Fox Attacks!

I came across this interesting website...check it out and decide for yourself what you think. www.foxattacks.com. It is thought invoking, provoking and inciting to say the least. It really makes you wonder how reliable our "trusted" news sources are. We expect US Weekly, People, and the like to skew the truth...but our main news channels? It's slightly disturbing...but, you decide for yourself.

The Greatest Event EVER!

John Ascuaga's Nugget holds the single greatest event in Nevada...the Rib Cookoff. It occupied so much of my time this week. I ended up going Wednesday night, Thursday night, and Saturday afternoon. However, I was given ribs at work on Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon. So I added it up, I have eaten 4 racks of ribs, 1 chocolate dipped frozen banana on a stick, 1 chocolate dipped frozen strawberries and bananas on a stick, an ear of corn (fabulous), a huge onion ring, a strawberry-banana-mango smoothie, 2 large fresh squeezed lemonades, and
a frozen soco and lime. Not to mention the hamburger Jose (above) made me today that was smothered in some B-B-Q sauce he purchased at the rib cookoff. I think I might have met my rib quota for the year...but I can't wait for next year. (Aussom Aussies are the best and always will be in my book.)

Is That Mark Summers?

We almost didn't go to the Kiluea Fish Market for lunch today. But, Matt decided he really wanted some poke (pronounced "pokey") which is raw ago marinated in soy sauce. So, we went. As Matt ate his poke salad and I my teriyaki barbeque chicken, I hear this annoying man talking to another, quieter man. No big deal right? Well, probably because this man was pretty annoying, I began paying closer and closer attention to them. Glancing at the quieter man, I say to Matt, "he looks alot like Mark Summers from the food network last night". Now, the quiet man speaks and holy crap...Its Mark Summers!!! That was the last thing we expected to find at the fish market!!!! Another thing we found was some AMAZING ahi. Matt says it's the best he's EVER had. That was our exciting thing for today. Tomorrow is our 3rd anniversary and we celebrate with a helicopter tour of the island. Pictures to come!

Kalalau Valley

We drove to the end of Waimea Canyon Rd. and this is what we found, Kalaulau Valley. According to our snorkeling captain, this was the location of the largest native Kauaiian colony. This was years ago though, long before the island was discovered by foriegners. We took a mile hike (oneway) to the far side of the top of the mountain. It wasn't too bad until it started getting really muddy and almost vertical ascent. We made it though! We came back and promptly ate 2 PB&Js each. It's been a great vacation so far...and the best part is it's only half over!!! Yay for another week on Kauai!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

I present to you the wild rooster/chicken. You read correct, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of wild chickens on the island of Kauai. It is actually a fineable offense to hit one with your car!

Hula!!!

The girl who looks topless is me, and no I am not really topless, I am wearing a bikini top. I assure you all modesty has not gone out the Hawaiian grass window. We were driving through a town called Kapa'a on our way back from Ke'e beach and Hanalei, when we saw what looked like a farmers market. We decided to check it out and it turned out to be a hula competition. And with usual Hastings style, we walked in on the "visitors" hula competition which both Matt and I were promptly chosen to participate in. I think Matt faired pretty well, but I did not. Needless to say, we both lost, but it did prepare us for the luau later that night. (Where I was chosen yet again to dance, luckily not on stage. Matt was not as lucky and had to dance a Tahitian hula for men up on stage during the show...laughing may be inserted here. But seriously, he did very well and I have video as evidence!!)

Wailua Falls

Today we drove up to these beautiful falls. We also found a hidden, overgrown path that takes you to the edge of the falls. Of course we took a picture of each of us by the edge, just not with the iPhone. We also went to Lydgate State Park and did some free snorkeling. We saw some beautiful fish. I think I saw Dori from Finding Nemo. After that we both got a tasty beverage from the hotel poolside bar and soaked up some rays while napping at the pool. Vacations rock!!!! As usual, the really fantastic pictures are coming later when we can download the camera!

Snorkeling Hastings'!

To explain why these pictures aren't fantabulous...we didn't bring a computer, so all postings are done via email while in Hawaii, and the only way for us to do so is on the iPhone. This requires the picture to be taken with the iPhone. So the great pictures that we took while snorkeling this morning cannot be posted to my dismay, but they are coming, rest assured! However unfortunate, we had an amazing time snorkeling and sight seeing. We saw sea turtles, spinner dolphins, and flying fish. We also saw the phenomenal Napali Coast that is only accessable by boat or helicopter. No worries folks, we have plenty of pictures and even some short dolphin videos to come when we get back stateside. We miss everyone, but this vacation has been outstanding this far! More to come, so stay tuned!

Our Hotel

Sorry for the delay on a blog, but frankly I've been too busy sittin' on the beach drinkin mai tais. But, here is the first of many pictures from Kauai. We were walking back from getting an "Hawaiian Ice" across the street and I took this picture from the courtyard at our hotel. Yes, that is the ocean in the background. We can't swim off the beach at our hotel unfortunately, because the undertow is severe. But, we are very much enjoying our time here. But, stay tuned for more to come from various parts of Kauai, Hawaii!

Peepers

As Matt and I were preparing our yard to be neglected for 2 weeks, I heard a small peeping noise coming from above...This is what I found. Luckily, I was able to get a picture of it before the swarm of hornets attacked me. He's pretty cute if you ask me...I think I'll call him...Peepers.

I LOVE KAUAI!!!!!!!

Low and behold, our home for the next two weeks. Yes, 2 count 'em, 2 glorious weeks. Now don't be too jealous. There will definitely be more pictures to come, only taken from my camera, not just some stranger at a website! So, you can live vicariously through me...it'll be great, you'll see. Check back for more from Kauai!

Jessi's New Do (a la Reno)

BEFOREFor Jessi's 22nd Birthday, I got her a makeover...I think its fairly obvious from her face that she loves her new look. Its almost as if it gives her an extra boost of confidence. And rightfully so!
AFTER!!!!!

Oh, and she donated all that lovely hair to "locks of love." Which hits close to home, with our mom being a breast cancer survivor...GO MOM!

Theresa's New Do!

I went to the hairdresser to get a perm, and at the last minute I decided just to chop it all off. I believe she took about 7 inches. Unlike my sister above, they wouldn't accept my hair for locks of love...something about a horrible box coloring job destroying my hair beyond donation quality. A word to the wise, stay away from the box, while easy, it destroys your hair, unless you live in a sub-tropical region. However, I live in RENO...High Desert and all...very dry...box color very bad...but I digress. I do love my hair...

So Ashamed!

I think he just doesn't like his picture being taken...on second thought...maybe I just blew in his face.

Escargo Garden

So, as I was pulling up the massive amount of overgrown plants in our front flower garden, I found some interesting creatures. Originally, I encountered the typical roley poley and a slough of ugly, white-butt spiders, the occasional daddy long-leg, and some earth worms. But, low and behold, hidden under the overgrown plants under the flower bush, were two snails, each about 2 inches long when moving. Needless to say, this is the last thing I expected to find in the high desert of Reno, NV! Apparently, the combination of overgrowth and automatic sprinkler system caused a sub-tropical rain forest hidden in my front yard!

Matt's Home Away From Home

As I type this blog, Matt is in Mexico. He is probably in the far left house in the row of 3 houses. You are looking at Mercedes, in the Sonoran desert of Mexico. Below is a little glimpse into the world Matt lives in while there. As well as our other friends that work in Mexico. I now understand why Matt says he never sleeps at night...that bed looks very uncomfortable!

Lake Tahoe Kayak Extraordinaires!

We decided to go kayaking up at Tahoe the last time Matt was home. It was a ton of fun until the wind picked up and started causing swells in the lake. This pic shows us stopping on a peninsula for our subway sandwiches. I love this picture, but Matt thinks the life jacket looks like it was made for a 2-year-old. I just laugh...it kinda does! But seriously, in those 6 inch swells, that jacket could have saved his life!!!!

I swear she did this on her own!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the majestic Bear in her natural state. As I mentioned in the title, I did not pose her into this position, this was pure Bear maneuvering. If you don't believe me, you don't know Bear! Crazy pup monkey!

Is that a Giant bottle of So Co?

For those of you who can't see, yes, that is a giant bottle of Southern Comfort in the background. It's our favorite thing to do on Labor Day weekend in Reno, the Rib Cook-Off (not the giant bottle of so co...we're not lushes!). If you happen to make it to this fabulous event, make sure you make it to the Australian booth, theirs are the best!

Hastings...the City!

After being a Hastings for all of 2 days, my new husband and I encountered the city of Hastings, Nebraska. I just thought it was cool, maybe I'm just a dork.

Snowflake or Angel?

So, what are the odds that a snowflake would fall at precisely the right time to reflect the light from the flash of the camera? Some would say its a sign, others would say coincidence. I would like to think it was a divine coincidence. Just a friendly reminder that Someone is up there. Whether it was divine or chance, it still made me think, if only for a moment.

Trip to Yosemite

Now, to all our family and friends, I promise we had NO IDEA that the storm of the century was coming in on the same weekend that we booked our trip to Yosemite. I thought this picture best showed the conditions going over the Sierra's into California that fateful January weekend. The rest were simply sheets of white! What you can see of the road is actually a sheet of ice about 2-3 inches thick. Our only saving grace was the chains (that destroyed the underside of the truck's wheel wells!). We made it to Yosemite safe and sound and enjoyed every minute of it! (The usual 4 hour drive only took us 12!) Below are some pictures we took while at Yosemite. There's a deer that I actually got REALLY close to...thought he was gonna charge me. Then Yosemite Falls and a bobcat wandering across the open field in Yosemite Valley.