The Creator's Playbook Podcast: Episode 67 - “The Sphinx Between Worlds” - Portals

The Creator's Playbook 

Episode: Episode 67 - “The Sphinx Between Worlds” - Portals

Hosts: Myself with my brother Steven

"Have you even dreamed of visiting a distant World? Seeing the wonders of the galaxy? Travel to a place where magic is real? Maybe you just want to get away, but don’t know how to get there. Well, look no further than portals! Gateways to distant lands! All you have to do is walk through a doorway, seen or unseen. You may find one at the back of a wardrobe, down a rabbit hole, or through a tornado, only to enter a multiple dimension, a glittering new reality, or to simply see the Eiffel Tower for the first time and have lunch along the Seine at a Cafe. No need to buy a plane ticket or waste gasoline. Join Sarah and Steven as they explore portals, fantasy and science fiction, before creating a story utilizing this wondering form of travel."

The episode is up!  This is honestly one of my favorite episodes to date.  It was so much fun creating and fleshing out this world with Steven.

I hope you're having a great weekend!  And if you have a little extra time I hope you can enjoy this latest Creator's Playbook Podcast episode, found on Spotify and other podcast places.

Sarah

P.S. It's nearly 2 am, and dang do we have a storm brewing outside.  It's insane!  Heavy rain, flashes and thunder, lots of wind.  Trying to sleep, but nope.

An Orangey Moon

We've had a lot of smoke in the valley, all coming from wildfires in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.  The smoke has come and gone and back again since July 10th.  One of the many joys of living in a valley.  (Being surrounded by beautiful mountains really is great, though.)

Last Sunday the setting sun was a glowing reddish color, looking all kinds of ominous.  By the time the moon rose it decided it didn't want to be outdone by the sun, and so the moon looked orangey, glowing and eerie.  

This photo doesn't capture this wondrous moon one bit, which is the case with most cell phone pics.  In person the moon really was quite the sight.  

And fun little fact, the glowing dot above the moon isn't a star, it's Jupiter. :D

(I wrote this early this week.  Thankfully the air hasn't been too bad these last couple days, so that's good.)

Have a great week,

Sarah

P.S. Still editing the Creator's Playbook Podcast episode, and it's looking like it'll go up on Friday.  I recorded with my bro. Steven, and I love what we came up with. :0)

Marshmallow Mishap

 

 

Take 2 on the s'mores party, only this time it was just Robbie, Lindsay, their girls, my Dad, Mom, and I hanging around the fire pit, trying to not get fire in our eyes.  (It burns!!!)

My baby niece, who can now walk with great speed and agility, was heading straight for the fire.  Lindsay quickly grabbed her, giving her a little warning.

"It's easy to have no fear when you have no understanding," I said while roasting a marshmallow that just caught flame.  My Dad commented that I should remember the line to use elsewhere, so I fumbled for my phone in my right had.  In my left hand I quickly blew out the flame while also holding a broken in half graham cracker and a still wrapped Hershey bar.

The best way to remember the phrase was to share it on the family text thread, as I'd probably forget the line while rushing to get a piece to paper.  Texting single-handedly is not a talent of mine, taking all focus to get those few words out.  Feeling quite victorious someone then shouted, "Your marshmallow!" 

I looked at the marshmallow, burnt charred on a metal stick.  The flame whimpering out on its own accord.  I didn't blow hard enough.  As I texted the flame exercised its will, claiming victory of its own.

By the time I disposed of the marshmallow (not the best taste), I had melted the chocolate with body heat, the s'more becoming quite tricky to assemble.

A few awkward moments later the graham, chocolate and a newly burnt marshmallow were together in a happy little sandwich, and it was quite delicious.

Have a great week!

Sarah

That Latter-Day Saint, aka Mormon, Holiday I Always Forget to Celebrate

 (Written Sunday the 25th)

Yesterday was Pioneer Day.  It's kinda a big deal here in Utah, so much so that I heard a lot more fireworks going off than on the fourth of July.  That might have been because the 24th landed on a Saturday, so that helps.

I grew up on California where the 24th of July is just a regular ol' day.  The only time I'd know it came and went was in Sunday school, where the teacher would ask my classmates to share stories from their Mormon pioneer history.  It would come to me and I'd have no stories to share.  My six grandparents were converts, so no direct line to pioneer history.

It's only in the last few years that I've realized that I have distant family members, branches on the tree, that were Latter-Day Saint pioneers.  2nd cousin here, 3rd, 4th, 5th cousin there, but for some reason I always felt distant.  Some of the lines have research I question, and I can't emotionally connect to an ancestor if I continue to question if they may actually be my ancestor.  Made that mistake in the past, only to come upon documents that change the family line.

Today I had a special experience in church.  Instead of listening to the sacrament talks (I know, I know), I was playing on my phone.   This morning Family Search sent an email telling me how they found young pioneers in my family tree.  So, out of curiosity, I opened the page, signed in, and started scrutinizing the family lines that led to the connections.  Some I may actually be related to, others I have doubts, then a name popped up that I trust a little more: Rhoades.  

My paternal great-grandfather was a Rhoades.  I remember visiting him as a kid when he lived in Santa Paula.  He managed the Wagon Wheel in Oxnard, which has now been torn down, but I remember seeing the sign off the 101.

Family Search connected me to 13 year old Caleb Baldwin Rhoades and 10 year old Caleb Baldwin Rhoades, who are my 2nd cousin's 7 times removed, and the children of Thomas Rhoades who led the Thomas Rhoades Company.

What's so amazing is that this was an Eastbound company.  All the pioneer stories are that of those coming over from the UK, or simply the eastern United States, and then traveling west.  The Thomas Rhoades Company left Sacramento CA July 14th 1849 and entered the Salt Lake Valley late September 1849.  

"Thomas Rhoades led a company of almost 50 people from Sacramento, California, to Salt Lake Valley. Rhoades had taken his family to California in 1846, preceding the Donner Party. The company returned to Utah with substantial amounts of gold discovered and mined in California."

In 1884 William Glover recounted the trek:

"In the spring of 49 myself and a few others gathered up our effects and started for Salt Lake. While at Sacramento buying our outfits we met Amisa [Amasa] Lyman. He wanted me to go to San Barnadino [Bernardino] to settle and spend my money I told him no. I had started for Salt Lake and I was going. He told me then to go and I would get the nots nocked off me.

"When we started across the mountains the first night after we camped a company of men with pack animals 13 in number armed to the teeth with some picks and spades passed us professing to be prospectors hunting for gold. They would pass and repass every day. We was meeting companies of emigrants every day and sometimes camp with us to hear about the gold diggings. The emigrants begun to warn us to be on our guard and watch those men with pack animals and said they intended mischief. One company told us they said we had the cream of the mines and wanted them to join with them to destroy us. we took every precaution we could not to give them any advantage of us. They turned back when they got to Carson Valley for the emigrants was coming along so fast we would meet two or three companies a day. Although they had murder in their hearts the Lord put a hook in their jaws that they had no power to molest us. We went on our way rejoicing and praising God that he had spared our lives and the little means we had for a better purpose.

"When we got between the Humbolt and Goose Creek Levi Riter and Harvy Green got in a hurry to get home. They started out alone. The first night they camped the Indians stole their horses and fired at them. They ran and saved their lives. They got separated in the darkness.

"The next day Harvy Green come and met us told us what had happened. We turned back 10 miles to camp and laid over the next day. Levi Riter went the other way and met a company of 18 young men. He traveled back with them to meet us. When they got where they had camped they saw some of their animals and in trying to get them they had quite a fight with the Indians. Two men was killed and four others wounded one died afterwards from his wounds. The balance turned back with us to Salt Lake and wintered. The Indians burnt their light wagons and destroyed most of their provisions. We buried the two dead men when we come where they was and gathered up what provisions was left but saw no Indians.

"We arrived in Salt Lake City the last of September praising God that he had preserved us through all the varied and trying scenes of a long and tedious and perilous journey, where thank God I have never had cause to repent my choice of identifying my self with the Later day Saints. William Glover."

What an interesting story.  It's cool to be distantly related to probably one of the few treks to go East to Salt Lake.

Hope you're having a great week,

Sarah

The Creator's Playbook Podcast: Episode 66 - "Dynamic Bummer" - Dynamic Duo

The Creator's Playbook 

Episode: Episode 66 - "Dynamic Bummer" - Dynamic Duo

Hosts: My brothers Robbie and Steven with Lucky Streak Games.

"Some characters just aren't the same without their empowering partner at their side. Dynamic Duos have made incredible characters, where one without the other leaves story wanting for more. Today we are joined by Lucky Streak Games, and with Robbie and Steven as the host, they're going to create their very own dynamic duo."

This was posted today (Saturday), and I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but I will on Sunday, and I'm super excited.  It's the infamous Dynamic Duo episode, which I've heard so much about, so it'll be fun finally listening to this new podcast episode, which is found wherever podcasts are hosted.  Wahoo. 

In other news, my episode goes up this coming week... and I haven't recorded it yet. 0_0  A part of it is because my throat was affected by the general anesthetic, but it's so much better now.  Also I'm recording with Steven, and told him the topic, but we decided to change topics, and I'm starting from scratch.  Monday is going to be a roller coaster!  It will be a good challenge.  And I plan to have the editing done by Wednesday, so it can go up Wednesday or Thursday.  That's the goal!!  I actually really like editing episodes.

Have a great week! :D

Sarah

I Was This Many Days Old... When I Finally Learned What Montana Means :\

I've been loosely learning Japanese/French/Spanish. I turn on the Memrise app and dedicate 10 minutes towards each language.  It's not much, but it's something.

There's also language sites I follow, one of which is Spanishpod101.  Still a super beginner, so everything is a revelation, but a picture of words popped up on my feed with Spanish words and their English equivalent with pictures.   Suddenly I noticed mountain: Montaña.  And I stared at it.  Montaña... Montana... Montana has a lot of mountains. :\  It makes so much sense!

And then I felt like a weirdo for suddenly realizing this.

Then I noticed river: Rio.  Rio means river.  Rio Grande means big river... 0_0  I looked up Rio de Janeiro, Portuguese, but that means January River, all because the explorers reached Rio in January and mistook the bay for a river.  It's just so interesting.

Kinda funny hearing stuff all your life and finally making the linguistic connection.

It's also interesting when it comes to naming places in the United States.  California has city names ranging from so many places and languages.  I few years ago I finally realized Anaheim sounded German.  Turns out Anaheim was settled by 50 German families in the 1800's.  "Ana" is taken from the Santa Ana River, and "Heim" means home in German.  Kinda glad they didn't choose to name the city Santaheim.

Where I grew up had such a cross section of city names and origins.  Porterville, due to it being settled by a dude named Porter.  Tulare: "The name Tulare comes from the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation."  Then there's Terra Bella, Lindsay, Exeter, Strathmore, Dinuba, and Visalia (named after the founders ancestral home in... Visalia Kentucky).  My favorite California beach town is named Cambria, which is the ancient Latin name for Wales, Cymru.

It's all a lot of fun.

Anywho, the family came over this evening and they were going to make smores, but, alas, no one thought to check the weather.  We got a giant rainstorm with high altitude lightening and some flash flood warnings in parts of northern Utah.  It's all calm now.  We still had fun.  Got to play Pokemon with the kids, and I taught them some tricks.  

Have a great day,

Sarah

Cling to Hope

There are moments when hope feels like a fleeting bird, scattering at any noise or movement.  Here one moment, gone the next.  Times when peace flee and darkness creeps beyond the shadows.

But just as birds fly away, they do come back, never truly gone.  Hope is always near, whether we feel it close or not.

We all have our battles.  We're all shaking somehow, someway.  This can be mental, emotional, spiritually, or physically.  Pains we understand.  Pains that are a mystery.

No matter what, cling to hope.  Cling to light.  If you can't find it, trust it.  Believe it.  Don't give up.  Find that spark, that whimpering ember, and nourish it.  Protect it.  Blow on it a little, encourage it.  Add wood and cloth.  Shelter it from wind and rain, even if it stays small.  That's okay.  No mater how small your hope may be, you still have it, and it may remain small for awhile, that's okay, too.  Sparks grow into flames, and flames spread, massive, wide, but all ranging fires start small.

No matter your battles, cling to the spark.  Cling to hope.  Believe in the flame.

Sarah

The Creator's Playbook Podcast: Episode 65 - "Magic Not Included" - Legends

The Creator's Playbook 

Episode: Episode 65 - "Magic Not Included" - Legends

Hosts: My brothers Michael and Robbie

"Sometimes incredible, true stories get passed around like wild fire. They grow and flourish to heroic proportions turning what once might have been true into a fantastical legend. Incredible, yes, but even though they might be founded in truth, it can become nearly impossible to know what part of the legend is fact and what is fiction. Legends can inspire your character to grow! Sometimes all your character needs a great story to help them find the courage to to act. Join Michael and Robbie as we discuss legends and how we can apply them to make epic adventures for our characters to learn from."

I hope you're all having a great week.  This is the latest Creator's Playbook podcast, this time hosted by my brother's Michael and Robbie.  If you're in the mood for some creativity or a good story, I hope you can enjoy a listen.  You can find it on spotify and other podcast hosting locations.

It's been many weeks since I've been on an episode.  With my surprise surgery my brother's have been amazing and reworked the schedule.  This week I'll be back to recording, and on the last week of the month the episode will be posted.

Have a great week!

Sarah

Little Miracles

It's after 2 am.  This is usually the time my posts are scheduled to publish, only I didn't have one prepared for today.  Since the operation I've been snoozing off and on, and things are a little turned around in my head.  Not bad, just figuring things out.  The pain is getting better.  I choose not to take the prescription meds, as they were the addictive kind, and opted instead for Ibuprofen and Tylenol.

This whole experience has been soul stirring.

A very strange thing happened before coming home from the surgical center.  I was trying to figure out how I can sleep in the recliner without hurting my neck, and an image of an old neck pillow came to mind, an air one I use to travel with.  I haven't seen it in two years, so had no idea where mine was, worried I'd have to shuffle through luggage to find it, in which I was in no state to try.  I asked my Mom where hers might be, but she couldn't remember.

Well, as we approached the house door another image came to mind, a shelf in a closet where I keep my bathroom things and whatnot's.  I immediately followed the prompting, opened the closet door, and the neck pillow was rolled up into a ball sitting on top of a pile of stuff in a small white tub.  Only a week ago I organized that shelf.  Took everything out, threw some stuff away, and put it all back.  The pillow wasn't there.  If it had been I would have put it with travel things, not extra toothbrushes and dental floss.  Just that morning I was cleaning some things up and put extra shampoo and conditioner in that tub.  I would have noticed the pillow.  It's a mystery. 

I have this faint memory of moving one thing from an upper shelf to a lower shelf, but couldn't remember what it was, and after placing the shampoo and conditioner in the tub I remember being puzzled, taking a step back and trying to figure out what was moved, but didn't spot anything out of the ordinary.  

Well, I'll drive myself crazy trying to figure it out.  I was pondering a problem, was prompted to a solution, and led to the pillow's location.  And it has been a huge help.  However it happened, whether I moved it or not, it happened, and I'm thankful for my guardian angels for helping me solve a problem.

Other little miracles is how the surgery all came together, the speed of one thing leading to the next.  For the CT Scan I got it on a Monday, wasn't supposed to get the results until that Friday, but they came the next morning.  That set everything in motion for finding the surgeon, who I met last Monday.  From the scan and blood work I thought it was just gallstones that were my problem, but when he called my Mom after the operation he said my gallbladder was horrible, very inflamed, and had thick walls.  There's no way I'd last another month without a major attack.  I'll get more details at the followup.  But I feel so blessed to have this ailment taken care of.

It's after 2:30.  Sleeping is a hassle.  Oh, heh, though something kinda funny.  You know when you're in pain and you have to say on a scale from 1-10 what the pain level is?  Well, I got that question a lot on Wednesday.  I never give away 10's.  They're for when I'm at my absolute worst.  I barely, if at all remember, super fuzzy, but according to my Mom I said I was at a pain level 9, so they gave me morphine.  It's around pain level 7 that my memory clears up a little.  It's nice to know that even at my worst I didn't give away that 10 and stayed true to myself.

Any-who, It's just strange being on this side of it.  I'm thankful the problem was discovered.  I'm thankful I was able to get the surgery.  But I'm also thankful for that large gallstone blocking the smaller stones from escaping.  The nurses sister got gallstone pancreatitis, and it's automatic hospitalization for about a week or so.  It's so, so bad!  I was protected from that.  What a tragedy it would have been.  

Now for the healing.  I've developed some food fears in the last few months.  Been living off of bread, oatmeal, rice, potatoes, tuna, chicken, and this protein concoction smoothy thingy.  So it's going to be interesting re-introducing foods, and discovering what I can and can't have.  So taking my time.

Have a good day,

Sarah

Under the Knife

I'm writing this at 8:17 pm on Tuesday and will be scheduling this to post Thursday morning at 2 am.  Which means when you read this I will hopefully be sound asleep in bed, recuperating.

Tomorrow morning I'm getting my gallbladder out.  Yesterday I met with the surgeon and was previously told that after this visit I'd have to wait three weeks for the operation.  Well,  he asked me "How would you like to get it out this week?  How about Wednesday?"  "Wednesday!?" I proclaimed. Needless to say I've been in shock these last couple days.

Am I doing the right thing?  Will I see any improvements?  So many questions.  It came down to this, I'm getting worse.  I have a large gallstone in the process of passing with many small ones right behind, just the right size to get lodged in the pancreas and cause gallstone pancreatitis.  It's an awful condition.  My Mom had her gallbladder out.  I have two cousins, younger, who have there's out.  Pretty much without the surgery I'm going to get worse, and I'm prone to more gallstones.  With the surgery I have a hope for better health.

It's now 10:05 pm.  My bro Michael, Krista, and the kids came over and hung out a little.  Really lifted my mood and took my mind off things.  But alas, here I am again.

I've been studying the New Testament, and these last few months I've been envisioning the women with the issue of blood who touched Christ's hem and was healed instantly.  Her strong faith helping in her healing.  I've just been thinking how nice it would be to be healed instantly.  Touch Christ's hem and feel no more pain.  But while studying I finally realized that she had suffered for twelve years and spent all her money on physicians.  She was probably ostracized during this time as well.  Twelve whole years. 

I might not have Christ's hem to touch, but I'm thankful for what we have, spiritually and physically.  Modern miracles in medicine.  And also, with my faith, the gift of healing blessings.  I just had one, but previously I had three: last March while on the trip, on my birthday when I was sick, and on fathers day when I was having more issues.  Each time the blessing was given by someone different, each one not present for the other blessings.  All three blessed me that I'd know what I needed to do, but also that I needed to seek out medical professionals.  I wanted to solve this problem all by myself, but each blessing advised me otherwise, which led me on the path of discovering the gallstones.  

I've experienced little miracles in the past.  Off and on I've had issues with dairy, but in middle school it got really bad.  When I was 14 I had to have jaw surgery, was wired shut for 9.5 weeks, and had to be on a liquid diet this whole time.  Not being able to have milk would have made it difficult, but after the surgery I was suddenly able to have milk, and many a milkshake I had along with endless bottles of Boost. >_<  When the surgical braces came off, all of a sudden I couldn't have milk again.  It was so weird, but I'm thankful for the blessing.

So now I'm nervous.  Hopeful.  Dreading the recovery.  Praying it won't be That bad.  But I need to do it.  I'm going to have faith, and face whatever challenges come my way.

Have a wonderful day,

Sarah

The Creator's Playbook Podcast: Episode 64 - "Golden Nail and the Queen of Diamonds" - Sleeper Agent

The Creator's Playbook 

Episode: Episode 64 - "Golden Nail and the Queen of Diamonds" - Sleeper Agent

Hosts: My brothers Steven and Robbie

"Spies come in all shapes and sizes, each designed to play a specific role in their game of espionage. Some spies are perfectly aware of their role, in full communication with their sponsors, but others are sent off into enemy territory with nothing but faith that their role will be fulfilled. This brand of Spy is known as the Sleeper Agent. What are sleeper agents, and have they had an actual role in history? most importantly, how can we write a story about one? Join hosts Steven and Robbie dive once again into the lands of Spydom and use the creative process to write a new tale of our very own Sleeper Agent Spy."

This is the podcast Steven has been talking about for weeks.  He recorded it awhile ago and kept telling me how much he loves it, how it's his favorite podcast to date, and how he can't wait for everyone to listen to it.  I haven't listened to it yet, as it was posted just yesterday, but I'm looking forward to listening to it today. 

So I hope you're having a great week! And that you're able to have a listen to the podcast.

Sarah

Dreaming of Japan

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”

~ Anthony Bourdain

The above picture was taken in April 2019 while wandering Tokyo.  What an incredible night.  I've been dreaming of trips, past frolics around globe.  Every now and then, out of nowhere, my memory will take me to a place I've been.  I'm wide awake, but I see the location.  Feel it.  Sometimes I remember where it is; sometimes my mind stretches to recall, figuring out the fractured memory.

(One of these places is a train station in Germany, close to a hotel I stayed at in 2018.  I can't remember what city it was!  But I remember the train station, the hotel lobby, and the Burger King... or was it McDonalds?  Those pictures didn't make the photo book.  It might have been Mainz.  But for some reason my mind takes me back there, standing outside the hotel, looking towards the train station.)

My mind occasionally takes me back to Japan, one of those places I'd love to once again visit.  I've started watching the Abroad in Japan YouTube channel.  So much fun and interesting.  (There is foul language, as a warning).  Just last weekend I've discovered the world of Japanese 3D sugar cookies, and they're amazing.  You can check out the Whip Sugar Icingcookies channel to see the edible wonders.  Mrs Eats is another fun channel.  

I dream one day of being able to see the world again.  Looking forward to watching the Olympics.  I hope they happen.  

For now I'm enjoying reliving memories.

Sarah

Simply Words, an original poem

Words are funny.

They give everything and nothing at the same time.

Conferring feelings and thoughts,

Hopes, dreams and wonders,

Yet they are merely puzzle pieces in a grand masterpiece,

which may or may not be complete.

Words that hope to communicate,

though easy to manipulate.

Written sentences deleted after agonized time,

or simply Frankensteined.

 

Maybe an emoticon can better show intent?

Punctuation marks imitating empathy,

Real or deceived. 

Creating what's perceived.

Words breading hate.

Words fanning joy.

Words desiring love,

Or simply annoy.

 

Still, always, Words feed the soul.

~ Sarah Stufflebeam

P.S. While writing this I stumbled on a Wikipedia page showing emoticons.  Turns out many of the emoticons I use are called Kaomoji faces, originating out of Japan.  Heh, probably due to my early days obsessing over anime and whatnot back when the internet was a teenager.

In Which Frank Sinatra Offers My Grandma a Ride...

My Grandmother is beautiful.  Five foot eight, dyed blonde hair in the latest short style (she was a natural strawberry blonde).  She would never admit to it, as she always saw herself as a country bumpkin.  After high school she went into cosmetology, and while in her young 20's, sometime in the mid-1950's, my Grandma apprenticed on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

It was here where the fateful event occurred.

My grandmother was simple and modest, one for routine.  She would work and then go home.  One afternoon after working in the shop she left to walk to her car.  While approaching a parking lot exit a car pulled in front of her and stopped.  Frank Sinatra was driving, a blue car from my mother's retelling, and he asked my Grandma if she wanted a ride.  

Well, my Grandma didn't hesitate.  She showed him her left hand where sat her wedding ring, said she was married, and then continued on her way.

Heh, and that was that.  My grandma turned Frank Sinatra down.

For the longest time I wondered if my Grandmother was the only women who turned Sinatra down, when a gal I was talking to said her grandma did as well.  She was honeymooning in Las Vegas, and when Sinatra was flirting with her, she left as well.

And here we thought Ol' Blue Eyes had game...

Hope you're having a great day,

Sarah

 

(Happy Late Birthday in Heaven Grandma, hope it was a fun celebration). P.S. I really hope we have birthday parties in heaven.  "And now we celebrate the day you went to Earth!"  That would be fun.

A Musical and What Happens When The 4th Lands on a Sunday in Utah

This is a quickie as it's late (10:56 pm), and the microwave meal I cooked up just beeped. 

Just got home from seeing Guys and Dolls at the Hale Center Theater in Sandy Utah.  It was opening night, and really, really good.  That theater puts on a good show.  It's been so long since I've seen the movie, a couple decades, that I'd forgotten the plot.  Only the main songs stood out from memory.  Now I need to watch the 1950's movie.

Fourth of July was interesting this year.  It fell on a Sunday, which means a lot of people celebrated it Saturday and Today.  Saturday was the huge firework show and this morning was the parade.  There were hardly any fireworks last night.  Some family came over, and we lit fireworks, but on our street we were the only ones.  It was the Sabbath, but it was just strange.  I really have no clue how many people were out tonight lighting fireworks as the show got out after 10:00.  

Yesterday was fast and testimony in Church, and there were so many memes going on about it on Facebook.  The first Sunday of the month is fast and testimony meeting, where those who can fast do, and then offer a fast offering that goes towards the... I want to say Welfare part of the church, but it helps those in need with food, provide food for the bishops store house, and also humanitarian emergencies and disasters.  It's a brilliant system that's helps many people.  But also on this Sunday people bare their testimony during sacrament meeting.  There's no talks.  Anyone can get up and say something. There were a lot of jokes, like were people going to make it patriotic or not?  And so forth.  But I missed Church yesterday!  Had a rough night and took a nap, ended up sleeping three hours and missed church.  So yeah, missed it.

This weekend was nice.  We've had light rain storms come through, but they didn't last long, and were completely gone by celebration time.

Have a good day, 

Sarah

Heh, I think my meal is cold. (11:16 pm), and I hear fireworks, so some people are being festive. :0)

The Creator's Playbook Podcast: Episode 63 - "Capsized" - Stranded and Alone

The Creator's Playbook 

Episode: Episode 63 - "Capsized" - Stranded and Alone

Hosts: My brothers Michael and Robbie

"Have you ever been stranded somewhere? Lost or abandoned? Take a listen to this episode to send your characters on a life altering journey of self discovery and determination. From the heights of space above to the depths of the ocean below. Join Robbie and Michael on a sobering adventure of perseverance in the face of the deep and lonely realities of being stranded."

Another wonderful podcast episode that my brothers created.  If you have time I hope you can take a listen.

Hope you're having a wonderful 4th of July weekend,

Sarah 

P.S. The CT Scan results came back: Gallstones.  Fun. :P 

Around the Mountain to Park City Utah

In the last year driving up to Midway Utah has become a treat, which started during the lock downs as a way to get away, and continued since as Midway is a delightful little town.  It now feels like a second home of sorts.  

Last Saturday my Mom and I took a drive to Midway, drove around, got snacks from the bakery, and then noticed a sign next to one of the many golf courses of a road leading to Park City.  We haven't visited in ages, and thought it would be fun to take this unknown path.

Oh My Goodness!!!  Pine Canyon Drive, closed during the Winter (according to Google) for a reason, was really nice, but a little scary as well.  There was a sign warning of switchbacks and the narrow road, which brought me back to memories of France.  Narrow roads can be a little nerve wrecking.

 

The scenery was lovely.  The mountains and fields still green from all the rain.  Temperature in the cool 70's/60's.  There were a couple stretches where the quaking aspen trees danced in the breeze, their leaves rustling and shimmering in song.

But there was a moment on the way up when the road did a nearly 180 switchback, the road really narrow, and then winding around next to a cliff drop.  It was at that moment I grabbed my phone, as my Mom was driving, and searched on maps for Park City's location: 9 miles in 30 minutes.

The drive was beautiful and I'm glad we did it once.

 

As my Mom said: One and Done!

 

:P

Hope you're having a great week,

Sarah