tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82082642795203593862024-03-13T10:36:16.299-07:00Emily's Oldie but GoodieEmily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.comBlogger653125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-38695884677007003692017-07-03T08:22:00.003-07:002018-03-01T05:50:30.345-08:00Changes are happening...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DLf0gaSfxps/WVphEZmsLtI/AAAAAAAAJCg/YFHLPtgC4ukdlfqt7LBA0MUf2MV1F-X6gCLcBGAs/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DLf0gaSfxps/WVphEZmsLtI/AAAAAAAAJCg/YFHLPtgC4ukdlfqt7LBA0MUf2MV1F-X6gCLcBGAs/s640/blog.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
There's a lot of movin' and a-shakin' going on and it has me now officially over on my new blog,<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> <a href="https://thecarvingstone.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #674ea7;">the Carving Stone</span></a></span>!!! Jump on over and follow along. You can follow through <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/@thecarvingstone" target="_blank"><span style="color: #674ea7;">bloglovin'</span></a> as well to make sure you stay up-to-date on all the latest.<br />
<br />
I've loved all this blog, Amazing Grapes, has given me which is why it's staying put!<br />
<br />
So, come on over and <a href="https://thecarvingstone.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #674ea7;">join me</span></a> in this new, exciting adventure of writing I'm on.<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who so graciously followed, encouraged, and befriended me here. You are what started me on experiencing the genuineness of the blogging community and I'll always remember that as I begin writing on <a href="https://thecarvingstone.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #674ea7;">the Carving Stone</span></a>!<br />
<br />
xo<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-42368186827442137442015-06-01T04:19:00.001-07:002018-03-01T06:01:47.719-08:00Megedarra - Lentils and Rice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DSalAEdSeSY/VWw23M5NHlI/AAAAAAAAIv8/zAPoGA6M1_I/s1600/PU5A9106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DSalAEdSeSY/VWw23M5NHlI/AAAAAAAAIv8/zAPoGA6M1_I/s1600/PU5A9106.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I admit, this IS A Rather out of the blue Recipe post, but its one of Those That I Have to write about and share. One Because its so Easy and so Delicious. And Two, and this IS selfish, but <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/brown-lentils-and-rice-with-caramelized-onions?xid=pinsharebar" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">the website</span></a> That Gave the recipe does not have a picture and I just can not pin a recipe without a picture! ... even though I realize I'm no food photographer, its better than nothing. :)<br />
<br />
Also, this recipe is HEALTHY! The lentils are chock full of fiber, protein, potassium, iron, B-6, and magnesium..and a whole bunch more nutrients too!<br />
<br />
Not to leave out the asparagus, of course!<br />
<br />
Megedarra is very popular in Egypt, and considered a poor meal. It feeds a lot and is very hearty.<br />
<br />
What you'll need:<br />
<br />
5 Tbsp EVOO<br />
2 lg onions, halved and thinly sliced<br />
1 C brown or green lentils, rinsed<br />
5 C water<br />
1 C rice (I use Japanese rice, rinsed 3-5 times)<br />
salt and ground pepper<br />
(My additions: 1/2 tsp cumin and a bay leaf)<br />
<br />
1 C plain or Greek yogurt<br />
2 sm garlic cloves, finely chopped<br />
1 tsp lemon juice<br />
1 drop Lemon essential oil<br />
1/4 tsp ground cumin<br />
<br />
<ol itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; list-style: none inside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="first" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 21px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onions, cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring from time to time, until the onions are golden brown, about 10 minutes longer.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 21px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="step-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-transform: uppercase;"></span> In a medium saucepan, combine the lentils and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat until the lentils are partially cooked, about 15 minutes. Stir in half the onions, the rice and 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over low heat until the rice and lentils are tender, about 20 minutes. Add more water if needed to prevent sticking.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 21px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="step-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-transform: uppercase;"></span> Meanwhile, cook the remaining onions over high heat until dark brown and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Stir the onions frequently so they do not stick to the bottom of the skillet and burn.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 21px;"> In a small bowl, combine the yogurt with the garlic, lemon juice and cumin. Transfer the lentils and rice to a shallow bowl and drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over them. Sprinkle with the caramelized onions and serve. Pass the yogurt separately .</li>
</ol>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />This CAN BE made the Night before as well. You CAN find the <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/brown-lentils-and-rice-with-caramelized-onions?xid=pinsharebar" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Original Recipe here</span></a> . <b>For the Asparagus you'll need</b><br /><br /><b></b></span><b><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Asparagus</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">EVOO</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Salt and Pepper</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Garlic powder</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Parmesan </span><br />
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut ends and clean asparagus, and place in a foil lined baking dish. Drizzle EVOO lightly over asparagus, followed by garlic powder, salt and pepper, and parmesan. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, or until asparagus browns.<br />
<br />
Please make these and enjoy them as much as I do !! I know everyone will love it.<br />
<br />
*all images original to Emily's oldie but goodie<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-47297807917871158192015-05-19T02:05:00.000-07:002018-03-01T06:02:06.026-08:00Here again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2taayws5ll8/VVr7fInYjgI/AAAAAAAAIus/wAklxGRREIE/s1600/PU5A8354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IdLjZ-rOXc/VVr7fO8D8fI/AAAAAAAAIuw/Vndpz-vKZBA/s1600/PU5A8389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IdLjZ-rOXc/VVr7fO8D8fI/AAAAAAAAIuw/Vndpz-vKZBA/s1600/PU5A8389.jpg" /></a><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2taayws5ll8/VVr7fInYjgI/AAAAAAAAIus/wAklxGRREIE/s1600/PU5A8354.jpg" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XDXTFEAPTYw/VVr7e-GkUWI/AAAAAAAAIuo/Khog464RqKM/s1600/PU5A8367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XDXTFEAPTYw/VVr7e-GkUWI/AAAAAAAAIuo/Khog464RqKM/s1600/PU5A8367.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3kvHzNPsdc/VVr7f92xNrI/AAAAAAAAIu4/Am9PjygXfsw/s1600/PU5A8430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3kvHzNPsdc/VVr7f92xNrI/AAAAAAAAIu4/Am9PjygXfsw/s1600/PU5A8430.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A1AL8zeSImg/VVr7gKu4EOI/AAAAAAAAIu8/gSa8nWYR9V8/s1600/PU5A8877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A1AL8zeSImg/VVr7gKu4EOI/AAAAAAAAIu8/gSa8nWYR9V8/s1600/PU5A8877.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Here I am again. Unexpectedly months from last time I wrote. I knew it was going to be a busy couple of months what with taking another Anatomy and Physiology class, but we added a long vacation in the middle of that, and let's just say it added an extra element of stress.<br />
<br />
Its tough when you really want to go on vacation, and he gets the time off, and he's excited to get a reprieve from all the chaos at work, but I'm in the thick of an incredibly intense class with major exams and hours upon hours of daily reading, lectures, assignments, quizzes, and studying. Needless to say we still went on vacation to Singapore and after 5, or maybe 6 days, we cut it short. I was holed up in the room almost the entire time, and we both felt terrible that what was supposed to be a great trip was in fact, not. It even ended with us taking separate flights back since we couldn't get the same flight.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, I made it through the class with a B...barely, and I can now rest assured I will never have to take such an intense class again...and we can both be certain we will plan our trips much more carefully in the future.<br />
<br />
Ever since the class's ending, I've lounged around doing little. I've started baking, which is a little comical given there's only a toaster oven, and no cookie sheets small enough to fit in it. But with a flimsy metal tray, I've managed to bake some "potential cookies" that are a hit with G-man...and myself. I just made my 5th batch this afternoon. Two ever so simple ingredients: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/itsintheoils/photos/pb.889092771143411.-2207520000.1432024734./927106524008702/?type=3&theater" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Recipe here!</span></a><br />
<br />
My first class of the Summer has now started up and I'll need to find my groove for that, but I'm confident it'll be smooth without any hiccups. Nothing like my Spring semester. I have to comment on the fact that I'm beginning my Junior year with ASU. I'm so shocked I'm already a Junior and just saying that is so exciting. I'm getting myself on track to graduate Spring of 2017 and though that requires me to continue taking Summer classes and even adding an extra class throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, I'm determined to walk across that stage come May 2017. That's only two years from now! So soon, so soon!!<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I know a lot will go on in those two years, but God has proven faithful and no matter what, it'll work out for His glory, so I'm not worried in the least over any changes or challenges that come about. I say, bring them on!<br />
<br />
<br />
*all images original to Emily's oldie but goodie<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-31982031404783752412015-03-16T00:59:00.001-07:002018-03-01T06:02:18.490-08:00Chinese Celebration ParadeMaybe this is horrible or maybe this is typical; either way, I get in a rut a lot of the time with wherever I am. I can't figure out anything to do, so I'll sit around and waste time on my computer or hanging out in the apartment.<br />
<br />
Super exciting.<br />
<br />
This is true even with being in Japan. I don't have that "lets go explore and be adventurous" spirit. I have the "I'm tired of spending money on train rides to see yet another temple or shrine that looks exactly like all the others I've seen".<br />
<br />
I'm super fun to be around.<br />
<br />
Granted if you came to visit, I would absolutely take you to all these places, but on my own, its not all that fun to me. But I was determined to do something, anything one weekend, and began scouring the internet.<br />
<br />
That's when I learned it was the Chinese New Year celebration and it was nearing the end of its (I think) 10 days of celebrating. They had their big parade and since I had never been to a Chinese parade before, in Chinatown no less, I was determined and excited to go.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OSSBL5-j5O8/VQaIyOe8UAI/AAAAAAAAIrc/hk2dy1fOHgg/s1600/PU5A8262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OSSBL5-j5O8/VQaIyOe8UAI/AAAAAAAAIrc/hk2dy1fOHgg/s1600/PU5A8262.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I arrived in Chinatown a good 20 minutes before it began, but I had no idea where it was going to be, or what roads they'd go down, so I did what anyone would do...followed the crowd. And within 50 yards, I was jam-packed stuck between hundreds of Japanese. There was no moving and thanks to being a head taller than most, I saw why. We were at the very start of the parade.</div>
<br />
Being 50 people back was not where I wanted to be to see the parade. I had grand plans to get amazing shots, and all I saw was a sea of black hair. I did the only thing I could do, and that was become a fish going upstream. I pushed and pushed my way out until I could finally breathe and as I was hearing the parade behind me, I hoped and hoped I would find a place to at least catch a glimpse of it.<br />
<br />
I made it to the next street over and noticed that people were forming along the side of the road. I figured if Japanese were doing it...it must be a good sign, so I plopped myself on the edge and waited...and waited...and waited for over 30 minutes until finally I saw the flags being waved down the road.<br />
<br />
Funny thing about parades here, even with it just 20 feet behind them, people were still walking down the middle of the street like it was any other day. In America, those streets would have been cleared at least an hour before.<br />
Case in point. See the three balloons down the street? That's the start of the parade.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dd2w31JEbc/VQF5LQttVwI/AAAAAAAAIpA/B7CiGoyTFsk/s1600/PU5A8189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dd2w31JEbc/VQF5LQttVwI/AAAAAAAAIpA/B7CiGoyTFsk/s1600/PU5A8189.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_1286733596"></span>
The celebration was fun and different and loud...Chinese and fireworks at all. They lit a bunch of them inside a metal container, for reasons I'm figuring are A) containment B) reduction of potential fires and C) because it'll echo and be 100x louder inside than out.<br />
<br />
And loud they were. Eardrums could have burst.<br />
<br />
oh and D) so everyone could cough from all the smoke it produced..which they were successful there too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T1ZQK1UGDxc/VQF5k5eIa_I/AAAAAAAAIpI/Tn57tbiDSBU/s1600/PU5A8200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T1ZQK1UGDxc/VQF5k5eIa_I/AAAAAAAAIpI/Tn57tbiDSBU/s1600/PU5A8200.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm glad I went and though I was a little sad at first for choosing the sun side of the street, and had to fight with it to get photos; I was happy when I realized the other side was the 'get all the firework smoke' side. The sun wasn't so bad after that.<br />
<br />
I should probably break this up into two posts for the amount of photos, but why? ..enjoy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WITaMXi7Tc/VQaIqk31bAI/AAAAAAAAIp0/zt0TtLk3wxk/s1600/PU5A8205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WITaMXi7Tc/VQaIqk31bAI/AAAAAAAAIp0/zt0TtLk3wxk/s1600/PU5A8205.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
This guy locked eyes with me, and I'll admit, I was a bit intimidated by it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxbUTh4swPc/VQaIqmfvEhI/AAAAAAAAIps/HO5sevn-1W0/s1600/PU5A8209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxbUTh4swPc/VQaIqmfvEhI/AAAAAAAAIps/HO5sevn-1W0/s1600/PU5A8209.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9btwEX0Nybg/VQaIqxPH5FI/AAAAAAAAIpw/CDF5pMY0Fk0/s1600/PU5A8207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9btwEX0Nybg/VQaIqxPH5FI/AAAAAAAAIpw/CDF5pMY0Fk0/s1600/PU5A8207.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogJ7A17yI-8/VQaIrx9dyGI/AAAAAAAAIp4/j_V7PbH-xZE/s1600/PU5A8220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogJ7A17yI-8/VQaIrx9dyGI/AAAAAAAAIp4/j_V7PbH-xZE/s1600/PU5A8220.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMa_2I00iOo/VQaIsMaSGJI/AAAAAAAAIp8/9_YE1lONSQo/s1600/PU5A8225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMa_2I00iOo/VQaIsMaSGJI/AAAAAAAAIp8/9_YE1lONSQo/s1600/PU5A8225.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj4xYowc80A/VQaIsnpH7BI/AAAAAAAAIqM/LXDcfyHe01A/s1600/PU5A8230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj4xYowc80A/VQaIsnpH7BI/AAAAAAAAIqM/LXDcfyHe01A/s1600/PU5A8230.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMnNg8g3RVM/VQaItLBL_KI/AAAAAAAAIqU/Sj6Xk79JDNI/s1600/PU5A8231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMnNg8g3RVM/VQaItLBL_KI/AAAAAAAAIqU/Sj6Xk79JDNI/s1600/PU5A8231.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TabY9XqSpwg/VQaItl8FcYI/AAAAAAAAIqc/tW22_W6TVbI/s1600/PU5A8234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TabY9XqSpwg/VQaItl8FcYI/AAAAAAAAIqc/tW22_W6TVbI/s1600/PU5A8234.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jxkm_ujAPLA/VQaIuO1wBjI/AAAAAAAAIqg/c_Ixc3vH2S4/s1600/PU5A8238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jxkm_ujAPLA/VQaIuO1wBjI/AAAAAAAAIqg/c_Ixc3vH2S4/s1600/PU5A8238.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcFv7Wlz_yY/VQaIuhfzyAI/AAAAAAAAIqo/Ax9xFZB9VHQ/s1600/PU5A8239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcFv7Wlz_yY/VQaIuhfzyAI/AAAAAAAAIqo/Ax9xFZB9VHQ/s1600/PU5A8239.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The woman on the left kept her beautiful smile throughout the entire performance. I couldn't help but watch her the whole time, she seemed so genuinely happy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IaQGbfflHPg/VQaIvOT7YrI/AAAAAAAAIqs/oLu8t4wfLLA/s1600/PU5A8244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IaQGbfflHPg/VQaIvOT7YrI/AAAAAAAAIqs/oLu8t4wfLLA/s1600/PU5A8244.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nL4GTcyjkGg/VQaIvvZ1AbI/AAAAAAAAIq8/KT8bR2jCu4U/s1600/PU5A8245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nL4GTcyjkGg/VQaIvvZ1AbI/AAAAAAAAIq8/KT8bR2jCu4U/s1600/PU5A8245.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YAa-2ul8fcw/VQaIvzxYzCI/AAAAAAAAIrA/PD9t6S1sI6M/s1600/PU5A8247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YAa-2ul8fcw/VQaIvzxYzCI/AAAAAAAAIrA/PD9t6S1sI6M/s1600/PU5A8247.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KlEKNQOrjMk/VQaIwa2tyKI/AAAAAAAAIrI/nuWa9awKoK4/s1600/PU5A8248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KlEKNQOrjMk/VQaIwa2tyKI/AAAAAAAAIrI/nuWa9awKoK4/s1600/PU5A8248.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I1Bap-OGQ-o/VQaIxgmx4kI/AAAAAAAAIrU/v3Aj_ljjyDg/s1600/PU5A8251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I1Bap-OGQ-o/VQaIxgmx4kI/AAAAAAAAIrU/v3Aj_ljjyDg/s1600/PU5A8251.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zuh5CXY5t8/VQaIzF0TPzI/AAAAAAAAIro/DyKszlgCHbw/s1600/PU5A8267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zuh5CXY5t8/VQaIzF0TPzI/AAAAAAAAIro/DyKszlgCHbw/s1600/PU5A8267.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIwB9cwZafc/VQaIzidQy6I/AAAAAAAAIrs/sT-jzLzBhtY/s1600/PU5A8268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIwB9cwZafc/VQaIzidQy6I/AAAAAAAAIrs/sT-jzLzBhtY/s1600/PU5A8268.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GsX5DsYlm7w/VQaI0G0A2CI/AAAAAAAAIrw/QUB4rhLnox8/s1600/PU5A8281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GsX5DsYlm7w/VQaI0G0A2CI/AAAAAAAAIrw/QUB4rhLnox8/s1600/PU5A8281.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyaBawmwqME/VQaI0sZMGlI/AAAAAAAAIr8/USm9kt3OFDE/s1600/PU5A8282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyaBawmwqME/VQaI0sZMGlI/AAAAAAAAIr8/USm9kt3OFDE/s1600/PU5A8282.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3K8Z3S44d3Y/VQaI2mQhaXI/AAAAAAAAIsc/6rArte47kEE/s1600/PU5A8292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3K8Z3S44d3Y/VQaI2mQhaXI/AAAAAAAAIsc/6rArte47kEE/s1600/PU5A8292.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5RArAdR_CME/VQaI1J1cWvI/AAAAAAAAIsM/c8vwUQjVVc0/s1600/PU5A8285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5RArAdR_CME/VQaI1J1cWvI/AAAAAAAAIsM/c8vwUQjVVc0/s1600/PU5A8285.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShoFwH1xi00/VQaI13VI5sI/AAAAAAAAIsQ/vdUcv7Q7dXw/s1600/PU5A8286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShoFwH1xi00/VQaI13VI5sI/AAAAAAAAIsQ/vdUcv7Q7dXw/s1600/PU5A8286.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*all images original to Emily's oldie but goodie<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-69638613249073543492015-03-12T04:08:00.000-07:002018-03-01T06:02:27.374-08:00Ume seasonThe trees are slowly starting to blossom and it gets me so excited for Spring. A little over a week ago, I made the hike up to a park that has row upon row of Sakura trees (aka Cherry Blossom trees), however they're all bare. Their season doesn't start until April, but at least in the meantime, I get to enjoy the Ume (pronounced ume-meh) trees...(aka Plum trees).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpnWaQ91iIg/VQFys7THtRI/AAAAAAAAIoY/dlOD2LWJeLU/s1600/PU5A8069%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpnWaQ91iIg/VQFys7THtRI/AAAAAAAAIoY/dlOD2LWJeLU/s1600/PU5A8069%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aqBIBHGCRec/VQFyt5rIGRI/AAAAAAAAIow/LQBtgO5dpQs/s1600/PU5A8080%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aqBIBHGCRec/VQFyt5rIGRI/AAAAAAAAIow/LQBtgO5dpQs/s1600/PU5A8080%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
While I was taking photos of the Ume blossoms, a man with his dog walked by and the dog, for reasons unknown, stopped right at my feet.<br />
<br />
Though I've kept it fairly under wraps...I'll admit now, I'm not a dog person. at all. not in the least. But here this dog stands, unmoving, at my feet. I laugh, as you do in awkward situations and the owner just stands there ten feet away waiting for the dog.<br />
<br />
I can't quite put my finger on how or why, but the dogs here aren't "normal" dogs. They don't bark, they don't jump, they aren't out of control, they stay when told, and a lot of them aren't even on leashes because they're so incredibly well trained.<br />
<br />
I just about NEVER hear a dog barking in the neighborhood. One dog barks maybe once a week, and its for 30 seconds before he stops, never to bark again. Its weird but amazing all at the same time.<br />
<br />
So, this dog is at my feet, standing quietly, off-leash, waiting. Me and the owner, with hand gestures, talk about the trees to pass time. He very kindly tells me what trees I'm taking photos of, and when to come back for the Sakura trees. He calls the dog, but it won't move. Again. But the dog is happy, so I finally FINALLY consent, and pet the dog.<br />
<br />
If you knew me, really knew me, this is huge. I don't touch dogs. (I'm also allergic...lest you think me a beast). But I give this dog a really good rub down, and he's just soaking it up. I actually don't mind doing it, this dog was really mellow.<br />
<br />
Not too long after petting him, the owner calls again, and the dog trots away. Well played dog, well played.<br />
<br />
I walked around a little longer and eventually called it a night, returning back to the apartment. More and more Ume trees are blooming and even though we've been having terrible gusty winds the past few days, I can feel the warmth of the sun getting stronger. Spring will be here before I know it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4XDf7PxGHhA/VQFytFntOFI/AAAAAAAAIoc/9v0B_-XTSvc/s1600/PU5A8073%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4XDf7PxGHhA/VQFytFntOFI/AAAAAAAAIoc/9v0B_-XTSvc/s1600/PU5A8073%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qxxyA0yIZ6E/VQFytMkfwHI/AAAAAAAAIog/4VZbEnCDyfE/s1600/PU5A8075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qxxyA0yIZ6E/VQFytMkfwHI/AAAAAAAAIog/4VZbEnCDyfE/s1600/PU5A8075.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*all images original to Emily's oldie but goodie<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-64551056525709360852015-03-01T20:04:00.000-08:002018-03-01T06:02:33.133-08:00So many thingsThere is so much I have yet to cover, all my stories and trips are being mentally backlogged with each and every trip I take. With each one, I think "this one I want to share first. No THIS one." and so the cycle goes where I can't decide.<br />
<br />
I have snow monkeys, and sumo, and umi (plum) blooms; a boat tour, Asakusa, and a Chinese New Year Celebration parade to share. Oh and the Sapporo Snow Festival...and Odawara Castle, and Nagano. Not to mention my in-between moments too. If I were a "bucket list" making kind of person, the majority of these would be on it and happily crossed off.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So many amazing trips that are truly once in a lifetime.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'll probably start backwards since the Chinese New Year celebration is coming to a close, and I really enjoyed watching their parade this weekend. Its so fresh in my mind, I want to capture it before it flits away. Thankfully it was on Saturday since it rained the entire day Sunday. I happily stayed indoors cleaning, and eating snack foods, watching Netflix as the rain came down. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today marks the last day of my first set of Spring semester classes, and the first day of Spring break! Who knows what I'll do but I look forward to the break no matter what. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
G-man and I went out to eat a few weeks ago, and got to enjoy some delicacies of Japan. We had quite the fun night that night, ending with him buying a new Macbook and us enjoying a cocoa at Starbucks while we watched the crazy Shibuya traffic...it is the busiest intersection in the world for very good reason.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6v3nK_3M6sI/VPPe2TeCIUI/AAAAAAAAIn4/bUddg5IOWAA/s1600/IMG_2675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6v3nK_3M6sI/VPPe2TeCIUI/AAAAAAAAIn4/bUddg5IOWAA/s1600/IMG_2675.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zFL_LIFi5C/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Shibuya! [press play] The busiest intersection in the world. I've wanted to capture this for almost 2 years and finally got the chance on our Valentine's date, tonight. #sohappy</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A video posted by Emily (@emilygrapes) on <time datetime="2015-02-14T12:09:04+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 14, 2015 at 4:09am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One thing that's fun with Japan is they can't, or don't say their L's. L's are R's in every word. He"rr"o for Hello and bRanket for blanket...you get the point, so its always fun when I'm out and about to see how "Engrish" strikes again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This time however, they actually NEEDED the R, and that just makes this all the more funny.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gizibxqw0hQ/VPPc2-hdHSI/AAAAAAAAIns/4t7nuQ4Rbec/s1600/IMG_2817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gizibxqw0hQ/VPPc2-hdHSI/AAAAAAAAIns/4t7nuQ4Rbec/s1600/IMG_2817.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Technically you can "clash" with someone coming around the corner, but you most likely will "crash" if you aren't paying attention. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I hope you all had a great weekend. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-84703567575700545962015-02-24T16:30:00.000-08:002015-02-24T16:38:33.708-08:00Japan is like the SouthI grew up on the West Coast. Been there for the entire 33 1/2 years of my life. I was around dry heat where I knew just about nothing, okay, absolutely nothing about humidity. Whenever someone from the Southern states would comment on the humidity and how heat AND humidity was worse than a dry heat like Las Vegas, I would laugh and say they didn't know what they were talking about.<br />
<br />
Desert heat is miserable.<br />
<br />
But then G-man and I went to D.C. in April 2008, and my west coast self wore a thick cashmere top with heavy thick jeans, and I was about to die. About.to.die. I remember G-man balking at me, saying it wasn't humid at all, (he being a Southern boy and all), but I was pulling on my clothes feeling claustrophobic.<br />
<br />
Since then I've learned a lot. Being in Japan, I've experienced the Spring months where the humidity reaches 100%. Thankfully I haven't experienced the Summer months here, where I hear it is downright miserable, but having it be in the high 80's with 100% humidity is enough for me.<br />
<br />
With humidity comes condensation on the windows and with condensation comes mold and mildew. Ick! Close the windows and the humidity gets trapped making more condensation which makes more mold. Keep the windows open and the humidity comes IN which keeps everything wet which makes more mold.<br />
<br />
Its a lose/lose as far as I see.<br />
<br />
I hear its exactly the same in the South. I now know your struggles.<br />
<br />
We're constantly fighting mold in the shower room, but it wasn't until yesterday as I was cleaning the floor in the living room, that I saw the entire sliding door track full of mold. (yes, I'm grossed out with you).<br />
<br />
Condensation drips down the windows all the time and pools at the bottom, but my west coast self never thought it was turning into mold.<br />
<br />
Surprise surprise.<br />
<br />
I've been working hard on reducing the chemicals used in the home, so instead of grabbing the (G-man loved) Kaboom (which leaves him with a horrible headache and coughing for at least an hour after...but to him that means its "working"....I love him), I turned to my <a href="http://www.doterratools.com/documents/On_Guard_Protective_Blend_Product_Information_Page.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;">On Guard - Protective Blend</span></a> essential oil.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0JHMOi1VmQ/VO0ZaUss4FI/AAAAAAAAImg/XeQp8mjAwZg/s1600/cleaner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0JHMOi1VmQ/VO0ZaUss4FI/AAAAAAAAImg/XeQp8mjAwZg/s1600/cleaner2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I filled my 8oz glass bottle with water, and put 10 drops of On Guard in it, shook it up, and sprayed the daylights out of the mold. Since I had a fresh bottle made up, I went around the whole apartment and sprayed all the high mold areas and the range hood (...its a great degreaser), then came back and wiped up the mold.<br />
<br />
Its all gone (for now), but I'm going to be sure to spray it at least 3-4 times a week to see if I can't keep it from coming back. I'll report back in a few weeks to share if its returned.<br />
<br />
And you know what the beauty of it all is? I'm not coughing and I don't have an unnecessary headache. I smell clove and cinnamon and have a smile on my face.<br />
<br />
Oils, seriously, they're so great. I'm loving them and can't get enough of them. If you have any questions about oils, how they work, how you can get a sample of one to try, or how you can get your own, comment or send me an email (premiumessentialoils@gmail.com).<br />
<br />
I also just created a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/itsintheoils" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Facebook page</span></a> too, if you want to get more information and great tips I'd love for you to 'like' and follow along.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>I like sharing, and just know, this blog won't turn into a 'dōTERRA essential oil' promoting blog, but when something works like it did yesterday, I can't help but share it with others. So, I'll be doing this from time to time.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-14113942627155302812015-02-19T00:27:00.000-08:002015-02-19T00:27:14.717-08:00Staring at the ocean<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sitting at Starbucks staring out at the ocean, as ducks
fly across the water. I have two Japanese girls to one side of me taking
pictures of their pink Frappuccino’s while another on the other side is
(tactfully) sketching women’s bodies, deep in her work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KyNYggf1RsM/VOWdhK42EEI/AAAAAAAAIl8/1UQgmGUu_eI/s1600/starbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KyNYggf1RsM/VOWdhK42EEI/AAAAAAAAIl8/1UQgmGUu_eI/s1600/starbucks.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>It didn’t rain today, so I thought it would be a good idea
to get some fresh air. I went to this Indian restaurant (Indian here is
so.darn.yummy) that G-man recommended. I admit I have a favorite place already; they’re so friendly, they speak English, food is the best, and their prices are
superb. But G-man swore <i>his</i> place had
amazing garlic cheese naan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I should state I’m a plain naan girl but I’m kind, and nice,
and said I would try it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was the day, and after sitting down I heard a SQAUWK….
Birds…in a restaurant… I don’t like birds, let alone birds in a restaurant. I
refrained from standing up and saying “FORGET THIS” while leaving, and ordered
a chicken curry with garlic cheese naan instead. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I should have taken a picture just so you could have seen
the amount of cheese there was. It was almost like a naan quesadilla. Cheese
was oozing out. I could only laugh and start eating. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything turned out to be delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheese was just a wee bit too much and too heavy,
but the curry had great flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now
feel like I could ‘lose’ everything I just ate if I move too much, but I was
committed to tasting his favorite Indian place. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve been eating quite healthy this week, which this Indian
goes completely against that. We normally eat healthy, but we’ve taken it to a
whole new level given G-man’s desire to lose a few, and I’ll be honest, its
stressful finding and making approved meals. I put the stress on myself really.
I hate making the same thing over and over again, and want variety, where he
could literally eat a chicken with a seasoned pack on it every night (really,
he’s told me), but I feel this is an injustice, and MUST make real, healthy,
tasteful dishes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enter: stress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m constantly thinking of what I should make, how should I
prepare it, what kind of snacks do I need to make – non-stop! (Because let’s be
real, chicken over and over is b-o-r-i-n-g)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyone have these dilemmas? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- just me?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the stress, he says he’s seeing a difference, and I
actually have as well in myself, so at least I know it’s all worth it. It’s
always worth eating healthy, isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-26067826616366397862015-02-15T17:20:00.000-08:002015-02-15T17:27:31.061-08:00Getting in a habit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fz6kT9V9fto/VOFFxYmPtEI/AAAAAAAAIls/i0ERT0oYOiA/s1600/moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fz6kT9V9fto/VOFFxYmPtEI/AAAAAAAAIls/i0ERT0oYOiA/s1600/moon.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="goog-text-highlight"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="">I need to get back in the habit of blogging. I've let it go so much and for so long over the past couple years, that I'm finding I'm going longer and longer between posts. It's for no other reason than lack of interest, if I'm being honest, but not, because I think of writing all the time. Confusing but true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="">I've done a lot lately and have much to share, so let's say I'm going to be more on top of things in the near future, and lets not pay attention to the fact I've said that before and did not follow through. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, where have I been and what have I been up to?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="">At the end of January I went back to California. There I got to see my family and got my typical schoolwork done. It was nice being in the same time zone as most of my friends and communicating more than a good morning as I was saying goodnight. I also did two classes on <a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/emilysoils/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;">doTERRA essential oils</span></a><span style="color: purple;">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="">Remember way back in November when I said I started my own business and it was keeping me really busy? That's my business! I joined <a href="http://www.mydoterra.com/emilysoils/" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">doTERRA</span></a> and have been thoroughly loving using essential oils and helping others learn more about them so they can have a chance to switch up the way they take care of their health.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know for the longest time before joining or even USING, I heard About oils and Thought it WAS a FAD and I Admit, I rolled my eyes at all the 'band Wagon' users. But then WHEN I got a terrible 2 <sup>nd</sup> degree burn on my thumb from catching my falling hair STRAIGHTENER (I recommend no one to catch Those WHEN They fall, by the way), my Friend Gave me DoTERRA lavender oil to Apply, and within 20 seconds the Searing Pain WAS Gone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Kid you not !<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After that, I dove in headfirst and have not looked back since. I love love using them and sharing them. If you're curious or have always wondered about them, I'd love to talk to you about them and even send you samples so you can have a chance to experience the oils yourself. Cause no matter how much I talk about them, until you use them yourself will it really matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="">In true G-man and Emily fashion, within two weeks of being in California, I was back on a plane bound for Japan. Within 12 hours of being back, I was on another plane set for Sapporo where G and I spent the next two days exploring. I'll definitely share that trip soon ... well, after I catch up with all the other trips. I'm so behind!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, present, I'm back "home" with G-man. He's containing his frustration while he figures out why the wifi is not working and I'm lounging on the couch listening to Michael Buble wishing I had wifi. My life , my business, my school depends on wifi and though I know it'll be back up by the morning (here's hoping), I work on patience of being "disconnected" when I'd rather not be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In truth, its allowed me to be quite product getting things done around the apartment, so I can not complain too much. So this is me in a nutshell. I've traveled a bunch, getting to visit Odawara Castle, Shabuya and the busiest intersection in the world, the Sapporo Snow Festival; see snow monkeys in Yamanouchi, visit the Nagano Olympics museum, watch a Sumo tournament, and stay in a 400 year old traditional Japanese inn complete with traditional rooms (aka sleeping on a mat on the bamboo floors). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a lot to cover! Stick around for more to come ... .provided the man gets this pesky wifi working again. (its up!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-36623748899349441312015-01-08T00:56:00.000-08:002015-01-08T16:29:04.362-08:00Anjin - The White Samurai<span class="">Not too long ago, I read the novel Shogun and though fictional, its based off of the white English sailor who landed himself in Japan and the Japanese not giving him up. He ended up becoming, I think, the one and only white (non-Japanese) samurai, which is a pretty big deal for that time.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="">I found out that he was buried, along with his Japanese wife, in the town I'm staying in. His Japanese name was Miura Anjin, and the town is called Anjinzuka. He was in charge of this area, if I remember correctly, which I think is pretty neat. Just last week, I made the trek up the (rather steep) hill to view it, and it turned out to be quite a beautiful day to do it.</span><br />
<span class=""><br /></span></div>
<div>
His is the one on the right. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yC-o7gGbR64/VK5DTVnfWmI/AAAAAAAAIj4/DxzIJT50ejA/s1600/PU5A7569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yC-o7gGbR64/VK5DTVnfWmI/AAAAAAAAIj4/DxzIJT50ejA/s1600/PU5A7569.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
Every April, they have a memorial ceremony, and though I've never been, it sounds like its a big event. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Before climbing the stairs to the top, there's a stone monument, that I admit, I have no idea what it says, but its quite large and imposing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7LWm8qGuqzQ/VK5DTXN8TSI/AAAAAAAAIj8/71bKiby8npE/s1600/PU5A7584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7LWm8qGuqzQ/VK5DTXN8TSI/AAAAAAAAIj8/71bKiby8npE/s1600/PU5A7584.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QWJQhjmbNbs/VK5DSSwft7I/AAAAAAAAIjs/pUcYy0yo2RQ/s1600/PU5A7563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QWJQhjmbNbs/VK5DSSwft7I/AAAAAAAAIjs/pUcYy0yo2RQ/s1600/PU5A7563.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
These stairs are steep and far apart in height. They definitely take a person time to climb. Once you finally reach the top, you're greeted with the monuments behind the gate and these lush fluffy green bushes lining the entire surroundings.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VjczGulvnjE/VK5DSaEdGDI/AAAAAAAAIjw/mHc953g0Zfw/s1600/PU5A7554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VjczGulvnjE/VK5DSaEdGDI/AAAAAAAAIjw/mHc953g0Zfw/s1600/PU5A7554.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFWpwDCz60w/VK5DSQwO5AI/AAAAAAAAIjo/GrVqHNx6MFE/s1600/PU5A7561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFWpwDCz60w/VK5DSQwO5AI/AAAAAAAAIjo/GrVqHNx6MFE/s1600/PU5A7561.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span class="">After walking around for awhile, I made my way back down, but not before smelling what I thought was incense, but saw far on another hill, a man burning what I can only guess to be weeds or an old crop. It was quite pungent . </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ymlj-CoEQag/VK5DUI2SijI/AAAAAAAAIkE/l9IMAosGKkk/s1600/PU5A7592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ymlj-CoEQag/VK5DUI2SijI/AAAAAAAAIkE/l9IMAosGKkk/s1600/PU5A7592.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
I enjoyed the views and felt it get colder as the sun was rapidly sinking, so I quickly made my trip downhill back to the apartment.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxcXFfLHrYw/VK5Dq5uT3JI/AAAAAAAAIkg/Jz-gHlxJmY0/s1600/IMG_2251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxcXFfLHrYw/VK5Dq5uT3JI/AAAAAAAAIkg/Jz-gHlxJmY0/s1600/IMG_2251.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yypenut158E/VK5DTx56FiI/AAAAAAAAIkA/c9Rhz3lkCvE/s1600/PU5A7590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yypenut158E/VK5DTx56FiI/AAAAAAAAIkA/c9Rhz3lkCvE/s1600/PU5A7590.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you notice, in the far righthand side of the above photo, you'll see a set of winding stairs. That's only a small portion of those stairs, and I ran up them once as a workout. I almost died that day, actually fighting throwing up once I got to the top. I commend everyone who lives in that apartment complex who have to take those stairs several times a day.<br />
<br />
I'm glad I got to view this park and the monument. Its a great workout, since its up such a steep hill and its incredibly quiet. I can see it as a great place to get away for a peaceful afternoon, if ever I need. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-55983937391068559262014-12-22T19:45:00.002-08:002014-12-22T19:45:59.877-08:00Christmas Eve Eve<span class="">Two days from Christmas and the sky is as blue as it can get and the ground is as dry as ever. I don't think we'll have a white Christmas here, but no matter what, Christmas will be here soon. Right now there's only a crock pot under the Christmas tree and its cooking a pork shoulder. </span><br />
<span class=""><br /></span>
I had to plug it into the transformer so it can get full power and cook it properly; the Japanese outlets don't give enough watts to get the job done. But there aren't any presents sitting wrapped under the tree and I'm not even sure there will be. I have one sweater to give to G-man but no wrapping paper. To be truthful, he's already seen it, so I debate even wrapping it. Should I bother?<br />
<br />
<span class="">Yesterday, I went to what was said to be the #1 thing to do in Yokosuka per trip advisor, and that was the Yokosuka Art Museum. I went and I thought to myself, how in the world is this the #1 thing to do? Its an art gallery, so I knew that going in, but I think I expected so much more...not creepy dolls that flip over when you crank the handle. Or paintings that all look the same. Or an entire wall covered in bunny and cat faces made out of wire? (they really love their cats here).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wj8J27mplg/VJjj_U7YuLI/AAAAAAAAIjI/-i3RsGJjl0M/s1600/blog19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wj8J27mplg/VJjj_U7YuLI/AAAAAAAAIjI/-i3RsGJjl0M/s1600/blog19.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class=""><br /></span>
The only fun thing about the place was a Japanese couple calling me over to look at the creepy doll and then laugh with me when it flipped over. Then calling me over again to show me something else, and then again to show me something else.<br />
<br />
<span class="">I hate not speaking their language, but love when they actually acknowledge I'm there. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="">I can't say I would recommend this museum to the average person but maybe an art enthusiast who actually speaks Japanese so they can read all the captions. I would actually recommend what I think is my favorite place to eat lunch, and that's Kawara Cafe. No matter how much I walk around to find a different place to eat, I always come back to Kawara. One for their free wifi (that helps), but also for their friendly staff and yummy food.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34CGK7styBM/VJjj_b6A-iI/AAAAAAAAIjM/-IyDJ8MbKiE/s1600/blog18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34CGK7styBM/VJjj_b6A-iI/AAAAAAAAIjM/-IyDJ8MbKiE/s1600/blog18.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><span class="">And if you notice, they play old Mickey Mouse cartoons on the big screen, which is a fun silly little extra. </span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class="">Japan ca</span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class=""><span class="">If I don't get the chance, I wish everyone a wonderfully Merry Christmas. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-52425744256616998462014-12-16T23:54:00.002-08:002014-12-16T23:54:58.723-08:00Hair, views, and odd translationsThe past week I've had the chance to do a few things here and there. I always feel guilty admitting that more often than not, I am inside the apartment doing a whole lot of nothing. I don't go out and explore and even though its probably seen as a little lame, I don't because I hate spending money.<br />
<br />
Not just the money, the time. It takes a lot of time to go somewhere and by the time I get there, my shoulders are killing me from lugging my heavy bag with my camera and before I know it, I have to come back to start dinner before G-man gets home from work.<br />
<br />
I told you it was lame.<br />
<br />
<span class="">I went to my hair stylist three times last week (we're developing a nice friendship) and she's an hour away and my old self was pooped out from that. But let me tell you, she did a fabulous job. I wanted to go lighter, for the first time in 10 years, and she delivered like no one I think would have. It took four hours, but it was worth it. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UREbeX99nCs/VJEwUIJdQYI/AAAAAAAAIhs/XrFay5LFfBo/s1600/blog11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UREbeX99nCs/VJEwUIJdQYI/AAAAAAAAIhs/XrFay5LFfBo/s1600/blog11.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class="">So you can get a full grasp of what my hair (and GREYS) looked like before, this will show you. Plus the amount of foil it took to cover my entire head. She leaves them flat so its two foils to one (small) section of hair. I can't even describe how heavy all that foil was.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t302j_TQ6dQ/VJEwXsAx0eI/AAAAAAAAIh4/6L9uKV30ShQ/s1600/blog9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t302j_TQ6dQ/VJEwXsAx0eI/AAAAAAAAIh4/6L9uKV30ShQ/s1600/blog9.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wUs_vUR4ffs/VJEwXpWBccI/AAAAAAAAIh0/30rNCrqvCFU/s1600/blog10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wUs_vUR4ffs/VJEwXpWBccI/AAAAAAAAIh0/30rNCrqvCFU/s1600/blog10.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot7WN9hyjdc/VJEwXv4v5OI/AAAAAAAAIiA/5lniTH9bs9w/s1600/blog12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot7WN9hyjdc/VJEwXv4v5OI/AAAAAAAAIiA/5lniTH9bs9w/s1600/blog12.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
G-man and I set up and decorated the tree over the weekend as well. With one strand of cicle lights and one strand of normal white lights, we got very creative and hung them up around the living room. Though we certainly won't be winning any awards for best decorated, we think its charming in a "wow, that's really bad" sort of way.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRgDd0lAKwE/VJEx3uKmswI/AAAAAAAAIiQ/3RU76Gg6654/s1600/blog13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRgDd0lAKwE/VJEx3uKmswI/AAAAAAAAIiQ/3RU76Gg6654/s1600/blog13.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class=""><span class="">Feel free to notice the "tree skirt" is in fact a pillow sham and the transformer on the ground that keeps all the American electronics running smoothly. Keeping it classy over here.</span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
This is where I wait for my trains whenever I want to go anywhere. This one passing is headed to Kanazawa-Hakkei where I would get off to get onto the limited express to Yokohama. As it was that day, I was waiting to go to Yokosuka in the other direction.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hidJXu5Vpcw/VJEzSlnekFI/AAAAAAAAIio/I7BsTWK3s64/s1600/blog17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hidJXu5Vpcw/VJEzSlnekFI/AAAAAAAAIio/I7BsTWK3s64/s1600/blog17.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class="">G-man and I went to Landmark Towers in Yokohama to see the city from their highest floor. They have the fastest elevator in Japan going 28mph. Ears were popping and the views were beautiful.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Co2QchNvQpI/VJEzR2bcxUI/AAAAAAAAIik/Z15UILsWuw8/s1600/blog16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Co2QchNvQpI/VJEzR2bcxUI/AAAAAAAAIik/Z15UILsWuw8/s1600/blog16.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tT8TYMLAGfc/VJEzR9T3TRI/AAAAAAAAIig/h_te3JuWFN8/s1600/blog15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tT8TYMLAGfc/VJEzR9T3TRI/AAAAAAAAIig/h_te3JuWFN8/s1600/blog15.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class=""><br />Afterward, we were looking for a place to eat, and would you believe we passed this place up?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDRGWSLbqcA/VJEzR4N5WOI/AAAAAAAAIic/UIo2rDXtb6Q/s1600/blog14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDRGWSLbqcA/VJEzR4N5WOI/AAAAAAAAIic/UIo2rDXtb6Q/s1600/blog14.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><span class="">I know, I'm sure you can't imagine why. </span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class=""><span class="">That nearly rounds out all the happenings with me this past week. Well, except the fact that while I'm in blogger, everything is in Japanese. Whenever I'm writing out a post, the page is constantly translating back and forth from English to Japanese, and because of this, while I'm typing, its nothing for it to completely delete an entire sentence mid sentence. I'm constantly retyping my sentences. Its odd and funny, and just another little quirk with being in Japan.</span></span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span></span>
<span class=""><span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span></span>
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-42766770513744294562014-12-15T20:03:00.000-08:002014-12-15T20:03:08.376-08:00I hear a buzz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ssoFy2Fw-Wg/VI-uk-TToQI/AAAAAAAAIhc/M_8rrSZAMPA/s1600/blog8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ssoFy2Fw-Wg/VI-uk-TToQI/AAAAAAAAIhc/M_8rrSZAMPA/s1600/blog8.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="goog-text-highlight"><br /></span>
<span class="">Do you ever get a little bee under your bonnet where you start doing something that maybe you've put off for a long time? That's me today. I woke up very early and lounged around doing just about nothing all morning long (perks of working from home and being on winter break for school), and figured I probably should be mildly productive. </span><br />
<br />
Only thing was, I didn't really want to be. Its cold and rainy outside, and <u>anything</u> I want to do requires walking about 10 minutes to the train station and then riding the train to xyz location and walking some more. I'm not Japanese, I prefer driving everywhere, not walking. Call me lazy, or just American, either way, give me a car.<br />
<br />
<span class="">After trying my hand (and currently failing) at cooking fresh black beans in the crockpot (what was supposed to be 3.5 hours on high is going on well over 4 with no "cooked" stage in sight), I figured I'd head into town for lunch and some toilet paper (two very high priorities). But that requires a shower and hair and makeup, not to mention walking in the rain. Not high on my list of "wants" today. But after months of being in and out of this apartment and staring out at the slider windows in the living room, I couldn't take saying to myself, "I should really clean those" one more time and before I knew it, I had jumped up and started cleaning them. </span><br />
<br />
<span class=""><span class="">Next thing I knew, I had soapy water and a rag and was cleaning the outsides of them, because that's where all the dirt was. Then I did the outside of every window. Bedroom, kitchen, and all but one living room window (couldn 't reach it). I'm standing on all the balconies in my pajamas (yes it was noon and I was still in my jammies), barefoot, in the cold and rain (there was an overhang protecting me, trust me, I'm not that dedicated) scrubbing and squeegeeing the windows. </span></span><br />
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><span class="">They look great...okay, there's some streaks, but a person can actually see through them without squinting past the spots of dirt. After coming in and finding dirty footprints on the wood floors (apparently my freezing feet were freezing because I was standing in the drippings of the window cleaner), I started scrubbing the floors, then found myself in the bathroom wiping down the baseboards and edges of the floors and where did this come from?? </span></span><br />
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class="">My subconscious apparently couldn't take the spots and powder covered baseboards any longer and it took over before I could say, "hey, weren't you needing toilet paper?"</span><br />
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><span class="">So now I rest under a blanket on the couch (again) watching the rain fall through the now impressively clean windows, with a full belly because hard work equals eating leftovers immediately and using the excuse of "floors needing to dry" for not showering. ..yet. </span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class="">I think its viable.</span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class=""><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-42493514929196310482014-12-08T21:50:00.001-08:002014-12-08T21:50:24.810-08:00Happenings in JapanI'm back in Japan! I arrived late Sunday night and have been getting on the "Japan" schedule the past couple days (its Tuesday here...to your Monday). Monday I woke up before 4am. That was early to say the least! I hit some grocery stores nearby since G-man gave me full reign with empty cabinets and fridge and by 7pm I had fallen asleep on the couch. Party animal over here!<br />
<br />
One thing with here is they don't have all the goods I need at one store. Not only that, I'm walking and taking the train for everything and carrying loads and loads of groceries is not ideal, so this morning I went right back out to yet another grocery store further away. I heard good things about this place, and I had to take a cab from the train station to get there, and I wasn't disappointed in the least.<br />
<br />
<span class="">I realize I'm talking about grocery shopping...boring right? Well, afterward I had every intention of getting a cab all the way back to the apartment, ignoring the train and having the luxury of being taken straight to the door, but there weren't any cabs around. That meant walking toward what I hoped was the train station. I figured if I went in the general direction of where I thought it was, I would be alright. Without any directions or gps, I huffed it and huffed it and huffed it some more until I couldn't take it any longer and asked where the station was.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="">Turns out I was near by one stop, only it was nowhere near where I wanted to go. I actually was going in the opposite direction of where I wanted to. This sounds about right for me. I'm horrible with navigating in foreign lands, but I hopped on the train and got myself back safely, if not a little sweaty! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="">Any way, things are good here. The weather is beautiful, the place is familiar, and I'm getting to rest and relax without having to think or do any school. My semester officially finished the day before I flew out here and its a great relief knowing I don't have to do anything while in Japan if I don't want to!</span><br />
<br />
Here's a few photos of the past couple days.<br />
I went to a restaurant I like to go to when I'm here, and pointed to what I thought was what I normally get but I got this instead. A blob of mayo is there for sauce..? Everything was good except the mayo. I can't figure why that was there.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S08h54NSE5Q/VIaLpP6FphI/AAAAAAAAIg0/Ewh-n8NQ8-E/s1600/blog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S08h54NSE5Q/VIaLpP6FphI/AAAAAAAAIg0/Ewh-n8NQ8-E/s1600/blog4.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While I was at the store today, I looked out and noticed I was right along the ocean. I had no idea, so I went out to the harbor to enjoy the view.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlrK7qqMYok/VIaLpUn7IAI/AAAAAAAAIg4/jWbzwHix83Y/s1600/blog5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlrK7qqMYok/VIaLpUn7IAI/AAAAAAAAIg4/jWbzwHix83Y/s1600/blog5.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="">I honestly do not know who would want to eat an overeasy egg that's been sitting on a table for no one can say how long, but apparently someone will.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OkSDEs1VvuI/VIaLpYavIlI/AAAAAAAAIg8/_dvQEL5Xzjk/s1600/blog7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OkSDEs1VvuI/VIaLpYavIlI/AAAAAAAAIg8/_dvQEL5Xzjk/s1600/blog7.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Corn Potage" ... I'm guessing its corn chowder? Maybe? Or cream of corn perhaps?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiTN-9TfKPo/VIaLlYqBcYI/AAAAAAAAIgs/bjReI6E6yOU/s1600/blog6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiTN-9TfKPo/VIaLlYqBcYI/AAAAAAAAIgs/bjReI6E6yOU/s1600/blog6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="">I'm hoping to talk with G-man in the hopes of decorating the apartment for Christmas! One thing with Japan is they don't celebrate but they still decorate and their decorations are so so cheap! A 5ft fake tree for only $7??? I can't beat that! And a small 8in. wreath for $2. I can't wait to load up! </span><br />
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<span class=""><br /></span>
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-85581143148333541852014-11-20T22:30:00.001-08:002014-11-20T22:30:43.029-08:00A little bit of a latelyLife has been quite crazy lately. You know when you're used to having your schedule a certain way, and then it isn't that way anymore and it takes time to adjust to the new? That's me.<br />
<br />
I've started a new business, and it has kept me incredibly busy. I'll go into what it is later, when things settle and I have more time to share, but since diving in, its been a little crazy for me. I've been so accustomed to doing school and only school, and not "work" (not that this is work by any means), that having that extra 'thing' added to my day has me wondering how to juggle it all.<br />
<br />
I went out of town for a business trip...and a dentist appointment (I like to kill two birds), and I couldn't do school for those two days, I was on the go the entire time. Thank goodness I was caught up but it showed me that I need to find a balance and need to find it fast. And also, I can't be there for everyone at that very moment. That alone is going to run me into the ground, as was the evidence of texting three people at once while pumping gas and feeling frantic.<br />
<br />
The past couple of weeks have been so good though! I invited my cute little niece for an "Auntie sleepover". She's almost four and she was so excited having her first ever sleepover, just her, with me. She was an angel the entire time. Even fell asleep within 10 minutes of saying goodnight, which I was really nervous about given she had been bouncing off the walls right before. I was warned she was a 'kicker' but once again, the angel in her came out because she didn't kick once!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DLA_BeXvk-A/VG7ZABwr7rI/AAAAAAAAIgM/Iyc8yLKzaUc/s1600/blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DLA_BeXvk-A/VG7ZABwr7rI/AAAAAAAAIgM/Iyc8yLKzaUc/s1600/blog3.jpg" /></a>We made breakfast together the next morning, played in the backyard, and then went for a Subway before I gave her back to my sister. It was the type of experience where it had me think "I want that." Isn't that what getting through tough parenting times is all about? Those great days - great moments - that wipe away any horrific ones from the day or week before?<br />
<br />
I know I don't know, but I'm imagining so to some degree. And remember, I lived with a two year old for three months. I have an idea what its like on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
In other "lately" news, I only have two weeks left of school and that's incredibly exciting; not to mention the five week break that follows before Spring classes start. Speaking of, one of those classes will be on the Beatles...yes the music group. My hard earned money is going toward this class. I won't complain (minus the money aspect) since I'll be taking Anatomy 202 right along with it, and will need that 'super easy, no thought to it' class to make it through.<br />
<br />
I'll also say another reason why I haven't been around here so much is because I don't have photoshop elements anymore, since I upgraded to a Mac. Watermarking my photos is a huge chore with pulling them through picmonkey online, that I don't do it.<br />
<br />
Enough of that rambling. I hope your leaves are changing as mine are. Some of the trees here are absolutely gorgeous!<br />
<br />
This was from the Summer in Las Vegas, so obviously, no turning leaves, but still pretty.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yos0Fem9iR4/VG7atGYzYsI/AAAAAAAAIgY/v8T4vEclm-Y/s1600/blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yos0Fem9iR4/VG7atGYzYsI/AAAAAAAAIgY/v8T4vEclm-Y/s1600/blog3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Enjoy your weekend, everyone!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-64362803403018013602014-11-03T22:13:00.000-08:002014-11-03T22:13:05.928-08:00When stuff becomes stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9IUti7v-nU/VFhtbF5XF6I/AAAAAAAAIfo/crlZ9wuFb-c/s1600/5%2B(800x533).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9IUti7v-nU/VFhtbF5XF6I/AAAAAAAAIfo/crlZ9wuFb-c/s1600/5%2B(800x533).jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
When I packed up my little apartment of four years to put into storage, I made sure to sort through as much as possible and determine what I wanted to sell and get rid of. Everything was going into storage, so I was determined to keep the essentials and necessary furniture.<br />
<br />
Living on my own for 12 years, I had accumulated a lot of things but when it was all done, I was able to fit just about everything into a 10x10 storage unit. Some things fit into my room at my parents, but when you see your whole apartment in a storage unit, it puts a lot into perspective.<br />
<br />
Fast forward a year and a lot of traveling later, and I have found that I can live with the absolute bare minimum. All the "things" I needed in my apartment, I don't even think about. I don't even know what they are anymore.<br />
<br />
This didn't hit me fully until I went to Las Vegas for three months and literally lived with just 3 pair of shorts, a handful of tops, and a couple pair of shoes..with pj's and the necessaries of course, but that's it. I rotated between the same outfits for three whole months, and I honestly didn't care. No one cared. No one saw me and questioned if they'd seen me wear that top before or wonder about it. I didn't have to spend longer than 60 seconds choosing my outfit for the day, it was so nice and easy. Laundry was one tiny load a week.<br />
<br />
Coming back to CA, I have all my clothes but the idea that I can live with a lot less is still holding on tight. The past couple months, I've been slowly working on selling all my furniture in storage. I'm down to just two dressers and I'll have it all gone. I'm thinking of going through all of my storage bins and boxes that I don't even know what's in them, and getting rid of things. Even hopefully getting a smaller storage unit. This stuff is going to sit there for months, maybe even years untouched and its becoming a waste. There's memorabilia and keep sakes that I'm obviously holding onto, but all the superfluous stuff, is just that, superfluous and I'm ready to see it go.<br />
<br />
I think I'm ready to start fresh and with less. To finally let go of all those things I held onto thinking I'll use them again or even use them for the first time.<br />
<br />
Do you ever have these feelings? Where you need to get rid of a bunch of stuff and clean house? Normally twice a year, I'll sort through my closet and give away clothes I haven't touched in a year's time, but I've never had the desire to purge all things! Until now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-17127519832779660142014-10-29T21:22:00.001-07:002014-10-29T21:26:26.634-07:00Unwanted opinions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S2sPz8U1aQw/VFG7e267iQI/AAAAAAAAIfU/TcGPDumBSLk/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S2sPz8U1aQw/VFG7e267iQI/AAAAAAAAIfU/TcGPDumBSLk/s1600/blog2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I've been victim to the dreaded unwanted opinion; only in reverse. I've been the unwanted opinion giver...not receiver. Isn't it the worst when you discover that its YOU sharing your "thoughts" and "suggestions" when no one ever asked? But you feel you need to give it?<br />
<br />
Since coming into the light of recognition, I've made such an effort to A) notice when I'm doing it. and B) stop myself before doing it. A is easy, B takes some effort.<br />
<br />
A few months ago, my friend and I were texting and out of the blue I offered her some "constructive criticism" regarding something she had done. She didn't ask, but I felt I could "help" her by offering up my critique. Needless to say, she didn't respond and days had gone by in silence. Each day that passed I would read and re-read my text, and started to feel that maybe my advice wasn't going over well. By day three, I texted an apology, which opened the door to discuss the situation. Come to find out, I had done the exact same thing to her months earlier, and well, she was tired of it.<br />
<br />
Understandably so.<br />
<br />
Bad thing was, I had no idea I had done it to her before! Shows how much I give my opinion so freely!<br />
<br />
Since then I've worked really hard to zip my lips, and not share unless asked (still a work in progress, let me tell ya). But then another thing was brought to my attention by another friend. I'm a "finisher". When someone's talking, I jump in (jump sounds better than "cut off") and finish their sentence because <i>I already know what they're going to say (I'm just smart like that)</i>... but then I don't, and they'll respond with "no...I was going to say this, this, and that". Drats! Why are these people still friends with me!? I know I can be a pill.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, since learning that I not only give unsolicited advice, but also cut people off and finish what they're going to say, I've made enormous efforts to sit and listen. Sit there, mouth closed with no intent to speak-eyes on them-listen. You know what? I've actually been able to tell a difference. They might not, but its made me become more present to that person in that moment, where I'm not thinking of my response or interjection, but just listening and taking in what they're saying. Again, this is still a {huge} work in progress, but its progress!<br />
<br />
And I have to say, I'm so thankful I have friends who are willing to come forward to share these failings of mine. Point them out in the gentle way they do. Its friends like these I want to keep around because they hold me accountable, as I need it..and I need it!<br />
<br />
Major life lessons being learned over here, my friends.<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-1425936193162224272014-10-26T21:23:00.002-07:002014-10-26T21:23:36.032-07:00In all that timeCan I pretend I haven't been missing for so long? Or that I unintentionally had my last post be on my birthday? I can't tell you how bad I felt when I would get birthday wishes days and days after. I promise I didn't do it on purpose.<br />
<br />
For the past 3 months I've been staying in Las Vegas with my friend, killing myself over my college classes. It was hands down the hardest set of classes I've had. I didn't have time for anything other than my hardest class - Anatomy and Physiology. All I can say is I'm glad its over and I have a life again. My new classes have started up this past week, and I'm slowly getting into that groove though its taking a bit of effort, if I'm completely honest.<br />
<br />
I had a great time in Vegas. I didn't do the typical Vegas things; I simply stayed with my friend, visited other friends and got to play volleyball. And anyone who knows me knows I love competitive volleyball. It was great and intense and it proved that I have aged because whoa, was I incredibly sore and achy before the night was even over. The next day was only worse, but I would endure all that pain again if it meant I could play more.<br />
<br />
Some other fun and major things that have happened in the past 3 months:<br />
<br />
- I got a Macbook. I love it. Just love it! I thought I'd have the hardest time converting to a Mac, but its been the easiest thing ever!<br />
<br />
- I went to The Neon Museum in Vegas and highly recommend it...at night. It was so great, and our tour guide was so so good. She went past the one hour tour, and if you read anyone's reviews you'll see they don't like to go over the one hour.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ntWRYEk-HaM/VE3GSsTD7pI/AAAAAAAAIew/5ZioflqMHO8/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ntWRYEk-HaM/VE3GSsTD7pI/AAAAAAAAIew/5ZioflqMHO8/s1600/blog.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
- I did a family photo shoot. Completely wasn't intending it, but my friend asked me and I agreed and it turned out to be the most enjoyable family shoot I've done. Everything just flowed and we all had a great time. I hope to show the photos soon.<br />
<br />
- I went to the California coast for my uncle's wedding and it was just beautiful there. The weather was perfect and the time with my family was the greatest.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
- I went and saw my brother and his family in Utah. I wish I could have seen them more while in Vegas, but my schedule proved too demanding.<br />
<br />
- I lived with a 2 year old and 6 year old for the whole 3 months. I admit, I was nervous about that. A single person living with a toddler is always a questionable turnout but I survived and my friend and I had a fantastic time together. I actually really miss her company and humor.<br />
<br />
- I worked a whole day at a golf course where they treated the woman like prostitutes and trash, and by the next morning said I couldn't return.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
- I attended my 15 year class reunion. The first reunion I've attended! Only 15 of us showed...out of the 50 in our class. Apparently a lot of my classmates still live in the same town and didn't feel like going since they already "see" everyone. It was still nice seeing everyone and catching up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYDcz9RKD-c/VE3H7S8Ms-I/AAAAAAAAIfE/ZBDcEcdycXU/s1600/blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYDcz9RKD-c/VE3H7S8Ms-I/AAAAAAAAIfE/ZBDcEcdycXU/s1600/blog1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
My class schedule this time around is a lot less demanding, so I'd like to think I'll have more time to share more and catch up with everyone. I hope you all had a nice weekend...and past three months!<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-84936108973942263262014-07-30T11:33:00.001-07:002014-07-30T11:33:06.920-07:00Upholding tradition<p>For as long as I can remember I’ve kept a tradition going strong on my birthday. I stay up (or set my alarm) for 3:02am. Why that time? Because that’s when I was born. <br><br>I had to ask my mom how it all started since the earliest memory I have of this is around 8 or 9, and she told me when I was either 6 or 7, I declared that I wanted to stay up until 3:02am so I could celebrate the minute I was born. Magically, my mom agreed. Either I was a very persuasive child or she just loved me too darn much to say no, but either way, I got my wish, and up I stayed…by myself…while everyone else slept.<br><br>From that day on I made it my personal tradition. Through the years, I’ve either stayed up by watching loads of movies and book reading, or would set my alarm for 3:02am so I could wake up to wish myself a happy birthday. Anyone very close to me knows this, and even supports it…I think mainly because THEY don’t have to stay up with me; but its been fun for me to welcome in a new age by myself each time.<br><br>So, 33 is here. 33. A number that means…kinda little to me. I don’t feel that age and I don’t (think) I look it but I am and with every wisp of gray I have, I welcome it.<br><br>I kiss 32 goodbye.<br> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NPfw_7Qr3uY/U9k6Rxibn9I/AAAAAAAAIcQ/o9Zy5hD_EQ4/s1600-h/em161%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="em161" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="em161" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lrlqSTmFHBk/U9k6SkBCbAI/AAAAAAAAIcU/uVUknVAsOKY/em161_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="356"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Yk3R1JXlXu0/U9k6TKqNTLI/AAAAAAAAIcg/EhAulnm1roQ/s1600-h/em160%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="em160" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="em160" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bv-FIb8LreU/U9k6TyITxgI/AAAAAAAAIco/pEKLOQGJfrU/em160_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="356"></a></p> Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-8024107970815889942014-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:002014-07-22T06:00:04.925-07:00Heikenji Temple<p>Remember that time I went to Japan? <em>Sometimes</em> it feels like it was so long ago. Ok, its really pretty much “all-the-time”. Its only been a couple months but I tend to ignore the short time frame since I’m avoiding watching the calendar these days.<br><br>I <strong>want</strong> to share my photos. I <strong>want</strong> to tell the stories but when it comes down to it I can’t find the heart. So with a lot of effort, I’m forcing the heart…which this just reminded me I have a photo book online I need to mess with before they deactivate it since I haven’t touched it in…well, five weeks. <em>ok, messed with it so it’s good for another five weeks.<br><br></em>The more I’m in (or was in) Japan, the more I became more comfortable exploring on my own. G-man was always working, so that left me the entire day to do anything and everything, and even for this hermit, sitting in the apt. gets old after awhile. Only problem was I never knew where I wanted to go. Sometimes locations were over an hour’s worth of multiple train rides and if I didn’t leave before 11, I felt it was a huge waste of time, so I’d always stick with semi-close places. Another factor I kept letting effect me, was the cost of those hour long train rides. They would deplete my train pass’s balance in a heartbeat and that was always so hard to swallow.<br><br>One day, I decided to see Kawasaki, and more specifically, the Heikenji Temple. I found this fabulous website called <a href="http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/kawasaki-daishi-heikenji-temple/"><font color="#9b00d3">zoomingjapan.com</font></a> and she fills you in on everything you need to know, so I felt I was well prepared going in. It was easy to access, and I got to walk around the grounds and poke my head into a few places. I felt a little out of sorts since clearly something was going on that day, but I didn’t know what and kept out of everyone’s way as best I could.<br><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2WkzSlp1GtI/U8nEUlBrxxI/AAAAAAAAIZ4/UENfvNepfqw/s1600-h/em4%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yzNBZ8X4dgY/U8nEVgAk1PI/AAAAAAAAIaA/UFrB0dU8duc/em4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ogo9-SP3EpI/U8nEWwBNIlI/AAAAAAAAIaI/D_s9gXwXYdk/s1600-h/em%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pR00MH-YU40/U8nEX4m3kDI/AAAAAAAAIaQ/U4yajmGEZ3s/em_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LGcTs2L22lc/U8nEZv3O-mI/AAAAAAAAIaY/AcaG06o7yBs/s1600-h/em1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4DEwmcRdbJQ/U8nEazpDLXI/AAAAAAAAIag/fg3Ywv1rg3E/em1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a> <br>Each person would touch every gravestone as they passed.<br> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lV4oTTX40l4/U8nEb10CxMI/AAAAAAAAIao/_hnqchatmAs/s1600-h/em2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="em2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FTYwN0JmgUc/U8nEcw8JejI/AAAAAAAAIaw/L0i1xtFWkW8/em2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="384" height="574"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--q9urMjiJ2U/U8nEeNYzROI/AAAAAAAAIa4/Vh__pEftLQ0/s1600-h/em5%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="em5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="em5" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Hoiy8RIdJ2Y/U8nElEybstI/AAAAAAAAIbA/NUSXEJgPtL8/em5_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="384" height="574"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DS5BHlgNraw/U8nEmdShaOI/AAAAAAAAIbI/mYqe0cXWrek/s1600-h/em8%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="em8" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em8" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-R0OmLIprgzE/U8nEpCzI57I/AAAAAAAAIbQ/seXFFm7ALAQ/em8_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dVXKkpfCO6w/U8nEqWNHQtI/AAAAAAAAIbY/QY7MFCklwDA/s1600-h/em9%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="em9" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em9" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aQrJ1ec8kh8/U8nErknVZqI/AAAAAAAAIbg/Qkm6Nma8-14/em9_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="491"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ej2Six1Npek/U8nEtUt_4VI/AAAAAAAAIbo/RcixvEk2XBs/s1600-h/em7%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="em7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em7" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QNneS6N2DYY/U8nEufuv4xI/AAAAAAAAIbw/L4ULYTI6lLY/em7_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-evDECHbt9Bo/U8nEvkKMykI/AAAAAAAAIb4/TSyllfTQ_Hk/s1600-h/em6%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hvW09mq6mC0/U8nEw0drBbI/AAAAAAAAIcA/efv2ljIRmso/em6_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a></p> Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-81057330505976971992014-07-15T06:00:00.000-07:002014-07-15T06:00:07.293-07:00Sitting in Vegas<p>I’ve been in Las Vegas for the past six days and if there’s one thing I’ve not done is gone to the strip. I can honestly say I probably won’t go to the strip in all the time I’ll be here and it’ll be for awhile. Call it a product of being born and raised here; I simply have no need or desire to go there.<br><br>My friend who’s husband deployed recently asked me if I wouldn’t mind staying with her and her two kids for awhile, and after much thought, agreed. But first I agreed to a two week trial, because let’s be honest, two weeks with me is no walk in the park. I’m high maintenance and enjoy my quiet and alone time (which I warned her), and well, she has two kids, so we laughingly agreed to the trial, and I dove right in.<br><br>I’m seeing what its like with two kids. And I’m seeing what its like to walk out the door to take a drive while she stays back with her two kids. …kidding! Things have been fine here, and we’re getting along nicely. (<em>she reads my blog so she’ll get the joke</em>).<br><br>For me to get to Las Vegas, its an eight hour drive through the desert and if ever there was a worse drive, this is it. Though the drive from New Mexico to Texas ranks really high on the horribly miserable scale. There’s a certain point in the drive that I love though. Its held a lot of memories for me, and no matter what, I’ll always keep an eye out for it on the I-15 going to Los Angeles. I don’t know what its called, how it got there, or if there’s anyone else (other than my family) who sees it, but there’s a “cat” on the side of a mountain, I criss-cross promise.<br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u-MnVyssobs/U8S4Xdk5HvI/AAAAAAAAIY8/2fnDCaC_G5Y/s1600-h/em10%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em10" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em10" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lgn2eIvYzTs/U8S4ak8hnHI/AAAAAAAAIZE/PtQ3xGb0uFY/em10_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a><br>Do you see it? The ears up top, then you’re looking at the back, and the tail swooping to the left side…<br>As a kid going to summer camp it would always be my marker to signify us almost there. This massive outline of a cat on an otherwise normal looking mountain just sitting there, never touched after over twenty years of seeing it. I’m always amazed it’s still there.<br><br>When I decided I’d stop to get a photo, I took the exit and planned on stopping right on the edge of the road. Only problem with that was this exit is in the middle of nowhere, and the edge of the road happened to (randomly) have another car coming to stop to get out to stretch. Honestly, what are the odds of another car getting off of this lonely exit?<br><br>Since I didn’t want to be a creeper and stop along side their car, I did the only other thing that came to me: drive right into the desert. Which I thought was a decent idea since the dirt was compact…until I began driving on it and learned it was in fact sand, and it was soft sand at that. Soon I was doing everything possible to not get my car stuck in the middle of nowhere on a 106 degree day. Of course, my thought process was to continue driving deeper and deeper into the desert because I was already “in it”, so I did, knowing there was no place for me to turn my car around, but I figured I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.<br><br>I finally stopped and enjoyed the hot scenery. Nothing was around me; just sand, weeds, and more sand. After driving for over 5 hours, I had the urge to run, and ran to a little slope for a better vantage point. Thinking now, I don’t necessarily recommend running in the middle of a desert with no water on a 106 degree day, (just in case you have the urge yourself), but I did it and loved having my legs move again.<br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A5Cd3PzqRXQ/U8S4cizjpJI/AAAAAAAAIZM/fpjdzWUg5e4/s1600-h/em11%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em11" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em11" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4-Qp5tYTaJk/U8S4e-Q6e7I/AAAAAAAAIZU/OqdU2pvndqQ/em11_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uiJ3DI53ID8/U8S4h-bM4xI/AAAAAAAAIZc/tVXdfAnQ_j8/s1600-h/em9%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em9" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em9" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gYmbszoyb_8/U8S4j1TbpAI/AAAAAAAAIZk/gLy8Ce0Tilo/em9_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="507"></a><br>When I got ready to face the fact of getting my car out of the middle of nowhere, I saw the other car was gone, and decided the best and only option for me was to put my car in reverse and keep my tires as straight as possible as I backtracked my way to the freeway; and thank the good Lord it worked.<br><br>It was a nice adventure that I was glad to have break up my long trip. Now I happily say I have a keepsake (and a story) of the cat on the side of the mountain.</p> Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-61485731427759485432014-07-07T15:06:00.001-07:002014-07-07T21:25:04.809-07:00This is what happens when..On Friday, my parents and I drove to a little old mining town called Columbia. Its near Sonora and it was cute and quaint and all those feelings you feel when you walk around a small town. It was hot beyond hot and we ducked into the stores as much as we could to escape it.<br />
<br />
After walking around, watching people sift for gold, listening to the wonderful band, and watch little kids climb up greased poles for money, we headed back home to wait out the firework show later that night.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kfd7qB_XvU0/U7sZobB9xGI/AAAAAAAAIUs/XVUtx9n85ek/s1600-h/em8%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em8" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l1TawL26GKw/U7sZpA1djpI/AAAAAAAAIU0/1ESpfLOpU3Y/em8_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="716" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em8" width="479" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wx7l6BqyESM/U7sZqHr9K0I/AAAAAAAAIU8/d2ZUhF89NjI/s1600-h/em182%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em182" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FjV0KEDvcP4/U7sZqzV1yoI/AAAAAAAAIVA/XcCtF4V62is/em182_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="637" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em182" width="479" /></a><br />
My sister was having a little gathering on their church lawn since it was a good view of the city’s fireworks, so we arrived and I set up my camera. We all chatted and hung out as we waited for the show to begin, and I was able to somehow convince my sister to make me a s’more as I sat there doing nothing. She’s a good sister, she is. I on the other hand…<br />
<br />
As the show began, I took photos and couldn’t help but think how paltry the fireworks were. Nothing like what I’ve seen other cities do, and nothing like what a “County’s fireworks” display should be. This was the first time I had my camera set on a tripod with a remote, following online tutorials, so I was excited to see how they’d turn out, even if the show wasn’t spectacular. Turns out I left my shutter open for far too long, and it left many (all) of my shots streaky. And when the finale hit, well, you’ll see.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1P512I8vfVM/U7sZrRVP-GI/AAAAAAAAIVM/GTLqeLJ1EOU/s1600-h/em9%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em9" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-elIw0DSYh-A/U7sZsAyptoI/AAAAAAAAIVU/PkaIV61vxKQ/em9_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em9" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6y0JR6jSBYs/U7sZsh_mLCI/AAAAAAAAIVY/rEDlumTqzwQ/s1600-h/em10%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em10" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XNEa0K1Q-wk/U7sZtUBFpXI/AAAAAAAAIVg/EMQ8afLpmKY/em10_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em10" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nkNfFf5oQlU/U7sZtxdTbtI/AAAAAAAAIVs/4bggIIdhTTY/s1600-h/em11%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em11" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7WoXdorZUFs/U7sZuki702I/AAAAAAAAIVw/xTmWUQzNKUU/em11_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em11" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y8Go6UmcqLM/U7sZvS5Wo9I/AAAAAAAAIV8/EjMiY-xXPEo/s1600-h/em12%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em12" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0xiV2-kMxQw/U7sZv622DiI/AAAAAAAAIWA/uTFgoK9UYP0/em12_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em12" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oZg_MzV5nbg/U7sZwYS6yvI/AAAAAAAAIWM/oofFfbn2Yk4/s1600-h/em13%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em13" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x__p-_V4Nks/U7sZxITtd-I/AAAAAAAAIWQ/Vn-JdS4RL4E/em13_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em13" width="749" /></a><br />
The finale: Here is a great example of what happens when the city shoots all of the fireworks off in the exact same spot, and you leave your shutter open for 6 seconds too long. A big bright white mess. <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G__UBCoyLL8/U7sZxhnDHMI/AAAAAAAAIWc/DGYB_ZY_ucM/s1600-h/em14%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em14" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oaeqdztviz8/U7sZyUPfviI/AAAAAAAAIWk/XeeZ4GBLE2A/em14_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em14" width="749" /></a><br />
And this is how the majority of them turned out…<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-j2PZgIzunJo/U7sZzIXWpoI/AAAAAAAAIWs/Ip-bQhzKByc/s1600-h/em15%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em15" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CzQeQaKTT8w/U7sZzlVQ_dI/AAAAAAAAIW0/xwiGqfXA1Xg/em15_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em15" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FFGANnrLcOk/U7sZ0b5LJMI/AAAAAAAAIW8/MB5Ut3H8z-E/s1600-h/em16%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em16" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ubg4_up1Oqo/U7sZ03GKF0I/AAAAAAAAIXE/ed-nnxgHX-I/em16_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em16" width="749" /></a><br />
I’m pretty sure this is when my niece walked into my tripod.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Brf965LQaok/U7sZ1Udg8EI/AAAAAAAAIXM/q6Q54zrMM0A/s1600-h/em17%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em17" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vjDeWLafWwc/U7sZ1_ipZOI/AAAAAAAAIXQ/W7Ds3h_TO24/em17_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em17" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iJfHWpQu9ts/U7sZ2lUgb2I/AAAAAAAAIXc/M9ef4y3FeWo/s1600-h/em18%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em18" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cfrnAtYXdOY/U7sZ3KtkR6I/AAAAAAAAIXg/488Pu9n3RvU/em18_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em18" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iHlQZwRQsBE/U7sZ3mvDhaI/AAAAAAAAIXo/tLTG8Wn8HsI/s1600-h/em19%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em19" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rNMTfXUWt_8/U7sZ4HI0h1I/AAAAAAAAIX0/2Db0GiZOP1A/em19_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em19" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PWrJc54U8fA/U7sZ42tXQGI/AAAAAAAAIX8/WXEeD70ywMg/s1600-h/em20%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em20" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UOZPapY8bxQ/U7sZ5WYkfYI/AAAAAAAAIYA/L_HScfkM7_o/em20_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em20" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-txpU0utjr-0/U7sZ6OGQpVI/AAAAAAAAIYM/9bmhStncYOs/s1600-h/em22%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em22" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bx7unUxG2Yg/U7sZ67FnxPI/AAAAAAAAIYQ/rr1FGM3foL8/em22_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em22" width="749" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TrtyP5INfP8/U7sZ7WhIwpI/AAAAAAAAIYc/5ao4e8lT6EM/s1600-h/em21%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="em21" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tjwi03arUSQ/U7sZ8Bwy5NI/AAAAAAAAIYk/sDBaYTOggO8/em21_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="501" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="em21" width="749" /></a><br />
So unless you want this look, I advise you follow the professionals who say to keep your shutter open from 2-6 seconds. Not the 8-13 seconds that I did.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-62829241594532087192014-07-02T06:00:00.000-07:002014-07-02T06:00:09.942-07:00Push me up<p>If you caught me on instagram the past couple days, you’ll see that I’ve offered up a challenge. A pushup challenge. Don’t roll your eyes just yet, this one is fun, and easy, and just plain impossible to resist. Promise.<br><br>I got to calculating…I can do that now that I got an A- in college math (boom!), and I found that as of the first of July, there were 183 days left in the year. After determining I wanted to do at least 1,000 pushups by January 1st, I again calculated (I’m so math smart) that that would take 6 pushups a day.<br><br>Easy peasy, right!?<br><br>That’s what I said.<br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0d664NMuMwo/U7NRptGADkI/AAAAAAAAITs/FTyUieUQW5k/s1600-h/photo%2525201%252520%25252815%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo 1 (15)" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="photo 1 (15)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5JvFfMVyWT0/U7NRqoR1ebI/AAAAAAAAITw/cVKzQTzrY3U/photo%2525201%252520%25252815%252529_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="479" height="637"></a><br>What makes it so great is if you do 10, you only have to do 4 the next day. Do 20, and look at that, you can take a couple days off if you want. Or if you’re feeling crazy inspired, stick with 20 every day and see how far you can go.<br><br>I was so happy to see that I had quite the happy response and a good solid 10 lovely ladies agreed to the challenge. I confess, I made sure it was a ‘desirable’ number for others to want to join. 6 evokes “ease”, don’t you agree?<br><br>For myself, I am doing a lot more than 6 daily, though I don’t want to say my number because I don’t want anyone to get discouraged and think what they’re doing isn’t enough. 6 is more than a lot of us do every day, and 6 will certainly make a big difference in the way your arms look when you do them over and over again. And I can guarantee that after awhile of doing 6, you’ll blow past it and think you could do 6 in your sleep with how far you’ve come.<br><br>I’ve had some say they can’t even do 1, and that’s okay too. Start out with one and build up to two. Do girl pushups (I am), and don’t even think twice about feeling like you have to do guy pushups. I have this mental torment at least every 3-4 months thinking I need to ditch girl and do guy pushups, so I will for months, then not care again, and go back to girl. Its one of those things where I think I have something to prove but no one to prove it to, so back to girlies I go. This is me though, and currently I’m happy doing girl pushups.<br><br>If you want to join in, please do! I wanted some fun accountability, so the more the merrier. There’s plenty of tutorials on how to do the proper form, (<a href="http://www.builtlean.com/2011/02/23/how-to-proper-push-up-form/"><font color="#9b00d3">Mark</font></a> does a great job at explaining AND showing the right/wrong way. Jump to 48 seconds in his video); but here’s the gist: back straight (NO arch), neck/head straight, abs in tight, hands at shoulder level (not by head), and control the pushup.<br><br>So, you want to join in? You’ll get great arms because of it. Nice arms with only 20 seconds of pushups a day..if that, by the end of the year?? Come on, you know you want to join. If not for you, then do it for me sacrificing my hands on the scalding pavement for these photos. My devotion to you is worth my burnt hands…<br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Av92nkXGLjE/U7NRrH-kW9I/AAAAAAAAIT8/q3L9gt3f7D0/s1600-h/em158%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em158" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="em158" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ktjoa9pOOCo/U7NRr-ufE2I/AAAAAAAAIUE/fIfc_XhzRCw/em158_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="520"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rN7UMMAfjTw/U7NRsXAMA3I/AAAAAAAAIUI/aycVUXJysUU/s1600-h/em159%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em159" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="em159" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GVan5FuZ0Rs/U7NRtTybdlI/AAAAAAAAIUU/DSfCEN5JUxc/em159_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="520"></a><br><br>Yes, I did many takes and created my own hashtag. I blame the heat for all my actions. (kidding)…<br><br>So, here we go! Better arms by 2015, we can do it!</p> Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-75859601943262598802014-06-19T06:00:00.000-07:002014-06-19T06:00:03.575-07:00Chasing the sun<p>Today I head out for the long drive to Las Vegas to stay with a friend, and then we get to drive up to the mountains for the weekend for a fun girl’s getaway. This I really look forward to since I don’t even know the last time I’ve done a girl’s anything; especially with girls who have kids! Virtually unheard of.<br><br>So as I’m listening to an audio book to pass the time driving through the desert, I’ll leave you with some photos I took while chasing the sun last Saturday evening. I almost thought it would be a wash, being unable to find a nice field, but I came across this barn and had to stop.<br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ro27uAxV-_M/U6Jk80GVFlI/AAAAAAAAIRs/fjxtCInIEXI/s1600-h/em3%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4EVyn6CFwIE/U6Jk9-xWqqI/AAAAAAAAIR0/Ime0x3ieo6c/em3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="491"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QO8jcfwGB9Y/U6Jk-a3TswI/AAAAAAAAIR4/p71PDS-xpFc/s1600-h/em1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J4VVbLdWUkk/U6Jk-0C6onI/AAAAAAAAISE/ktY20XEc4s8/em1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="479" height="716"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u8uiia4-ZO4/U6Jk_ucuxII/AAAAAAAAISM/uaq0IdDpkks/s1600-h/em2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xHoO-pD-ppY/U6JlAAou3BI/AAAAAAAAISU/zHhT-9jmpzs/em2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="479" height="716"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zP4G3Cwgb-0/U6JlAuhXvcI/AAAAAAAAISc/E8iwcEm_0_k/s1600-h/em4%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mdjPmd7z18w/U6JlBXX38sI/AAAAAAAAISk/RvMa2bcyCyo/em4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="488"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-p2LwPjTPtEM/U6JlBwpBhdI/AAAAAAAAISs/3EPDqO1u-U8/s1600-h/em5%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em5" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nkSLkICePac/U6JlChug0BI/AAAAAAAAIS0/C8GVYUGE81I/em5_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nGXY7p8WGDo/U6JlDakQQdI/AAAAAAAAIS8/aHWHy97x6NI/s1600-h/em6%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gbiYRoUgljk/U6JlD1mCn4I/AAAAAAAAITE/gsabybw_uM0/em6_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8utG_abcu2w/U6JlEtXZA4I/AAAAAAAAITM/l6R0lo4TNHY/s1600-h/em7%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em7" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bc3dYgwaXos/U6JlFHwTxqI/AAAAAAAAITU/kUqkfRmygUo/em7_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="501"></a></p> <p>California really has some great sunsets. Have a great weekend everyone!</p> Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208264279520359386.post-29459328324162239112014-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:002014-06-17T06:00:00.767-07:00Clearing my conscience<p>I have a confession. One that’s really hard for me to admit and put out there because everyone will now know <strong>the truth</strong>…<br><br>Someway somehow many many people got the impression that I know about every single gun that’s been made. People come to me, asking about guns, telling me about THEIR guns and look to me for advice, tips, pointers and thoughts when in all actuality, I know about 4 gun types. <strong>4</strong>. <br><br>Remington 870 shotgun<br>Smith and Wesson 38 revolver<br>Ruger Mini 14 rifle<br>H&K P2000 sk 40cal handgun<br><br>There you have it. Let’s get more honest. I only {expertly} know about the mini 14 and revolver, and that’s because I was trained extensively on them both. I know them inside and out. I know the shotgun one step down from expertly and the handgun…my own, I just “know”.<br><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0kwPtItAjwM/U5ZIXjogx3I/AAAAAAAAIQ0/_LVUtDnhk7Q/s1600-h/em157%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="em157" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="em157" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T2w7lSwRJUI/U5ZIY0-M9EI/AAAAAAAAIQ8/YM3stDyoqM8/em157_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="749" height="516"></a><br>Here’s another thing. Guns…specifically handguns, make my palms sweat. Without fail. I have to wear gloves when I’m qualifying mine. The shooting range thought I was crazy, even saying they had never seen anyone having to wear gloves, but guys, as much of a gun enthusiast as I am, they make me nervous. You never point your gun at anything unless you intend to shoot it, right?? That’s what you’re told over and over again, and thankfully, I’ve never pointed my guns at a person.<br><br>I’ve come close. Had it in my hands ready to raise, but never had to fully commit. But just the thought of it, even when shooting at a target, has my palms sweat.<br><br>But I feel bad. I feel bad when people (and its several) reach out to me asking which guns to buy, or asking if the gun they just bought was a good one. They tell me the type and I say, ‘oh yeah, sure, that’s a great one!’ when heck, I’ve never heard of it before. And I really just wanna say… ‘you got a gun.. that’s great enough! go out and have you some <em>responsible</em> fun!’<br><br></p> <p>People have suggested I start my own business where I train, teach, give classes to women on gun safety, shooting, and run a weekend ‘retreat’ of sorts for women focusing on all things guns and I stare blankly at them and think how did they ever come up with that!?<br><br>I’m flattered. I am. Could I train women (or anyone) on how to properly shoot? Of course. I was certified to do just that, but I feel like such a fake when everyone seeks me out and excitedly hands me their gun to check out.<br><br>So, there you have it. It’s with a lot of trepidation that I’m even admitting this. Maybe it’s silly to some, but it’s the equivalent to someone being sought after for medical advice when they never actually completed med school…but feel obligated to keep answering everyone’s questions.<br><br>So, if you’re one who’s emailed, called, texted, talked or showed me your guns, I’m flattered. But seriously, unless it’s about those 4 guns above, I got nothin’ for ya.</p> Emily grapeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541443026764408053noreply@blogger.com1