I didn't get eaten by a bear! You go away for one week and your site gets attacked with porn! Blonde porn!
Here I am passing out cards in Alaska and they must think Im a little more "dangerous"! HA!
Blog is back.. I am alive... just got out of Denali National Park, had an AMAZING time with lots of great wildlife. Ill post pics later on, just had to bring the blog back to life. I am going to photograph bears tomorrow at Lake Clark National Park.
Lots of news here in Alaska about McCains pick for VP, Sarah Palin. They seem to really love her here, which is a great thing!
We arrived in Fairbanks safely, and are staying in cottages along the Chena River. The weather is perfect, sunny and clear and 70 degrees. You almost forget you are in the state that reached -45 last winter. Today was a blow off day, touring small places around Fairbanks. We came in a day early in case of travel delays.
First we went to the Alaska Pipeline. This string of metal goes on as far as the eye can see and is just massive. An impressive site.
We then journeyed to North Pole, Alaska. The home of Santas house and a HUGE gift store complete with all the letters that come in yearly to the local Post Office.
Im not sure you would find this in a Texas Garage Sale. We must have seen 10 garage and yard sale signs.
A view of the Chena river from behind our cottages.
In my effort to see how the locals live we went into this fur shop. A lot of natives livelyhood depends on the fur trade. Regardless if you agree with it or not, its been part of the history and culture here forever.
We were supposed to pick up the RV tomorrow and drive to Denali. One small problem, the people who have the RV now, wont bring it back. They just decided to keep it longer than their contract says. It is a very good thing our first three nights in Denali are going to be spent at the Kantishna Roadhouse, on mile 95 of the Denali park road. We wont need the RV until after we exit the hotel and those people better not mess that up! Ill update as I can, I am loving my AT&T air card which gives me internet anywhere I have cell service. Tomorrow we go INTO THE WILD!
I am heading to Alaska today to camp in the wild at the Great Denali National Park. Roughing it in an RV in the middle of the park. I am going to be updating as I can and hopefully post some video. Please pray it doesn't rain the entire time like its forcasted to do now. You can follow me on twitter, which I will be updating more frequently. Click here for Twitter
I am hoping to see tons of Grizzly Bears. I brought my BIG lens because I dont want to see them TOO CLOSE! HA!
This was the photo that has made me yearn to return to Denali. Its just a beautiful vast park. I took this on a bus ride through Denali, now I get to spend 6 days in the actual park.
I have started a new program, working with a nutritionist, JJ Virgin. My friend Michelle has been using her with success and I was curious to learn more about how certain foods are affecting me. I have a bad reaction when I drink a lot of wines or eat certain foods. Everyone who reads this blog knows I LOVE MY WINE. I just deal with the consequences, but I prefer those go away! JJ has a great book that explains in depth about food and how it affects us on her website, so check it out.
To get with the program I had to buy a scale. I have been very happy not owning a scale. It doesn't take a machine to let me know my ass has grown too big to fit into my skimpy Cavalli dresses. Photos do that just fine. This machine is no ordinary scale. You don't jump on, get the reading, stomp your feet and cuss and then get back on it after removing your bra and panties. Then remembering you had a glass of water before weighing in and that most certainly accounts for 5 extra pounds. This is why I didn't own a scale. THIS SCALE has hand grips that you pull up and measure your body fat. It has a memory. Lovely, a scale with a memory that reminds you about that MACARONI AND CHEESE at AL Beirnats not only went to your hips, but it's now stored in MELISSAS BODY FAT MEMORY! This scale now sits in my pretty earthy bathroom looking like I could travel to MARS at any given time.
The evil machine scale came with a manual. Im sure most do, but you dont read them. I had to read the manual to figure out how to weigh myself. It does so many crazy things, simply telling me how fat I am was not obvious with the buttons.
I also was told to buy this Pedometer It measures your steps and sees how active you are during the day. I started wearing this today right after I got it. As a competitive person, this is a great tool for me. I found myself trying to show that tiny step reader I AM NOT LAZY! So I was walking up and down the stairs, finding excuses to get up. I can not have a low number, remember I am a GLADIATOR! It just took a $20 piece of plastic to get me off my butt, who knew?!
I ordered this xciser thing that I can not blog about until I get it. Sounds promising for a little cardio machine.
And the hormones.. lets discuss the hormones. My two biggest goals working with JJ is to find out why the heck Im starting to react to so many different foods and how to get my lovely hormones under control. When the Gymnastics and Oprah make you cry on the same day.. it is time to get help. My gyno ( who is cute.. so I like to go see him) just tries to force Birth Control on me, which does not fly with me. Plan B... he gave me Valium for my PMS. Yes Valium. Sending me a message to stop coming here and bitching to my cute face and just pass out and sleep through it. It goes down great with some vino.
Needless to say, I needed other methods. My hormones must be a force of nature, since I have had a breast reduction and was planning on getting another next month. Like Chia Pets, with love and food they just grow and grow. I am now putting the surgery on hold and am trying natural supplements and food to control how my body is.
THE POINT to all of this: I am going to blog my experience and my progress. I have to say Im very skeptical about the entire process, but I know my way has not been working. I have never been one to take a ton of supplements but maybe I need to be more open minded. I cant work out and eat great for two weeks just to self sabotage for a week straight of PMS hell which includes an IV of Queso. I am going to put it ALL out there, my weight, measurements, everything.
I started the program last Friday, however my supplements, smoothie stuff, scale and pedometer only arrived today. I thought I would start documenting when I had my arsenal of supplies ready to go. This week has been slow on the workout front due to contractors RIPPING OUT ALL OF OUR FLOORS DOWNSTAIRS! Talk about a nuisance, my fridge, stove and dishwasher are now in the garage. Not to mention my trainer is on his honeymoon this week,
(cograts Garrett!!)
Wish me luck, I have been off Dairy ( I have no idea why? I do what I'm told) and Diet Dr. Pepper for one week now. I finally quit craving the Diet Dr. Pepper yesterday. I don't drink a lot of them, but even one a day was missed. ( Dawna, I am sure Pepsi is the ONE exception to all evil softdrinks. Don't worry! And if you talk to JJ, you might want to refer to Pepsi as Green Tea! HAHA) I also have laid off the vino for several days. Still having the occasional martini. Stay tuned!
My weight at the start: 152 ( Its muscle people!!! )
Body Fat according to the evil machine, "TEM" 33% ( Lets blame the chia pets)
Measurements will be forth coming when I figure out how to do it correctly.
UPDATE I wrote this blog on Friday and it is now Sunday and I have lost TWO POUNDS! Since Friday when I got the scale! So now 150! YAY!
I had to share these adorable photos of Riley that I should have posted much sooner. He is such a laid back good little boy. These photos are of both his 3 month and 6 month sessions. I have not been shooting as much this past year, with so many other things going on. I am so grateful to have great clients with the best babies who still come in and continue to give me my baby fix. Riley is Chandlers brother who has graced the blog many times!
I'm still a sucker for the feet shot. I love baby feet and they are just so small and new.
Riley likes being at the beach. Can you tell? Look at that smile....
Riley with one of his favorite blankets and stuffed animal. I know there is a special name for these little stuffed animals... obviously I dont have young ones, because I can NOT come up with it.
I have finally recovered from the week with the kid. Ok, it was not that bad, I loved having my niece, Delaney, over. She is actually a GREAT kid and very easy to please. Except for food. Her menu consists of Chicken Nuggets, Ham and Cheese, Pepperoni Pizza, Mashed Potatoes, French Fries, and some fruit. Thats it. She did not believe the Calamari at Biernat's was fried chicken. She is a smart girl!
Her trip to Dallas centered around the American Girl store at the Galleria. Let me tell you, the creator of the American Girl Doll is a GENIUS! We went the first day, because the doll did NOT have pajamas, nor a dress to wear to lunch the next day. This was an American Girl Fashion Crisis. How can any trust fund doll sleep in her cheerleader outfit?
The first day to the store was a success, we got the doll a great dress for lunch, some comfy PJ's and her dog, Coconut a new dog house. CoCo.. now has a nice dog crib with pink dog bowls. Life is good.
Of course Delaney needed a new dress. Staying with Aunt Melissa usually equals shopping trips and photos. Limited Two.. meet my niece, a fashionista in training. She wanted heels. Yes, she asked me to buy her heels. I told her don't be silly, you don't start wearing heels until your 9. We found some FINE duds for a seven year old.
Day TWO.... The big day.
The PLAN: Go to the store earlier to get the dolls hair done at the salon. Yes, there is a salon. Then have lunch with the doll and her new do.
REALITY: The salon has a WAIT. You must drop your doll off and come back to watch the process when her time has come. There was an almost TWO HOUR WAIT to braid some fake hair. I was still in my happy place at this point. Keep in mind, there were five stylist giving the plastic beauties braids, curls, and fancy ponytails. There was no way to drop the doll off before lunch, because she would miss the meal and the WHOLE POINT WAS TO LUNCH with the DOLL! We rescued the doll from queue and wisked her off to the bistro. Another wait. This place is insane. Its as if Apple had a bistro while people waited for the IPHONE!
Lunch was fun. My sister was there along with my nephew Dalton, our cousin Michelle and my sisters mom, Gloria. They have these special chairs for the dolls so they sit right at the table with you. The menu was not bad, a fixed menu with plenty of Chicken Nuggets, melted cheese and Ham and Cheese sandwhiches. The menu creators must have kids. I did not see Calamari on the list.
After lunch we rushed the doll to the salon where she waited in a cubicle. Almost 2 hours later, it was her turn and she was put in the famous salon chair for her special treatment. We had to decline the facial due to time restrictions. Yes a facial, where she gets pampered and washed down. Poor girl must have enlarged pores with her new dress and fab hair.
All in all, it was a GREAT trip and mission accomplished! Delaney had a great time and I think Big D made a big impression on her. Just seeing this huge store got her excited.
Two girls.. both with new dresses and sassy hair!
I made this quick slideshow with the photos we took, with all of Delaneys new outfits from Limited Two.I am not sure who is teaching her to pose... is she just being Miley??? We had to work on some of her moves. Two nights packed with fun and I think I have my child fix for the year. I dont need children, I just need to borrow my sisters.
Its almost time for me to see my boy weekly on HBO. Set your tivos, it starts Wed. Aug. 6th. TOMORROW!
LOVING ME SOME ROMO!!!!!! Its almost football season!!! WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!
My 7 year old niece, Delaney, is visiting me for a few days. She thinks this might be her first trip into Dallas.
Delaney: How do they build all these buildings SOOO big and tall?
Me: Its very hard work
Delaney: They must have big ladders and build a little at a time! It must take them over a week!
I remember my first impressions of Dallas and driving in and seeing huge buildings. Its very spectacular for a child. You imagine what kind of people are busy working and living in these overwhelming skyscrapers. The energy can be addicting. I still love driving downtown, especially at night when the town is lit up.
Back to the child.. we hit up Target to invest in some swim toys and spent most of the day in the pool. A healthy dinner of Pizza and chips, and now she is being the perfect little child. We have a big day tomorrow planned at the American Girl Store. More to come..
If kids are this easy, it may be a no-brainer!
Apple invented the IPod, the IPhone, and now the IBabysitter! I love it!
We need a new word for HOT. I think HOT is not strong enough to describe the weather. I am NOT complaining! I know in winter I said I could not wait for this steamy hot summer and I was tired of rain. I still prefer this to winter. However, on the news today, they recommended we didn't go outside. Seriously! You might hear that in times of war, or tornadoes, icy roads, but this is just HEAT.
I love to garden and take care of my plants. Even though I dont know what everything is, I know if its supposed to have sun, shade etc. Some of them I was struggling with, even with constant water. For my birthday, my mom bought me a moisture meter. I was so excited! ( Who says I am hard to shop for)
These three plants below are right beside each other. I have them in pots still because I couldn't figure out where they wanted to be as they are all so MOODY! You can see with my moisture meter, the Palm is WET, the Hibiscus in the middle and the Weird tree that used to have flowers DRY. They get the same amount of water. The palm keeps turning yellow, so I keep giving it water. I even talk to it. "Hey Palm! Wake UP Buddy, your supposed to live in the desert and here you are a water HOG and STILL not happy." Turns out, I was overwater the poor Palm. As you can see with the off the radar wet reading. Its drying up now and I suspect it will go to happier days. Only getting water every couple of days now at the most.
The Hibiscus is just moody, so Im watching it. Sometimes its happy, but it def needs water everyday. I moved it away from its brother and it is much happier. When the two hibiscus were placed together, they couldn't be pleased with any amount of water and misting.
This strange tree must need water twice a freaking day! HIGH MAINTENANCE Pink Tree is its new name. You can see its so dry after only being watered that morning. Cry me a river HMPT.
Here is a shot of the happy side of the yard. These guys are always happy and just need daily water. I planted most of these in the ground myself so I take pride in how big and flowering they have become.
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