So, I got an offer in the mail for a FREE TRIAL at Netflix. I thought, what the hell? I signed up for the next-to-cheapest plan available and queued away.

It's only $9 a month. Honestly, we'd spend nearly that much at Blockbuster picking up the latest new release. With winter coming around, we're inside more anyway, so movies are perfect.

I'll admit, though, I was a bit disappointed that I'm not able to order porn at Netflix, but then I saw stuff like "9 1/2 Weeks" and felt a bit better.

However, because this is a family-friendly blog, "Wild Hogs" was first in the queue, followed by "Teen Wolf" (which I have had a hankering to see for a long time), then a couple of animated kids' movies.

How boring. How middle-class America. How Dr. Spock. Ah well.

La! Imagine my surprise after being out for the weekend to find four Blogstream comments! Completely unwarranted! And I, not updating my blog in four days!

!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by with their greetings and to wish me a happy weekend. You're all lovely.

So, we went camping this weekend (yes, again). This time we went a State Park called Ledges...near Ames. Brent and I are Iowa State University alums, so this is our old stomping grounds. Naturally, we came up to catch the football, which turned out to be an embarrassing waste - but no matter.

The best part was this park. It was BEAUTIFUL. We had gorgeous weather, yes, but this park is awesome. Bluffs and trails and nature and quiet. Due to an unfortunate, unplanned tumble in an flooded creek, we did not traverse all the trails available, but there are plans to return. Again and again.

Let's see the pictures, shall we?

This first one's the spectacular scenery. Notice the tiny figure in yellow. That's Brent and he is completely dwarfed (to the thousandth power) by the bluffs.

Here's another scenery pic. Bluffs and trails. Trails and bluffs.

This one is definitely going to get made into holiday greeting cards at Walmart this year!



This is Elliot splashing right through the flooded bridge. Soaked jeans but what fun!


Out of the five of us, only Brent and Kirby were the ones to lose their balance and fall in the creek. You can't really tell it on Brent, but Kirbs definitely has that sodden dog-left-in-the-rain look.


SERIOUSLY, THOUGH, YOU SHOULD ALL COME TO IOWA. OUR STATE IS BEAUTIFUL. I HAVE PICTURES.

Always the problem with holiday breaks. I do look forward to them, but I almost dread them because I know the long week/end will go way too fast and the night before I start back to work will be here and I will have gotten absolutely nothing done that I said I'd do.

Bah. I'm getting way too old and cynical. Not to mention cantankerous.

Although, I'm thankful I'm no longer working in Minnesota. They started their school year today. I think I'd really dread Labor Day if I knew it was the total end of my summer. At least here in Iowa, I've had a week and a half under my belt before the break...enough time to establish routines. And crack some skulls.

I'm kidding. I don't hit students. Much.

OK, so after hitting my lowest weight ever in July 2005, I've slowly and surely put it all back on it, topping out this summer at 145. Two weeks ago, I started back on Weight Watchers, and I'm happy to report that today I stepped on the scale to the tune of 139.6 lbs. I've lost five pounds in two weeks and I'm back under 140!

Yaaaaaay!

Ahem.

Aargh, mateys! Where be my booty?

I'm just practicing for the Renaissance Faire tomorrow. It's "Pirates, Wenches, and Rogues" weekend. We had a pretty good time last year, so we're going back. Because of our new financial plan, we're taking only a little amount of funds, and packing our own lunch...as you know, at places like this, the food prices are unreal. The only bummer is not being able to purchase whatever trinkets and items I'd like...but I also won't be burdened by the guilt of having used the plastic for something that in the end, isn't all that important.

Yo ho ho and a (frugal) bottle of rum! The rest of you scallywags best keep an eye on the horizon and watch for the ol' Jolly Roger...I'll be back late afternoon.