Just Shy of Paradise

Just Shy of Paradise
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Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Tagged Again and Again!

Candace Salima and Anne Bradshaw both tagged me. Check them out as well. This is my response to both.

Four jobs I've had:
1. Most of my jobs haven’t been real jobs. I’ve been making pottery for thirty years and do art festivals whenever I can. I just got back from Idaho Falls from a sale I’ve participated in for the last 12 years. This one was the worst one--too hot and gas prices too high for people to be spending money.

2. I taught school in Grouse Creek, Utah in a two room school for four years.

3. I taught art and English and Pleasant Grove Junior High for one year.

4. I taught photography the year before that at Mountain View High in Orem.

5. (oops one too many) I am currently an artist in residence for the Utah Arts Council where I occasionally go to schools and teach pottery.


Four places I have lived:

1. Orem, Utah
2. Highland, Utah
3. Grouse Creek, Utah
4. Paradise, Utah

Four favorite T.V. shows: I love to laugh!

1. Arrested Development
2. Scrubs
3. Desperate Housewives (Truly this is a spoof which some people don't get.)
4. My Name is Earl

Four favorite foods:

1. Thai food
2. Salmon Tacos
3. Costa Vita Chicken Mango salad
4. Homemade vanilla ice cream



Four websites I frequent:

1. Amazon.com
2. CNN news
3. Anything to do with Yellowstone Park (for research)
4. Grouse Creek Web page


Four places I'd rather be right now:

1. Feeling better
2. In the mountains (hiking)
3. Selling my latest book (which isn’t published yet)
4. Walking with my friend Kathy (who moved)

Four Movies I love:

1 .To Kill a Mocking Bird
2. Arsenic and Old Lace
3. Big Business
4. Princess Bride

Four Bloggers I tag next: You can find their sites on the right side of my blog.

Julie Wright
Josi Kilpack


Okay, well I think everyone else has been tagged and probably these two friends have been as well! I was also tagged by Anne Bradshaw with a similar blog.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

What's in a Sign?







When traveling, I often notice things that strike me funny. Last year my husband and I had a whirlwind and amazing trip in Ketchikan, Alaska visiting our daughter Ginger who was working there for the summer. Ketchikan defies convention and seems like a separate country even though it's technically part of the U.S. Anyway while wandering the small town (10,000 locals) we came across this sign above a Mexican restaurant. Even having a Mexican restaurant in this town located on a small island noted for world class fishing, and at one time huge fish canneries is a bit odd, but what we found even odder was the "BEST Pizza in Town." I'm not sure if it was meant to be a joke or not, but the sign, dripping with irony--not only because of the obvious reason, but also because they were the only place offering pizza in town. My guess is that the sign draws attention and then people go in and eat.

Another sign I found in Ketchikan was located on a walkway over a pier. The lower sign said "No Dogs Allowed--$100.00 fine" and the upper sign which you might not be able to read states that you must pick up after your dog and offers poop bags! I don't think this sign is meant to be a joke. I guess what the officials are saying is if you want to pay the $100.00 fine and walk your dog over the pier, you must clean up after it.

Recently we made our yearly trek to our family cabin in Silver Gate, Montana which is located one mile outside of the N.E. entrance to Yellowstone. Sometimes when we're there we like to attend L.D.S services in Gardiner, Montana--about 45 miles from our cabin, but still the closest Mormon church. The branch boasts 13 active members. The focus for the meeting we attended was Food Storage. If you happen to be a Mormon, you know that being prepared both spiritually and temporally for what may come is a big deal in the Church. I can't remember a time in my life where storing food and water wasn't stressed, and every once in a while it's the entire focus of a meeting as was the case this Sunday. Right after we were done with church we decided to take a look around and drove up a dirt road behind the church and right away spotted this sign, "Food Storage Required." I'm sure local Montanans understand that the signs are referring to storing your food for the back country in bear-proof containers, but to us Utah Mormons, the sign struck our funny bone.

The other photo I've included is to show a full-fledged bear jam--no sign needed! Back in the sixties when our family would visit the park, the bear jam was a common occurrence. Now days they are more rare. What you are seeing here is a mother Grizzly. She had two cubs with her although you can't see them in the photo. She crossed the road right after I took the photo. I'm interested in bear jams because the book I'm writing right now starts out in Yellowstone Park with just such a scene! During our trip we saw this Grizzly and several others. It seems the drought is forcing the bears out of the high country and bringing them in close proximity to visitors--not exactly safe for the people or the bears.

If you notice a funny sign--I'd love to hear about it.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

TAGGED!! Looking Forward and Back

I was tagged and if your tagged you do the same thing I did, except I don't know how to add links.

Remove the blog from the top, place yours at the bottom, and move the others up one:


Novembrance
The Lyon's Tale
Sundial in the Shade
The InkLadies
www.carolethayne.blogspot.com

What were you doing ten years ago?
We lived here in Paradise. I was attending USU and getting my second bachelors degree, this time in English. It was probably the most life-altering thing I've ever done and prompted me to start writing novels.
What were you doing one year ago?
I was enjoying getting ready for the Idaho Falls Art Festival. It's a great show along the Snake River. I've done it for about 12 years in a row or more. I'm getting ready for it again this year, except this year I'm also doing a lot of other things like painting our house, painting and fixing up my new pottery studio, and getting our house ready to sell.

Five snacks you enjoy:
1. Good and Plentys
2. Popcorn
3. Watermelon
4. Dole Lime popsicles
5. Chips and salsa

Five songs you know all the lyrics to: Probably none without the music, but I can sing along to a bunch--so I'll just list artists that I can sing along with.
1. Simon and Garfunkel
2. Carole King
3. Neil Young
4. Cat Stevens
5. James Taylor
YES, I did graduate from high school in 1975.

Things you would do if you were a millionaire
1. Pay off all debts
2. Buy a Eurovan
3. Buy horses, truck, trailer, round pens etc. for my husband.
4. Travel
5. Be generous

Five bad habits:
1. Eating junk food
2. leaving shoes around the house
3. Being complacent
4. Thinking the world would be better if everyone could think the same way I do
5. not being organized

Five things you like to do:
1. hike in the mountains
2. Play with grandson--Isaiah (I call him Pi)
3. Write when no one is home
4. Ride bicylcles
5. Laugh and talk with people who like me.

Five things you will never wear again:
1. My wedding dress (It got lost--plus it wouldn't fit anyway.)
2. The great big bell bottoms with cuffs on the bottom that would trip you when your toes got caught in them. Of course I was barefoot--it was the 70's
3. black and white saddle shoes
4. nylons with a garter belt
5. Hmmmm--I'm still thinking.

Five favorite toys:
1. my bicycle
2. iPod
3. lap top (Apple of course)
4. potter's wheel
5. My DVR

Where will you be in ten years?
Established as a writer??? Our ranch underway and working. My husband retired, so we can spend more time traveling and playing. Still doing all the same stuff I'm doing now.