We Live in a Technicolor World!

Be forewarned, this post is photo dense!

Last Sunday our family went on a road trip up American Fork Canyon to visit Cascade Springs.  We took the kids there years ago when they were little, but hadn't been back since.  I heard a co-worker mention that the colors in the mountains should be close to peak, so we decided to head up and see for ourselves.

Helena asked to drive (as always) and did a fantastic job for her first experience of narrow canyon road driving, even though I probably made her nervous by gripping my arm rest too often.  It really wasn't her driving... I am always nervous on canyon roads.

We were apparently not the only people to decide to head into the mountains for a Sunday drive, the place was packed!

Helena is taking a digital photo class this term, so she takes her camera with her everywhere.  Her teacher gave her a required shot list that encompasses the entire semester, so she can keep her eye out for any needed for the class.  I have to say, I met the teacher and I like her!  Such a nice change after her Commercial Photo class last year.

Bill carrying Helena's tripod.

Cascade Springs is a natural spring that then trickles down several acres before finally joining other streams.  To allow visitors better access without have to tromp through the bogs and damage the wildlife, these wooden boardwalks were built.  Bill remembers visiting Cascade Springs before the boardwalks were built.  He said it was a muddy experience.

Helena the photographer.

It was so beautiful and the lighting was just right!  Unfortunately, there were so many other people there that we couldn't pose ourselves into the photos, though there were plenty of families there trying just that.  There was one family in particular that had over 20 extended family members all dressed in brown shirts and blue jeans blocking up just about every good shot venue.  Oh. and another family in black and blue staked out one of the ornamental bridges.  It frustrated Helena, because she wanted to set up her tripod and take her time working on shots, but felt overcrowded and wasn't able to do so.

"If it was so crowded, why are there no other people in your shots, then?"  You ask.

Because I am a master of seizing the moment before the next group comes blundering through!

Ok.  So, years ago, when Helena was very little, we brought the kids up here for family photos.  She was probably about three.  At this exact spot on the boardwalk, all those years ago, we got a candid photo of her kneeling down and looking into the water.  This time, Bill took her camera and told her to kneel down in that spot and put her head close to the water.  She was highly distrustful of her dad and was reluctant to do it (not having a memory of the first time).  She kept asking her dad 'What's going to happen if I do?!"  "Is something going to jump out at me?"  You can tell from her responses that she does have several memories of practical jokes played on her by her father!

Helena has hyper-extended elbows.  That is why her arms look so strange in this photo.

Look over there, everybody!  No, really, I have no idea what they are all looking at in this shot.

Such a technicolor world!

It sort of looks like a movie setting, I think.

More pictures of Helena taking a picture!

I told the kids to go stand on the bridge and 'look like you like each other!'

It lasted for a couple of shots.

And then Helena was done with it.

A super rare photo.  Bill took this picture, that is why I am actually in it!

What a fantastic picture of Will!

Wrapping up and heading out.

After we finished up at Cascade Springs, Bill took over the driving and decided to take us up a gravel road to a less populated area.

Helena was tired and just wanted to go home.

Will was still enjoying the adventure, though.

Bill was looking for a place where he and his biking buddies had carried their bikes across the stream (more like river back in the spring when he crossed it) to continue on a trail.  He couldn't find the spot, and the gravel road was deteriorating rapidly.  We were in the Alero, not the Expedition, so we had to give up the search and just tool around at a few more accessible spots on the stream.

This looks much more impressive than it seemed in real life.  Still, it took a bit of balance to get back and forth across the logs.

Helena was finally able to set up her tripod and play a bit more with different ISO and exposure times.

The photo just can't quite do justice to the vibrant, burning colors on the mountain side.

I love water shots.  I think that is because water is one of the hardest things to paint realistically.

We got back in the car and drove back the way we had come, only to find this amazing spot!!!  It was right off the gravel road, so many of the plants were covered in a fine layer of dust, and unfortunately, some other family had found it earlier in the weekend and were camping here.  However, although their gear was all right next to this beautiful waterfall, they were nowhere to be seen!  So we took a few moments to steal these shots before hurrying on our way.  I am sure they never knew that we invaded their campsite for a few minutes.  Bill said that in the back country the rules state that you aren't supposed to set up camp within 1/2 mile of the road, but I kinda hoped to be the lucky camper to camp on this exact spot some other weekend! 

Driving back down the canyon, Bill suddenly exclaimed over the gorgeous sunset and pulled over for me to take a picture of it.  That involved me climbing out of the car and running across the busy road, waiting  for a non-car moment to snap the shot, then darting back across the road without becoming road kill.  I hope you enjoy the shot.



What did I do on Saturday?

Okay.  Have you ever had a mental block where you can't remember what you did just yesterday?

Yup.

Let me ask Bill...

Ah!

In the morning the whole family worked together to get some of the sprinkler line and sprinkler heads installed in the back yard.  Bill has been working on this off and on between work and bike rides and had planned on getting most of the yard done this weekend.  At least, that had been his plan before crashing on his bike Friday evening.  So, the kids and I rallied to get the job done!

After several hours of what I considered hard work (Bill was chuckling to himself at my lack of digging skills - but, really, there were a lot of stupid rocks in that dirt!) by everyone, we only got one station finished... out of the 7 stations planned.  Ugh.  Bill ended up calling an expert-who-is-a-friend, and got him to agree to come and finish the job.  He said he'd charge us 'gently' for his time.  Bill's words, not mine.  This expert friend, Kevin, will come by sometime next week.

I was really quite happy to have everyone working together on the yard!

After that, we all cleaned up and packed up for a fun afternoon with Erik and Deanna.  We stopped for lunch at Rubio's (where they brought up complimentary churros just 'cuz they like us... they were HEAVENLY!) and drove Pioneer Crossing out to Erik and Deanna's in Saratoga Springs.

Erik took us boating for a couple of hours.  Helena skied, Will knee-boarded, ...and I skied!  YES I DID!  I am 40 years old and I managed to pull myself up and water ski! Twice!!  I could have done more, but I didn't want to be too sore on Monday to go jogging, so I called it quits after my second crash.  But, oh, did I feel great!!  I was wall to wall grins for the rest of our time on the water!  Helena also got the chance to try out wake boarding on a boom Erik installed on the side of the boat.  She looked great!  Kris tried it, too, but couldn't quite manage it.  Bill stayed in the boat (obviously, since he has a gimpy fin), but I think he had lots of fun just being with us on the water.  At least, I hope he did.

After boating, we went back to Erik's house to have a BBQ and watch the Utes game.  The food was great, the Utes slaughtered their opponents, and we all had a great time!  We were so tired when it was time to head home at 10 pm!  But it was a great day!

Can you believe I forgot?!?

Watch Out For That Tree!

wow.  Has it really been so long since I have posted?

Sorry!

You have probably given up on me altogether.

I actually think of post topics all the time... when I am driving my car... when I am teaching a class... when I am working out... just about all the time except in the evenings when I can actually sit down at my computer and write one out.  When I do finally sit down, I can't remember all the witty, funny, or insightful things I thought about earlier in the day.  Harumph!

I will tell you about my weekend, then; even though I haven't downloaded the photos from my camera and/or cell phone yet to illustrate the posts.  I'll do a follow up post with the photos later.

Alright, then.

Friday night is date night, so when I got home from work I was surprised to see Bill's work truck at home, but no Bill.  A call quickly verified my suspicion that he was on a mountain bike ride with a buddy.  He had gotten off work early to ride since the day was so beautiful.  He assured me that he would be home in time for our date, however.

I waited and waited.  I finally heard from him at about 7:30.  He was still on his way home (being brought back by the friend), they had decided to go just an extra 5 miles more, but he had crashed and 'messed up his shoulder' and had scheduled an appointment at the after hours medical clinic.

Uh-huh.

When he got home, he was in shock.  Every muscle in his body was twitching!  He showered (I had to help him out of his shirt) and I drove him to the doctor.  They x-ray'd it and the doctor pronounced it a 2nd degree shoulder separation.  From what I understood of what the doc said, first degree is a strain of the ligaments that hold the shoulder together.  Second degree is a partial tear of the ligaments.  Third degree is a complete tear of the ligaments.  Second degree is pretty bad, but doesn't require the surgery that a 3rd degree separation would.  WHEW!  The doc recommended a few days of complete rest, then physical therapy once it feels healed enough.

After that cheerful news (and a prescription for some pain meds), we finally got to go eat.

So, how did he hurt his shoulder?  He was coming down the mountain (a little faster than he should have) on a single track trail.  Suddenly, there was an uphill rider in his path, so he swerved to avoid the other cyclist and slammed his shoulder full force into a 10" diameter aspen tree.

All things considered, it could have been much worse!  I second the doctor's opinion that Bill behaves like a 16 year old (meaning he is much harder on his body than most men his age).  One of Bill's riding buddies is also his physical therapist (who just finished helping him heal his other shoulder), so he'll just have to keep going back, I guess.

Rubio's

It is our all time favorite place to eat.

Period.

I have NEVER had a shrimp taco I like better.

I have never had a TACO I like better!

Bill and I are now instantly recognized by the workers there because we go there every Friday night.  And Bill often stops in for lunch, too.  We got on first name basis with two them tonight, Nate and Nicholas.

The food is great, the price is right, and the atmosphere couldn't be better!

Well... maybe if they brought the beach with them... ;-)

American Fork Main Street - Divergent Diamond Interchange!

Okay.  You are going to think I am a complete geek, but I have my reasons, alright!

Both of my hometown freeway access points are undergoing a transformation.  The Main Street interchange is complete and open for business, and the 500 S. interchange is currently under construction to turn it into the  same type of interchange.

It is called a 'divergent diamond' interchange, and they are the first of their type in Utah.

Here is a rendering of it...

If you can tell from the picture, the travel lanes cross each other on the overpass so that, while you are on the bridge, you are travelling on the opposite side from what you are used to.

Here is another, more accurate drawing of Main Street...

"Why in the world are you blogging about a dumb freeway interchange?"  you ask.

Two reasons.

First, this interchange is just part of a larger project called "Pioneer Crossing".  It is a new multi lane thoroughfare from American Fork to... Saratoga Springs!  That is where I work. 

Saratoga Springs is a relatively new town that has had a population explosion.  All of the elementary schools out there are bursting at the seams.  And between Saratoga and Eagle Mountain (another new town to the west), the traffic loads on Lehi Main street were OVERWHELMING.  You see, Lehi Main was THE ONLY way to get from the west towns in the county to the east towns in the county without either driving around the lake to the south (takes way too long), or driving north into Salt Lake County (and all their traffic).  My commute was crowded.

Now with Pioneer Crossing open, my commute is so stress free and fast!

The second reason I am blogging about a freeway interchange is to let my out of town family know about the changes so they can be prepared for funky new roads when they come to visit.  I think y'all are going to be shocked at how much growth has happened around here when you come in December!  American Fork doesn't look small town anymore.  People from Saratoga and Eagle Mtn. now 'come into town' to Lehi and AF the way that Bill and I used to 'go into town' to Provo/Orem 10-15 years ago.

I love that all the shops and city life has come to me!  I am sure not everyone feels that way, though.

By the way, I have driven over the new interchange several times and I like it!  It is not confusing to me at all and seems to flow really well.

Not Impetigo...

It has been 7 days.  The new topical medication hasn't done anything to this rash!  It is still the same size as ever.  :-(  On the bright side, though, it hasn't gotten any bigger.  However, that had me worried that maybe the meds are just keeping it in check, you know?

So, I called the doctor's office again today.  I described the whole story to the secretary (including the fact that the lab results were MIA), who wrote it all down for the doctor and told me he would call me back later in the afternoon.

Dr. Hoggard just called me to tell me that the lab results show that the infection is Staph aureus, but not MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and that the Clyndimiacin should have taken care of it.  Since it didn't, he is switching me to a different antibiotic because the infection resisted the Clyndimiacin.  So, I guess it is currently CRSA instead of MRSA?

Here is a lovely description of MRSA in the general population from the Mayo Clinic...

Another type of MRSA infection has occurred in the wider community — among healthy people. This form, community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA), often begins as a painful skin boil. It's spread by skin-to-skin contact. At-risk populations include groups such as high school wrestlers, child care workers and people who live in crowded conditions.

I still think I got it from the gym equipment.

Here's what the Mayo Clinic recommends for preventing MRSA (or in my case "CRSA")

Preventing CA-MRSA


■Wash your hands. Careful hand washing remains your best defense against germs. Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol for times when you don't have access to soap and water.


■Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores may contain MRSA, and keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.


■Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment (bold added by me). MRSA spreads on contaminated objects as well as through direct contact.


■Shower after athletic games or practices. Shower immediately after each game or practice. Use soap and water. Don't share towels.


■Sanitize linens. If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in a washing machine set to the hottest water setting (with added bleach, if possible) and dry them in a hot dryer. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.
 
Duh.
 
I get to go pick up the new antibiotic tonight.  Here's to hoping it doesn't make my stomach queasy like the last one did.  And hoping it works, of course.

On Really Frustrating Children

Today I just need to rant for a minute, so if you don't want to 'hear' it, just skip this post.

Most of the children I teach are absolutely delightful.  With over 250 students per term, however, there are bound to be a few not-so-delightful children.  It seems like every class has at least one child that makes you say 'hmm'. 

I currently have 3 third grade classes, 2 second grade classes, and 3 first grade classes.

The first graders are always such a shock at the beginning of the year.  THEY ARE SO LITTLE!  They are so incapable!  For them, the school day is an eternity and 'when do we get to go home?'  I eat lunch at the same time the first grade team does (there are 9 first grade teachers at my school... NINE!) and I got to listen to some of their perspectives, so I guess I am glad I only have the little beauties for a 30 min. session.  One of the teachers told about a student who came up to her with an incomplete math assignment 2 minutes after they started working on it and said, "I want to be done now."  HA!  Or, another child who didn't want to do the work at all & said, "I'll take it home and do it later."  Even though the rest of the class was working on it just then.  It is a tough lesson to realize that you are not at personal liberty to do or not to do your school work.

But, back to my rant.

I bend over backward to make sure the kids are ALL listening to me.  I insist on 'listening bodies'.  I repeat myself at least 3 times on all important instructions.  I have the whole class parrot the instructions back to me.  I physically show them what I want to have happen.  I do everything short of doing it for them myself. 

I still end up with at least one kid in each class who doesn't know what to do or what is going on.  Even after repeating the instructions to me they look at me with that deer in the headlights kind of stare.

And it is not just isolated to the first graders.  It happens on every grade level.

Sometimes, there is a good reason for a child to struggle.  Students with Autism or some other disability get lots and LOTS of patience from me.  I am not talking about those kids.

These are kids who ought to be able to function, but don't seem to have any background in paying attention.  I wish I could see into their personal lives and get a sense of what their home life is like.  Why can't these kids write?  Why can't they listen?  Why can't they follow simple instructions?  Why do they give up so quickly?

After one particular 3rd grader came up to me for the SIXTH time in one class period trying to convince me to 'let him be done', I had to ask him, "What class is this?"

He replied, "Art class."

"And what are you supposed to be working on in art class?", I asked him.

'Sigh', "Art.", he said as he trudged back to his seat.

Apparently, his core teacher is having the same difficulties with him in every subject, so it's not just art.

Okay.  I'm done now!  Like I said, there are tons and tons of bright, smiley, wonderful children, and I ought to focus on them.  The dunces are just a dark cloud in an otherwise sunshiny day.