1 in 1,000

While walking through Silver Dollar City Girl Child made friends with a unique young man...

Then, during our visit to Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum she (sorta) made the acquaintance of another with the same kind of genes....

Keep in mind her hand is nearly the same size as mine.

Our fave facts gleaned from such an oddly entertaining collection were these three:

First, 1 in 3 have the genetic ability to curl their tongue.

Big Shooter and Girl Child are the 2 or 3 of that equation. In fact, the faces she makes in trying to accomplish this feat are comical.

Second, only 1 in 100 can turn their tongue over.

Girl and I can turn our tongues over one way. Boy Child can turn it both ways...Weirdo.

And last, 1 in 1,000 can fold their tongues back.

That would be our very own Girl Child. She's the 1 in a 1,000.

She can't curl it, but she can fold it! Super Weirdo.

Where are you in the standings?

Love Note to my Big Shooter: Sweet Baby Jesus!! What were you thinking?!?

A little preview of tomorrow...

It was like pushing the Rewind button...

Each time I took the camera out of it's case one of the Crumbs would comment, "Did ya see some thing else that reminds ya of when you were our age that ya need to blog about?"

Apparently, we drove them nuts with our eager beaver sharing of childhood stories...little twits.

I mean who wouldn't want to take a picture of one of the many tumble weeds traveling on it's way across the state???

Or our old swimming hole?

Big Shooter's comment was, "Did they re-do it out here? I remember that dock being a whole lot further out than that..."

It's amazing finding out how small our enormous childhoods really were.

They didn't say a word about me taking their pictures. Just struck a pose.

I didn't think to get a picture of my Aunt Kathy's pancakes. She's made them for Big Shooter and I now for 20+ years when we travel through Wyoming. They are the Best on the Planet. I have only tasted one other person's who come close. It was a little dive in a not so good part of Plainsville. One day they were open, the next day they were arrested for selling drugs out the back door. No, I am not kidding. No more pancakes unless we happen to be in Cheyenne. My sweet auntie is in charge of the dispatch office for the Cheyenne sheriff's department. I drove with her from Denver to Cheyenne and heard her in action. We encountered a situation that was getting more dangerous by the second so she immediately called 911 and reported, "Yes Ma'am, I've got a 120 involving a tractor trailer license number yada, yada, yada on Colorado I-80 northbound, mile marker 23 at 75 mph, please advise CHP units in the location." Thank goodness she was in the car or here would have been mine, "...uh yeah, there's a really big truck weaving in front of me that doesn't have any lights..."
I wish I'd thought ahead and taken a pic of those golden circles...but in there place I can share a picture of her son. I posted this pic just to get his goad. We're kissin' cousins. Our names rhyme. He just earned his doctorate. I still call him Butthead. That's his little Southern Belle-soon-to-be-wife. I love her. I want to marry her.
Also, since I didn't get pics of the pancakes I get to sneak in others that kinda, sorta have to do with my sweet auntie. This is her newest grandbaby.

My cute as a button girl cousin was big preg-GO when we went through Denver the first time. The day we left she had this little beauty. So the Crumbs and I got to snuggle with her on our way home.

Girl Child was in Hog Heaven.
I kid you not, I about fell over when Boy Child asked to hold her.
It was 10 seconds longer than he's ever held a baby before.
Ever.


Showing the Crumbs the Canyon was a highlight for both of us to revel and enjoy. We both have incredibly fond memories of the canyon as children and then dating.

Have I ever mentioned I floated in a hot air balloon in this canyon? I believe that is why I am now afraid of falling from great heights.

Y'all already heard about The Rock.

Does Boy Child look like Calvin to you? He does to me...even in his sister's purple striped hat with the flower.

What other things set off the Childhood memories?

Grandma's cookin' and playing games with her.

When Thanksgiving dinner was over she said in my ear, "You ready to play games girl? They are on the front passenger side floor board of my truck..."

She's 86.

She'd come prepared and ready to whip some tail.

The first we played is called Probe. It's been played in our family since the

early 60's. That was a blast from the past!
And the one we had been dying to do?

Eat at this hamburger joint.

They began in Twin Falls.

Now they are all over the surrounding areas.

We stopped at the first one we saw...

mmmm, they put a white sauce on their burgers instead of ketchup.

The Best on the Planet.

What do you look forward to when you visit your hometown?

What floats your boat?

What's your favorite blast from the past?

Do you ever wish you really could hit the rewind button?

Love Note to my Big Shooter: I do wish I could hit the rewind button again and again. There are so many times I'd love to re-live with you. Skiing, Chicago, Sun Valley, cookin' with your momma, havin' FIL save my butt a hundred times, seeing you walk in the Hallmark to chat, all those long drives across the states, walking the big dogs, snuggling in stormy weather, making Crumbs (wish I could remember Girl Child), watching our babies sleep...the list goes on and on. Thank you for always adding to it.

I need an air sick bag now...that got way too gag-a-rama for me...cough.

19 Random Facts in 10 Minutes

While driving the big Gas Hog some where between Wakeeny and Colby, Kansas I had this great idea to write down a bunch of facts to post about. Here's what I came up with in 10 minutes:

1. According to Girl Child, McDonald's has really thought their dips through because Sweet & Sour seals are much easier to remove than Ranch seals.


2. The Dairy Queen in Wakeeny, KS does not make chocolate ice cream on Mondays...and they could care less whether you drove 7 miles off the interstate and promised your Crumbs they could have a "Cherry Dipped-In" or not.


3. In Kansas, farm cats = road kill.


4. Not all Wal*Marts are created equal.


5. Surprisingly, a bbq joint named Frisky Brisket didn't stay in business in Russell, KS.


6. We have red dirt roads in rural OK. There is a 20 mile stretch in the middle of KS that has pure white rural dirt roads. If anyone knows why, the Crumbs and I are dying to know. They look like brilliant white chalk.


7. Wyoming is as bold, wild and rustic a frontier as it's always been...and I hope it is never tamed.


8. It is amazing to me that people driving a car that could fit in the Gas Hog's back storage area feel free to cut me off going 79 mph after I've been driving alone with an 8 and 10 yr. old for 19 hours...&$%^@*!!


9. I'd move to Denver tomorrow if Big Shooter could tolerate sudden change.


10. Kansas landscape does not grow on you.


11. If it seems I am picking on Kansas, I am. (Sorry Sashi.)


12. I do not like being away from Big Shooter. At all.


13. The smell of a fish hatchery reminded me of trips to the coast with my mom and grandparents.


14. They bale corn in round bales in Kansas. Made me wonder what else they bale.


15. Time in a moving vehicle goes rather quickly with family chit chatting. Really.


16. Seeing Idaho tags for the first time was as exciting as seeing Oklahoma tags coming back!


17. Truckers who oblige an 8 yr. old Crumb pumping her arm up and down like crazy with a long, loud honk are angels in my book.


18. God's creativity is splendid.


19. Writing in my little blog book at 79 mph is extremely s-t-u-p-i-d.

And now a few random photos for my random facts...

Enjoying a sunrise in Wyoming.

Hiding from Momma, pretending to be camera shy.

I'd forgotten about the snowdrift fences all along the interstates in Wyoming. I remember being fascinated by them as a child. Could snow really drift that high?

The answer: Oh yes, it can. And does.

The reason I put random photos in for this random post was so I could alleviate some of the pain you all are going to inevitably face reading about our trip in the next few days. I figure the more pix I can squeeze in now, the less for later. I apologize in advance.

Big Shooter and I took the Crumbs up to the area we kinda had our honeymoon. That is another post for another time. It involves me staying in a B&B by myself, pneumonia, an ambulance ride and a tiger-striped painted who-ha. (Yes, you read that correctly. Who-ha.)

Maybe if you click on this pic to enlarge it you'll be able to make out Big Shooter and the Crumbs hiking down the hill. They are directly in the middle of the picture, Girl is wearing pink. They had a blast being where Momma & Daddy had many a date...sigh.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: I love you so. I am glad to be home with you again. Just thinking about you makes my heart skip a beat and my toes curl.

We are back and pooped-out y'all

After a day or two of Catch Up, my first post should be "What I learned driving for 24 hours across 6 states with two Crumbs age 8 "and 3 quarters" & 10..."
In the mean time I figured I'd leave you with a few of my very first posts. (I find it hard to believe I started this most wonderful adventure called Laying Out Your Dirty Underwear For Everyone to See over a year ago!!)
Although, I will voice these few warnings (read excuses) before you click:

1. I was a new, fledgling blogger.
2. I hadn't found my voice yet.
3. I hadn't had my hand slapped in the bloggy etiquette department yet.

Olliver ~ Our Brain Dead Pug (There really isn't much else to add to that title.)

Home + School = Homeschool? (This is the one published in Blog Nosh. My Canadian bloggy friend Tracy is an editor. I have no idea how she found it...or why she picked it. But, I was thuh-rilled none the less! Thank you Tracy!!)

Big Shooter isn't half the man he used to be... (Oh My Word! I guess this is the upside of a diseased gallbladder, kidney cancer, gastroparisis,... And this isn't even a recent picture of him...look in my side bar for that Hunk-O-Munk!)

"Give me baaaack my puke...!!!" (Yeah, it was a proud moment when I pushed the Publish button for that one.)

I missed you all VERY much! It is just plain weird and VERY cool how friendships are built in cyberspace. I thought of you all the time. In fact, my little bloggy book is full of post ideas and facts I want to share with you all. But, for now I need a few days for laundry, unpacking, grocery shopping, homeschool planning, mail sorting, bill paying, toilet cleaning, and smooching with Big Shooter.

Oh, and an Amish dinner in Chouteau, OK (quite a little drive away) I planned for our homeschool group a month ago...

• for tonight.
• the day after I finished driving 17oo miles.
• in crappy, sleety, drizzily, 30 degree weather.
• we need to leave in a little bit...I'm still in my pjs
• What the &*$# was I thinkin'?

Along with my Mother of the Year award I feel I also deserve the Planner of the Year award, don'tcha think?

Love Note to my Big Shooter: When this evening has finally come to a close, I will say The Saying...but, only if you've read this post and know I just said that. Heh.

Love Note to Y'all: Reminder if your fam is taking part in The Bundle of Thanks project: They need to be sent by this Sunday if you want them to reach your servicemen by Christmas. I am anxious to hear your fave parts of your family's letters!

Party is Over!!

Straight shooter and the Crumb Snatchers are on their across Colorado and Kansas. Crumbs keep getting the truckers to honk. My personal opinion is that horns are for emergency purposes only, so don't get me started.

So to all the blogging minions out in blog land, SS will be back online soon, and my days of freedom and nakedness are at a sad end. Let us observe a moment of silence at the passing.