"look before you leap" friday five!

It's Leap Day!! Whether you're one of the special few who have a birthday only once every four years, or simply confused by the extra day on the calendar, everyone is welcome to join in and play our Leap Year Friday Five.

Tell us about a time you:
1. Leapt before you looked
I'm thinking about someone I dated in college... 'Nuff said.

2. Leapt to a conclusion
When Offspring #1 volunteered at Best Friends Animal Rescue, she brought home this picture:

After seeing the kitten, I immediately concluded that Offspring #1 was right -- we DID need to adopt him. What other conclusion could have been reached?!

(Yes, I know I've posted that picture before... but I just think it's so darn cute.)

3. Took a Leap of Faith
Hubby and I took a leap of faith and opened a 'cold start' private practice in Colorado when we graduated from optometry school. This was a huge (and in many ways risky) undertaking, but it turned out well. After 5 years we sold the growing practice to another husband/wife optometrist team (what were the odds?!) when we moved to Washington state.

4. Took a literal Leap
I take literal leaps whenever the Empty Nest Hiking Club goes hiking!


5. And finally, what might you be faced with leaping in the coming year?
With Offsprings #1 and #2 in college, Hubby and I will be faced with converting their rooms to a library/media room and mini-gym respectively. Hahahahaha! Gotcha, Offsprings 1&2! We'll continue to leave your rooms alone.

middle name meme

Jiff tagged me for this meme:

Here are the rules:
1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.

2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name or your mother's maiden name).

3. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged.)

OK, here goes:

M: Montana is where I did my undergraduate work. Carroll College to be exact. Go Fighting Saints!



A: Asparagus is one vegetable I do not enjoy. (It does not quite match the evil of peas, but it is close.)

(He may look cute, but beware.)

E: English horn is an instrument I can play... but if you heard me perform, the noise might Exasperate you. (Whoa! TWO "E" words -- that's a bonus!)

I will tag Presbyterian Gal, Dust Bunny, and Processing Counselor ... if'n they want to play.

the case of the missing mountain

The Empty Nest Hiking Club went snowshoeing up at Mt Hood Saturday. We decided to go on the Trillium Lake trail. According to our snowshoe book, it's a 5 mile loop that, at the approximate midpoint, features a picture postcard view of Mt Hood from across a frozen lake. It was a beautiful day with blue skies, and we were ready for the spectacular view with my camera and Hubby's camcorder. Only one problem. When we got to "the spot", a huge bank of clouds had rolled in, obscuring the view of the mountain. And the clouds decided to stay put for the remainder of the day.

Aaargh!

Even so, it was still a pretty trail and we had a lot of fun.

animal updates

For those of you following the saga of Nutty McSquirrel...
The latest field research (i.e. bike ride) has uncovered the fact that ol' Nutty is totally out of acorns. (It was bound to happen -- he was eating them like there was no tomorrow.) However, he won't be going hungry because somebody has been leaving him peanuts. Yep, there are empty shells all over the place!

In yet another animal story (I feel like Marlin Perkins of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom)...

We've got an eagle down at our local lake! I suppose he could possibly be Stephen Jr. (Stephen Colbert's bald eagle) trying to find his way home. In any event, it was a big surprise to spot an eagle there. In fact, I nearly tipped over my bike doing a double take. He was a ways up in the tree, but I think you can spot him: (Of course, you can click on the photo to enlarge it.)



And finally... Marble has a new bed. We've noticed it's been getting more difficult for the lovable old geezer to get in and out of his 'garage' bed, so I bought him a new one with two levels -- he can use the bottom one for sleeping or as a step:

heavenly friday five

Singing Owl offers some heavenly questions for this week's Friday Five:

What is your idea of a heavenly (i.e. wonderful and perfect):
1. Family get-together
Family gatherings to celebrate e.g. an anniversary or graduation are cool. Our family is fairly small yet spread out, so it is 'heavenly' when we can all get together in one place and time. It is best when the location is some place fun like the Black Hills or Hawaii. Also, there should be plenty of good food.

2. Song or musical piece
This is a tough one because I find lots of music heavenly. I like jazz, classical (especially if it highlights the oboe), and 'oldies' from the '60s and '70s. One example is Carole King's "Way Over Yonder". (And hey, that song even has a heavenly theme!)

3. Gift
Letting me loose in a book store with a hefty gift card would be heavenly. Also, I'm a sucker for high tech gadgets.

4. You choose whatever you like-food, pair of shoes, vacation, house, or something else. Just tell us what it is and what a heavenly version of it would be.
Food: my grandmother's chicken noodle soup
Shoes: TEVAS!
Vacation: Austria is pretty much synonymous with heaven in my book.
House: Something sprawling (yet environmentally friendly in spite of its size) which has a scenic view -- the windswept prairie, a meandering river, or an ocean would do nicely. It must have lots and lots of windows to enjoy the scenery, and there should be a great sound system.

5. And for a serious moment, what would you like your entrance into the next life to be like? What, from your vantage point now, would make Heaven "heavenly?"
My entrance should be heralded by a fanfare of trumpets and choir of angels. Oh wait, the question specified "serious". OK, then I'll say that I would just like family and friends who have gone before me to greet me.

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picture "Road to Heaven" from here.

na-na-na naaaa

On Monday, Presbyterian Gal posted a great Jethro Tull song from 1971. (You can listen and watch here)

Her post got me thinking about all those terrific tunes from the late 60's and early 70's. So I present another classic song, Hey Jude... as performed by a 'new voice'.

simplicity

I was looking around the house tonight thinking I really need to do some more de-junking. Geez, we sure seem to accumulate 'stuff'.

This photo is evidence that back in college days I seemed to do pretty well with just my books, clock radio, and skis. (And maybe a few posters -- although what was I thinking with the A Star is Born one?!)