it is hard enough being a woman.

Afghanistan Firefight Heard On Voice Mail

**That is the type of phone call to make your heart stop.  =(

Exploring Portland’s far side 

**For those who don’t understand why we moved here……..this is perfect!

Smoking bans deter teens from starting habit 

**Hello!  DUH!!  Of course, if you don’t see it all the time and think it is normal you would be less likely to take it up…….it is obvious.

The plight of the older sibling

**This is another DUH article….lol   With more comments  :  No fair! Readers’ tales of sibling injustice

‘D.C. Madam’s’ suicide notes released 

**This so pisses me off!  They all went after her…what about the JOHNS!?! The ones that PAID for sex?!   Of course it is always a WOMAN’S fault….she is selling, never mind that many do it to survive….maybe if the MEN weren’t buying there wouldn’t be any selling?!?  NO the johns are free to go about their lives and get promotions……fuck them!

Current Mood: Happy

For those who have checked out my blog today :  katvixen.com/Blog  You will noticed that we have a great new design and toon…which we love.  There are still a few things that they are working on and changing for us….but I love it.  It came out even better then I hoped.

Current Mood: Beautiful Day

Today we had some stunning weather, I’m actually getting concerned on how we are going to deal with the summer since the place doesn’t have central air (not standard here in the NW).  We are going to have to get an air conditioner, but then I was looking at the window the other night and wondered how are we going to get it to work.   Our windows open side to side, not up and down….normally when you put an air conditioner in the window comes down on it so to help hold it in…..but then it has been years since I’ve had to deal with a window air conditioner, so maybe they have changed how you do it…..

My arms are finally feeling a little better, they have been hurting better much since Friday’s workout.  I had difficulty even lifting cat food when I picked it up from the store…icks  My trainer really worked them.   He is good.  I just wish I can jump to July to see what shape I will be in by then…..I’m probably building my expections up, but I’m hoping…..

I pretty much didn’t do much yesterday and today work wise, did maybe extreme basic stuff for about an hour each day.  Which is kind of weird, because on one hand it is the perfect time to get to things that I can’t get to during the week, but at the same time I’ve gotten into “weekend” mode….don’t want to do work crap on the weekend when dealing with people….and I’ve worked like 80% of weekend in my life, so I am use to it.

Tomorrow, I need to take time in the evening and start with some of our packing for Minnesota….it will take me a day or so, just because we are trying to minimize as much as possible.

Yesterday wasn’t as nice, it was the normal spring rain….which sucked in that I like to do my walk on Saturdays since I attack cleaning around the house on Sundays.. but I did get my walk in today, even after adding in scrubbing the bath tub on to my to do list.    My walks are also great on me taking time to call my family, so got to play catch up with my sister and folks.  Of course, I took the camera my walk…way too many flowers out there not to.   =)

Folks around here plant a lot of these kind of flowers.

I love the brightness of the yellows.

I know I have a bunch of these pictures, but I’ve never seen so many flowering trees in one area and I LOVE how they contrast against the blue sky.

I don’t remember seeing this before.

I thought these were cool looking.

Mt. Hood from the main road.

I don’t need to wait until Fall to get bright leaf colors.

Not a bad view from our house, is it?  =)

Just got done watching the Derby….The Run for the Roses….it was a good race until it ended… We were pulling for Eight Belles and you could see that couldn’t catch Big Brown but she did very well…then she broke both her front ankles. =( For those who followed what happened to Barbaro, leg breaks are pretty much a death sense for a horse…..and that is what it was for her, she was euthanized right on the track after collapsing. Of course, I’m still crying…….it is HORRIBLE to see a horse go down….I still can’t handle the replays on Barbaro’s break.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/05/03/bc.us.rac.kentuckyderby.belles.ap/index.html?eref=T1 

Hopefully, there will be no tragedies in the Preakness and Belmont.

Current Mood: Exhausted

Wow, my brain is fried.  Been working hard the last few days……finally “caught up” on payroll and my daily activities, but have a big project that I need to get done for the bosses tomorrow.  At least I can start on that with a clean slate and then I need to attack our check books….a never ending battle.

What I would like to get done this weekend is to update my stuff for my family.  I went through the other day and got some of my folders cleaned up and did up some picture galleries, now I just need time to put up the links.  I also need to start going through our travel bathroom stuff…we would really love to minimize it as much as possible for our trip out to Minnesota.  We would like to be able to travel with only 1 check in…..that is the goal.

Torn has been working with the designers on for my blog.  I’m getting anxious…..can’t wait to have it all together.  We have doing something with it that we haven’t done yet….I want to say, but I also want to wait until it is all done.

Current Mood: Chilling

Today has been kind of rough….not really work wise and anything major. I just work up very irritable…..every little thing annoyed me. Even my noisy cat annoyed me and I usually don’t have any problem her.

I went to look over support tickets and I just wanted to smack people. I’m tired of seeing the same tickets over and over. Then some people are so annoying and stupid…..gggrrrr Most of the time it isn’t an issue, but today…..not a good one.

I finally motivated myself to go tanning, afterwards drove around in the area looking for more walking places and then when I came home attacked the weekly cleaning to help take the edge off. It helped some……not much.

I got some things done, no where what I wanted to do this weekend……but what else is new. I did ok yesterday on getting things accomplished so I guess that isn’t too bad.

I did get my walk yesterday, it was warm out….a bright overcast……

We do have some of the older taller trees near our neighborhood.

People love to plant such pretty flowers in their yards. I would love to have a yard for us to do that….doesn’t have to be a big one, just sunny.

I like the contrast with the blue/purple flowers in the background.

Believe it or not, but this is one tree…..I kept looking at the trunk to see if it was 2 different trees, but it wasn’t. I didn’t know that one tree could have 2 very different flowers.

These are the trees that I took pictures of over a week ago. When they were nothing but white flowers.

Just one last picture for the day. =)

Understanding Black Patriotism

**I’m glad to see this article in our weekly Time magazine. This really explains how I pretty much see the “crap” that keeps coming up about Obama’s pastor. It really explains the differences between how white and black in the US see and deal with our history and politics. It is sad that flag wearing in your face patriots don’t get it…..as far as I’m concerned you are not much of American if you accept everything blindly and refuse to see our warts and faults and question the establishment.

Current Mood: Chilling

The personal trainer that I started told me last week that she was thinking of moving to Arizona due to family, but that she wanted to finish out her clients. I was thinking, well, this sucks, but at least I have time to think of who I want if I was going to continue it. Then the next session, find out that my last day with her was this past Monday! Icks!

Talk about short notice. But by that time Torn and I discussed who I wanted to go with. After being there for a few months, we’ve had a chance to observe the different trainers and we were in agreement, that there was only one of them that I was willing to try. When we have watched him with his clients you can see that he pays very close attention to their form and the proper way of doing things. Which is great, because I didn’t want someone who doesn’t pay attention and then you hurt yourself and you don’t get the proper workout. Looking at this guy, you can tell he takes his workouts serious.

So the only issue with my other trainer leaving was to make sure that I got who we wanted and the morning area for the workouts. It was pretty much if I didn’t get it, then I’m breaking my contract…..because my contract was with the trainer that was leaving. Well, it ended up working out and I got the trainer and got to keep my timeslot, which I didn’t think I would.

Today was my 1st day with my new trainer and DAMN! Did he work my ass off. I was sweating like I haven’t sweat since Florida and my legs were major jelly. But I did expect him to push me even further. My other trainer would have me work on chest with leg work on Mon, back and legs on Wed and then Friday put it all together. My new trainer was all legs today…..wow…..boy, am I out of shape. Of course, what pisses me off is my dang feet still hurt at times. =(

Things happen for a reason, I believe it did for my other trainer when she decided to move and it did for me. She had pushed me and got me started, but I believe that the new one I have will push me to the next level. Which includes working on my food intake. I had already got my intact down to 2000 calories a day, but he wants me to get to 1500-1800 to get a hit on the fat part and push my cardo on my non-trainer days. Because I lost maybe 4# and an inch on my hips….not my waist, but I did lost 1% fat….so that was good. But not what I really wanted to see after a month.

Here are some of the pictures from our trip to the park last week.

Nikon Pictures

Olympus Pictures

These are from the freak hail we got on the 14th : Crazy Hail Storm

Report: Saudi Women Stuck in ‘Permanent Childhood’

**This is just demeaning and sick! A female widow has to answer to a 17yr son….legally?!? That is so screwed up…..gggrrrr

U.S. Guns Arming Mexican Drug Gangs; Second Amendment to Blame?

**Yes, I’m a gun owner and I believe in the 2nd Amendment…..but damn, it is within reason. That is no background checks and being able to buy as many as they want?!? Then they wonder why the violence and drugs can get into the US easier? The Mexican government can’t keep up with the drug cartels partial due to being outgunned…..sad.

Former DOJ Official Yoo Refuses to Testify

**Now why doesn’t this surprise me? He was a piece of crap that has helped this administration to put a black eye on the US….

Current Mood: Chilling

Well, the last 2 days was me playing catch up on things that I’ve ignored Thurs/Fri…..good that I got those caught up, but I still need to get my messages. I would’ve gotten to them, but we had a small tech emergency with the company I work for. Thankfully, our techs are great and got it taken care of.

We just got done watching the final of the John Adams mini series. It was extremely well done. We were impressed with how authentic that they progressed everyone with age and even showed how their teeth got worst with time. It has been a few years since I read that book, so I had to keep googling names and relations…..Wikipedia is GREAT for info.

It has been VERY weird on the weather here. We have had thunder, lightening, hail, snow, rain and sunshine…..each day. Starting at 500ft elevation and up they have been getting snow that sticks. Mt Hood, was suppose to get 8-10 inches. We had gotten hit with a jet stream from Alaska.

Is Army giving inferior guns to U.S. troops?

**This does not surprise me. The government is great at the no-bid contracts….gggrrr They never stop and think that there may be something better out there.  But personally, I smell a lobbyist or a political cronyism….I’m just too cynical.

Barkley’s legacy continues to evolve

**If he goes on to become mayor of his home town, it will be fascinating.   He speaks a lot of common sense truths on issues.