Not to many Pictures of Snowbird

I didn't take to many pictures this year at Snowbird. Here is a mountain that is just northwest of the Iron Blossom were we stay. It was really beautiful up there. This is the first time I have spent time sitting by the pool reading. It actually took some self-discipline to just relax. I felt like I should be out doing something active all the time.

I went for a hike and saw this beautiful flower.

"Come on Opa, help us escape"

First Day of School

Well, I am once again a student. I had two classes today and they went well. I think the Doc students teaching them were more nervous than us. There is a lot of reading but the assignments don't seem to overwhelming, but ask me in a month and I may have a different opinion. So, since my sister posted a picture of my nephew, Adam, on his first day I thought I would post a picture of myself on my first day of school.

Swimming the English Channel

This summer I started swimming half a mile twice a week for exercise. I set a goal to swim a mile and my dad and I did! It wasn't as tiring as I had envisioned; I felt like I could of kept going. Only 20 miles more and I would of swam the distance of the English Channel.

Summer Fun

Well, I have been a bit of a lazy blogger this summer. In fact, I have been a bit lazy in a lot of areas of my life. So, to catch up any one that reads my blog I have filmed myself doing an interpretive dance of my summer. So, get the popcorn, get comfortable, and ready, set, ACTION.

Well, the interpretive dance didn't turn out so well so I will just write about my exciting life. School ended May 20. So, I am officially a retired school teacher without the retirement benefits. To start off my retirement I headed to Seattle and spent 12 days with my niece, Greta, and nephew, Evan. Occasionally, I would make time for their parents too. When I got back to Colorado/Wyoming I started working for my dad in his pediatric dentistry practice. I am...a professional scanner now. My dad's office is going paperless but before that happens I get the exciting and thrilling opportunity to scan the documents into the computer. It is monotonous but I am glad I have a job that gives me a little extra money.

Now, some of you may be wondering why I retired so young. No, I didn't not win the lottery or rob a bank. I started University of Wyoming Grad school on June 15. In the fall I will be going full time. So, this summer I was required to take 2 courses. The first was Ethics and the second one, which I am finishing up, is Theories of Counseling and Pyschodyanmics. I have really enjoy being the student instead of the teacher. My goal is to have my masters in the spring of 2011. I am also playing on a soccer team in Ft. Collins and so far we are 4-1. My brother, Owen, and I also found time to bike a 20 mile loop that was beautiful but a killer workout. Just like Lance Armstrong we are going to attempt it again. Maybe not 8 times but twice, which is quite an accomplishment for us. Then in two weeks I will be crossing the Zion Curtain and going to Snowbird for a family reunion. Overall, it has not been an exciting summer of fighting Ninja and traveling to various spots of the earth, but it has been a nice summer that has allowed me to relax in a different way.

My Colon cleansing adventure

About a month ago, I was saw an infomercial about a colon cleansing. The doctor selling the product claimed that we have waste throughout our bodies and that the colon cleanser would totally clean out your whole body. Even though I was interested in the product I was not interested in spending my money. Some of my aunts and uncles use "Isogenics" to help with their weight. A few years back my parents bought some of the product from my uncle. So, I thought I would investigate to see if my parents had any colon cleanser from Isogenics. Just my luck they had some bottles but the expiration date had expired. Since I am a Leonard and it was in a sealed bottle I thought I would try it anyway.

My sister thought I would have the runs if I tried it but I thought it would be worth it for a day because I was convinced that afterwards I would feel like a new woman. The directions said to mix 4oz with 80z of water and do this four times in a day. I chose the berry flavored cleanser to be the first to make it ways into my body. I opened the bottle and instantly caught a whiff of the stuff...I shiver just thinking about it. The liquid was a dark brown. I wasn't sure if this was because it had expired or this was it's normal color. My parents weren't home so I decided I would go for it and hope for the best (Alexis, you think I would learn).

I started to drink and thought this isn't so bad. I was half way done with the glass and took a pause in drinking and that's when it hit me...the after taste. Drive heaves followed. But I was determined to finish so I did and then made my way next to the toilet expecting to throw up. Once I got my gag reflex under control, I drank 32 oz of water. Rather than just stopping with one glass, I forced myself to complete the other three glasses throughout the day. It was torture. It was so disgusting. I decided that I was not going to do it another day even though the directions said to do it two days in a row. After four glasses of that #%*& I had had enough. And to top it all off I found out it was not a colon cleanser but a diuretic. Good thing it is Fast Sunday soon.

My family's response to my experiment.

• Water and apple juice will clean out your colon
• That is why we have fast Sunday
• Although they did not verbalize this I am sure they thought I was CRAZY
  

Graduating from Highland High School at the age of 84

On Sunday, May 17, my high school held graduation. Part of the ceremony was awarding Lupe Vigil, an 84 yr. WWII Vet, his honorary High School Diploma. Fox News was there and the story was broadcasted in New York and Spokane along with Colorado. It was really neat to witness this historic event for Lupe. Click on his name to see the news clip. LUPE

Wedgie = Extra Credit

At our last track meet one of my athletes was laying down in the grass. Like many boys, he had his pants down low and his underwear showing. After trying to convince a couple of girls, I finally got a boy to agree to my devious plan. I said "Robert, I will give you extra credit if you give James a Wedgie." Robert agreed, gave James a wedgie, and took off running. It was so funny.