The View From My Tube

I have always been horrible at being outdoorsy. It's something I'd LIKE to be good at, but I'm just not. I always end up having the worst time and complaining about how my feet hurt or how it's too hot. So today when I actually had fun floating down the Salt River in a tube, I was thrilled! So now that I've been once, that puts me at expert level - so I'd like to share with you how to have a great, wonderful, fantastic, lovely day at the river. Let's back up to the beginning.

When you go, make Eric drive because the roads are a little windy and it's more fun to take pictures.

When you get there, rent a tube. And while you're at it, check out the tattoos on people. It almost makes me want to go back and just shoot tattoos for an hour at this enterance. Wouldn't that make an interesting blog post?

Once you have your tube, wait in line for a bus that will take you to the starting point on the river. It will be HOT. At this point I was already fearing that the 'oh my goodness, it's HOOOTT' and 'I can't do this!' complaints would be coming on soon - because ohmyhell it was hot.

See? Do you see the sweat and redness on my face? Yuck.


Once you're on the bus, stack up your tubes and hold on because the driver drives like a maniac.


For the part where everyone is tying the tubes together and trying to get through the crowd and onto the river and throwing out every swear word in the book, put your camera in a ziplock and into the cooler because they don't want their picture taken.

After you're safe floating on the river, put some river grass in your hat and wear it like hair.

And enjoy everything around you - enjoy the cold water, enjoy the breeze that somehow slides constantly on the river's surface and all around you, and enjoy the view from your tube.
Stop at the pools and be social.


Ask Single Steve to flex for your blog readers.

Do a beer bong

And share with fellow river floaters.

Jump off the cliff (that's Eric right at the bottom)

And enjoy the view from your tube.



**All photos were taken with my point and shoot, so I'm excused.

Peripheral Visions: Why Thank You

I thought this was sweet.

I almost died 100 times today

This morning I woke up three hours after going to bed. Eric, my brother and I went to Usary mountain to hike. I can't remember the last time I went on a hike. It wasn't easy at all. This was my starting point.

I couldn't believe how hard it was! The climbing over the rocks, and the way my shoes would slip over the gravel and almost knock me over the edge. I feared for my life.

We had to turn around when we were almost to the top but I still made it far. I don't think I'll ever go again. Ever.

Peripheral Visions: Face

So when I saw this, I thought it was real. Really. I jumped. I thought it was like in Pirates of the Caribbean where all the guys were part of Davey Jone's ship and the ship kind of grew around them. Remember that one? Freaked me out.

Peripheral Visions: Best Friends

When Kayden Was Born

Did I ever tell you about the time Kayden was born? It's a totally typical story, nothing went wrong, everything was great. Here he is - a newborn, only hours old.


While I was pregnant, I worked the night shift at a call center. The same call center where Eric and I met. I took calls while Eric was a manager and so I'd be talking a lot. All night I'd talk and I'd often wonder if the baby could hear me. I read he could and would soon recognize my voice.

We checked into the hospital at 3:30 pm and I had painful contractions all night. I walked the halls of the maternity ward because the nurse said that would help, while Eric slept comfortably in the fold out arm chair. At 5:30 am I recieved pain medication and then at 3:30 pm on June 16th, Kayden was born. I'd never seen a cuter newborn - usually they look all alien and squishy but Kayden looked like a little angel right away.

He started crying - loud. Crazy loud. The people two floors above us could tell that he was not happy. After they got him ready, they put him in my arms, screaming. And I said "hi baby." And just like that, he stopped crying and looked at me. He totally DID know my voice. It. Was. Awesome. All the nurses and the doctor even commented, "awww, look, He knows her."

Then Eric added, "Hi KAYDEN." and I was all, "um... is that his name??"


So here he is, yesterday, June 16th, the day he was born, three years later.

I have a three year old.

Peripheral Visions: Sinkhole

Comfortable accomidations for Arizona vacationers.



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