The Household Dillema

As the school season starts, the big topic in my little circle is the H1N1 vaccine. PapaJD says he couldn't live with himself if the kids get sick and we failed to do our best to prevent it. On the other hand, I couldn't live with myself if we shoot the kids with a vaccine that hasn't been adequately tested, harming them more than had they just come down with swine flu. We keep weighing the pros & cons while waiting for the vaccine to arrive here in town. In the meantime, I can't find a single parent who will be getting the two vaccine shots for their children. Every mom I speak with shares my concerns and will not be getting the vaccine. I've heard the following reasons for their decision:

• It hasn't been tested adquately for longterm safety or proper dosing.
• The H1N1 will arrive prior to the vaccine so why bother?
• The media warnings about H1N1 is overblown.
• The virus mutates, so even if you get the vaccine, whose to say you are innoculated?
• The concern over side effects outweighs the benefits of the vaccine.

At least there is time to continue to think about it. Word is that the mid-October timeline for the vaccine is now a best case scenario. I think I will stock up on sanitizer and over-the-counter meds while I take my chances.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

The road less traveled on Lopez Island.

I am just returning from my summer vacation and I believe I earned my Adventure Mom Badge. Some girlfriends and I decided to go on a roadtrip and do some camping while our husbands went fishing in Canada. We set out for the island of Lopez in the San Juan Island chain north of Seattle. 6 kids (ages 5-7), 3 moms and a grandma made for quite an adventure. I thought I would share some pictures from my camera and my iPhone of things I saw along the way.

Slugs were pretty prevalent on the island.

The frogs were in small pond near our camping spot.

This is almost too pretty to be a weed.

A small church in the fishing village of Lopez.

The ferry docks around Anacortes were shrouded in fog.

My colorful fisherman friend down on the wharf in Seattle.

Rules Are Made To Be Broken

These signs are posted at Avondale Golf Course in Hayden Lake. Of course, you just can't pass it up without some hijinks.

Scenes From Ironman Coeur d'Alene 2009

The Elites ready at the start on the beach of Lake Coeur d'Alene prior to the general start.

The Elite Feet: These feet earn money.

The Elite swimmers start moving out into the open water and the helicopter will hover over videotaping their progress throughout the race.



The bodymarking station on Independence Point.

The athlete's special needs bags for the run portion of the race. The bags are numercially categorized in groups of 50. The athletes find their bag by number and place any last minute items they may need into the bag for later in the day.

The general start for 2200 competitors.

These Ironmen hang back and survey the scrum. Our friend later said that the melee during the swim is just incredible. Rarely did she get more than a stroke before making contact with someone else in the water. The athletes get knocked around from other athletes. This would be in addition to the huge waves that were occurring out at the corner turn.

Our friend from Seattle on the 112 mile bike portion of the race.

Ironwoman, Rockstar, Friend: Finished in 12:31:52.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

I love Cinco de Mayo. I look forward to this day all year long. It's the one day of the year I know that I can get Pan Fried Tacos at the Mexican Food Factory on Fourth Street here in Coeur d'Alene.

Sure I can get a fried taco at any roadside stand through out the year but it just isn't the same. First, the roadside stand tacos aren't nearly as hearty or filling. Second, when I go to the roadside stand, I'm likely eating there all by myself in my car. Going to the Mexican Food Factory here in town is like going to an informal reunion of old friends of all different ages.

Above, owner Dan Franks is overseeing my tacos.

Last Friday, Cinco de Uno, I grabbed my camera as I went out the door to the Food Factory. I took some photos so I could help pressure the owners into creating a Facebook page. My plan worked, they created a Facebook page, and I am now officially a "Fan" of the Mexican Food Factory. Their Facebook page has received over 230-some fans since it was created on Saturday. Going through the list of people is like reading a Who's Who of my past. The Mexican Food Factory has provided a way of connecting with people I haven't seen in years.

Cinco de Mayo for me is about seeing old friends and eating Pan Fried Tacos. Rain or shine today, I'm already planning my day around the tacos.

Above, the fiesta last Friday was a great way for families to spend the evening.

How I Spent My Spring Vacation

The JD's spent Spring Break around Tucson, Arizona. We hiked Sabino Canyon. Hit a zoo or two. Drove to Tombstone to catch a re-enactment of the gunfight at the OK Corral and visit the Cochise County Courthouse. I thought I would share some of my photos of the trip:

Sabino Canyon

Spring Training between the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Desert Museum

Hummingbird in it's nest

Some type of small falcon bird.

A gray fox

A large frog party

On the road to Tombstone, I caught our car's reflection.





Above, one of the Earps re-enacts events leading up to the gunfight in the OK Corral.

Guns are drawn between the Earps, Doc Holliday, the Clantons, the McLaurys and Billy Claiborne .

The Cochise County Courthouse is pictured below and is now a state park.

The Cochise County Gallows

Inside the courtroom where Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp were cleared of murder, with spittoon standing on the floor like it did then.


Looking south over Tucson at night:

The Tea Party In Coeur d'Alene