tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90870132790551973842024-03-13T22:26:37.912-07:00Steve PeperSteve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-70196966902342491852012-12-16T07:07:00.000-08:002012-12-16T07:07:26.878-08:00The Zoo - The Marine Side<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lately, I have had the opportunity to observe/work with some of the marine mammals at the zoo. As it turns out, I LOVE THE MARINE ANIMALS!! They are so fun and interesting to watch. The keepers that I work with have been spoiling me beyond belief and have been letting me do lots of fun things.</div>
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This is Lucy, one of the harbor seals!</div>
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They let me feed them all the time!</div>
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This is Arura the walrus. She is one of my favorites. She can do LOTS of tricks. I have a couple videos that show some of them.<br />
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My keepers gave me a painting from Arura! It was pretty cool to watch her paint. They would put the paint on a plastic board and then she would rub her whiskers in the paint. They would then hold up a canvas and she would rub her paint-covered whiskers on the canvas. I got a picture with her and her masterpiece.</div>
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She loves to check new people out and came right up to my face and started feeling me with her whiskers. I have also had the opportunity to feed and kiss her!</div>
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These next ones are from the 'dry side' where I usually work.</div>
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I tried to get a video of one of the tigers roaring. There is a radio on in the background but hopefully you can still hear it.</div>
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For enrichment, we put pepermint extract on these logs. Petya, our male tiger, LOVES it.<br />
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I also love the gibbons call and tried to get a video of them</div>
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As always, my pandas</div>
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More lemurs<br />
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Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-47225633252683460292012-10-14T18:36:00.001-07:002012-10-14T18:36:36.675-07:00More Zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just a few more pictures and videos! As always, I love my otters!</div>
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If you look at the otter laying on his back, right next to the fence, you can see him tossing a little pebble in the air like he is juggling it. I see them doing this every now and then and I find it hilarious </div>
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Here is one of them juggling/playing with a cricket right before he eats it. He was tossing it a lot longer but it took forever for my camera to load so this was all I was able to catch. He also would push the cricket up the wall and let it slide down and do it over and over again.</div>
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We gave Kiak a little pumpkin the other day. It is on the tree and then she smashes it.</div>
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<br />She took a couple pieces into her pool with her. If you watch the whole video, towards the end she gets more active with it! Earlier, again before I got my camera loaded, she was putting the pieces of pumpkin in between her toes and lifting it out of the water. In the video you can see her balance the pumpkin on her head and hold it on the bottom of her foot. After seeing videos like this I just can not understand how scientists think it is a faux pas to give animals anthropomorphic characteristics....<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6AedMwnW2ZavSFKKoekPedPCXoJc6hFtoZSdHVveysJXL1Sowl_JvlzXkfs5M2Rweaq7TeM_hRr_Ty9CclQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-68187756749640983712012-09-30T20:19:00.002-07:002012-09-30T20:19:16.942-07:00Zoo Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ok, here are some of the videos that I have taken while working with the animals at the zoo!! Yall may not find them as enjoyable as I do, and if that is the case, sorry for how many there are [=</div>
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I mentioned before about how much I love Leela the red panda. Here I am feeding her some fruit. I love how she wraps her paw around fruit! The next video is of the otters (asain small-clawed otters). I can't remember if I mentioned this in my last post but the keepers refer to the otters as land piranhas because they are ALWAYS hungry and will eat anything they get their hands on. And whenever they see us they chirp and chirp and chirp...</div>
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This is Luke, the lemur that left us a little bit ago. Here I am feeding him some cheerios. I love how he will reach out and grab my hand and pull it in closer to him!</div>
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Here he is eating a piece of banana. He licks his fingers at the end of the video, very cute!</div>
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Some more of the otters!</div>
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This is Mi-Kal, the male bear. He LOVES to chew on rope. I am actually surprised that he gave up before he made it through the rope.</div>
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Kiak in the pool.</div>
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Ciela the tiger, during one of her training sessions.</div>
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This is the baby collard lemur. He usually is just wrapped around his mothers stomach so it has been fun watching him as he has finally been bouncing around!</div>
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You probably can not see them in the video but I put some of her fruit higher in the tree so she had to climb to get it. Turned out it wasn't that hard for her!</div>
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Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-32146744696417168472012-09-23T21:06:00.000-07:002012-09-23T21:06:21.075-07:00First Month of Internship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The past month I have been doing an internship at the Indianapolis Zoo. It has been a great experience thus far, extremely exhausting, but completely worth it. I am working in the Forest Biome which consists of the brown bears, tigers, red pandas, muntjacs, gibbons, asain small-clawed otters, lemurs, and bats (although I can't work with the bats since I am not vaccinated for rabies). I work alongside of the normal zookeepers and just help them with the work. I clean the exhibits and holding areas, prepare their diets, feed them, help set up enrichment, and mainly watch but help a little with the animal training. I think that pretty much summarizes what I do. </div>
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While at the zoo I have been able to take a few pictures/videos with my phone. They aren't always that great (they'll be better once I get my iPhone 5!!) but at least it is something to show and remember my experience!</div>
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One of the tigers, Andrea. We have 3, 2 female and 1 male. They are impressive looking animals. They have HUGE shoulders and thick limbs. Obviously we are not able to actually go in the cages with these guys but I get extremely close when I am with them in the holder areas.</div>
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This is one of the 2 brown bear. We have 1 male and 1 female. This is the female, Kiak. She is the larger of the 2. Same situation as the tigers, can't go in with them but I get VERY close in the holding area. Whenever I am back with Kiak, she gets real close to cage wall and takes in really deep breaths like she is trying to smell/taste me and then smacks her lips, or something like that. It can be kind of eery at times but the bears are probably one of my favorite animals so far. They are so much fun to watch, especially when you give them different enrichments to play with. They seem to be very playful/curious animals. </div>
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These are some of the ring-tailed lemurs. As you can see I am able to go in with these guys. They are very active and bounce off of EVERYTHING, including me. I had one jump off of a tree limb, off my back, then onto another tree limb once. It was weird because I barely felt it. I also love their hands, they are sooo soft. I actually find that interesting since they are constantly hanging from things and such, but I love it when they put their hands on my leg when they come up to get food. </div>
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This is Luke, a Collared lemur. I loved him. He actually got shipped off to another zoo shortly after I met him. I have a bunch of videos I'll try to post later and one of them is of him eating a piece of banana, so funny!</div>
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This is a red-ruffed lemur. They are probably one of my least favorite animals, only because they will randomly start this obnoxiously loud call. It seriously is mind piercingly loud. Whenever they start doing it I have to stop whatever I am doing and plug my ears. It is the worst when you are inside with them (a foot away at times) because it echos off of the walls. I would try to get a video of it sometime to try and show you the madness of it, but that would require me to have my ears unplugged for an extended period of time.... Besides their scream, or whatever you want to call it, I guess they are pretty cool. I'll go in the cages with these guys as well and hand feed them. They also have the really soft hands!</div>
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Another picture of Kiak. Not sure if you can see it or not but she reaching for a piece sweet potato. I try to scatter her food around and hide it in places so they have to work a little more and 'forage' for their food. Plus it is cool to see them stand up like that! </div>
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This is the male, Mi-Kal in the pool in their exhibit. </div>
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This is Leela, one of the red pandas. The keepers call her a crazy girl but she is one of my most favorite animals. She is really cute and fun to feed and watch her eat (again, hopefully a video to come).</div>
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This is Jill, one of the keepers I work with feed one of the muntjacs, Rama. We have 2 muntjacs, a father and son. </div>
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Just last week we were sitting in with the ring-tails and one of the little girls, Rowan, decided to climb on my back. It was pretty cool. She was licking my head, ears, cheeks, and nose and even nibbled a little on my ear. Luckily it wasn't a bite! I have a bunch of pictures of it because most of them didn't turn out so I just put them all on here. Again, hopefully they will turn out better once I get a iPhone 5 with a better camera on it!!</div>
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This is Shannon, another one of the keepers. Rowan spent some time with her as well. </div>
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This is Reagan, the lone male in with the ring-tails. </div>
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<br />Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-67188503189130409102012-08-21T13:01:00.000-07:002012-08-22T12:15:14.706-07:00Wilson Adventures - Part 2 - My New Buddy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you recall from my last post, at the start of my Wilson adventure, Kate didn't get the invite to most of our activities ]= Well, over the last 3 weeks of my visit with them I was able to make up for that and Kate and I spent lots of quality time together! We became new buddies! One thing I LOVED was the way she says my name. For the longest time I thought it sounded like "GEE" but Kelly probably got it right when she put it as "sTEE". You decide...</div>
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I tried several times to capture her "saying" my name. She would be saying it over and over again, but as soon as I pulled out my phone to record she would stop (little booger!) so it made it hard to catch a good video.</div>
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Either way I loved hearing it, for the most part [= There were times when she would just start shouting my name to try and get me attention and WOULD NOT STOP until I looked at her and watched whatever it was she was doing. Looking back on it I guess it was pretty dang cute. Didn't always think so at the time though!</div>
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On several occasions Kate would start crying in her room (at night or during nap time). She would cry and cry and cry for 'mommy', but after a while of nothing happening she would switch to crying and crying and crying for 'daddy". If that didn't work she started to cry and cry and cry for 'sTEE'. Mommy, daddy, sTEE. I suppose thats the proper order {= One night (or should I say morning) about 3:30-4:00am I heard her start crying (we shared a wall). Well, sure enough it started with 'mommy, mommy, mommy...' (I tried to let her cry it out) then she shifted to 'daddy...' (I still tried to let her cry it out) but then she made it to 'sTEE'. Most of Kates sentences when she talks were hard for me to understand. Every now and then I could make out a sentence or two. Well, this night, after she started crying for 'sTEE' (I still tried letting her cry it out), clear as day I heard her say/scream "sTEE, I waaant yooouuu!" Sure enough she found my soft spot. I got right up to go rescue her! We headed down stairs to lay on the couch and I put on JoJo for her to watch. We probably watched 4-5 episodes (that was big for me because I can't stand the show). She finally got up and started wondering around and apparently stirred kelly and pj. Kelly came out and informed me that all I had to do was give her another bottle and put her right back down and she would have been fine. Oh well, I guess we spent a few hours bonding, right?!</div>
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Kelly and I affectionately nicknamed her 'The Beast'. As I am sure many of you know, Kate is a <i>VERY </i>busy girl!! Her beastly side would come out typically in the car or on the beach.</div>
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But we still had lots of fun together!!</div>
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The day after I left, Kelly sent me a text with this picture and a caption that read:</div>
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"Where sTEE? I no know. Oushshide??"</div>
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It about broke my heart!</div>
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The rest of the kids and I had some great times together as well (future posts). But there also were some, lets say, trying times!<br />
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For some reason when we were in the car about to go somewhere, on several occasions, Dylan would inform me that "This was NOT my car." Or "I was NOT going with them (to where ever we were going)". Most times I responded as an adult, but there might have been a time or two I responded, "Well, its not YOUR car either, its your mom and dads..." you know, the mature response [:</div>
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As I mentioned I spent a month and 4 days with the Wilson's. That was the longest I have ever spent day in and day out with my little buddies. I usually am pretty good at handling the madness that is kids for short periods of time. Previous to this I have been able to give them back to their parents when they start acting up. Well, that wasn't the case this time. Again, we had great times together, but there were times when I would get overwhelmed and probably lost several points on the 'favorite uncle meter'. </div>
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One night, after the kids were in bed, I was out by the TV waiting to start our nightly Big Bang Theory viewing, Kelly was in her room finishing some things up, and PJ was out running. Well I noticed that Kelly went up stairs for a few minutes. When she came back down she shared a story with me. She said that Tyler had come down stairs to tell on Brynn and Dylan for keeping him up (or something like that...). Kelly told Tyler to go back up to bed and tell everyone that they are in big trouble. Kelly followed up the stairs shortly behind Tyler and said that before she made it to their door she could hear Tyler talking to Brynn and Dylan, recounting what had just happened. She heard Tyler say, "I have good news and bad news. The bad news is mom said we are all in big trouble. The good news is I sneaked down stairs without uncle steve even noticing, and he gets REAL mad!"</div>
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After she told me the story I had to laugh because it was pretty dang funny but a little sad at the same time to realize it had gotten to the point that I was known to 'get real mad'. True, I got pretty mad at times, but I still love all of my little buddies to death!!!!</div>
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Oh, and this picture just cracks me up. I loved the craziness of Kate's hair every night as her rubber bands were removed for bed. </div>
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Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-91172552205309255642012-08-18T14:06:00.004-07:002012-08-18T14:06:47.590-07:00Wilson Adventures - Part 1<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Starting in late June, I was able to start a month and 4 day stay with Kelly's family!! It started when I drove over to their house in Illinois with mom and dad to go to Brynn's baptism!</div>
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After her baptism weekend, we took the kids back to Indiana with us leaving PJ and Kelly at home alone to get their house packed and ready to load the truck for moving. They drove over the next week to join us in Indiana for the 4th of July! That gave mom, dad, and I 5 days to spend with the little ones before their parents came.</div>
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One day I took them to the Indy Zoo (well, Kate didn't get the invite. I was the only adult going and was worried I wouldn't be able to handle ALL FOUR KIDS by myself. With how <i>very busy</i> Kate is all the time, it turned out to be a wise decision {= It was hard enough trying to keep track of the 3 older ones without having to worry about Kate. Sorry Kate, someday I'll take you to the zoo!!) </div>
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This was an area where you could pet the dogfish (shark). None of them were interested in doing that but enjoyed watching them swim around.</div>
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Here we were taking a break, eating some snacks. I kind of messed up and we never really had a real lunch so by the time we left we were all a little hungry and grumpy.</div>
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Checking out some of the animals.</div>
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And some more.</div>
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Here was my favorite area, African Elephants!! They had a little baby that was fun to watch.</div>
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After we left we headed to McDonalds for some ice cream and fries (trying to make up for missing lunch)! </div>
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Another day we went to Wonderlab. As always, the kids had fun.</div>
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Where's Waldo, I mean Dylan?</div>
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Here he is!</div>
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Grandma came so Kate was able to come to this adventure!</div>
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This was a fun crane machine that Tyler and I played with for a little while. Tyler LOVED it. Unfortunately another boy and his dad were playing on it almost the whole time we were there so we only got to play with it right before we had to leave. </div>
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Another day we went to the movie Brave. I loved it! Oh, Kelly was actually here for this one, shes behind the camera. </div>
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Its been awhile so I'm not remembering everything that we did that week, but it was just the start of my summer Wilson adventure!! More to come...</div>
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Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-12209939155504571182012-04-28T16:12:00.001-07:002012-04-28T16:12:37.299-07:00Random Stuff From 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As I mentioned in my last, Katy and I went to the Today Show while in New York. Mom and Dad recorded it for us and while I was home over spring break I recorded the parts where we made it on the show! The first video we are right above Anne's left shoulder. Sorry Katy if these videos are embarrassing for you [:</div>
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This second video is brief and hard to see us. It will be like finding Waldo! See if you can spot us.</div>
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This next picture is from when TJ Dad and I went to a Colts game for TJ's birthday.<br />
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Most of you know that I have been having "issues" with my jeep. She is sick. She has a condition called 'The Death Wobble'. It is VERY frightening when driving on the highway (usually between 60-70 mph). If I hit a bump, usually while on a curve, the front tires start violently shacking and it is hard to control. I have to slam on the breaks and try to pull over and stop in order for the death wobble to cease. During our family reunion last year Jonah help fix the problem. There isn't actually a "fix" for it but he added a thicker steering stabilizer bar which helped for a while and she was in remission. Unfortunately it has come back. So over spring break Dad graciously traded me cars so I didn't have to risk driving back across country with her condition. It has been nice but I really miss my jeep. Besides the death wobble she has been a GREAT car for me. It was very emotional for me when I had to leave her when I came back out here for school. I took her on a nice long ride the night before I left!</div>
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This past week I decided to go back up to Pittsburg for another baseball game since the Rockies were back in town (I went last year when they came). Well, the weather here has been BEAUTIFUL. Last week it probably averaged 75 degrees and might have even hit the low 80's, perfect baseball weather. Well, I got a ticket for Monday nights game. I'm sure you can guess, but Sunday night we had a freak blizzard and they ended up canceling the game, rescheduling it for a double header on Wednesday. I unfortunately teach on Wednesdays so I was not able to go then. I ended up calling the ticket office and found out that they do not give refunds, go figure, but that I could trade my ticket in for another game. Luckily I was able to drive up Tuesday night! I woke up Tuesday morning and I couldn't see any snow, anywhere. A freak blizzard just happened to come through the one day of the past 2 months when I was planning to drive up to Pitt for my game. If I was a conspiracy theorist I would think mother earth had it out for me [:</div>
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I also DID NOT want to have a seat next to any kids. It is a well known fact that if you catch a foul ball and you are sitting next to a kid you have to give it to them. There was actually an incident this past week in the news were a couple didn't give a ball to the kid next to them and it got blown way out of proportion. I have never caught a foul ball and REALLY want to, at least once in my life and I would hate to catch my first one and then turn around and have to give it to some little stranger. However, It wouldn't bother me if it was one of my little buddies! That probably makes me sound selfish or crazy but isn't it every boys dream to catch a foul ball? So wouldn't you know, when I walked to my seat Tuesday night I was right next to 3 little boys. I guess mother baseball also has it out for me! I didn't catch a foul ball but there was one hit on the ground right at us and the ball girl gave it to the kids. Oh well, maybe next time!</div>
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You guys probably don't care about these pictures but I thought it was pretty cool to be so close to them. I got a ticket on the first row first base line!</div>
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Warming up before the game right in front of us.</div>
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Dexter Fowler. He might be my favorite Rockie</div>
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Cargo</div>
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Jamie Moyer. Just made history for being the older starting pitcher to win a game.</div>
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Todd Helton. Future hall of famer.</div>
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Tulo!</div>
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And of course I had to put a picture of my dog that I miss...</div>
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<br />Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-45321454085049029102012-02-19T18:22:00.000-08:002012-02-19T18:22:44.878-08:00New York City 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last weekend I was able to drive over to New York City (I have never been there before) to meet Katy and Clay. Clay had to head out there for work and I decided to drive up to hang out with Katy while Clay was in meetings. I drove up sunday afternoon. I was afraid of all of the tolls I was going to have to pay. I actually only had to pay 2 but one of them was to go through the Lincoln Tunnel and it was $12. I was blown away. I have never heard of a $12 toll before. The other one I had to pay was only $2.25. Luckily I did not have to pay it on the way back. Before I left, everyone here at school warned me about how bad the driving and traffic was going to be and told me that I HAD to leave extra early. Having never been there I figured I better take their word for it. I planned an extra 2 hours into my drive to account for that. And what do you know, I got there a few minutes BEFORE my GPS was telling me. On top of that, Katy and Clay's plane was a little delayed so I had just under 3 hours to walk around the city by myself. It was FREEZING COLD and the wind was blowing like crazy. I apparently did not have enough layer because I was extremely cold. After walking around for about 2 1/2 hours I decided to stop in a Star Bucks to get some apple cider and wait until Katy and Clay arrived. Before that, As I was walking in the cold, I walked a giant loop around Times Square about 3 times and even decided to walk over to Central Park. Right as I got to Central Park the sun was setting and it was getting really dark so I didn't spend much time there =) I did however have one of my knives strapped to the front of my backpack (I was afraid I was going to get mugged =) so I felt a little better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyways, after Katy and Clay arrived we checked into the hotel room. They let me crash with them sunday night and Clay even graciously gave up the other twin bed so I didn't have to sleep on the floor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The hotel was right in Times Square! These next 2 pictures were from the hotel window. We had to keep the blinds closed tight at night because the lights from the street made it seem like mid day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m1MAElzhUDQ/T0FM9DGuonI/AAAAAAAABOI/Q47K9tdMVbA/s1600/DSCN0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m1MAElzhUDQ/T0FM9DGuonI/AAAAAAAABOI/Q47K9tdMVbA/s320/DSCN0677.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After we checked in we headed out to dinner. Clay has a tradition of eating steak the first night when he travels for work and there was no complaining from me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a comparative picture of the steaks Katy and I ordered. After much pushing I convinced Katy to try a piece of my steak so she would know what a steak is suppose to taste like!! I caved and tried a piece of hers as well, but needed a drink of water to help get it down =}</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIoAyKdQ3G0/T0FNEeiwQnI/AAAAAAAABQw/mW9Imum9FKw/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIoAyKdQ3G0/T0FNEeiwQnI/AAAAAAAABQw/mW9Imum9FKw/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We then walked around Times Square again for a little while. I was ready to give them a guided tour of the city by that point with all of the walking I previously had done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Clay then reminded us that the Today Show was filmed just a few blocks away from where we were staying and convinced us to go. The next morning when we woke bright and early Clay happened to stay behind and sleep :]</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fDZdBg-7EaY/T0FM_5mgC_I/AAAAAAAABOw/nsgyax8g8iE/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fDZdBg-7EaY/T0FM_5mgC_I/AAAAAAAABOw/nsgyax8g8iE/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This first picture is of me with Natalie on the TV screen. She's my favorite of the reporters!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And never mind the scarf. Katy had an extra one and offered it to me. Since it was so dang cold I took her up on it. After realizing how ridiculous I looked I took it off.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh04Gv-cV2I/T0FNAKh2_PI/AAAAAAAABO4/TN7K-dpLr6c/s1600/DSC_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh04Gv-cV2I/T0FNAKh2_PI/AAAAAAAABO4/TN7K-dpLr6c/s1600/DSC_0026.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Matt and Al coming out for one of their segments. Al came out earlier and walked around and shook everyones had (including Katy's and mine!). Matt came out, did his quick spot, and practically ran back in. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0qYmPnqaRVo/T0FNFoWMjdI/AAAAAAAABRA/4sNQjZGp-QI/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0qYmPnqaRVo/T0FNFoWMjdI/AAAAAAAABRA/4sNQjZGp-QI/s320/IMG_0252.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I called mom and dad and told them what we were doing and had them record the episode. Perhaps later I might put a video of our moment of fame on here! In the meantime they managed to pause the TV and take a couple pictures. The white hat is Katy!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0dC6zjHRsg/T0FNGC1oKNI/AAAAAAAABRI/YUDZ3n6gjnc/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0dC6zjHRsg/T0FNGC1oKNI/AAAAAAAABRI/YUDZ3n6gjnc/s320/IMG_0253.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm the nose and eyes on the top. I NEVER thought I would be "one of those" trying to get on TV. I actually wouldn't have had to but the camera man kept skipping right by us. Katy and I got there with plenty of time and had a nice spot picked out. It was right in front of the door everyone came out of the building from. We were right along the 'gate' that they had set up. The first time Al can out he started from the opposite end from where we were. The camera man did a pan-around and stopped a little before us. As Al headed back in he looked in our direction and yelled not to go anywhere because they would be coming back out. They came back out but went back to where they were and 'panned' the same crowd with the camera. We decided to hang around a little longer and Al came back out but this time set up on the opposite side from where he had the previous. Again we were not in the shot so we ended up trying to get seen by moving behind the crowd (as seen in the picture above). As we were there, sticking our nose in the air for the camera to see, Al started walking as he was giving his report (with the camera following him) to the spot where we had been standing ALL MORNING but left just before. REALLY....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYjBls97R54/T0FNGl7wHBI/AAAAAAAABRQ/HfjJtfJAR4A/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYjBls97R54/T0FNGl7wHBI/AAAAAAAABRQ/HfjJtfJAR4A/s320/IMG_0256.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After we got passed over again we decided to leave. As we were walking away we decided to go back and see if we could see Natalie through the other windows!! Well what do you know. Reese Witherspoon was there in here place!!!!!!! The picture above is of Katy and me as we were watching Reese during her interview.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yfJN_Xb4Vps/T0FNAqxJSSI/AAAAAAAABPA/rB2dl6OQQ08/s1600/DSC_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yfJN_Xb4Vps/T0FNAqxJSSI/AAAAAAAABPA/rB2dl6OQQ08/s1600/DSC_0030.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before the interview she was just sitting there waiting for it to start and she turned to us and waved. I'm positive she was looking right at me =]</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qJP4uSBl0es/T0FNAmiZ-qI/AAAAAAAABPI/eiHRPlyHFq8/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qJP4uSBl0es/T0FNAmiZ-qI/AAAAAAAABPI/eiHRPlyHFq8/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yEP4l3SnaOc/T0FNAzHfsfI/AAAAAAAABPQ/xOqivis44x8/s1600/DSC_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yEP4l3SnaOc/T0FNAzHfsfI/AAAAAAAABPQ/xOqivis44x8/s1600/DSC_0032.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me with Reese. Katy and Clay decided to name their child after her if it was a girl but since they are having a boy, I get to name my eventual/hopeful daughter Reese!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DpUm2FathjE/T0FNE_ppatI/AAAAAAAABQ4/3ZEiom5H-u8/s1600/IMG_0244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DpUm2FathjE/T0FNE_ppatI/AAAAAAAABQ4/3ZEiom5H-u8/s320/IMG_0244.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNncG5eQLYE/T0FNBemBs_I/AAAAAAAABPY/NsugYcH9KII/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNncG5eQLYE/T0FNBemBs_I/AAAAAAAABPY/NsugYcH9KII/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Such nice posture</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgnoTrTq4Gg/T0FNB2noK1I/AAAAAAAABPg/0qGbZumbhSE/s1600/DSC_0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgnoTrTq4Gg/T0FNB2noK1I/AAAAAAAABPg/0qGbZumbhSE/s1600/DSC_0046.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the Today Show, we headed back to the hotel to shower and get ready. We then hopped on the subway to head down to the 9/11 memorial. Apparently the memorial requires tickets to get in so we decided to head over to the statue of liberty instead. This was a little intense. It only cost $13 which was nice but we had to wait in a line for about an hour and we had to go through security like you would in an airport. The picture above is from the back of the ferry that we took.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pEHqZM36nUs/T0FNCD6iPBI/AAAAAAAABPo/nVLEPXyr1cA/s1600/DSC_0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pEHqZM36nUs/T0FNCD6iPBI/AAAAAAAABPo/nVLEPXyr1cA/s1600/DSC_0057.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tws5CRw_nFA/T0FNCR6GmUI/AAAAAAAABPw/l_TjYsZ4bPY/s1600/DSC_0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tws5CRw_nFA/T0FNCR6GmUI/AAAAAAAABPw/l_TjYsZ4bPY/s1600/DSC_0068.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-db4SLJjl0/T0FNCjueRHI/AAAAAAAABP4/fGni9ntsv9o/s1600/DSC_0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-db4SLJjl0/T0FNCjueRHI/AAAAAAAABP4/fGni9ntsv9o/s1600/DSC_0074.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1kwwtjFRkiI/T0FNCi1Dg5I/AAAAAAAABQA/ErjkVtbB2yY/s1600/DSC_0078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1kwwtjFRkiI/T0FNCi1Dg5I/AAAAAAAABQA/ErjkVtbB2yY/s1600/DSC_0078.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was Ellis Island. We decided not to get off and visit this time. We were sooo exhausted by this point.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKSZOJI1WMI/T0FNC0u-62I/AAAAAAAABQI/fAm8SLHbQ2Y/s1600/DSC_0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKSZOJI1WMI/T0FNC0u-62I/AAAAAAAABQI/fAm8SLHbQ2Y/s1600/DSC_0088.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also had to experience some genuine New York pizza. It was alright. Chicago pizza is MUCH better! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rcdq1MaTn1I/T0FNDKPlESI/AAAAAAAABQQ/VVDdhz6Ifnk/s1600/DSC_0089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rcdq1MaTn1I/T0FNDKPlESI/AAAAAAAABQQ/VVDdhz6Ifnk/s1600/DSC_0089.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FP3zzGOcntI/T0FNDRzUL_I/AAAAAAAABQY/oj0PzV7_hIY/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FP3zzGOcntI/T0FNDRzUL_I/AAAAAAAABQY/oj0PzV7_hIY/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Empire State Building.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xh-bo0bleSU/T0FNDpnI_CI/AAAAAAAABQg/GyatT74muuU/s1600/DSC_0095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xh-bo0bleSU/T0FNDpnI_CI/AAAAAAAABQg/GyatT74muuU/s1600/DSC_0095.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went into the lobby but decided not to go up. It was too expensive.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wqt4RX1ecHw/T0FNDxHuoTI/AAAAAAAABQo/fP1sHW4FqMI/s1600/DSC_0102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wqt4RX1ecHw/T0FNDxHuoTI/AAAAAAAABQo/fP1sHW4FqMI/s1600/DSC_0102.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also had to check out Grand Central Stadium.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ocRHsAkh58I/T0FM-QJXwrI/AAAAAAAABOQ/vEsYitPPo3c/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ocRHsAkh58I/T0FM-QJXwrI/AAAAAAAABOQ/vEsYitPPo3c/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2tTWHpppxR4/T0FM_OTQWFI/AAAAAAAABOY/bCPpIKmq1uU/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2tTWHpppxR4/T0FM_OTQWFI/AAAAAAAABOY/bCPpIKmq1uU/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygPGDj5ETfA/T0FM_btOTjI/AAAAAAAABOg/JBZPcfaNQVI/s1600/DSC_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygPGDj5ETfA/T0FM_btOTjI/AAAAAAAABOg/JBZPcfaNQVI/s1600/DSC_0010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I HAD to get this picture for Tyler and Dylan. Optimus says hi!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-tBim8clc0/T0FM_rIjBuI/AAAAAAAABOo/hTeuWqU_EUo/s1600/DSC_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-tBim8clc0/T0FM_rIjBuI/AAAAAAAABOo/hTeuWqU_EUo/s1600/DSC_0012.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also did a little shopping, took a cab ride and I also got a piece of New York cheese cake before I left. When I drove in I actually had to drive through the Times Square area and that was an interesting experience. It actually was not that bad. You just can't be afraid to cut off the cabbies because THEY. ARE. INSANE! I got honked at a few times and probably should have honked at a few cabbies myself. They would just make their own lanes. Literally they would drive down the dividing lines. New York people (especially cabbies) are extremely rude. Oh, I also forgot to mention that as we were walking around Times Square, I believe Sunday night, a couple of ladies came by and kind of separated Katy and Clay from me and had them pose for a fashion magazine that they were trying to get started. I guess you had to be there but I thought it was pretty funny and got a good laugh at how the ladies had no desire for my stylish raggedy old torn up jacket =)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, I'm thinking that about sums up the trip. It was great fun and I am glad I was able to spend some time with Katy and Clay. Now if any of my other sibling wanted to come out to this part of the country perhaps I will drive over and see you as well!! </div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-7682845153422358992011-11-06T18:35:00.000-08:002011-11-07T10:45:20.934-08:00MIAMI- The Food<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love experiencing and trying new things! While I was in Miami I decided that I wanted to try some new food! Here are the things I can now check off my list:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Frog Legs- (the first picture is of me holding a frog leg) I have always heard that frog legs tasted like chicken. Well, they do in fact. They were good, until I got down to the bone. After I ate the meat off enough that I could actually grasp the bone I noticed that the bone was EXTREMELY sticky. I don't even know how to explain the stickiness of these bones. It was worse then any glue that I have spilt on my fingers. It was so sticky that I couldn't even wash it off with an ice cube. It kind of grossed me out enough that I didn't want to eat very many. All-in-all, frog legs get an "eh" rating</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6Tc9iMZuOY/TrXFs0Wc_sI/AAAAAAAABGo/CAOxJFGaMc8/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6Tc9iMZuOY/TrXFs0Wc_sI/AAAAAAAABGo/CAOxJFGaMc8/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Stone Crab- I have had crab before and love crab but have never had stone crab or heard of it, that I know of. I'm not sure if it is endemic to the florida area but it supposedly is only in season for a few months. We got there the week the season started! You crab connoisseurs may know this but when you order stone crab they only bring out the front claws. However, those front claws are enormous! The shell is also the thickest shell I have ever seen and is probably why the claws came pre-cracked. They also served it cold which was a new crab experience, one that I liked! All-in-all, I loved stone crab! Probably my favorite crab now!<br />
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Cuban Food- There are a ton of Cubans in florida and thus a ton of Cuban food places. The Cuban food was REALLY good, however, I made the mistake of ordering french fries instead of the rice. After ordering the fries my waitress (probably a pure cuban) paused, looked at me, and with attitude said "you want fries?" It kind of caught me off guard but said yyyyees. "Your at a cuban restaurant and you want fries instead of rice?" I wanted to bring up the point that they WERE on the menu. Perhaps she knew that we were trying to get the "cuban experience" and was just trying to encourage me to get the rice. Either way I stayed with my fries but feared that my waitress was going to put in an order of "special fries", if you catch my drift =} When the fries came out I gave them a careful look over, and for the record, they were probably some of the best fries that I have ever had!! <br />
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Alligator- Being in florida, gator land, I figured I HAD to try some alligator! Another item you always hear tastes like chicken. Again, I would agree that it does taste like chicken, however a chewy chicken. It came as deep fried gator nuggets. They were good though! Perhaps McDonalds should look into switching over =) And no, this is not a picture of the gator I ate. It wasn't like red lobster where you can go pick out the lobster you want from the tank. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vwt80_Pu8vI/TrXFqu9tkuI/AAAAAAAABGg/cb-pWouuLbU/s1600/DSCN0444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vwt80_Pu8vI/TrXFqu9tkuI/AAAAAAAABGg/cb-pWouuLbU/s320/DSCN0444.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Don Shula's- This last one was not an exotic place but more of the experience. My friend who I went down there with, as I mentioned before, is a big miami dolphins fan. WEll, Don Shula is a famous coach in dolphins history. He apparently has a steak house in miami built around his dolphins. Jeff really wanted to go and since I love steak I agreed. Since it was built around a football team we were thinking that it was going to be like a sports bar type of thing. Oh man were we wrong. My first clue came when we were driving to find the place and we realized that it was located inside of a hotel. Locations inside of hotels are never good, price-wise that is. My second clue came when were trying to find a place to park. There were NO parking places anywhere. It wasn't really that all of the spots were full, there just weren't any. We noticed that there was a valet so we asked them where the parking was and they informed us that the valet was the only way to park. But they insured us not to worry because the valet parking for Shula's was complementary. Oh yeah right, don't worry! I started sweating bullets. When we finally made our way into the restaurant the lights were dimly lit and everyone inside of the restaurant were dressed all fancy sipping wine. We were wearing jeans, however, with somewhat nice button down shirts. Nonetheless I still felt WAY under dressed. The menu was then handed to us on an autographed, handpainted football. There were no prices and my next big clue was when they brought around a cart with the differing meats on them. They explained each of the meats and then we picked which we wanted. Everything was a la cart which meant things started adding up if we wanted anything beside the meat. The place looked so fancy and I felt so out of place that I was afraid to order "pop" thinking that they might correct me and say "do you mean a chilled, treacle, carbonated beverage?" I honestly, for the first time in my life, felt like white trash. It didn't help that after the waiter brought us bread, I looked up and Jeff had butter hanging off of his nose =] Yeah, we fit right in!! I guess I thought the first time that I would go to a fancy restaurant like that it would be on a date and not with Jeff. Oh well, it was still quite the experience!!<br />
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I was reminded by Kelly and Mom that I did not include what the Shula experience cost me. I was planning on doing that, I just forgot. What we ordered: 2 steaks, 1 side of mashed potatoes, and jeff got a caesars salad. Take a guess what you think the price would be... It actually did turn out to be less than I thought it was going to be.... Oh, as you are taking a guess on the price, I forgot to mention that almost every time that someone (waiter, hostess, manager, whoever) came by the table they keep asking us if we wanted any wine. The first time that they asked we explained that we don't drink but they kept asking, and asking, and asking. As we kept refusing they actually seemed like they were getting upset that we wouldn't order any. Oh well.<br />
Perhaps it doesn't sound like much to you guys but the total came out to be about $150. I thought it was insane, but I was expecting around $200. It was probably the water that we ordered that sent it over the top...Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-38997457435546987322011-11-05T11:28:00.000-07:002011-11-05T11:28:06.759-07:00MIAMI- The Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first thing that I want you guys to know from this blog post is that I am trying to singlehandedly (with your help =) put Priceline.com out of business. If you take ANYTHING away from this post, please NEVER use Priceline again. I want to destroy them!!! Yes, this may sound a little sadistic but I have had enough of them. Yes, I am angry and yes, I apparently hold grudges so I am going to get this off of my chest and complain in this post! Let me begin by going back a few months...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I was in North Dakota this summer I had to book hotels several times as I traveled across the state. I often had to book them on my own credit card and get reimbursed later, which didn't bother me. I tried my best to find the cheapest hotels so I could save grant money for continued use later (like I just did to go back out to ND this past weekend. But anyways, I digress). I have always seen these obnoxious commercials on TV with William Shatner for priceline. For some reason I thought I would give them a try. So I booked a hotel and priceline took the money right out of my account. When I checked out of the hotel I noticed that the hotel charged me for the stay as well. After SEVERAL phone calls, to both the hotel and priceline, I discovered that priceline never sent the hotel the money after I booked my stay. My bank filed a credit dispute with priceline and were able to refund my account but it took a while. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Around the same time that I booked that hotel stay I also booked my Miami trip. I used priceline because at the time I did not realize the headache that was ahead of me. I booked a hotel, flight, and rental car all through priceline. Let the adventure of my Miami trip begin...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I booked my flight out to Miami for a thursday night after my last class. I planed my flight to be at the airport about an hour and a half before the flight left. I was going to hit the road right after my comparative anatomy lab. Of course, that day happened to be the longest lab of the entire semester so I got started a little late. After I made it onto the road I of course hit some of the worst traffic ever and the weather was horrible. My hour and a half window quickly was fading away. By the time I got to the airport and found a place to park I had about 40 minutes before my flight left. I parked in the extended lot and so I tried waiting for a shuttle to come get me and take to to the terminal. As I was trying to find a parking spot I saw 3-4 shuttles driving around the lot but as I was waiting there were none in sight. After about 10 minutes of not seeing a shuttle I decided that I just needed to run for it so I booked it! I made it to the ticket check in with about 10 to spare, obviously not enough time. Apparently the ticket agent people had just left and they stop checking people in 20 minutes before the flight. I MISSED MY FLIGHT!! So with no agent to talk to about getting on the next available flight I had to call the airline. They said that since I booked the flight through pricleline they were not allowed to put me on the next flight =[ So after many more phone calls I realized that I had to buy a one way ticket on the next flight to miami. So in the end I had to buy 2 tickets. The one-way ticket cost as much as my round trip. Oh well, it was my fault for not giving myself enough time to get to the airport. That was the flight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My friend Jeff made his flight so as I was sitting in Pittsburgh waiting for my flight the next morning, he was in Miami trying to pick up our rental car. Well, the rental car company that priceline used to book our car apparently ran out of cars... Even with a confirmation number ... True, part of the blame rests with Payless (the rental car company) but priceline guaranteed us a car and they need to be responsible for the companies that they do business with. Since we had no car, Jeff had to take a cab to the hotel and the next morning the concierge helped him actually get a car. Again, since priceline guaranteed us a car, I called them and asked if they would cover any extra charges that we had to pay that was more than what we had originally agreed with priceline for. They said, "oh no, we can't do that. The best we can do is cancel your reservation." Are you kidding me? I think my reservation was canceled when they ran out of cars!! So the bottom line, the policy that priceline obviously stands for is "If you, the costumer, screws up, you get screwed. If we, priceline, screw up, the costumer still gets screwed!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The most recent incident with priceline is with a receipt. As mentioned earlier I booked a flight to go out to ND through priceline (again, before I realized how horrible they are). I did it on my own card again and am planning to submit my receipt to get refunded. After booking my flight priceline sent me several emails with my itinerary and a summary of the charges they made. However, they only sent me a "summary" of charges. None of the emails were an actual receipt, proof that my card was charged. The school obviously needs that proof that it was my card that they charged before they refund me the money. So I called priceline and explained what I was looking for. They said they would send me an email with a receipt. The email came and it was the same thing I already had, the summary. I tried emailing the costumer service department and explained that I needed an ACTUAL receipt and they emailed me the stupid summary again. I called back and finally got a hold of someone who said that they can not give me an actual receipt, they can only provide the "summary". I asked if they had a record/document of them taking the money out of my account, they said yes, of course. So I said, great! Send me a copy of that document. Oh, no, they can't do that. AAAHHHHHHH......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyways, here are a few pictures of the hotel we stayed at in Miami. It had a great view and was right by the beach! The hotel was really nice, 4 stars I believe, but as it turns out I prefer the not super nice hotels. Something like Hampton Inn. Really nice hotels rip you off. They charge you for internet, they charge you $12 for a belgium waffle that you can make for free at other hotels, and as it turns out, they charge you $20 a night to park. But again, the view was really nice!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsBcYSbg43c/TrHiUKBLSUI/AAAAAAAABGI/ldQlSYTsNdQ/s1600/DSCN0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsBcYSbg43c/TrHiUKBLSUI/AAAAAAAABGI/ldQlSYTsNdQ/s320/DSCN0449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXlurKolZwc/TrHiVpxwqhI/AAAAAAAABGQ/6jOtMnfuSI4/s1600/DSCN0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXlurKolZwc/TrHiVpxwqhI/AAAAAAAABGQ/6jOtMnfuSI4/s320/DSCN0450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0traOvQAUU8/TrHiXIpGiEI/AAAAAAAABGY/bpGVv5lmicc/s1600/DSCN0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0traOvQAUU8/TrHiXIpGiEI/AAAAAAAABGY/bpGVv5lmicc/s320/DSCN0451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok, I believe that my complaining is out of the way. My next posts will be about the activities and food of Miami!</div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-73314402964097636032011-10-25T18:09:00.000-07:002011-10-25T18:09:18.587-07:00MIAMI- The Main Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This past weekend I headed down to Miami for a little vacation. It was QUITE the adventure, but I'll get to that in my next couple posts. I figured I would start with the main reason that I went down there, to see my Denver Broncos play the miami dolphins. Most of you probably wont find this interesting but... Years ago my friend Jeff and I said that the next time that our teams play each other (he is a huge dolphins fan) we would go to the game. It just so happened that it was this year in Miami. We made plans months ago and the time finally came! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It also happened to be the game that Tim Tebow (probably the most controversial quarterback in the NFL right now) started for the first time this season. I couldn't stand him in college for some reason. Don't ask me why, I have no idea, I just didn't. So when Josh McDaniel (the man who singlehandedly set our team back 5 years by trading away all of our talent for nothing. In my opinion, the devil to the Broncos organization.) traded up in the draft to draft Tim Tebow in the first round last year, I found myself forced to begin liking him. I've been coming around and the LAST 5 minutes of Sundays game definitely helped. However, during warmups Tebow did not look good at all. Kyle Orton look MUCH better. Tebow played like crap in the first 3 3/4 of the game but definitely stepped it up when it counted. The game went from being one of the worst games I have ever seen to probably one of the best, most exciting games I have ever seen. And to top it off, WE WON!!! As Aunt Laurie said, it is safe to say that my curse is over!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The game was SOOOO hot. I was completely soaked with sweat by the end of the first quarter and got extremely sun burnt, but , it was worth it! There was a dolphins fan that sat next to me who kept chanting "suck for luck" because he wants the dolphins to just tank the rest of their season so they can draft Andrew Luck in the draft. He was a nice guy, we talked through the whole game and he was giving me high fives during our comeback. It was pretty funny. The rest of the stadium chanted "Tebow Sucks" several times throughout the game, which was interesting since they erupted in cheers for him when he went onto the field for the first time (florida is Tebow land since he played college ball at florida university). Probably half the jerseys worn in the stadium were Tebow jerseys. Half way through the fourth quarter probably half the stadium started leaving and then when Tebow started bringing us back the crowd, that was left, started chanting "Tebow, Tebow, Tebow!!" Hypocrites! Kelly quoted Tebow in one of her posts so I thought I would share one that I liked as I was reading a recap of the game. "You can't lose confidence in yourself, or you've lost already." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pregame. Our kickers. Prater, who is the place kicker killed me this week in fantasy football when he missed his first 2 attempts during the game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jG8_SXSO-0/TqdRe-dqcZI/AAAAAAAABEQ/2-HYe2rVjBs/s1600/DSCN0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jG8_SXSO-0/TqdRe-dqcZI/AAAAAAAABEQ/2-HYe2rVjBs/s320/DSCN0457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tebow Warming up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k8QiWTSKeMc/TqdRg__cvqI/AAAAAAAABEY/HPyOWuzzCpE/s1600/DSCN0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k8QiWTSKeMc/TqdRg__cvqI/AAAAAAAABEY/HPyOWuzzCpE/s320/DSCN0459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HH6UJBOywJg/TqdRjYXoPwI/AAAAAAAABEo/yV0_OxGC50Y/s1600/DSCN0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HH6UJBOywJg/TqdRjYXoPwI/AAAAAAAABEo/yV0_OxGC50Y/s320/DSCN0465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Orton warming up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KpOMVaT1Lpk/TqdRiH7RV6I/AAAAAAAABEg/p_a7MWo5SHg/s1600/DSCN0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KpOMVaT1Lpk/TqdRiH7RV6I/AAAAAAAABEg/p_a7MWo5SHg/s320/DSCN0460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dolphins cheerleaders. I know how much mom likes cheerleaders so I thought SHE might enjoy the pictures of the cheerleaders =]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i2o61bbaIuI/TqdRlJdzCdI/AAAAAAAABEw/onbRt9IC-IU/s1600/DSCN0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i2o61bbaIuI/TqdRlJdzCdI/AAAAAAAABEw/onbRt9IC-IU/s320/DSCN0467.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Von Miller. Our first round draft pick from this year. A GREAT addition to the team. Perhaps the defensive rookie of the year!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-VzuiAXXwM/TqdRmrbCZyI/AAAAAAAABE4/WCNhFy1yiqY/s1600/DSCN0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-VzuiAXXwM/TqdRmrbCZyI/AAAAAAAABE4/WCNhFy1yiqY/s320/DSCN0472.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Champ! Future hall of famer and the jersey that I have and wore to the game</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Nt9sQJ-liU/TqdRoPlusXI/AAAAAAAABFA/LCbo1FNQSSU/s1600/DSCN0474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Nt9sQJ-liU/TqdRoPlusXI/AAAAAAAABFA/LCbo1FNQSSU/s320/DSCN0474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Jan Levinson' from 'The Office' sang then national anthem. I thought you office fans might appreciate these!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1JNxe6lPg0/TqdRpo9dGVI/AAAAAAAABFI/3NHa2KTCq5o/s1600/DSCN0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1JNxe6lPg0/TqdRpo9dGVI/AAAAAAAABFI/3NHa2KTCq5o/s320/DSCN0475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfnAKVfvwO8/TqdRsXOG1II/AAAAAAAABFY/jzwozz6OOAM/s1600/DSCN0477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfnAKVfvwO8/TqdRsXOG1II/AAAAAAAABFY/jzwozz6OOAM/s320/DSCN0477.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ef7q3qmaocM/TqdRrD0_KfI/AAAAAAAABFQ/AGVfLpWmTvM/s1600/DSCN0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ef7q3qmaocM/TqdRrD0_KfI/AAAAAAAABFQ/AGVfLpWmTvM/s320/DSCN0476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The captains</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cy1Fm1CqLPw/TqdRtp4xoUI/AAAAAAAABFg/yTS3mWriDLw/s1600/DSCN0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cy1Fm1CqLPw/TqdRtp4xoUI/AAAAAAAABFg/yTS3mWriDLw/s320/DSCN0480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dumervil, one of my favorite players!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9fIJ_zrKzc/TqdRvDHU7_I/AAAAAAAABFo/TycFE7QOcnU/s1600/DSCN0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9fIJ_zrKzc/TqdRvDHU7_I/AAAAAAAABFo/TycFE7QOcnU/s320/DSCN0481.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tebows first huddle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xazhe5X55eg/TqdRwYv8wmI/AAAAAAAABFw/jMc1t3uxrzs/s1600/DSCN0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xazhe5X55eg/TqdRwYv8wmI/AAAAAAAABFw/jMc1t3uxrzs/s320/DSCN0484.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Orton (who I like) and Brady Quinn (who was one of the disasters from josh mcdaniels. He traded Peyton Hillis who is now one of the NFL's best running backs to get Quinn who is a third string QB)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8t2VTAkyMS4/TqdRx1O7sjI/AAAAAAAABF4/-F-pzJ9fetw/s1600/DSCN0489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8t2VTAkyMS4/TqdRx1O7sjI/AAAAAAAABF4/-F-pzJ9fetw/s320/DSCN0489.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeff and Me after the game!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lmT3GFFZQk/TqdRzMhDcuI/AAAAAAAABGA/VVFrM4o1Dko/s1600/DSCN0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lmT3GFFZQk/TqdRzMhDcuI/AAAAAAAABGA/VVFrM4o1Dko/s320/DSCN0490.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-22851446796416048472011-10-02T11:26:00.000-07:002011-10-02T11:26:52.670-07:00Jali Videos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, in the last couple times that I spent with Jali, along with the hundreds of pictures I took, I took a bunch of videos. Not sure if you guys would enjoy these or not but I sure do so I thought I would post a couple of them =) I wish we had taken more videos from when she was younger and full of energy. Like when TJ and I were out back with Cooper (Kelly's rabbit) outside of her cage and mom let Jali out the back door. That was a chaotic moment. Probably the fastest I have ever seen Jali move.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyFI0MV2flFy96uqLllu776lFBf6dMMYUToE-Dtbg9S79VdFGFUVRkFaj0rwZ9-tV30kWJvfJuZJfmocsLFcA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Towards the end of her life Jali became a con artist! She learned that ever time she went outside she would get a treat. I have a feeling she exploited me the most with that. Like I mentioned earlier, I was a sucker for spoiling her and giving her treats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz7z8GUHeCAarrPkrsMQhgJ9_aSQ0LiYNNXtoSk9HNvacnCiwmg_4zyblD98IVIZvQ9GGTpmmW0DRAMbKEKMg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These next 3 were actually one longer one but I broke them down because it wouldn't load. I loved the way she ate! She would always have a wet beard after drinking and would smear it all over me. She is the only girl I will ever love with a beard :}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwteL1Nky9dkhZxZkXrB6bqWuAjgGFj75NcKdIAw-tl6slDLa3U-romsTqD2J_ip3zdA4rQK6jEEOOAN8-2' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzu0nKomldOriqVeWYkr7wIeRq5pQBALzWiEvozrV49BVox2kmVJdDyKhpkZyEygzHMfNPlRJflzf3I7uqPNQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz2t1DGPK2tUCRBC4-C1wYwoSr8VACwJaarh7si8ZYv7cKCKK0SZxPVOmY3hKrMstfJDjDT5EfbCQGyL6rrQg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a couple more pictures. I controlled my self from adding 80 more =}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dVuWfLJSj0E/Toirhqfjf8I/AAAAAAAABEI/XwjC-VVkrB8/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dVuWfLJSj0E/Toirhqfjf8I/AAAAAAAABEI/XwjC-VVkrB8/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-31356014207553427972011-09-25T17:18:00.000-07:002011-09-25T17:18:39.268-07:00Jalapeno Peper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHjJBKOkNUs/Tn4mYRVRxeI/AAAAAAAAA_E/jdtR7b4Xsbo/s1600/CCI00002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHjJBKOkNUs/Tn4mYRVRxeI/AAAAAAAAA_E/jdtR7b4Xsbo/s1600/CCI00002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHjJBKOkNUs/Tn4mYRVRxeI/AAAAAAAAA_E/jdtR7b4Xsbo/s320/CCI00002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Well, I've been wanting to to a post on my beloved dog, Jalapeno (Jali) Peper, for a while now but it has been a little hard for me to actually sit down and do it. I miss my dog so much that it still makes my heart ache to think that she will not be home the next time I go back to Indiana. I'll miss kissing her cheeks and spoiling her! I had a tendency of giving her a few extra treats or saving her a good piece of steak from dinner :) She really liked that! We would spend hours together when I was home. She would always sit on my chest as I watched tv or took a nap! She was the love of my life!<br />
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I'm not the biggest fan of 'cliches' but Jali truly was this mans best friend! =) I don't know who all knows this but except for the second half of my senior year I really didn't enjoy high school. I was EXTREMELY shy back then and didn't seem to fit in anywhere. I didn't really have any 'good' friends. Because of that I spent almost every friday night at home in front of the tv or something. Well, Jali always had a way of finding her way onto my lap whenever I was feeling down or lonely and she always picked my spirits up!! <br />
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She was with our family for nearly 16 years! We got her on TJ's 10th birthday (22 Dec. 1995) and then she was put to rest on 4 Aug. 2011. Though I know it was hard for dad to do, I am truly grateful that he was able to do it and do it at home where she was comfortable. <br />
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After we moved to Indiana, Jali made a special friend with Ann who worked with Dad. Ann also worked at the kennel that Jali would stay at if mom and dad were out of town. Ann, and her daughter, took great care of Jali and even spoiled her! She was just such a lovable dog!<br />
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Well, I have A TON of pictures because I was ALWAYS taking picture of her and with her. These are just a few of them. (As I have mentioned before, I HATE this blogger thing and can not figure out how to easily move pictures around and stuff. Because of that they are all down in a straight line so it will be a LONG post. Sorry)<br />
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Napping!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MZiMX-SRFKY/Tn4mYh50ZVI/AAAAAAAAA_I/I9otVQUBWdY/s1600/CCI00003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MZiMX-SRFKY/Tn4mYh50ZVI/AAAAAAAAA_I/I9otVQUBWdY/s320/CCI00003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> She looks pretty small so I'm guessing this was shortly after we got her.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kzeba8fBY7c/Tn4mZdMdL5I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/kuxd3funwic/s1600/CCI00005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kzeba8fBY7c/Tn4mZdMdL5I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/kuxd3funwic/s320/CCI00005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The 5 little Pepers and Jali<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oMZCfizVUQ/Tn4mZmMp-9I/AAAAAAAAA_U/HXut8cu1GqA/s1600/CCI00007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oMZCfizVUQ/Tn4mZmMp-9I/AAAAAAAAA_U/HXut8cu1GqA/s320/CCI00007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Kelly<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esQ8QgFadKk/Tn4mZ324tRI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/HEX2ty4cdRU/s1600/CCI00008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esQ8QgFadKk/Tn4mZ324tRI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/HEX2ty4cdRU/s320/CCI00008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Missing Lynny<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9g-0tEyiFY/Tn4maX0_bPI/AAAAAAAAA_c/Ek5tEItDMU8/s1600/dad+jali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9g-0tEyiFY/Tn4maX0_bPI/AAAAAAAAA_c/Ek5tEItDMU8/s320/dad+jali.jpg" width="226" /></a></div> With the Dad<br />
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I love these next two pictures. Brynn and Jali just not quite sure of each other =)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ti2QerYFZM/Tn4mdCnuVNI/AAAAAAAAA_s/551EDPKjerA/s1600/DSC04570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ti2QerYFZM/Tn4mdCnuVNI/AAAAAAAAA_s/551EDPKjerA/s320/DSC04570.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>At Kellys. Kelly wanted me to go visit her but I couldn't leave Jali (mom and dad were out of town) so she let me bring her along!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmVHnyfHD_s/Tn4meP8-EdI/AAAAAAAAA_w/PVMOpJfCA9A/s1600/DSC04573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmVHnyfHD_s/Tn4meP8-EdI/AAAAAAAAA_w/PVMOpJfCA9A/s320/DSC04573.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> I love how Jali and Dylan are looking at each other!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGwcilARd40/Tn4miHUQn5I/AAAAAAAAA_8/Mx09AfTmFeI/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGwcilARd40/Tn4miHUQn5I/AAAAAAAAA_8/Mx09AfTmFeI/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> With Dad<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hiaviZBoig/Tn4mjBRfhYI/AAAAAAAABAA/Quzgm-hGkQc/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hiaviZBoig/Tn4mjBRfhYI/AAAAAAAABAA/Quzgm-hGkQc/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> The last few months I would find Jali in some funny sleeping positions. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-veyaM26sNQ4/Tn4mkO-rYJI/AAAAAAAABAE/Bt1ROYIIIgg/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-veyaM26sNQ4/Tn4mkO-rYJI/AAAAAAAABAE/Bt1ROYIIIgg/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> The cutest dog ever!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9PkTCgJkCY/Tn4mlIwMsvI/AAAAAAAABAI/-E3i8KHZt58/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9PkTCgJkCY/Tn4mlIwMsvI/AAAAAAAABAI/-E3i8KHZt58/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Like I said, the cutest dog ever! =]<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKEnjfIX14c/Tn4mmNAlg9I/AAAAAAAABAM/myBuOEkuWk0/s1600/IMG_0028_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKEnjfIX14c/Tn4mmNAlg9I/AAAAAAAABAM/myBuOEkuWk0/s320/IMG_0028_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> She wasn't the biggest fan of loud noises. Here she is hiding after the smoke alarm went off.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCMyji8GT-k/Tn4mndbm0iI/AAAAAAAABAQ/QHqEMyXUrUc/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCMyji8GT-k/Tn4mndbm0iI/AAAAAAAABAQ/QHqEMyXUrUc/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIwyZ0aGVPo/Tn4moZMYKbI/AAAAAAAABAU/JkcP_bHcG8s/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIwyZ0aGVPo/Tn4moZMYKbI/AAAAAAAABAU/JkcP_bHcG8s/s320/IMG_0094.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> I love this picture of her with Dylan!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EN23VXGirxc/Tn4mrTPKYoI/AAAAAAAABAg/yLM9454XM6U/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EN23VXGirxc/Tn4mrTPKYoI/AAAAAAAABAg/yLM9454XM6U/s320/IMG_0105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> She spent many hours trying to escape from the madness of the little kids during our family get-togethers. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgCkSk86Zsk/Tn4mxwXL2FI/AAAAAAAABAw/4BWHQfLmt1Y/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgCkSk86Zsk/Tn4mxwXL2FI/AAAAAAAABAw/4BWHQfLmt1Y/s320/IMG_0119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kuKc1mPuRO8/Tn4mywIvr5I/AAAAAAAABA0/lURUrokj6hA/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kuKc1mPuRO8/Tn4mywIvr5I/AAAAAAAABA0/lURUrokj6hA/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zf6yh9U_1U8/Tn4mzI7J0OI/AAAAAAAABA4/RXZe4IdTeiY/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zf6yh9U_1U8/Tn4mzI7J0OI/AAAAAAAABA4/RXZe4IdTeiY/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpMR-FnuCxk/Tn4mzvuEHDI/AAAAAAAABA8/uvt9xKMgSyQ/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpMR-FnuCxk/Tn4mzvuEHDI/AAAAAAAABA8/uvt9xKMgSyQ/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NYcuO-SymM/Tn4m0O6WsNI/AAAAAAAABBA/bhzreP5fpZE/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NYcuO-SymM/Tn4m0O6WsNI/AAAAAAAABBA/bhzreP5fpZE/s320/IMG_0142.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mD3FJ3BU3k8/Tn4m0uAFVmI/AAAAAAAABBE/h6-kKDHaKwg/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mD3FJ3BU3k8/Tn4m0uAFVmI/AAAAAAAABBE/h6-kKDHaKwg/s320/IMG_0144.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDQdF2d-Eq4/Tn4m1YTsKdI/AAAAAAAABBI/iwqkvt3Gc5U/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDQdF2d-Eq4/Tn4m1YTsKdI/AAAAAAAABBI/iwqkvt3Gc5U/s320/IMG_0154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This was one of the times she wasn't feeling well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFiWydBdbr4/Tn4m3FERvKI/AAAAAAAABBM/Zu5yvfi6HGo/s1600/IMG_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFiWydBdbr4/Tn4m3FERvKI/AAAAAAAABBM/Zu5yvfi6HGo/s320/IMG_0160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Looks like TJ's birthday<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fM7dWgHUSTc/Tn4m3-lD7eI/AAAAAAAABBQ/oW8Rb7aedsI/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fM7dWgHUSTc/Tn4m3-lD7eI/AAAAAAAABBQ/oW8Rb7aedsI/s320/IMG_0161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Another funny position<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6sIYGV9qys/Tn4m4-8gxYI/AAAAAAAABBU/L3b9Lx_oe-Q/s1600/IMG_0163_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6sIYGV9qys/Tn4m4-8gxYI/AAAAAAAABBU/L3b9Lx_oe-Q/s320/IMG_0163_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> And another<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Tv7--sU3cc/Tn4m5ppRjDI/AAAAAAAABBY/241oMIzpXFA/s1600/IMG_0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Tv7--sU3cc/Tn4m5ppRjDI/AAAAAAAABBY/241oMIzpXFA/s320/IMG_0165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> and another<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RCkv-zRZm8Q/Tn4m543fChI/AAAAAAAABBc/n_VFeuhNttg/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RCkv-zRZm8Q/Tn4m543fChI/AAAAAAAABBc/n_VFeuhNttg/s320/IMG_0168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> and another<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBVdYHV5oAk/Tn4m65azUUI/AAAAAAAABBg/7LIqqaWJu6E/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBVdYHV5oAk/Tn4m65azUUI/AAAAAAAABBg/7LIqqaWJu6E/s320/IMG_0194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This was after she was attacked by our neighbors dog. The neighbors dog was lucky I was away at school.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OKntcFN6DuY/Tn4m8StgCYI/AAAAAAAABBk/ZvnnxgoukdQ/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OKntcFN6DuY/Tn4m8StgCYI/AAAAAAAABBk/ZvnnxgoukdQ/s320/IMG_0436.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-smrrUa6sZ8I/Tn4m9eWolNI/AAAAAAAABBo/DYDYf8Z0L-c/s1600/IMG_0437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-smrrUa6sZ8I/Tn4m9eWolNI/AAAAAAAABBo/DYDYf8Z0L-c/s320/IMG_0437.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AJWbdpQvz-w/Tn4m-qd7fdI/AAAAAAAABBs/aCaUhW0SEJ0/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AJWbdpQvz-w/Tn4m-qd7fdI/AAAAAAAABBs/aCaUhW0SEJ0/s320/IMG_0441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Did I mention she was the cutest dog!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eemCUsI8wdw/Tn4m_YxNxwI/AAAAAAAABBw/tHXo-3PcWW8/s1600/IMG_0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eemCUsI8wdw/Tn4m_YxNxwI/AAAAAAAABBw/tHXo-3PcWW8/s320/IMG_0451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pmXAKVNm9OE/Tn4nAY88RXI/AAAAAAAABB0/Sr8i7ti-_BE/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pmXAKVNm9OE/Tn4nAY88RXI/AAAAAAAABB0/Sr8i7ti-_BE/s320/IMG_0616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Another funny position<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SUfM7YeRoHk/Tn4nBv9ZB-I/AAAAAAAABB4/Y0gQP3NTAd0/s1600/IMG_0751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SUfM7YeRoHk/Tn4nBv9ZB-I/AAAAAAAABB4/Y0gQP3NTAd0/s320/IMG_0751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mzvbM4qrOws/Tn4nDPQKYdI/AAAAAAAABB8/Plr_BjZYvOE/s1600/IMG_0873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mzvbM4qrOws/Tn4nDPQKYdI/AAAAAAAABB8/Plr_BjZYvOE/s320/IMG_0873.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Napping<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRSLwLi1qRk/Tn4nEciX1NI/AAAAAAAABCA/ftt1QX3SZJk/s1600/IMG_1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRSLwLi1qRk/Tn4nEciX1NI/AAAAAAAABCA/ftt1QX3SZJk/s320/IMG_1023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> I think this one is funny because she looks guilty of something<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VS7jHridy4U/Tn4nFdWcVKI/AAAAAAAABCE/1Oa3X56dgsc/s1600/IMG_1504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VS7jHridy4U/Tn4nFdWcVKI/AAAAAAAABCE/1Oa3X56dgsc/s320/IMG_1504.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ge-PfM7KN3w/Tn4nGcBrtVI/AAAAAAAABCI/KHQ9xLQbLpQ/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ge-PfM7KN3w/Tn4nGcBrtVI/AAAAAAAABCI/KHQ9xLQbLpQ/s320/IMG_1508.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5LXnNcF1lM/Tn4nHYthULI/AAAAAAAABCM/zTFr9DWdbow/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5LXnNcF1lM/Tn4nHYthULI/AAAAAAAABCM/zTFr9DWdbow/s320/IMG_1599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> People always think that I put her on that pillow but in reality I left it on the floor and she ended up finding it and made herself comfortable. Such a spoiled dog!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6j7Y_NNpmjM/Tn4nIhOM5dI/AAAAAAAABCQ/36b4eKFNNnY/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6j7Y_NNpmjM/Tn4nIhOM5dI/AAAAAAAABCQ/36b4eKFNNnY/s320/IMG_1725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DiJB8spKgco/Tn4nJ55BWvI/AAAAAAAABCU/YFUAKWw9J0o/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DiJB8spKgco/Tn4nJ55BWvI/AAAAAAAABCU/YFUAKWw9J0o/s320/IMG_1730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> On mom and dads bed<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1gUyISfpRXI/Tn4nLbPlxXI/AAAAAAAABCY/j3MuU-yAC64/s1600/IMG_1890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1gUyISfpRXI/Tn4nLbPlxXI/AAAAAAAABCY/j3MuU-yAC64/s320/IMG_1890.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YzpeOyxr4Y/Tn4nMl1xjlI/AAAAAAAABCc/ZZa6LKvvlJw/s1600/IMG_1985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YzpeOyxr4Y/Tn4nMl1xjlI/AAAAAAAABCc/ZZa6LKvvlJw/s320/IMG_1985.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4LGTTD8YkRM/Tn4nONFJ8nI/AAAAAAAABCg/ehZ2ARPMR9w/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4LGTTD8YkRM/Tn4nONFJ8nI/AAAAAAAABCg/ehZ2ARPMR9w/s320/IMG_2069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Our classic position<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iXjsk1VN76Q/Tn4nPfxjXcI/AAAAAAAABCk/zRtG4TPOb9Y/s1600/IMG_2100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iXjsk1VN76Q/Tn4nPfxjXcI/AAAAAAAABCk/zRtG4TPOb9Y/s320/IMG_2100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XjwVFKPzQ2U/Tn4nQjtlqzI/AAAAAAAABCo/h6unAfdtfhM/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XjwVFKPzQ2U/Tn4nQjtlqzI/AAAAAAAABCo/h6unAfdtfhM/s320/IMG_2101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxG8ZJjNbAo/Tn4nRX388_I/AAAAAAAABCs/oYvmVHO0vmM/s1600/jali+1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxG8ZJjNbAo/Tn4nRX388_I/AAAAAAAABCs/oYvmVHO0vmM/s320/jali+1_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Back when she was young, playing with TJ<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmY--JUStCw/Tn4nRiVy4dI/AAAAAAAABCw/02Vlj43t3-M/s1600/Jali+1_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmY--JUStCw/Tn4nRiVy4dI/AAAAAAAABCw/02Vlj43t3-M/s320/Jali+1_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3wA2Ze9TkE/Tn4nR4Io_JI/AAAAAAAABC0/1VkHQlLKTFs/s1600/jali+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3wA2Ze9TkE/Tn4nR4Io_JI/AAAAAAAABC0/1VkHQlLKTFs/s320/jali+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v0eoF9Fr_qQ/Tn4nSC4VgSI/AAAAAAAABC4/5cdaR5Lghd4/s1600/jali+2_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v0eoF9Fr_qQ/Tn4nSC4VgSI/AAAAAAAABC4/5cdaR5Lghd4/s320/jali+2_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KOWxnj6sREI/Tn4nSdr6i_I/AAAAAAAABC8/ykaMCiNJzLs/s1600/jali+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KOWxnj6sREI/Tn4nSdr6i_I/AAAAAAAABC8/ykaMCiNJzLs/s320/jali+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> I'll always remember this. I had just gotten back from scout camp that day and was exhausted so I crashed on the couch, surprisingly without Jali on me. When I woke up there she was sleeping on my face. I actually woke up because she had worked herself in so tight next to me that she was making it a little hard to breath (I think her paws were across my throat). Totally worth it =}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7sRCN5xZ-0/Tn4nSmqNyvI/AAAAAAAABDA/vOFnMqbD-7o/s1600/jali+3_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7sRCN5xZ-0/Tn4nSmqNyvI/AAAAAAAABDA/vOFnMqbD-7o/s320/jali+3_1.jpg" width="234" /></a></div> With Dad<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIC1b3MHwho/Tn4nTGcpeFI/AAAAAAAABDE/K48GfR0HaxI/s1600/Jali+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIC1b3MHwho/Tn4nTGcpeFI/AAAAAAAABDE/K48GfR0HaxI/s320/Jali+004.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mw9CT8u6UJk/Tn4nT2ijw6I/AAAAAAAABDI/cMkcuKGOMz4/s1600/Jali+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mw9CT8u6UJk/Tn4nT2ijw6I/AAAAAAAABDI/cMkcuKGOMz4/s320/Jali+5.jpg" width="238" /></a></div> Katy and Jack<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihLQZeAwb1U/Tn4nUhYOl2I/AAAAAAAABDM/F5-1wAMyj4U/s1600/Jali+on+couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihLQZeAwb1U/Tn4nUhYOl2I/AAAAAAAABDM/F5-1wAMyj4U/s320/Jali+on+couch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COiKgB7cGak/Tn4nVLPQGkI/AAAAAAAABDQ/bZFKVtmdwvY/s1600/Jali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COiKgB7cGak/Tn4nVLPQGkI/AAAAAAAABDQ/bZFKVtmdwvY/s320/Jali.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCFtvBIjfe0/Tn4nVReaMEI/AAAAAAAABDU/JWgRDrSxx_4/s1600/kids+and+Jali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCFtvBIjfe0/Tn4nVReaMEI/AAAAAAAABDU/JWgRDrSxx_4/s320/kids+and+Jali.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-viVYrDTGa48/Tn4nV-TBVAI/AAAAAAAABDY/M0kMwxgfrtU/s1600/Lyndsay+and+Jali+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-viVYrDTGa48/Tn4nV-TBVAI/AAAAAAAABDY/M0kMwxgfrtU/s320/Lyndsay+and+Jali+2.jpg" width="226" /></a></div> If I remember correctly this was the morning Lynny left for College<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tS-g73xvWs0/Tn4nWNUSpiI/AAAAAAAABDc/NCIUF44o8tk/s1600/mamma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tS-g73xvWs0/Tn4nWNUSpiI/AAAAAAAABDc/NCIUF44o8tk/s320/mamma.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I LOVE this picture of mom and Jali<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvoNHsaqsRI/Tn4nWjVNr0I/AAAAAAAABDg/-YRdSwCbbTs/s1600/Steven+and+Jali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvoNHsaqsRI/Tn4nWjVNr0I/AAAAAAAABDg/-YRdSwCbbTs/s320/Steven+and+Jali.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The day I got back from my mission. I remember dad wanted to run an experiment when I got back and he had me stand on the driveway (I believe next to him) and then someone put her down on the driveway to see who she would go to. After 2 years, she went straight to me!! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDaJhCAkwk0/Tn4nWwaYIWI/AAAAAAAABDk/4fs_Tky_oSU/s1600/TJ+jali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDaJhCAkwk0/Tn4nWwaYIWI/AAAAAAAABDk/4fs_Tky_oSU/s320/TJ+jali.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> TJ showing Jali where I was on my mission<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-389-f2nBopE/Tn4nXPPb48I/AAAAAAAABDo/8DRZX0fni70/s1600/Top-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-389-f2nBopE/Tn4nXPPb48I/AAAAAAAABDo/8DRZX0fni70/s320/Top-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIAvYh4Wmbg/Tn4nXimA9fI/AAAAAAAABDs/3Vvg8hGxjBA/s1600/Top-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIAvYh4Wmbg/Tn4nXimA9fI/AAAAAAAABDs/3Vvg8hGxjBA/s320/Top-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O30R0NH_CKs/Tn4nX69W5xI/AAAAAAAABDw/5Xb0fYUG5Yo/s1600/Top-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O30R0NH_CKs/Tn4nX69W5xI/AAAAAAAABDw/5Xb0fYUG5Yo/s320/Top-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Very Young Jali<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfBaStmerOM/Tn4nYIXvdkI/AAAAAAAABD0/aKzNSXR6FtM/s1600/Top-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfBaStmerOM/Tn4nYIXvdkI/AAAAAAAABD0/aKzNSXR6FtM/s320/Top-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> With Katy<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WKZIrC2ibf4/Tn4nYjM4N5I/AAAAAAAABD4/N77b-kQ-x1M/s1600/Top-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WKZIrC2ibf4/Tn4nYjM4N5I/AAAAAAAABD4/N77b-kQ-x1M/s320/Top-8.jpg" width="304" /></a></div> With Kelly<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JHFrWDhdFCg/Tn4nYySKpSI/AAAAAAAABD8/OVBbIMeVfvg/s1600/Top-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JHFrWDhdFCg/Tn4nYySKpSI/AAAAAAAABD8/OVBbIMeVfvg/s320/Top-9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RIHnbHPzhdk/Tn4nZGnp27I/AAAAAAAABEA/HD0exMFWU4E/s1600/toys+162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RIHnbHPzhdk/Tn4nZGnp27I/AAAAAAAABEA/HD0exMFWU4E/s1600/toys+162.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture but can't find the original so it is pore quality</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gzUCmblxnPU/Tn9FtYpkY6I/AAAAAAAABEE/9glrxOxtlfc/s1600/IMG_1976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gzUCmblxnPU/Tn9FtYpkY6I/AAAAAAAABEE/9glrxOxtlfc/s320/IMG_1976.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I was allowed or when I could sneak her away, this is how she would sleep with me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RIHnbHPzhdk/Tn4nZGnp27I/AAAAAAAABEA/HD0exMFWU4E/s1600/toys+162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-16933613929787012452011-07-19T16:05:00.000-07:002011-07-19T16:06:57.437-07:00STUCK!!! And more...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WARNING! Long post with lots of pictures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First I would like to share with you the story of how I got stuck in some mud for nearly 45 MINUTES!!! Yep, stuck good. I was out doing one of my beaver/otter surveys where I walk 500 meters along the banks of rivers. I had just finished one side of a bridge and was going to cross under the bridge to survey the other side. Right before I got to the bridge I noticed this little drainage ditch (probably 6 inches wide or so) but water was flowing through it so I figured I would 'hop' across it as to not get my boots wet by the water....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXR3aOxCVI8/TiX5NitC_xI/AAAAAAAAA34/YgmwkbbPY9U/s1600/DSCN0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXR3aOxCVI8/TiX5NitC_xI/AAAAAAAAA34/YgmwkbbPY9U/s320/DSCN0211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ohVC0AO9rAo/TiX5PS5r_9I/AAAAAAAAA38/nF0XEFsJDNg/s1600/DSCN0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ohVC0AO9rAo/TiX5PS5r_9I/AAAAAAAAA38/nF0XEFsJDNg/s320/DSCN0212.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-souoDzyHgrM/TiX5SU9bJKI/AAAAAAAAA4E/jLmw_w1pwmg/s1600/DSCN0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-souoDzyHgrM/TiX5SU9bJKI/AAAAAAAAA4E/jLmw_w1pwmg/s320/DSCN0214.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That didn't quit work out. As you might be able to see in some of these pictures I managed one foot across the drainage ditch and felt it sinking into the mud. (Mind you, before you accuse me of being an idiot for jumping into mud!, I have crossed under dozens of bridges like this this summer and they pretty much all looked like this. The mud that you see is typically a hard dirt/ground and not mud so I wasn't expecting anything different) Right as I felt my one foot going under I tried to 'quick step' my way out of a muddy situation (pun attended =) but as my next 2 steps hit I sank all the way down, right up to my knees. This was the worst mud I have ever experienced. It WAS INSANE. I honestly could not move. I could feel the weight of the mud pressing down on top of my feet. I tried and I tried to pull my legs out but they just were not moving. I eventually had to radio Jesse over from the other side of the river to come help me out. He found some flood debris laying under the bridge (the big log I am holding) and threw that to me to try to work myself out. I felt like the zebra from 'The Swiss Family Robinson' movie. Remember that scene? :}</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/-6msboYyQTA0/TiX5Tq7aOJI/AAAAAAAAA4I/pczl9F0o-SE/s1600/DSCN0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6msboYyQTA0/TiX5Tq7aOJI/AAAAAAAAA4I/pczl9F0o-SE/s320/DSCN0215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
He also tossed some bigger rocks over for me to balance on once I got a limb out. He also tested the mud around me to see how close he could get to help. Wouldn't you know I landed in probably the ONLY spot under the bridge that sent you right under...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFGsG3xZ7U4/TiX5VW87poI/AAAAAAAAA4M/w4btviCpbXE/s1600/DSCN0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFGsG3xZ7U4/TiX5VW87poI/AAAAAAAAA4M/w4btviCpbXE/s320/DSCN0216.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJ1jHKB0NR4/TiX5W8VJ4MI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/lLorUnQqouQ/s1600/DSCN0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJ1jHKB0NR4/TiX5W8VJ4MI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/lLorUnQqouQ/s320/DSCN0217.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even when my foot was <i>almost</i> out, it was extremely hard to get it out. That mud was insane. It is really hard for me to try to explain how bad it was.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FJp2VBwKfco/TiX5RIjBshI/AAAAAAAAA4A/WuOr7TpVdYQ/s1600/DSCN0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FJp2VBwKfco/TiX5RIjBshI/AAAAAAAAA4A/WuOr7TpVdYQ/s320/DSCN0213.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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So after about 30-45 minutes of struggling, tiring myself out I managed to free myself!! I was SOOO exhausted when I got out. I also was extremely muddy as I'm sure you could imagine =] so I pretty much ended up sitting in the river to wash the mud off. Good times!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0xgtmDETNkE/TiX5Y4CNgEI/AAAAAAAAA4U/N5_CL2gFAiQ/s1600/DSCN0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0xgtmDETNkE/TiX5Y4CNgEI/AAAAAAAAA4U/N5_CL2gFAiQ/s320/DSCN0218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Yesterday the four of us out here headed down to Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower for a little vacation. It was BEAUTIFUL!! The Black Hills are amazing. I almost didn't want to come back to North Dakota after seeing eastern Wyoming and eastern South Dakota. But here I am. Back in ND...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d9UBli6f-EI/TiX5aTwmtbI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/cxNFcP2R9xA/s1600/DSCN0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d9UBli6f-EI/TiX5aTwmtbI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/cxNFcP2R9xA/s320/DSCN0224.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Devils Tower (in Wyoming). I guess the tower you see is the lava from the inside of an old volcano. The volcano part has since eroded away and just left the lava that hardened in the tub. There are several native american stories as to how it was formed but the most 'accepted' was that of a bear clawing at the sides leaving the streaky look.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CIy8gbhXAk/TiX5cvZxIYI/AAAAAAAAA4c/3BQIVBFQlDo/s1600/DSCN0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CIy8gbhXAk/TiX5cvZxIYI/AAAAAAAAA4c/3BQIVBFQlDo/s320/DSCN0234.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little prairie dog. The girls called it 'cute and squishy', Jesse and I called it 'target practice' =}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a bunch more pictures of DT</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5CD_Gy1f1wM/TiX5eVytMTI/AAAAAAAAA4g/tH-_2yS9iyM/s1600/DSCN0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5CD_Gy1f1wM/TiX5eVytMTI/AAAAAAAAA4g/tH-_2yS9iyM/s320/DSCN0240.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FoduEP7JNyI/TiX5gxccIeI/AAAAAAAAA4k/ax0sXo7J_IE/s1600/DSCN0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FoduEP7JNyI/TiX5gxccIeI/AAAAAAAAA4k/ax0sXo7J_IE/s320/DSCN0249.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNp2_HRUHcY/TiX5jMDaB_I/AAAAAAAAA4o/rdyOdfnzEuU/s1600/DSCN0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNp2_HRUHcY/TiX5jMDaB_I/AAAAAAAAA4o/rdyOdfnzEuU/s320/DSCN0250.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHeY_JhOSSg/TiX5kguIynI/AAAAAAAAA4s/rQpppjbOZqE/s1600/DSCN0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHeY_JhOSSg/TiX5kguIynI/AAAAAAAAA4s/rQpppjbOZqE/s320/DSCN0253.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MtSrKzcBvII/TiX5mAoaS1I/AAAAAAAAA4w/MqHGycf3UIc/s1600/DSCN0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MtSrKzcBvII/TiX5mAoaS1I/AAAAAAAAA4w/MqHGycf3UIc/s320/DSCN0254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Re8EmlRyU8/TiX5pZXn-6I/AAAAAAAAA40/lz36xItwZF0/s1600/DSCN0257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Re8EmlRyU8/TiX5pZXn-6I/AAAAAAAAA40/lz36xItwZF0/s320/DSCN0257.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tI8nay-NaH4/TiX5rHTAPzI/AAAAAAAAA44/J29vXtn6kPs/s1600/DSCN0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tI8nay-NaH4/TiX5rHTAPzI/AAAAAAAAA44/J29vXtn6kPs/s320/DSCN0259.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These next few are from Mount Rushmore (in South Dakota)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6LrNrdcRkU/TiX5s6Htj9I/AAAAAAAAA48/m5aGwTAkX_w/s1600/DSCN0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6LrNrdcRkU/TiX5s6Htj9I/AAAAAAAAA48/m5aGwTAkX_w/s320/DSCN0261.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNidh_U0LJU/TiX5uLCt5ZI/AAAAAAAAA5A/22mv8OvxOjc/s1600/DSCN0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNidh_U0LJU/TiX5uLCt5ZI/AAAAAAAAA5A/22mv8OvxOjc/s320/DSCN0262.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Washington</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDW-l3UdGCw/TiX5vfssCJI/AAAAAAAAA5E/_42PSJkN_mM/s1600/DSCN0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDW-l3UdGCw/TiX5vfssCJI/AAAAAAAAA5E/_42PSJkN_mM/s320/DSCN0263.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jefferson</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--xGzeai6QhU/TiX5wwgaf3I/AAAAAAAAA5I/eMuBeJfTeUY/s1600/DSCN0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--xGzeai6QhU/TiX5wwgaf3I/AAAAAAAAA5I/eMuBeJfTeUY/s320/DSCN0264.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roosevelt </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1Q49-dBzjo/TiX5ypnAK2I/AAAAAAAAA5M/2O0T28IlWlA/s1600/DSCN0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1Q49-dBzjo/TiX5ypnAK2I/AAAAAAAAA5M/2O0T28IlWlA/s320/DSCN0265.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lincoln</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqkPP3jHc0Y/TiX502M8q6I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/A6yWMA44zO8/s1600/DSCN0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqkPP3jHc0Y/TiX502M8q6I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/A6yWMA44zO8/s320/DSCN0266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I get carried away with digital cameras so there are a lot of pictures. These are just a fraction of what I took.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4dlyXK-R-8/TiX6Ag9VVRI/AAAAAAAAA5w/hic4h3bSDZs/s1600/DSCN0279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t4dlyXK-R-8/TiX6Ag9VVRI/AAAAAAAAA5w/hic4h3bSDZs/s320/DSCN0279.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5J9v4qKEa8/TiX6CmzufeI/AAAAAAAAA50/WZjWGR6kGos/s1600/DSCN0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5J9v4qKEa8/TiX6CmzufeI/AAAAAAAAA50/WZjWGR6kGos/s320/DSCN0280.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kAr1lBzmDJ0/TiX6FeS7jXI/AAAAAAAAA58/f4R8rrvgHwo/s1600/DSCN0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kAr1lBzmDJ0/TiX6FeS7jXI/AAAAAAAAA58/f4R8rrvgHwo/s320/DSCN0282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGI8dJQ5sOk/TiX6Gu_9duI/AAAAAAAAA6A/R2_smhMGuW8/s1600/DSCN0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGI8dJQ5sOk/TiX6Gu_9duI/AAAAAAAAA6A/R2_smhMGuW8/s320/DSCN0294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This last one is from the program they do at night when they light up the faces. Couldn't get a good picture with the lighting and in all reality, they were not as lit up as I thought they would be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These last few are of a snake I found (almost stepped on) while doing one of our surveys.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1mhMrPyk6o/TiX5I-7uecI/AAAAAAAAA3s/BzWCGbApriQ/s1600/DSCN0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1mhMrPyk6o/TiX5I-7uecI/AAAAAAAAA3s/BzWCGbApriQ/s320/DSCN0170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jesse and the snake. Size comparison.</div><br />
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I am pretty sure that it is a King Snake. If there are any experts out there feel free to correct me if I am wrong...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d7z3Fkha3I8/TiX5HIJ_EJI/AAAAAAAAA3o/grMj1b53Hz4/s1600/DSCN0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d7z3Fkha3I8/TiX5HIJ_EJI/AAAAAAAAA3o/grMj1b53Hz4/s320/DSCN0167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a couple bird pictures. As it turns out, flying birds are really hard to get a good picture of :] </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UP3vveKExVQ/TiX5Dc6eVfI/AAAAAAAAA3g/a-1yd6-fxt4/s1600/DSCN0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOgoXNYCmMs/TiX5MPGc-TI/AAAAAAAAA30/MB4vJ6HxZx8/s1600/DSCN0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOgoXNYCmMs/TiX5MPGc-TI/AAAAAAAAA30/MB4vJ6HxZx8/s320/DSCN0186.JPG" width="320" /></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://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOgoXNYCmMs/TiX5MPGc-TI/AAAAAAAAA30/MB4vJ6HxZx8/s1600/DSCN0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AF4reCg_A6o/TiX5KgmvvII/AAAAAAAAA3w/oc2dSjekOR8/s1600/DSCN0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AF4reCg_A6o/TiX5KgmvvII/AAAAAAAAA3w/oc2dSjekOR8/s320/DSCN0178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, one more thing. If your still reading this! I had 2 firsts in the eating world today. I ate moose (moose burger) for the first time and I also ate road kill for the first time! The moose was the road kill. One of the game wardens out here got the meat off of the road killed moose (not sure how long it was road kill for before he slaughtered it. Not sure I want to know... =] But it really was good. I haven't had many wild game meats but moose is my favorite thus far.</div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-36912760849604501702011-07-08T19:06:00.000-07:002011-07-09T10:53:10.490-07:00Pictures From ND<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are some random pictures..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a beaver that we saw while doing one of our surveys. I snuck up on him while walking on the shore (he was probably 10 yards in front of me). He smacked the water with his tail, as beavers often do, to try to scare me, which he did because I was looking down at the ground. He then starting swimming in the water right in front of me for 15 minutes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4BrovK0tic/TheiUnvMhyI/AAAAAAAAA2g/l9yn_XKLLAw/s1600/DSCN0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4BrovK0tic/TheiUnvMhyI/AAAAAAAAA2g/l9yn_XKLLAw/s320/DSCN0065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGuTIBoQY6w/TheiWFy38zI/AAAAAAAAA2k/-4iBKyY_LWo/s1600/DSCN0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGuTIBoQY6w/TheiWFy38zI/AAAAAAAAA2k/-4iBKyY_LWo/s320/DSCN0070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This was probably the biggest bird I have ever seen. We think it is a juvenile bald eagle. It was bigger than any bald eagle I have ever seen. We also thought maybe it was a golden eagle. I'm no bird expert...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qN8j8ZC-ZY/TheiXjEfZYI/AAAAAAAAA2o/X32l-kuq8Tw/s1600/DSCN0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qN8j8ZC-ZY/TheiXjEfZYI/AAAAAAAAA2o/X32l-kuq8Tw/s320/DSCN0098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This was a big storm I could see from the trailer. Just thought the cloud was neat looking.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTIRqbjyF-k/TheiZQsgghI/AAAAAAAAA2s/b4uYdD-S6wk/s1600/DSCN0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTIRqbjyF-k/TheiZQsgghI/AAAAAAAAA2s/b4uYdD-S6wk/s320/DSCN0104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Some pictures of the trailer I live in when I am not in a hotel. It is very messy because we have a lot of stuff/gear and as you can see, very little room :}<br />
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View from the kitchen to the bedroom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ7Mo6kQcx4/TheiaoCK_1I/AAAAAAAAA2w/7j6VKEFFlX0/s1600/DSCN0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ7Mo6kQcx4/TheiaoCK_1I/AAAAAAAAA2w/7j6VKEFFlX0/s320/DSCN0115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Where I have been sleeping.<br />
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The bathroom where the toilet doesn't flush the shower has no curtain and no hot water works (anywhere in the trailer)...<br />
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The kitchen.<br />
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The trailer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hD5e5lDcYY0/Theigg-Y3bI/AAAAAAAAA3A/R5y0tGTxR5g/s1600/DSCN0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hD5e5lDcYY0/Theigg-Y3bI/AAAAAAAAA3A/R5y0tGTxR5g/s320/DSCN0120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A pelican that was gliding down the river with us as we were canoeing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehlmsyVDIhQ/TheiiM9q5UI/AAAAAAAAA3E/PnkFkyvKGYI/s1600/DSCN0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehlmsyVDIhQ/TheiiM9q5UI/AAAAAAAAA3E/PnkFkyvKGYI/s320/DSCN0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OROyccGcVcQ/TheilnUoGAI/AAAAAAAAA3M/XQzkM2lmces/s1600/DSCN0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OROyccGcVcQ/TheilnUoGAI/AAAAAAAAA3M/XQzkM2lmces/s320/DSCN0130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
These next two are some pictures of the obstructions we have been facing as we are canoeing down the rivers. (for all of you who might be thinking "oh, he gets to CANOE for his work. How fun and relaxing!!" FALSE. These have been some of the most tiring and exhausting days. We spent 9 hours on the river yesterday. We have to keep getting out to survey sites on the bank and the banks are pure mud so we are constantly slipping and falling and getting covered in mud... You've heard of 'quick sand' well here it is 'quick mud') <br />
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Anyways, back to the pictures. We are constantly coming across these fallen trees (mainly from the bank eroding away and them falling into the river) and then the trees are collecting flood debris as it flows down the river so it is no fun for a canoer.<br />
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As you can see from this picture we have had to cut our way through several times. Other times we have had to stand on the big tree trunks and pull the canoe over. Well, today we had a little adventure. We were in the process of pulling the canoe over a big log and Jesse started to lose his balance so I tried to grab hold of him to keep him from going in but as I'm sure you can guess, that didn't quite work out as planning. We both ended going into the river, however, in the process we did manage to finish pulling the canoe over the big log :} But yes, we were completely soaked along with all of the gear. My forms got soaked and the gps (which holds all of data points fell to the bottom of the river. Luckily the river was only waist high so after about 15 minutes of feeling around with my feet I found it!! I found this whole experience to be extremely funny because just last night I had a conversation with mom about not wearing a life jacket (its in the canoe just not on) =] I also am still very bitter because these low trees murdered my sunglasses. I bought a nice new pair of field sunglasses before I came out because I knew I would be spending HOURS by or on the river and I wanted my eyes to be protected. I had one goal when I came out here NOT TO LOSE MY SUNGLASSES. Well these trouble trees ripped them off of my head yesterday as we were canoeing and they sunk to the bottom of the river. Oh well. Summer goal = failure.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLwrIDeMw_Y/Theip6WuvbI/AAAAAAAAA3U/Ok7aO_tZsao/s1600/DSCN0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLwrIDeMw_Y/Theip6WuvbI/AAAAAAAAA3U/Ok7aO_tZsao/s320/DSCN0135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This is a picture of some otter scat that I am looking for. I get so excited when I find this in the field. Its like christmas!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GOqh6e1SoQA/TheiruKdcSI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/BzDzks6p0n0/s1600/DSCN0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GOqh6e1SoQA/TheiruKdcSI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/BzDzks6p0n0/s320/DSCN0152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This is a picture of one of my study sites. See the bridge a couple power-lines ahead in the picture? No? Neither do I. In the past week the flooding came and completely covered the bridge. That is not suppose to be a lake. The river was a hundred yards or so down the road. This kind of put a damper in my research. I now have to find a new study site. Hopefully it will all work out!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BfY7r4lfFH0/TheitZcZRzI/AAAAAAAAA3c/I3NcxFO9MV8/s1600/DSCN0153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BfY7r4lfFH0/TheitZcZRzI/AAAAAAAAA3c/I3NcxFO9MV8/s320/DSCN0153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-71669940298887690562011-06-27T21:17:00.000-07:002011-06-27T21:17:49.122-07:00Update/Vote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First thing- at the beginning of the summer I decided to grow my hair out since I never have before (minus the years when I was younger and wore a freakin mushroom on my head. Thanks mom and dad :} evidence can be seen in my school pictures...) anyways, so I thought I would grow it out until our family reunion this summer. Perhaps grow a mullet so I could be MacGyver for halloween!! The picture below is of my hair (and beard) after a month of growth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uNFtoUcdyDY/TglOI-X3X_I/AAAAAAAAA1s/pRAvJwqEaC4/s1600/DSCN0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uNFtoUcdyDY/TglOI-X3X_I/AAAAAAAAA1s/pRAvJwqEaC4/s320/DSCN0043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I COULDN'T STAND IT. It was such a pain in the butt. I woke up every morning with this weird shape formed into the side of my head. It was hot and itchy and I was constantly fearing I had ticks hiding somewhere in that jungle. So....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wsNioS1V6vk/TglOMBYf1OI/AAAAAAAAA1w/7AOxo-wpjw0/s1600/DSCN0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wsNioS1V6vk/TglOMBYf1OI/AAAAAAAAA1w/7AOxo-wpjw0/s320/DSCN0049.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I cut it! Perhaps I have no will power to see my goal out to the end but man is it nicer and more convenient! (except for the fact that [mom dont read this part] right after I cut my hair I forgot my hat and got a really bad sun burn on the top of my head. Apparently hair is useful for other things such as a sun shield) Anyways, I thought I would put it to a vote. Do people like the hair longer or shorter? I personally think I look completely different in the two pictures. Thoughts?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H0iGK5zo2g8/TglOWt1y7pI/AAAAAAAAA10/WT5zouw2Krk/s1600/DSCN0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H0iGK5zo2g8/TglOWt1y7pI/AAAAAAAAA10/WT5zouw2Krk/s320/DSCN0037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also decided to add a new needed "accessory" to my wardrobe. Suspenders. I have been walking around in some REALLY WET grass and the water that accumulates on my pants has been pulling my pants down, even with a belt, and been making it hard to walk around so I figured the added support would help. I couldn't decide if I looked more like a summer time santa or a little lumber jack :) But as it turns out, since I bought the suspenders the grass has been completely dry. Go figure. So I haven't been able to tell if they actually help out or not. I'm sure by the end of the summer I will have my chance again.</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/-GGz7YnyvzLY/TglOnqFAXzI/AAAAAAAAA14/erLL3I9nvA0/s1600/DSCN0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GGz7YnyvzLY/TglOnqFAXzI/AAAAAAAAA14/erLL3I9nvA0/s320/DSCN0033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a picture to show you how high and obnoxious some of the grass we have to hike through. This one is of me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The one below is of Jesse my research assistant. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrUxCI6we4o/TglOrHqXaWI/AAAAAAAAA18/Bu0MjomPbKI/s1600/DSCN0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrUxCI6we4o/TglOrHqXaWI/AAAAAAAAA18/Bu0MjomPbKI/s320/DSCN0036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speaking of Jesse, here is a picture of him and Jill (Vanessa's research assistant)</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/-VdK51ZVbZgw/TglO9am4uDI/AAAAAAAAA2A/Pz8sjq21BuU/s1600/DSCN0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VdK51ZVbZgw/TglO9am4uDI/AAAAAAAAA2A/Pz8sjq21BuU/s320/DSCN0038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75HtsWftjkA/TglPA9SvM3I/AAAAAAAAA2E/pStboOmO3pU/s1600/DSCN0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75HtsWftjkA/TglPA9SvM3I/AAAAAAAAA2E/pStboOmO3pU/s320/DSCN0041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jesse and me eating some hot dogs on a non field day.</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/-yxRqRR7ckOg/TglPOn6iitI/AAAAAAAAA2I/jxF3jY69eLQ/s1600/DSCN0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yxRqRR7ckOg/TglPOn6iitI/AAAAAAAAA2I/jxF3jY69eLQ/s320/DSCN0051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Herd of wild pronghorn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ngFnB75oOJ4/TglPR74QtTI/AAAAAAAAA2M/ogEEZX4ue2Y/s1600/DSCN0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ngFnB75oOJ4/TglPR74QtTI/AAAAAAAAA2M/ogEEZX4ue2Y/s320/DSCN0056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A picture of a cliff I climbed (not up the face of the cliff) as I was walking the river bank.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXts0rzW4W4/TglPVdDwc5I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/dhV3y-9i2ms/s1600/DSCN0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXts0rzW4W4/TglPVdDwc5I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/dhV3y-9i2ms/s320/DSCN0060.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And another</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hsDaVM9bNU8/TglPY49wNdI/AAAAAAAAA2U/ZpmE_42uqkk/s1600/DSCN0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hsDaVM9bNU8/TglPY49wNdI/AAAAAAAAA2U/ZpmE_42uqkk/s320/DSCN0062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I tried to get a picture of this muskrat swimming in the water. I couldn't get very close.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These last two are just some random pictures I found on my phone. From when I visited kelly before I came out to ND.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPd_YNvb054/TglPf48yfaI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/UgQxlmRIiCs/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPd_YNvb054/TglPf48yfaI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/UgQxlmRIiCs/s320/IMG_0033.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u6t_BHirKe0/TglPh89Dg3I/AAAAAAAAA2c/5-E9RTcK_-8/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u6t_BHirKe0/TglPh89Dg3I/AAAAAAAAA2c/5-E9RTcK_-8/s320/IMG_0034.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-2408309896548483602011-06-15T19:13:00.000-07:002011-06-15T19:13:17.232-07:00Mainly for Lyndsay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I went to pick up Jesse and Jill from the airport a week ago (in minneapolis) we discovered that it was right by the mall of America, so we went in to check it out. I HATE shopping and malls but it actually was pretty neat. I would actually go back there and walk/'shop' around. But when I was exploring I found a Lego store and it had these HUGE lego creations outside and above the store made completely of Legos. They are kind of hard to see because I took the pictures from my phone but they were amazing to see. I took them for Lynny because I know how much she loves legos!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUGsc5fMPe8/Tfli7pxMyRI/AAAAAAAAA0k/KOaALB9GAdk/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUGsc5fMPe8/Tfli7pxMyRI/AAAAAAAAA0k/KOaALB9GAdk/s320/IMG_0037.JPG" width="240" /> </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUGsc5fMPe8/Tfli7pxMyRI/AAAAAAAAA0k/KOaALB9GAdk/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEX6CSHYTYM/Tfli_3YMGbI/AAAAAAAAA0s/DhTBurZBWJI/s320/IMG_0039.JPG" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUGsc5fMPe8/Tfli7pxMyRI/AAAAAAAAA0k/KOaALB9GAdk/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUGsc5fMPe8/Tfli7pxMyRI/AAAAAAAAA0k/KOaALB9GAdk/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fWQVDRGTdgU/Tfli9lRwR1I/AAAAAAAAA0o/Ql10nWDhsQk/s320/IMG_0038.JPG" width="240" /> </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUGsc5fMPe8/Tfli7pxMyRI/AAAAAAAAA0k/KOaALB9GAdk/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s3ki7s6vkEY/TfljCMewppI/AAAAAAAAA0w/z_7sy4XejQU/s320/IMG_0040.JPG" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUGsc5fMPe8/Tfli7pxMyRI/AAAAAAAAA0k/KOaALB9GAdk/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUGsc5fMPe8/Tfli7pxMyRI/AAAAAAAAA0k/KOaALB9GAdk/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUGsc5fMPe8/Tfli7pxMyRI/AAAAAAAAA0k/KOaALB9GAdk/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua6JJa6cDGw/TfljE6Wlz5I/AAAAAAAAA00/do3WdebAaZc/s320/IMG_0041.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The rest of these are just some pictures of my dog!! Yes, I know, I am overly obsessed with my dog but I don't care :}</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/-CmP6t28GOk4/TfliuRQI3CI/AAAAAAAAA0M/AZlD7P2GhCQ/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CmP6t28GOk4/TfliuRQI3CI/AAAAAAAAA0M/AZlD7P2GhCQ/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CmP6t28GOk4/TfliuRQI3CI/AAAAAAAAA0M/AZlD7P2GhCQ/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" width="240" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra3h6fG9MH4/TfliwkgzYlI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/Rj5irmCEO1E/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra3h6fG9MH4/TfliwkgzYlI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/Rj5irmCEO1E/s320/IMG_0011.JPG" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hueAqeLixuI/Tfliy_yQttI/AAAAAAAAA0U/qJaPTZ8Dnac/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hueAqeLixuI/Tfliy_yQttI/AAAAAAAAA0U/qJaPTZ8Dnac/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYGYyZmchJk/Tfli1Ep3uTI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/ebEiCcK5_8s/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYGYyZmchJk/Tfli1Ep3uTI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/ebEiCcK5_8s/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1WyFTOwcT8/Tfli3ceL4jI/AAAAAAAAA0c/XNN6RtbMEog/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1WyFTOwcT8/Tfli3ceL4jI/AAAAAAAAA0c/XNN6RtbMEog/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OZL92Zjch8/Tfli51NveBI/AAAAAAAAA0g/ucoY--7A1CQ/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OZL92Zjch8/Tfli51NveBI/AAAAAAAAA0g/ucoY--7A1CQ/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-85236887956219131962011-06-12T19:09:00.000-07:002011-06-12T19:09:53.072-07:00North Dakota 2011 Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I have been in North Dakota now for nearly a month. However, until today I have not been able to start my actual research. The rain and flooding out here has been INSANE (I'll try to get some pictures of the flooding later) and has made it really impossible to get to any of my study sites. The flooding also prevented our interns (Jesse and Jill) from getting out here when they were originally suppose too. Then in typical Steve fashion I got sick which put me out of commission for about a week. Then, as I mentioned, today I was able to get out into the field and get my first day of work in. We hiked about 7 miles through thigh high grass along a stretch of river looking for river otter sign. Unfortunately we found VERY LITTLE which does not bode well for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the past 8 months I have been wearing my 'new' hiking boots almost everywhere to try to break them in for this summer since I knew I would be doing a lot of hiking. I thought I had them pretty well broken in until about 2 hours into our hike today...</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/-92-vHFe6kUs/TfVoyg64RoI/AAAAAAAAAzM/d6X29BI-1to/s1600/DSCN0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92-vHFe6kUs/TfVoyg64RoI/AAAAAAAAAzM/d6X29BI-1to/s320/DSCN0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First, I apologize for the nasty foot picture. I HATE feet. I think they are disgusting and ugly so I typically wouldn't put a picture like this up. And after all of that you can't really get a good idea what the back of my heels look like based on this picture. I have two of the biggest and most painful blisters, well busted open blisters, that I ever have had. Heres hoping they heal soon because I have A LOT more hiking to do this summer!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These next pictures are from a trip Vanessa (the other grad student up here with me) and I took to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. VERY pretty place in western ND (part of the Bad Lands).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NV8L5IvEsbw/TfVo3WMGHSI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/X-1nMDVPvlQ/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NV8L5IvEsbw/TfVo3WMGHSI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/X-1nMDVPvlQ/s320/IMG_2151.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yt0e95sLyEM/TfVo7ur-8uI/AAAAAAAAAzU/mD_uac3eEfA/s1600/IMG_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yt0e95sLyEM/TfVo7ur-8uI/AAAAAAAAAzU/mD_uac3eEfA/s320/IMG_2152.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sJ8lsKOwQYg/TfVpAFpTFZI/AAAAAAAAAzY/HrFDwNb_mmw/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sJ8lsKOwQYg/TfVpAFpTFZI/AAAAAAAAAzY/HrFDwNb_mmw/s320/IMG_2154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1R53y24XVs/TfVpMRFet3I/AAAAAAAAAzk/1Cf9IveI3yo/s1600/IMG_2162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1R53y24XVs/TfVpMRFet3I/AAAAAAAAAzk/1Cf9IveI3yo/s320/IMG_2162.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLHXGIlC39Y/TfVpT10mn-I/AAAAAAAAAzs/x7fLXFy3Jk0/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLHXGIlC39Y/TfVpT10mn-I/AAAAAAAAAzs/x7fLXFy3Jk0/s320/IMG_2168.JPG" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVrdVlppH1o/TfVpYFpm22I/AAAAAAAAAzw/5CZ-Tfoh9Kg/s1600/IMG_2169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVrdVlppH1o/TfVpYFpm22I/AAAAAAAAAzw/5CZ-Tfoh9Kg/s320/IMG_2169.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEaQMdyAHls/TfVpbNxt24I/AAAAAAAAAz0/cl7ELXz_too/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEaQMdyAHls/TfVpbNxt24I/AAAAAAAAAz0/cl7ELXz_too/s320/IMG_2172.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJjS58k5J5I/TfVpfbJ0piI/AAAAAAAAAz4/KXQUeqfmWcc/s1600/IMG_2180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJjS58k5J5I/TfVpfbJ0piI/AAAAAAAAAz4/KXQUeqfmWcc/s320/IMG_2180.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jD1QlEOhwc/TfVpjhj_pcI/AAAAAAAAAz8/Cb5c-00ntdo/s1600/IMG_2183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jD1QlEOhwc/TfVpjhj_pcI/AAAAAAAAAz8/Cb5c-00ntdo/s320/IMG_2183.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FfgCtB1Svy0/TfVpoP1QpFI/AAAAAAAAA0A/z8XH2kUtPUQ/s1600/IMG_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FfgCtB1Svy0/TfVpoP1QpFI/AAAAAAAAA0A/z8XH2kUtPUQ/s320/IMG_2185.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FHrM3oW8Vao/TfVpvGoyJoI/AAAAAAAAA0I/wWo8ZBfoQtc/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FHrM3oW8Vao/TfVpvGoyJoI/AAAAAAAAA0I/wWo8ZBfoQtc/s320/IMG_2195.JPG" width="320" /> </a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1OjZMCKtig/TfVprWjIgwI/AAAAAAAAA0E/j1SL5Au3UQA/s1600/IMG_2186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1OjZMCKtig/TfVprWjIgwI/AAAAAAAAA0E/j1SL5Au3UQA/s320/IMG_2186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vanessa and me in the park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a video of Jesse trying to catch a carp (BIG nasty fish) that were everywhere along the river we were walking today. I have challenged him to catch one by hand by the end of the summer!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzsyLBg-uuILQeF3QCed8MKbsa8nCpG0PtnAv0AgnT8a1MRxrYJS8sfc6aIKi0JBzWtgKag4lZhtgUd-4Qeqg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-89101486819365559732011-04-09T09:53:00.000-07:002011-04-09T10:10:01.542-07:00My Curse Continues...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last night I drove up to Pittsburgh with a friend from school to go to a baseball game. My Rockies were in town!! It also just happened to be "Buc Night" so the tickets were only a dollar as were the hot dogs!! Since the tickets were only a dollar I bought two extras so we had some more room on either side of us (I HATE being crammed in next to people at sporting events). This was probably a better idea then I originally thought because the Pirate fans around me were not to thrilled to have a Rockies fan cheering, somewhat obnoxiously, in their mist. One guy even threatened to "chop my head off" =}</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/-LqbWmlPuis0/TaCL4E6wwbI/AAAAAAAAAzA/idTaCNaHGUs/s1600/IMG_2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LqbWmlPuis0/TaCL4E6wwbI/AAAAAAAAAzA/idTaCNaHGUs/s320/IMG_2139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The game started off really well in the first with the Rockies hitting a 3-run home run but by the 6th inning it was all tied up. It ended up going into 14 inning before the Rockies fell ={ And those were the COLDEST 14 inning of my entire life!! We were frozen solid by the time the game was over, around 1:30 am. The 3 hotdogs and nachos I ate weren't extremely happy with me either by that point.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OsVEhLgz2WE/TaCL6EUkrcI/AAAAAAAAAzE/ROq5jRdRgak/s1600/IMG_2140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OsVEhLgz2WE/TaCL6EUkrcI/AAAAAAAAAzE/ROq5jRdRgak/s320/IMG_2140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So unfortunately, as I have complained about before, my dreaded curse continues. For the life of me I can not go to watch any of the teams I love and watch them WIN.... I seriously just need to retire from going to sporting events...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfk4s6zmz7M/TaCL7YY7cuI/AAAAAAAAAzI/Xdl12uaOTzo/s1600/IMG_2142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfk4s6zmz7M/TaCL7YY7cuI/AAAAAAAAAzI/Xdl12uaOTzo/s320/IMG_2142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was taken right after the game ended so I wasn't the most thrilled at the time. However, I'm still glad I went.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I forgot to mention that one of my dreams is to catch a fly ball, preferably from my Rockies! Well last night one of the Rockies hit one over into my section. It landed a few rows in front of us but bounced up to the section next to us. It then hit off of a chair and started rolling down my isle RIGHT AT ME!!! My friend and I were going to get it when some drunk guy jumped all over it. COME ON, soooo close. It literally was about 2 seats away from me. Ahh... maybe next time...</div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-71124327244666032542011-04-07T17:01:00.000-07:002011-04-07T17:01:52.219-07:00Small-Footed Bat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been extremely stressed the past few week and have not been getting much sleep. Since I am up in the middle of the night most night I thought I might as well use that time wisely. So, a few weeks ago I got a research technician job working with bats. In case any of you weren't sure, bats are nocturnal and are up in the middle of the night as well! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibk6CEzAn0o/TZ5KJQfA-LI/AAAAAAAAAyU/Oo--AKnTTQ0/s1600/IMG_2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibk6CEzAn0o/TZ5KJQfA-LI/AAAAAAAAAyU/Oo--AKnTTQ0/s320/IMG_2115.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are studying the spread of 'white nose syndrome' which, if I remember correctly, is a deadly fungal infection that spreads very easily between bat populations. As you can see in the picture above, we go to old train tunnels to trap bats. You can't see it very well but right in front of the tunnel is a giant net that covers the entire entrance. The square that you see in the middle of the 'net' is where the bats try to fly through. The square section is lined with rows of fishing line. The bats will fly into the fishing line and fall down into a bag at the bottom where we collect them. Since I don't have my rabies vaccines I don't get to handle the bats but I'll do the data recording, sterilizing, and help with the setup/takedown. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dl847LuNLbk/TZ5KL2uugvI/AAAAAAAAAyY/4v9TgoTbb10/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dl847LuNLbk/TZ5KL2uugvI/AAAAAAAAAyY/4v9TgoTbb10/s320/IMG_2118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a view of our work area looking down from the top of the tunnel.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h8OFn1CoPA8/TZ5KONgWfZI/AAAAAAAAAyc/8b11f_rtXIs/s1600/IMG_2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h8OFn1CoPA8/TZ5KONgWfZI/AAAAAAAAAyc/8b11f_rtXIs/s320/IMG_2120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is our work station where we bring the bats back to work on.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQEbVUqGmLo/TZ5KPQhVSCI/AAAAAAAAAyg/tapVEiX9V9Y/s1600/IMG_2122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQEbVUqGmLo/TZ5KPQhVSCI/AAAAAAAAAyg/tapVEiX9V9Y/s320/IMG_2122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last night we caught our first bat of the season and it just happened to be a small-footed bat which is a state endangered species and probably soon a federally endangered species. These are the bats we really want to find (although any bat is good!) When we find the small-footed bats we attach a radio telemetry tracker on them so we can follow them over the following 2 weeks after capture and release. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pDU_9JkH1Bc/TZ5KQbmPq5I/AAAAAAAAAyk/f81ycAET0A8/s1600/IMG_2124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pDU_9JkH1Bc/TZ5KQbmPq5I/AAAAAAAAAyk/f81ycAET0A8/s320/IMG_2124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They let me name the bat because I came up with a funny name! At least I thought it was funny. When we catch a bat and record the data for it we have to make note of what species it is. We use 4 letter codes that are abbreviated for their scientific name. The small-footed bat is abbreviated MYLE. Naturally Miley Cyrus came to mind. Myle, Miley, get it?! However, since it is a boy bat I just named it Cyrus. Come on, thats funny right? :}</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwELTNyGvzI/TZ5KR96xJEI/AAAAAAAAAyo/_vglHXwNCNw/s1600/IMG_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwELTNyGvzI/TZ5KR96xJEI/AAAAAAAAAyo/_vglHXwNCNw/s320/IMG_2127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are getting ready put an ID band on his wing.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqqF7t7AEqM/TZ5KS0XaNgI/AAAAAAAAAys/DCBQlJLeH_c/s1600/IMG_2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqqF7t7AEqM/TZ5KS0XaNgI/AAAAAAAAAys/DCBQlJLeH_c/s320/IMG_2129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this picture!! Hopefully you can blow it up after I publish this post. He's not angry, he's just saying 'cheese' :}</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_8_QPGjFcw/TZ5KUIBPpvI/AAAAAAAAAyw/FDOz24GgeI4/s1600/IMG_2133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_8_QPGjFcw/TZ5KUIBPpvI/AAAAAAAAAyw/FDOz24GgeI4/s320/IMG_2133.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a picture of the bat after we had the transmitter attached, right before he was released.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-yzhCRvVn4/TZ5KVf_Z2xI/AAAAAAAAAy0/WxsUXOQqcbg/s1600/IMG_2134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-yzhCRvVn4/TZ5KVf_Z2xI/AAAAAAAAAy0/WxsUXOQqcbg/s320/IMG_2134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me with the bat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPnX_hdd6OI/TZ5KWa9VdjI/AAAAAAAAAy4/rAM6VRVYOKs/s1600/IMG_2137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPnX_hdd6OI/TZ5KWa9VdjI/AAAAAAAAAy4/rAM6VRVYOKs/s320/IMG_2137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lisa (my office mate) with the bat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tl4DLeCOTnw/TZ5KXfRTMNI/AAAAAAAAAy8/ZgLWbHumtc0/s1600/IMG_2138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tl4DLeCOTnw/TZ5KXfRTMNI/AAAAAAAAAy8/ZgLWbHumtc0/s320/IMG_2138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juliet (my boss) with the bat.</div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-74749032156205013832011-02-19T19:04:00.000-08:002011-02-19T19:04:28.381-08:00Philly Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have always wanted to go to Philadelphia to get a legitimate Philly cheese steak. I proposed the idea when we were talking about activities to do for institute and we actually ended up doing it, today! It was a bout a 4 1/2 hour trip but boy was it worth it. We got there just in time for lunch. If you watch the food or travel channel much you might have caught a show talking about the "big debate" in Philly and who has the best cheese steak. There is a corner with 2 famous shops that get most of the hype so we decided to check that out. I was so hungry when we got there that we ate one from Pats and then ran across the street and tried one from Geno's. I downed 2 cheese steaks in about 15 minutes!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qDM2DF3LAQE/TWB3XYVueNI/AAAAAAAAAxc/VSsgckFRjcY/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qDM2DF3LAQE/TWB3XYVueNI/AAAAAAAAAxc/VSsgckFRjcY/s320/IMG_2072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the big controversies is whether to use cheese whiz or provolone, so of course I tried one of each =) BY FAR the cheese whiz was much better. The provolone had no flavor to it, pretty much just tasted like water. So when we went back for dinner I got another cheese whiz!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlGtr_wFMXM/TWB3Zc4lg2I/AAAAAAAAAxg/vt1b2v9Vxlg/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlGtr_wFMXM/TWB3Zc4lg2I/AAAAAAAAAxg/vt1b2v9Vxlg/s320/IMG_2073.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a picture looking from Pat's across the street to Geno's. I might have to cast my vote for Geno's (despite the fact that that is where I got the one with the provolone) because I liked the bread a little better. It was softer. Pat's bread kind of hurt my teeth trying to bite through it (mom would probably prefer Pats due to that :) Besides the bread, the meat, onions, and cheese whiz tasted about the same from both places.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLQ3LquLrTE/TWB3bPZ-UoI/AAAAAAAAAxk/fKT-UCUNjDU/s1600/IMG_2074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLQ3LquLrTE/TWB3bPZ-UoI/AAAAAAAAAxk/fKT-UCUNjDU/s320/IMG_2074.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is just a random building in Philly. The city its self was CRAZY. The streets were small and crowded with cars flying everywhere. One thing that was interesting is that cars would park in the middle of the street. If you picture a 4 lane road (2 in each direction) you know how there is usually a big yellow section that divides the 2 directions well people would park their cars in the yellow. So you would be driving down the road and in the middle there would a row of empty cars. Some of them even would hang over into the left turn lane. I don't know if that even makes sense or if you can picture that or not but it was pretty strange.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It also was a pretty dirty city. The wind was EXTREMELY strong (which made it really cold) but it also made it seem like it was raining trash. You would be walking down the sidewalk (which had animal poop EVERYWHERE) and plastic bags or small pieces of paper would just start falling out of the sky and landing all over you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aqZnAr3BE5Y/TWB3dbvmrtI/AAAAAAAAAxo/kDRsDvnq0KQ/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aqZnAr3BE5Y/TWB3dbvmrtI/AAAAAAAAAxo/kDRsDvnq0KQ/s320/IMG_2075.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was walking down the side walk (dodging falling trash) and I saw this statue. I was looking at it and then looked down at the description/name and saw "The Singer". Apparently its real name is "The Signer" (I might be a slight dyslexic, who knows...) But if you were to just look at it what would you think it would say? Looks like he is singing to me!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOCPpvsq0L4/TWB3e6O3yXI/AAAAAAAAAxs/prolz4QZqSE/s1600/IMG_2076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOCPpvsq0L4/TWB3e6O3yXI/AAAAAAAAAxs/prolz4QZqSE/s320/IMG_2076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is Independence Hall. Of course when I go to Philly it is under construction. We were still able to take a tour of it though. Found out its original name was NOT Independence Hall, can't remember what it was though.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djBcZ5EygHw/TWB3jQ9VtkI/AAAAAAAAAx4/Jb44J0UmIug/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djBcZ5EygHw/TWB3jQ9VtkI/AAAAAAAAAx4/Jb44J0UmIug/s320/IMG_2080.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uncw0JOeIzE/TWB3gV-Yc7I/AAAAAAAAAxw/pSzeQhvKp8g/s1600/IMG_2077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uncw0JOeIzE/TWB3gV-Yc7I/AAAAAAAAAxw/pSzeQhvKp8g/s320/IMG_2077.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7UgcjkKKiA/TWB3iGySjOI/AAAAAAAAAx0/SPTJrD9nUIA/s1600/IMG_2079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7UgcjkKKiA/TWB3iGySjOI/AAAAAAAAAx0/SPTJrD9nUIA/s320/IMG_2079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Liberty Bell. Pretty cool to see!!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GYMq7uY2EYA/TWB3lgMSpAI/AAAAAAAAAx8/6hU9iwZO0u0/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GYMq7uY2EYA/TWB3lgMSpAI/AAAAAAAAAx8/6hU9iwZO0u0/s320/IMG_2083.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inside Independence Hall.</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/-z5cu0REDJVM/TWB3oDV1A4I/AAAAAAAAAyA/PE6_5Ztz2zo/s1600/IMG_2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5cu0REDJVM/TWB3oDV1A4I/AAAAAAAAAyA/PE6_5Ztz2zo/s320/IMG_2085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the room where the Constitution was actually signed. Learned that it actually wasn't signed until August 2nd (or 22nd, don't remember) July 4th was when it was accepted I believe. The chair in the back is the actual chair that George Washington sat in during all of their meetings. It is the only "original" item in the room. Also learned that after President Lincoln was assassinated, on the way to bringing his body back to Illinois they stopped off there and had an open casket in that room for the public to go and pay their respect. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7jwNxKhr9fI/TWB3qaQZoEI/AAAAAAAAAyE/D_5E0-f-NHs/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7jwNxKhr9fI/TWB3qaQZoEI/AAAAAAAAAyE/D_5E0-f-NHs/s320/IMG_2089.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOQw2L3gSoY/TWB3sXVPJkI/AAAAAAAAAyI/jJ4RCZRXi80/s1600/IMG_2091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOQw2L3gSoY/TWB3sXVPJkI/AAAAAAAAAyI/jJ4RCZRXi80/s320/IMG_2091.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few more items from Independence Hall. (thought mom might like the piano)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRY55HoKQlg/TWB3vwLXynI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/92gkLBx84AE/s1600/IMG_2094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRY55HoKQlg/TWB3vwLXynI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/92gkLBx84AE/s320/IMG_2094.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTwJXqrVtpg/TWB3uDM1oBI/AAAAAAAAAyM/y4PzC-fJtyY/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTwJXqrVtpg/TWB3uDM1oBI/AAAAAAAAAyM/y4PzC-fJtyY/s320/IMG_2093.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And of course, the "Rocky stairs"!!! This last picture was from the top of the stairs looking out over Philly. Nice view. And no, I did not run up the stair and pump my fists and the top like Rocky :}</div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-90307887114348849162011-02-18T13:56:00.000-08:002011-02-18T13:57:49.898-08:00Lost Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found a roll of film when I was home for Christmas so I thought I would develop it. Mystery rolls of film can be very interesting but this one really came through! I loved the flash back from when my little buddies were A LOT younger.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBSCAkeJMxc/TV7ny3Lo11I/AAAAAAAAAwA/pJY1ZETzgJA/s1600/IMG004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBSCAkeJMxc/TV7ny3Lo11I/AAAAAAAAAwA/pJY1ZETzgJA/s320/IMG004.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A_d1873gvmQ/TV7n6Tv6h5I/AAAAAAAAAwE/aVyVLB5ff5I/s1600/IMG005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A_d1873gvmQ/TV7n6Tv6h5I/AAAAAAAAAwE/aVyVLB5ff5I/s320/IMG005.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFNi2npzcUc/TV7n7O1XDNI/AAAAAAAAAwI/afDmR2rtwXU/s1600/IMG006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFNi2npzcUc/TV7n7O1XDNI/AAAAAAAAAwI/afDmR2rtwXU/s320/IMG006.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5NzR6z_Wv7o/TV7n7vxTu3I/AAAAAAAAAwM/iJCS44KL8Xs/s1600/IMG007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5NzR6z_Wv7o/TV7n7vxTu3I/AAAAAAAAAwM/iJCS44KL8Xs/s320/IMG007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udu-zgGCbpA/TV7n8ldBu_I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/HMUsr3sRoVk/s1600/IMG008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udu-zgGCbpA/TV7n8ldBu_I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/HMUsr3sRoVk/s320/IMG008.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Im7R4W3a-nQ/TV7n9SlRijI/AAAAAAAAAwU/nh5NhZhsL8M/s1600/IMG009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Im7R4W3a-nQ/TV7n9SlRijI/AAAAAAAAAwU/nh5NhZhsL8M/s320/IMG009.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-owVNN8wCoEs/TV7n-N0ZtmI/AAAAAAAAAwY/8sFFrMvnbVk/s1600/IMG010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-owVNN8wCoEs/TV7n-N0ZtmI/AAAAAAAAAwY/8sFFrMvnbVk/s320/IMG010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you couldn't tell these first ones were from when I went to Grand Canyon. I did a national parks trip on my way out to school one year and stopped by 5 national parks, visited the Snow's in NM, the Wilson's in AZ, and the Detro's and Warrens in UT.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BORgA2Ht9C0/TV7n-r9i3FI/AAAAAAAAAwc/nxW24WDvvhg/s1600/IMG011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BORgA2Ht9C0/TV7n-r9i3FI/AAAAAAAAAwc/nxW24WDvvhg/s320/IMG011.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CC8bvwvtv-A/TV7qq0K5taI/AAAAAAAAAxY/4EI_0dQYPvY/s1600/IMG012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CC8bvwvtv-A/TV7qq0K5taI/AAAAAAAAAxY/4EI_0dQYPvY/s320/IMG012.JPG" width="320" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pw6j16UN3F4/TV7n_umf41I/AAAAAAAAAwk/2H7UFaaOOEU/s1600/IMG013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pw6j16UN3F4/TV7n_umf41I/AAAAAAAAAwk/2H7UFaaOOEU/s320/IMG013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RbylDdbQZy0/TV7oBhKyFvI/AAAAAAAAAww/m123fTSlZiI/s1600/IMG016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RbylDdbQZy0/TV7oBhKyFvI/AAAAAAAAAww/m123fTSlZiI/s320/IMG016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dNO7-YzePuk/TV7oCNxPweI/AAAAAAAAAw0/Sph87VkOpVU/s1600/IMG017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dNO7-YzePuk/TV7oCNxPweI/AAAAAAAAAw0/Sph87VkOpVU/s320/IMG017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KiNaAssjaME/TV7oC9OnUeI/AAAAAAAAAw4/AK2ts01UFhE/s1600/IMG018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KiNaAssjaME/TV7oC9OnUeI/AAAAAAAAAw4/AK2ts01UFhE/s320/IMG018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PSxDz2A0Eks/TV7oDgdHndI/AAAAAAAAAw8/Y23jkOjkVgY/s1600/IMG019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PSxDz2A0Eks/TV7oDgdHndI/AAAAAAAAAw8/Y23jkOjkVgY/s320/IMG019.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8iKIhIOyBFo/TV7oEAPRGSI/AAAAAAAAAxA/P87ClPlAtIw/s1600/IMG020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8iKIhIOyBFo/TV7oEAPRGSI/AAAAAAAAAxA/P87ClPlAtIw/s320/IMG020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibyxEhM9gZk/TV7oEmE7RmI/AAAAAAAAAxE/KDrm85Ia1mY/s1600/IMG021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibyxEhM9gZk/TV7oEmE7RmI/AAAAAAAAAxE/KDrm85Ia1mY/s320/IMG021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I typically HATE these type of pictures but since somebody took this picture I figured they would want to see it. Plus Jared's face is pretty funny</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QhqDMEaPuXI/TV7oFDmHMWI/AAAAAAAAAxI/8H7b2hh9NiE/s1600/IMG024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QhqDMEaPuXI/TV7oFDmHMWI/AAAAAAAAAxI/8H7b2hh9NiE/s320/IMG024.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UZ4Nl2ACAuA/TV7oFl8i_8I/AAAAAAAAAxM/KtYnsSy4bxU/s1600/IMG025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UZ4Nl2ACAuA/TV7oFl8i_8I/AAAAAAAAAxM/KtYnsSy4bxU/s320/IMG025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MT03l475Xcg/TV7oHbELEZI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/M2XBlpy342c/s1600/IMG026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MT03l475Xcg/TV7oHbELEZI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/M2XBlpy342c/s320/IMG026.JPG" width="213" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6NMlaJeH0A/TV7oH37P9OI/AAAAAAAAAxU/udAXlang4CA/s1600/IMG027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6NMlaJeH0A/TV7oH37P9OI/AAAAAAAAAxU/udAXlang4CA/s320/IMG027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this last one of "Mo" and Lynny</div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-24858163989995318312011-01-31T17:11:00.000-08:002011-01-31T17:11:09.249-08:00Evaluations!!!Warning, Long post...<br />
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At the end of every semester the university has the students fill out evaluations on their teachers, even grad students. It is actually the grad students responsibility to go around to the different classes (the teacher will step out during the eval) and hand out the evaluations.<br />
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I just got mine back from last semester. I unfortunately did not do as well as I would have liked or thought I might have done. I got an overall score of 3.91 out of 5. It was roughly midway of all of the grad students. I was actually kind of bummed because I thought my kids liked me. Reading through the "free response" answers it actually seemed like I got some very nice comments so I was confused why the overall score was so low. Oh well. Heres to improving for this semester!<br />
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I thought it would be fun to share some of the comments my students made with you guys. I found it funny how within the same class the responses were so different. Oh, when I share the nicer responses, its not to brag but to compare with the not so positive responses =)<br />
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(There were 2 questions on the instructor on the "free response" section. "What are the major strengths of the instructor and then the major weaknesses")<br />
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It turns out that one girl REALLY didn't like me. Lets start with that one...<br />
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Major Strengths: None (with a frowny face)<br />
Major weaknesses: -Barely prepared. -Could hardly answer any of my questions. -Not good at relaying information. -Hardly ever available outside of class. -"Suspect" grading scale. -Barely seemed to care. -Quick to say "I don't know", without offering further assistance.<br />
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Wowzer! It was actually kind of funny because right after reading that one I read these ones (again from the same class).<br />
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Major strengths: Clear explanations, good with questions. On time grading and respect<br />
Major weaknesses: None<br />
<br />
Major strengths: Always came to class prepared and ready to explain the assignment. Also was there to give step by step guidance.<br />
Major weaknesses: Sometimes the grading was not explained carefully. (I'll talk more about this one later)<br />
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Major strengths: Always seemed interested in what the students were doing in each experiment.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Major weaknesses: Grades to hard</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">One person said this</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Major weaknesses: He would constantly be late...</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I honestly can say that I was NEVER late for any of my labs. I was always early to prepare for lab. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Oh, and going back up to the girl that really disliked me and said I was never available; If I am not in class I am ALWAYS in my office. Many days from 7:30ish until 4ish. I am ALWAYS in my office, way more then any other grad student and they all admit that and were blown away when I shared that one with them. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Some more from my other class:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Major strengths: Seemed to really care about what he was teaching, and helped as much as he could when answering questions.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Major weaknesses: None</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Major strengths: He was very respectable and very cool as a bio teacher for lab. (I liked that one =)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Major weaknesses: Grades this course to hard</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Major strengths: Good guy, friendly, polite, respectful</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Major weaknesses: Never once received full credit for my labs (many kids DID get full credit. If you don't deserve it then you don't get it...)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">At the end of the semester we hand out awards for the toughest grader and the easiest grader, "Hard ass grader" and "Powder Puff grader" respectively. Well, as you might have guessed from my "weakness" comments, I received the hard ass grader. I was actually blown away by this because on almost all of the assignments I found myself giving points away to these kids. I was trying to be as nice as I could with the grading. We have rubrics to follow for the grading so I am told what to take points off for. At times I would NOT take off some of the points that I probably should have, and I still was considered the hardest grader. Hmm... not sure about that one</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Anyways, I have actually really enjoyed teacher so far! Perhaps I can change some things around and improve for this next semester =)</div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-56848366171654037322011-01-19T14:49:00.000-08:002011-01-19T17:24:43.934-08:00Projects<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now that I am at a non-BYU school, I actually get a legitimate winter break (over a month!!) Besides the week and a half that I was sick I have been keeping myself pretty busy with different projects around the house. Here are just a few that I thought you guys might be interested in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhPw6BlnI/AAAAAAAAAvc/kaYX_IjrGYI/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhPw6BlnI/AAAAAAAAAvc/kaYX_IjrGYI/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I put in a peg-board for the tools and moved them all over to the way that is shared with the house. Hopefully this will help prevent toys from building up in front of them so we can easily get to them when we need them!! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhT4Gg3EI/AAAAAAAAAvg/sX6XezNFWn4/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhT4Gg3EI/AAAAAAAAAvg/sX6XezNFWn4/s320/IMG_0117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhU4srXkI/AAAAAAAAAvk/2QYRINGZhUE/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhU4srXkI/AAAAAAAAAvk/2QYRINGZhUE/s320/IMG_0118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I then pushed the shelves together to close in the gap where the tools were located and tried organizing things so less stuff was cluttered on the ground. Despite how it looks in the pictures it actually is a lot less cluttered and there is a lot more room in the garage to move around =)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhWObM90I/AAAAAAAAAvo/l3CJyc983ys/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhWObM90I/AAAAAAAAAvo/l3CJyc983ys/s320/IMG_0120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With the help of Katy, when she was still here, I got a bunch of pictures hung around the house. They really are a lot more straight when you look at them in person compared to how it looks in the picture... Katy and mom can back me up on that!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhXO-VJuI/AAAAAAAAAvs/_v8XK845jok/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhXO-VJuI/AAAAAAAAAvs/_v8XK845jok/s320/IMG_0121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moved the fish tank closer to the wall by cutting and adjusting the lid and getting a new filter for it. (mom still hates it with a passion)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhYK7aegI/AAAAAAAAAvw/cHQeT4lg9Eo/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhYK7aegI/AAAAAAAAAvw/cHQeT4lg9Eo/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hung the clock, again with Katy's help</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhY6ibZvI/AAAAAAAAAv0/G6CIS5Dmmcw/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTdhY6ibZvI/AAAAAAAAAv0/G6CIS5Dmmcw/s320/IMG_0124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are on the wall to the right (next to the book shelves) when you are looking at the TV. Also hung some other random pictures around the house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also tried gluing down the train tracks to the train table while Kelly and Katy's kids where here to test how it would hold up to play... complete and utter failure. Those kids had that thing torn apart within 5 minutes of playing with it!!! Maybe next time I am home I will try some kind of stronger adhesive </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, those were some of the larger projects I did. Probably not very interesting to most of you but I haven't posted anything in a while so why not :}</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">UPDATE...</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTeOLfZn1zI/AAAAAAAAAv4/uoMe4Kqbp0I/s1600/IMG_0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TTeOLfZn1zI/AAAAAAAAAv4/uoMe4Kqbp0I/s320/IMG_0125.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is an attempt at a picture of the closet mom was talking about. I forgot about this project, which is odd because it was a lot of work. Anyways, it is the closet that is next to the bathroom by the kitchen and dining room. </div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087013279055197384.post-84903518611836571302010-12-17T14:30:00.000-08:002010-12-17T14:30:56.348-08:00Snowman Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The past couple days I have been a little bored. When I get bored my mind starts a turning =) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm sure you all know by now that I love to cook. I even took a baking class when I was at BYU-Idaho. Well, one of my favorite TV shows is Cake Boss. So I decided to make a cake!! A holiday cake!!! I thought a snowman cake would be fun since we have been getting a lot of snow outside. And that shouldn't be to hard to make, right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveTi5TasI/AAAAAAAAAu8/ZaEaunPg7Oo/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveTi5TasI/AAAAAAAAAu8/ZaEaunPg7Oo/s320/IMG_0097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WRONG!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a pain in the butt and as most of my projects go, it didn't turn out at all like I thought it would. I used rice krispy treats for the bottom half of the spheres and the weight of the treats caused it to pull the edges down so it didn't really look like a circle or ball. I then put cake on top of each rice krispy treats and the cake was extremely crumbly. When I tried to dirty ice it, the whole thing just started pulling off and falling apart.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveVVDfY8I/AAAAAAAAAvA/FrQofEfY4rs/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveVVDfY8I/AAAAAAAAAvA/FrQofEfY4rs/s320/IMG_0098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also used fondant for the first time and found out that that stuff is not the easiest to work with. FYI- never mix fondant and water... one word... disaster! I tried making a little water based paint to paint the hat and it just turned it to goop. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can probably see in the back ground of the pictures, this whole process also made an enormous mess. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveWl4GlfI/AAAAAAAAAvE/kMLXwQYhSZ8/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveWl4GlfI/AAAAAAAAAvE/kMLXwQYhSZ8/s320/IMG_0099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before the hat was finished.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveYRq0VtI/AAAAAAAAAvI/HR3_xfmM2Io/s1600/IMG_0100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveYRq0VtI/AAAAAAAAAvI/HR3_xfmM2Io/s320/IMG_0100.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finished with the hat. I forgot to save some rice krispys for the hat so I just used a huge glob of fondant. I tried mixing in some chocolate cake crumbs into the fondant to turn it a dark color. Also a very bad idea. (this is what inspired me to use my homemade paint) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveaPGekOI/AAAAAAAAAvM/OhzRHvXoMX4/s1600/IMG_0101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQveaPGekOI/AAAAAAAAAvM/OhzRHvXoMX4/s320/IMG_0101.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pure fondant hat was so heavy it started ripping the head backwards and off of the rest of the snowman.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQvecF2BXiI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/srjPaLxCbuc/s1600/IMG_0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xez0iwbmRLM/TQvecF2BXiI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/srjPaLxCbuc/s320/IMG_0103.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm trying to hold the hat and head up in this last picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also wanted to add a pipe but by the time I got to that step it just wasn't worth it. I don't think the head would have been able to hold it anyways. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I guess you can say it was a good experience trying to make this but I'm just not quite convinced it was worth it. Cleaning the mess probably took longer then making the whole thing :} And it definitely wouldn't fly in Buddies kitchen</div>Steve Peperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16635354998496974632noreply@blogger.com5