Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Brady has been waiting for me to post these pictures...ha ha. This was one of his favorite places to go I guess! Weirdo. I took a geology class in college--actually that was my last class so it is the freshest in my mind--and Geology 101 says that the Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun. Tough concepts. Also,   because it is the innermost planet and orbits the sun once every 87.10394 earth days, NOTHING is there! Way too hot and deathly. It is barren sandy and full of hot things and hot ground and dirt. (So Professor Geologist says)

Well we travelled to its twin sister! If you ever have dreamed of visiting Mercury- this is your destination! A place that is most like Mercury on earth. People call it DEATH VALLEY. 

Bradshaw Intl. (Brady's employer and one of our life sources) work with businesses in Guatamala and Costa Rica. The top dogs came attend the Housewares show that Brady went to in Chicago and then flew to California. Well, someone thought it was a good idea to take them to California's best---DEATH VALLEY. 




 They drove from Las Vegas (the other highlight of the US) and we drove from Costa Mesa and we met in the middle in Death Valley.  

There are 2 hotels in the 'valley' which are called Furnace Creek Inn and Furnace Creek Ranch. Honest advertising! 
 The FURNACE CREEK INN have very comfortable rooms. I think because they are aware you probably need to rest from the heat 3 or 4 times a day. And although it was very hot, the 2 hotels were booked full!!!! Crazy tourists. They always migrate to the outdoorsy venues of the US; like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellow Stone, Zion's and Death Valley. I wonder if they have heard of Disneyland or the Movie Theatre? Or McDonalds? And we wonder why 'they' are more classy and thin.  


ha ha funny, there is no water.
ok except this small patch. It is the last that is left. 
 That little sign says SEA LEVEL. Death valley is so deathly because it is below life. 

 Barren...salt flats


A Guatamalan said to me, "Can you imgaine being a pioneer and coming up over the mountains and seeing this?! I would sit down in the hot sand and cry." Ha ha now she probably knows that places she wouldn't want to live. 

I think the goal of the trip was to diversify the landscape and show our visitors something new. Well done. They were definitely shown diversity which is not found in Costa Rica. It was great to be with them. They are so kind and welcoming! It is amazing to me how open and trusting and friendly people can be. I can't wait to visit them in their beautiful area of the world. 




one beautiful place on earth...

YAHOO!! oh utah....

I jumped out from behind a wall with a birthday sign and surprised my mom for her birthday in utah! She cried and I cried. It was a great surprise and it was so much fun to be home. Brady had a Housewares show in Chicago and so while he was at work I treated myself to a week in utah!! Perfect! ....and I found very cheap wings that were too cheap to pass up!


Happy birthday Mother! I love you!! I am so lucky to have such a great friend as my mom. While I was there we cooked and laughed and cried and ate. It was so wonderful to be home! And gosh! 8 days away from IV's and ambulances?? Lucky duck I am.  

Speaking of that thing we call 'work'-after a classic 13 hour day in the ER...patients awnry and smelly, homeless friends back AGAIN for some food, no break, cranky co-workers, swollen feet and a fried brain....I want one of these (below)!! They look so peaceful, so non-smelly, non-homeless, I bet they always like you and think you are wonderful!! Someday sam- someday.

Until that blessed time, I will have to live vicariously through my bestest friends who are grown-up Mommys!
Two of my wonderful friends brought new little life's into the world recently while I was in Utah!! What a treat! Its hard for me to believe that we (they) are old enough to have children! 
And before you know it, your best friends are mothers' to children! Weird. And they are the cutest mommy's and have the cutest little babies I have ever beheld. 

Baby #1: 


COLE EMMERSON LEHMITZ
(he really looks like this in real life...like a little porcelain doll)


Baby #2:



QUINN MARIA CURTIS
SOOOO cute!! And i partly feel like i'm related! We do share the same name...
(the mom, my fellow Clifford, Rachel)


And baby # 3...



 GIANNA CLAIRE (who I am ALSO related too I'm very happy to say)
 she is a DOLL!...and she knows it. Look at those eyes...and the lashes!! 
Some people are just luckier than others I guess. Good genes.


"Come on baby....BLOW!!!...."


Me and my matching jumpsuit...hey.




Although the weather is so very pleasant in southern California 11 months out of the 12. (as you can see above) It takes an ungrateful person to NOT appreciate the beautiful utah winter!  Look at the pretty white snow!!!! I'm so glad that I got my taste of winter while I was there.





We enjoyed so much while I was there...a good old Kneader's french toast (maybe a couple of them)

                  


we went to the last of this...

babies...(Favorite godmother of Quinns)

Dessert eating





and then unfortunately, all good things must come to an end...(especially if I am to keep my current job) I will be back utah and your beautiful mountains!