Thank you, Thank you!!!

I wish this picture were a little clearer, but if you look closely there is a coiled rattlesnake, shaking his booty, and ready to strike!  I went hiking today, haven't been for some time because I've been traveling, and sick (so much better now, thank you).  What a beautiful morning for hiking today!  I went by myself, had asked someone to go with me, but they couldn't.  It's probably a good thing!

I hiked in the foothills of the Catalinas where the trail begins as a graded road.  It is very steep and gives me a good work out, then the road becomes a well-marked trail surrounded by desert vegetation.  It is that time of year when hikers need to be thinking about rattlesnakes, and since I have met a few while hiking, those thoughts were definitely on my mind.  I try not to bushwhack during the warmer months.  Today, I decided to go down the trail where it forks instead of up just for some variety.  I hadn't been on this particular part for a long time.  I was bounding (as much as an overweight 63 year-old can bound) up a portion of the trail when all of a sudden I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and heard the distinct warning rattle of a venomous creature who could do me great harm.  I was within four feet of a poisonous diamondback rattlesnake.  I quickly turned, leaping back down the trail, almost falling in the process, to get out of the deadly serpent's grasp.  I was in awe, and stood where I was safe, to observe him.  For a full minute he sent off his warning signal, probably at least 8-10 buttons on his rattle, and remained in a striking pose.  He was mad, and wanted to protect his territory, this was his trail, and he didn't want any visitors.  My first and last thoughts were, "Thank you, dear God, for giving this beautiful and deadly animal a unique way to warn others so I would be safe today."  I am still thanking Him.   

St. George--The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

Nick and I drove to St. George, Utah last week to watch Nick Jr compete in the St. George Ironman, and for a little get-away.  Jorgen and his family joined us, too.  Nick swam 2.4 miles in the Sand Hollow Resevoir, biked 112 miles up and down hills, and ran 26.2 miles up and down some of the same hills in his fastest Ironman time ever!  He finished in 9 hours and 53 minutes (oops, Ironman website says 9:38!).  Can you imagine doing that?  He was prepared after months of training and has again qualified for Ironman Hawaii.  (I get to go, too!)  So many things can go wrong: getting kicked in the head as 1600 swimmers take off at the same time, flat tire (s), heat exhaustion, etc., but Nick was blessed!  A perfect race! 

The Good--Nick Jr (33) coming across the finish line

While in St. George I went to Stan and Linda Fisher's home for a great visit with Linda and her daughter Elizabeth along with her cute little family.  Elizabeth is an active competitor, wife, mother of 4, YW President, and a good friend.  I remember cheering for her at high school track meets.  She is one of my heroes!

The Good--Dansie Family and Linda Fisher

This is the UGLY!!!  Some way, some how I picked up a nasty eye infection the day before we left for home.  It was so bad and painful that within a few hours I was sitting in a walk-in clinic to find some relief.  The next morning my eye was swollen as well as oozing goop.  I almost wondered if I was bitten by a spider?

The Ugly!

While in St. George we hooked up with some dear friends we met while living in Cuba.  Rick was a Marine without his family. Our friendship has stayed strong over the miles and years.  This is the third time we've seen each other in the past 27 years, but it was as if time stood still, except for the white hair and love handles!

-The Good-

Rick, Nick, Linda, Sue, and Valorie

 

    

I was also able to see a niece I hadn't seen for a few years, and a nephew who just got married last week.  Who would have thought I would have this much of a connection with St. George!  All good things.  Another good thing--we took a tour of the St. George Tabernacle and I heard the sweetest testimony from the senior Sister missionary.  Wow, it was hard to tell whether my eye was weeping  because of the infection or emotion!

I do have to end with the bad.  When I got home on Tuesday evening my eye was ugly and my throat was bad.  I have had a raging sore throat for four days now.  Never in my life do I remember ever having my throat hurt this much.  There's congestion in the nose as well and some starting in the chest.  Xela had it a couple of weeks ago and survived, so I'm hoping I will, too.  But it's BAD!

Cleaning House :-(

I am sad.  :(    I was looking over my blogging family and friends and saw that there are many who have not posted in months and months and some over a year.  I have been debating for quite some time about deleting those who seemed to have dropped off the edge of the blogging world.  These are people who are dear to me, family and friends I really care about, but if you have decided that blogging isn't for you for whatever reason then that's ok.  I respect that and I will miss you.  I just needed to clean house.  Now, if I have deleted you erroneously, please comment and let me know you are still a blogger.  I will put you back on the list!

I have a ton of stuff to post, Girls Camp preparation, Gila Vally Temple trip, Easter, Relief Society lesson and workshop, being released from Relief Society, trip to St. George, Nick Jr's Ironman, seeing old friends, eye infection, etc.