Piestewa Peak - Squaw Peak

History

Piestewa Peak Peak will forever be Squaw Peak to me. I have called it Squaw Peak for more than 20 years... and it will probably always be that for me. For those of you who don't know, here is a very short explanation of the name change, which was officially approved on April 10, 2008:

• Squaw Peak was renamed Piestewa Peak in honor of Army Spc. Lori Piestewa who is thought to be the first Native American woman killed in combat. She was killed in Iraq on March 23, 2003 after the convoy she was driving was ambushed. She was from Tuba City, AZ.

Anyway... I have recently decided to take up hiking mountains in the area. Some of you might find this ironic if you know that growing up - hiking was NOT on my list of favorite activities. Though, I did hike a lot of places with my parents growing up, this peak included.

The Night Before

Let me start this little... adventure... by telling you that as I prepared for this hike the night before, I was really excited. I did a little research online to make sure I knew where to go, what trail to hike to ensure that I did the trail that went to the summit. I did this all before going to bed.

I dreamed about it, and it was a very dramatic dream. I don't know how well I can describe it now, but as I approached the mountain in my dream, I couldn't see it until rounding this house, which was guarded by a GIANT dog. And, as is "normal" for dreams, we could understand the dogs barks. It was basically barking that it was dangerous and not to pass.

Weird, right? Well, it gets better. As the mountain came into view, there was a feeling of loud, swelling orchestra music - like it would be when something in a movie is revealed. I say "a feeling" because I don't remember that I could actually hear anything. In front of the mountain was a long rectangular area - very similar to the reflection pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Expect this one in my dream was not filled with water. It was a hole. A very deep, rectangular hole and people were losing there balance and falling. From here... the dream jumps a little to people having trouble staying on the mountain and I think that is when I woke up.

So, my morning started off with THAT in mind. Not the best thing to be thinking about when getting ready to hike a mountain...

Morning of My Hike

Anyway, I tried to shake it off and I left for my hike. I got to the base of Summit Trail #300 at 6:20 a.m. and began my trek up the mountain. It was a constant uphill walk/climb. The rocks formed a staircase in a lot of areas. The ascent is quick - you ascend 1,200 feet to the top in 1.2 miles.

Unless you are me and make it to ALMOST the top. I made the mistake - right near the top - of looking down. There is a point near the top that has handrails and after passing that point, I stopped and looked out and down. And I freaked out a little bit, thinking about going back down. So, that is where I stopped and decided to start back. I am disappointed that I couldn't suck it up and finish the last little bit - but I guess that gives me something to shoot for after the summer is over.

Enjoy the pictures I did get. Probably in October, I will do it again and have pictures from the actual top!

Book Review: TWEAK by Nic Sheff

TWEAK: growing up on methamphetamines
by Nic Sheff

I originally heard about his book while listening to Fresh Air with Terri Gross on my local NPR station. (If you have never heard the show Fresh Air, Terri interviews a wide range of people and sometimes it is very interesting.)

Anyway, back to the book. This is a memoir written by Nic Sheff about his experiences while taking a variety of hard drugs, and the constant struggle to get off them. This book is crazy. It's scary and sad. I have known people who have done these types of drugs, but I never got close enough to actually see what it is like.

The author began his experiences with drugs and alcohol at age 11. Today, he is only 25. After reading this book, I don't see how he isn't dead.

He just put up a website which you can find at www.nicsheff.com to read a little more about him.

Coming up, I will be reading David Sheff's book: Beautiful Boy: a father's journey through his son's meth addiction. After reading the son's memoir, it will be interesting - and as a parent, terrifying - to read how it was for his dad.

Coupons, Club Cards and BOGO.... OH MY!

Well, it was another productive weekend at the grocery store. Could have been more if I had planned better, but here is how I did:

Frys

They were having a mix-and-match sale - you buy ten participating items, and save $5.

My bill: $37.69
I saved: $43.54

54% savings.

Safeway

No big sales like Frys, but some decent deals for things I needed:

My bill: $11.32
I saved: $21.93

67% savings.

77% savings at Safeway

I am becoming the crazy coupon lady.

I recently started paying a LOT of attention to the grocery store ads and all my coupons to see how much I could save at the grocery store. I was inspired by my friend Tracy who actually does workshops on this, and I plan on going to one to see what she does.

Anyway, last week, I had already done my weekly shopping but I realized that I had a few coupons that were going to expire so I decided to make a quick run and get these couple of things.

My bill before any discounts: about $19.56
My bill after my discounts: $4.51

What? Yes, that's right.

Here's how it broke down:

I went up with my items:
Steak for that night - $4.52
Tea bags, 2 boxes - $4.83 each
Ice cream bars - $3.99
Pasta Roni - $1.39

By using my Safeway card, I received the sale prices:

The Pasta Roni -$1
The tea bags were by one get one.
The steak was 30% off - $2.57

In addition to the savings I get using my card, I also received a 10% discount because my card was fairly new. More savings.

Then, my coupons.

I had a coupon for $0.55 for the pasta roni, which they doubled.
Final cost for pasta: FREE

I had a coupon for a free box of tea bags, up to $4.
Final cost for BOTH boxes - $0.83. FOR BOTH!!

I had a coupon for the ice cream for $1 off.
Final cost for ice cream: $2.99

My Club card saved me: $8.28
My coupons saved me: $6.00

So I saved $15.05 by using coupons and the club card.

:) Stay tuned.

NYC, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, and DC Trip

To view my pictures from our trip, go to:

http://members.cox.net/jfournier

I was going to post stuff here, but it's just too much!

Beautiful Lies

and

Sliver of Truth

by Lisa Unger

I wrote a review for Beautiful Lies quite a while ago, and only yesterday finished the second book in the series - Sliver of Truth.

I had a hard time remembering the story line from the first book, but once I did, I was right back in it.

In Beautiful Lies, Ridley Jones discovers that a choice she made in a split second changed the course of her life, and uncovered a truth that otherwise might have gone untold. She discovers that people aren't who they say they are, and that her life isn't what she thought it was.

In Sliver of Truth, Ridley is once again thrown into the shadowy corners of her life - who to trust, what is real and what isn't.

Both books are great - I suggest you don't read Sliver of Truth until you read Beautiful Lies. You need the first to understand the second.

4 out of 5 bookmarks!
Enjoy!

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10

I just finished this book - and let me tell you - it's just another reason why I am proud of every American soldier out there. The things they have to go through, the things they see, the things they have to do....

I originally heard about this book on the Glenn Beck Program. He interviewed the author, Marcus Luttrell, about his mission in Afghanistan and how he ended up being the only one of his team of four to survive after being attacked relentlessly by over 150 Taliban fighters. 100 of those were ultimately taken out by the team. That is amazing.

If you don't feel proud of the soldiers fighting for us after reading this book - there's something wrong with you. It pulls at your heart strings, and made me incredibly proud. I can't even put it into words.

Book Reviews... a quick rundown

1. The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

This was a crazy mixed up story about love, revenge, secrets, and lies. It will keep you guessing and changing your mind at ever turn. Check it out!








2. 24/7 by Jim Brown

The ultimate reality show in print. Since reality TV has taken over, people are obsessed. This book takes reality to the next level when the reality show becomes a little too real for the 12 contestants now playing for their lives. Kinda creepy - a little scattered at times, but entertaining for sure. Check it out!





3. Heart Sick by Chelsea Cain

This book starts off with a bang, but then heads in another direction. Still good - but I think the first part of this book would also make a great story. Still "check it out" worthy!







I will do a second installment of books to read in a while - I'm having trouble remembering what has passed through my hands and need to think about it.

Enjoy!

Where Have You Been All My Life?

I know, I know. I have been MIA for quite some time now. I have tried and tried to write something for you - but one of two things has prevented this from happening.

1) I have just been too busy to stop and write anything worth reading, or
2) I've had writer's block.

So, now I am sitting here with three solid topics - and am going to try and find the time to get them down. It will be sooner rather than later. So, stay tuned for holiday madness, stuffing my face, and high school memories. Oh yeah - it's gonna be crazy.

:)

My Latest Grievance, by Elinor Lipman

MY LATEST GRIEVANCE
by Elinor Lipman

This book was cute. It appealed to my sarcastic sense of humor, as well as to my... not love of drama, or love of the rumor mill... we'll call it "sense of adventure." The story centers on Frederica, a child who was born and raised on a college campus by her very open, honest, sometimes too honest, union loving, rally attending parents who are house parents in one of the college dorm houses. As Frederica wishes for “normal” parents who don’t do things like make her Barbie’s anatomically correct, in walks a woman from her father’s past who makes puts a much needed “kink” in Frederica’s life.

I enjoyed this book - if I had to complain about anything, it would be that Elinor Lipman kept it just slightly this side tame, and could have taken it one step further in the sarcastic department. But, overall, I liked this book.

The new Plus Size

If anyone watches America's Next Top Model, you know that Tyra likes to be praised for her gracious inclusion of "Plus Size" models in her competition.

How nice.

This year, I searched the America's Next Top Model website to find this years special gal. Here she is:

God, she's hideous. Huge. I'm surprised she fits in the picture.

???????

I read in US Weekly magazine that she is about a size 8/10. So, if 8/10 is now considered plus size, then what is my newly achieved 11/12? Super Plus Size? What is wrong with this picture?

Like There Isn't Enough Wrong In This World...

I don't even know what to say about this one... I put the link to this website on the sidebar. But be warned. Not all of it is clean...

Adventures in Lake Tahoe

ADVENTURES IN LAKE TAHOE
August 6-10

Our second family vacation this year was to beautiful Lake Tahoe. We started our trip on Monday afternoon, traveling to our first stopping point, Las Vegas. We really did nothing but sleep - got there around dinner time and got up the next morning at about 4am to travel on up to Tahoe.

Just before getting to Tahoe, we stopped in an old mining ghost town called Virginia City. We walked around, rode the train, had some lunch, Rob considered a transfer...

The photo at the top of this post was the view from our room window at night. Great room, great view. Here's another view from our room in the morning:

We did many things while in Tahoe - rode horses, rode the Heavenly Gondola, hiked a little... Austin and I saw Harry Potter, the Order of the Phoenix one night...

On Thursay, we had to leave Lake Tahoe and head back to our final layover - Laughlin. But first, we drove up to Reno so Austin could have some fun at Circus Circus. By the time we got to Laughlin, it was 2am, and we left later that morning at 9am and were back in Phoenix by 1pm.

It was fun but fast, and we definately need to go back next year to do more stuff! There is so much to do here. Hope you enjoyed a few of our pictures!

Austin's Swim Party

Let the fun begin!

Amidst all the rain and gloomy weather, we had a sunny day for Austin's birthday swim party. In all, I had to look after 5 kids. That was quite enough, thank you. Here are some pictures. You can enlarge them by clicking on them. Enjoy!

Austin getting his water gun reloaded.

Austin doing a face plant into the pool....



Eating pizza....except for Deon. He's still in the pool.




Austin and Cole playing horseshoes.


Austin's little brother, Cole.


Austin and Justin hanging on for dear life.



Justin and his twin brother, Zach.


Deon trying to spray me... He succeeded more than once.

Double Digits

AUSTIN IS NO LONGER SINGLE.

DIGITS, THAT IS.

That's right. He's an old man now. 10 years old. We went to Red Robin for his birthday dinner and he ordered this HUGE burger. From the adult menu! They sang, he loved it. See him checkin' out that waitress???? ;)

The Ruins by Scott Smith

The Ruins by Scott Smith

This book is not for the faint of stomach. It definitely is in the same arena as some Stephen King books... so if you like King, check this one out.

While I thought it started out a bit slow, it quickly became a book I couldn't put down.

Four friends head to Mexico on vacation only to take one adventure too many. They head out with another traveler, on a mission to find his brother out by some Mayan ruins. But what they find there is nothing short of horrific.

Scott Smith has a pretty cool website set up for the book which you can find here: http://www.randomhouse.com/kvpa/ruins/flash.html

Check it out...

5 out of 5 bookmarks!

My High Blood Pressure Adventure

Lower Your Blood Pressure in Eight Weeks
by Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, FACC, FACN & Jan Sinatra, MSN, CNS, APRN

OK. Most of you, or at least many of you, know about my recent "high blood pressure" adventure. If not, let me recap:

I was told about 2 weeks ago that if I didn't get on high blood pressure medication immediately, I was at great risk of having a stroke. Needless to say, I kind of freaked out a little. I say, "a little" because I have known for a long time that my blood pressure is higher than the medical "normal" of 120/80. The freaked out part came when I was faced with having to swallow little pills that came with not only a laundry list of side effects - yippie - but also the fact that my "medical professional" didn't take the time to sort out the cause.

Since high school, I have been told that, "Oh, it's a little elevated." But that is as far as it ever went. Until now.

Ok, maybe last year. Last year I was told that I needed to go get blood work due to my high blood pressure reading. I did that. It was normal. I blew off the rest until March of this year when I decided to lose weight. I figured that would help the blood pressure and viola problem solved.

Well, I lost 15 lbs, and when I went to the doctor a couple weeks ago, I was told that, again, I needed blood work and to get on medication for my blood pressure.

Blood work - all normal. But the amazing thing was how the doctor so easily gave me a little bag of pills and said - take these. Bye!

Well, being who I am - and Rob being who he is - we decided to try alternative methods to get the blood pressure down. Needless to say, I did a lot of research and reading and was AMAZED at the things I wasn't doing!

The best resource to date is this book - it helped me soooo much in dealing with vitamins, supplements, herbs, food choices....

I have cut my sodium intake to less that 2000 mg a day, 1500 if I can manage it, and increased several minerals that I was severly lacking. I take potassium, magnesium, calcium, vit E, omega fish oils, and a GREAT multi (not a grocery store kind - those suck) and almost immediately I saw the change.

Here is the proof:

My blood pressure on 6/12 - 150/98

My blood pressure this morning (6/23) - 131/83

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's only 11 days and I'm nearly normal! (Well, my blood pressure is anyway. haha)

So, if you are a person who is dealing with the prospect of medications or are already on medications for high blood pressure, give this book a serious read. It might just change your life.

Nineteen Minutes - by Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes - by Jodi Picoult

This book was another GREAT book by Jodi Picoult. If you haven't read any of her other books - DO. They are fantastic.

This one makes you think about your kids and how much importance they put on being popular, fitting in, being liked... the stress they feel at school, at home.... the pressure.

And, what happens when something in them gets a little twisted, a little bent, a little broken- and the unthinkable happens.

You will question your abilities as a parent, if you have kids. You will question your behavior towards others, past and present.

Eerily similar to the recent events at Virginia Tech - even though it was written before. Makes you think about just how common - and how extreme - the pressures for any teenage kid.

Let's Get Digital....

Hey you great friends of mine. I want you to do something for me.

Check out this local band that I LOVE <3.

DIGITAL SUMMER

Here's how:

Visit their MySpace page:

www.myspace.com/digitalsummer

Visit their Official Website:

www.digitalsummer.net

Listen to their songs - buy the cd! I have it, I love it.

Let me know what YOU think!

Adventures in San Diego - May 2007

California....
California......
HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, well, we're back.

I have a few things to tell you - so read on, my friends!

PART ONE - California - here we come!

Every year, my family (Rob, Austin and I) make at least one trip to San Diego. It's about 5 or 6 hours from Phoenix - so not a bad drive at all. This year, like every other, we hit the beach, rode beach cruisers, hit some shops, restaurants and Birch Aquarium.

This year, my friend and her family were also there, so it was an added bonus to hang out with them too.

PART TWO - El Cajon Blvd

If you have already heard this story, I apologize for repeating it. Again. But, I have to tell it.

If you have ever been to California, you know that the freeway system is NOT like the one we have here in Phoenix (although, I guess that would also require you to have been to Phoenix. Well, just know that in Phoenix, we have a grid system. In San Diego - Not really.)

Anyway, we had been out one night and I had to drive us back to the hotel, which was in La Mesa (it's cheaper to stay outside of San Diego). I figured I would just reverse the MapQuest directions I had made to go from our hotel to our friends place to get home. Seems simple enough, right?

This was how I saw it: When we were heading West into San Diego, our exit to get to the hotel was El Cajon Blvd. So, it would stand to reason that when coming back from the beach - heading East - we would also take El Cajon Blvd. Right?

Wrong! If you do that like I did, you will end up in the City of El Cajon which is past the City of La Mesa. And, if you do this at 11:30 at night with a passanger who has had his share of spirits, it's a little frightening. I got off the freeway and was placed in the center of a business district type street and was not sure which way to go. There was little traffic - I was convinced that any car I did see held criminals. I kept my hat down low, and my body language as cool as I could. We made so many turns, trying to figure out which way to go that I was sure we were going to have to stop in some deserted lot and sleep in the car until we could see. I knew that if I could just find the ocean, I could figure it out. But, not in the dark.

Somehow, and while laughing at my nervousness, Rob managed to help me get back to the I-5 and back to the freeway headed West. Granted, I did have to drive up the off ramp at one point to get to where I needed to be, but at that point, I didn't care.

My only consolation was that the following night while Rob was driving, he did exactly the same thing and ended up where I had the night before. This time, we were prepared for it.

CONCLUSION

I can't wait for my next trip to San Diego. Beaches, here we come!