Jenerator's Journeys

Off to Cairns (CANS)

2011-06-09T03:17:00.001-07:00

We started off the morning with breakfast at Pancakes on the Rocks in Darling Harbour. Harley loved the breakfast and for some reason my stomach wasn’t tolerating it. We then boarded the fast ferry back to Circular Quay. I know it may sound pathetic but I wanted to get some pictures of the Sydney Opera House from the Harbour and when I had the chance my camera battery was dead. So alot of fuss for a picture or two but it made me happy.

Upon returning to our hotel, we packed up for our trip to Cairns. The whole airport experience was amazingly different than home. We checked in via a computer using Harley’s passport. It printed both our tickets and baggage tickets. We then weighed them and the machine accepted or rejected the bags. Not one person was involved in the process. So I had my passport ready to be checked at security and no one asked for it. We didn’t even have to take our jackets and shoes off and water bottles were allowed. So I boarded the plane without anyone ever ID-ing me. Rather odd I thought!

After a three hour flight we arrived in Cairns without problem. We rented a car and drove to Trinity Beach where are accommodations are. It is a small quiet beach village about 2o minutes from the main city. The manager upgraded us to a two bedroom apartment which is just about the size of our home. Laundry facilities, fully equipped kitchen, a big jacuzzi tub, and lots of extra space! What a treat!

Sydney Opera House, Seafood Market, and Bondi Beach

2011-06-09T02:49:00.001-07:00

We started the morning with the essential tour of the world famous Sydney Opera House. Harley’s sister Pam and husband Hugh met us there to join the tour. The Opera House is located in an area referred to as Cincular Quay (pronounced Key) on Syndey Harbour. It is a gorgeous location with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Sydney Opera House was completed in 1971 after nearly 14 years of construction and a final cost of 102 million dollars. Way over budget a lottery fund was set up to cover the cost. The tour guide mentioned that per capita Australia gambles way more than any nation in the world. The inside of the Opera house was very interesting. The carpets in the lobbies are all bright purple. This is how the original architect Utzon wanted them. I thought it was pretty ugly but I am certain Nicole would have loved it. We were able to tour both concert halls which sit side by side. The concert hall pictured below is the largest seating 2,690 and is where the majoirty of the operas and ballets take place.

Following the tour, we jumped on the Hop On- Hop Off Bus to see a few more sites. The first stop was at the Sydney Fish Market for lunch. It’s the place for getting freshly caught fish for lunch. Harley ordered Barramundi with chips (fries) and I had Shrimp and chips. I was surprised to find out that you had to pay for ketchup ( or tomato sauce as they call it). Harley has been in search of good Barramundi in the US without much luck so he was very happy.

We then got back on the bus and traveled to Bondi Beach. The word bondi is Aboriginal for waters breaking over rocks. It is a cresent of beautiful white sand. Along one side of the beach there is a club called Icebreakers. To become a member you have to swim in the water every Sunday for four years straight. It looked absolutely freezing. Needless to say it is a pretty exclusive club. We enjoyed a nice stroll along the beach and admired the sandstone and the erosion that has shaped it over the years.

While in Sydney, their annual festival of the arts, sculpture, music and lights was taking place. So we ventured down to the Rocks and found an incredible light show on the Customs House. I can’t possibly describe how amazing it was and the following picture doesn’t do it justice. We also saw a fire show in Campbell’s Cove choreographed to music. To top it off they had a laser light show continuously on the Sydney Opera house. It was truly spectacular. We finished out the evening with dinner at a pizza place.

Days 1 & 2 Down Under

2011-06-09T01:44:00.001-07:00

We arrived at LAX with no problem and plenty of time to spare. The first surprise was when the ticket agent informed us that I would need a visa to fly to Australia. I was not aware of this at all and had a mini panic attack. Luckily the agent was able to take care of the paperwork and I paid a $25.00 fee to get one. The flight was 14.5 hours and it actually didn’t seem that long...thank goodness. We both slept for 6-7 hours and watched a few movies. Harley enjoyed the airplane food and I wasn’t too disgusted by it. We took a cab to Sydney with is about a 25 minute ride. The weather is much cooler than I imagined it would be.

We arrived at them Menzies hotel at 10:00 and surprisingly we were able to check in early! The hotel is centrally located and the room in nothing fancy. It reminds me of a few hotels in Europe in which everything is small. Thank goodness it was truely a king size bed though. After getting cleaned up and ready for the day, we hit the streets. First stop was to have a meat pie and a ginger beer for Harley. I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty the meat pies were. Then we walked the streets and ended up at the Sydney SkyTower. The SkyTower is Sydney’s landmark tower which affords you a 360 degree views of the city. It wasn’t the clearest of days but still the views were amazing. My only complaint would have been that it was a bit pricey! We then wandered the streets, walked through Hyde Park, and stopped in the Queen Victoria’s Building which has been renovated and turned into an upscale shopping center. We were so exhausted, we went back to our hotel to rest for a bit. We began walking the wrong direction which we actually realized after about 20 minutes. Ooops. We took an afternoon nap and woke in time to get ready for dinner with Harley’s sister Pam and her husband Hugh. We walked down to the part of the city called the Rocks to find a place to eat. Unfortunately the streets were jammed packed and every restaurant was also. We ended up eating at a sidewalk cafe and the food was decent. We had a lovely visit with Pam and Hugh over dinner and retired to bed early to prepare for our big day.

Day Two began around 4:00 when we woke and couldn’t get back to sleep. We must have since the alarm woke us at 6:00 to get us out the door for a 7:00 pickup. We had arranged a tour with a company called Blue Diamond Tours. It is a small company owned and run by a young married couple. They picked us up in a 12 passenger Mercedes van. Seven others joined the tour. It was great to have a small intimate group. Our first stop was for English tea, scones, and pretzels at a little family owned bakery outside Sydney. Then they drove us into the Blue Mountains which is about an hour and a half from the city center. We first went to Scenic World which is an old coal mining area that has been turned into a tourist attraction. You first ride across the valley in a glass floor Skyway. When you arrive on the other side you take a railway which is supposedly has the steepest incline of any in the world at 53 degrees. It was a bit nerve wracking....yes. Then you have arrived in the Jamison Valley.

We walked through this beautiful rainforest canopy for about an hour and tried not to freeze. You return via a scenic cableway. The views of the Blue Mountains and surrounding valleys were beautiful. A stop at a beautiful waterfall preceded the most popular lookout at Echo Point. The site was crammed with tourists but we were able to get some incredible views of the Three Sisters, despite the less than ideal pictures. A quaint shopping village nearby was the next stop. Lunch was had a the Sportsmans Club. We then traveled to Featherdale Wildlife Park just outside Sydney. It is a small park with animals common to Australia. We saw wombats, emus, tasmanian devils, dingos, koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, echinidas, penguins, and much more. We feeds some tiny wallabies corn flakes and had our picture take with a koala. Unfortunately, not ten minutes after arriving the battery on my camera died. So I went for my backup and the battery on it was dead. I was sooooo sad. I wanted pictures of all these cute animals more than anything. Oh well, there wasn’t much I could do but be disappointed. They drove us by Sydney’s Olympic Park which is completely still utilized. The tour guides Alena and Rob dropped us off in Breakfast Point and we took the ferry back to the Circular Quay. Due to the weather, we chose to sit inside which obscured the views a bit but the bridge and city views were spectacular. Wished I had a working camera. We walked all over trying to find a place to eat dinner tonight and settled on a meat pie for Harley and a Subway sandwich for me. We were to the point we were so hungry we didn’t care. The tour guides recommended a chocolate bar and it just happened to be down the street from our hotel. So on the walk back we picked up a toffee flavored hot chocolate and honestly weren’t too impressed. Another early night for us.

Home Again…..in St. Kitts

2010-11-06T12:38:00.001-07:00

Invitations by Kelly

2010-10-17T21:27:00.001-07:00

60 Things We Know and Love About our Parents

2010-10-17T19:11:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, October 16th, we jointly celebrated my parents 60th Birthdays with a surprise party. And YES…it was still a surprise. The party was held at Sierra Vista Restaurant in Southlake and we had 40 friends and family in attendance. Everyone had a choice of prime rib, shrimp, or chicken. Joy Hurley and Toni Hogue of Sierra Vista did an excellent job serving us. The evening was rounded with stories and tributes to my parents. My sister and I put together the following list of 60 Things We Know and Love about our Parents.

Taking us to school in Silky Red Pajamas
Giving us a love for Broadway plays
Making up songs like the Wheelchair Family and Fatty Fatty Two By Four
Teaching us how to ski between their legs while skiing backwards
Giving us a love for the beach minus the camping part.
Equipping us with a stylish wardrobe in high school thanks to all his girlfriends at Harris.
Their generosity to those less fortunate
Patiently gardening with Nicole
Diet Coke with Cherries and a few more cherries
99 Cent Whoppers and Water at Burger King
Expand-o-matic Pants
Butter as a major food group
Preparation H
Chocolate Milkshakes for dinner
Giving us a love for good literature
I CARE PILLS
Discount travel specialist
Braiding and curling four girls hair
Their expensive taste in cars….aka the Silver Bullet/ the Handy Van
Mom tolerating Dad’s love affair’s with Dennis Miller, Ann Coulter, and Rush Limbaugh
Teaching us how to be kind to one another which occasionally involved time-out hugs.
Debbie Kent’s Summer Boot Camp
Tutoring us in high school math whether we wanted the help or not
Vasoline coated feet
Is it cheesy enough?
Instilling in us a love for our extended family
Super Mario Brothers Competitor
Their Stock in Kirkland Brand Motrin
Best Saturday morning short order cooking in town
Velour Jumpsuits, Denver Bronco Shorts, and Cal Trans worker coordinating t-shirt and swim trunks.
Cream, Cream and more cream.
Brown trout stories
Yummy chocolate chip cookies
All their tireless efforts to help each of their children become successful.
Making sure all the computers in the house are equipped with the latest and greatest software.
Love for the Padres and Lakers
Bringing us up in the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Texas Hold Em Tournaments, Bridge and Progressive Rummy
Teaching us that all obstacles can be overcome.
Giving us a love for the water including swimming, snorkeling, boating, wave running, scuba diving.
Watching Mystery TV shows together
Dad perming his hair
Love of Toyota Camry's
AM/PM stops for coke Slushies
Mom going back to school to get her education with Joe
An unending supply of currently used toothbrushes
Always thinking of others
Passing on the clumsy gene
That dad can still get mom to turn Beet red
The Whittleton giggle
Always prepared to give hugs
Reading out loud
Loves and supports us unconditionally
Sneezing 5-6 times in a row
Love of Neal Diamond and Barry Manilow
Tender hearted
Speaking Spanish when we're around so we don't know what they're talking about
Unconventional swimming lessons, "Jenny, Joe don't help her"
Being courageous, strong, and faithful
Loving each other

More diving in St. Kitts

2010-09-16T12:49:00.001-07:00

St. Kitts September 2010

2010-09-15T06:04:00.001-07:00

GARAGE SPACE Before and nearly Done

2010-08-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Kent Family

2010-08-29T20:15:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, August 21st, we had the pleasure of attending my cousin Tim Kent’s wedding to Amanda Harkey. Despite the heat of a Bakersfield summer, the wedding was lovely. Highlights included the groom and his party all wearing VAN shoes, personally getting bite by red ants all over my feet, the bride being delivered by the Bakersfield Fire Department in a fire engine, and of course visiting with extended family that we don’t get to see very often. We got to met our newest cousin Dean Howard Schultz (Kami and David’s baby boy). Welcome to the Kent Family Amanda and Dean!!

Kent Family FUN…Generation Next

2010-08-21T08:32:00.001-07:00

Thanks to my cousin Timmy’s wedding, my cousin Kami and Mindy and their familes came to visit. While some were attending the rehearsal dinner, my Mom prepared a delicious meal for the rest. Shortly after dinner was completed, my Dad decided to bring out the PADS. All the kids were squealing with delight. The object of the fun is to get as many kids on the pads as possible and slide down the stairs without anyone falling off. Back when we were kids we had fun doing the same thing. Memories flooded back from earlier days. Pictures included Glen Schultz, Adam Alfred, Kent Tucker, Luke Alfred, and Elle Tucker.

Above water…..

2010-08-16T18:43:00.001-07:00

Photo library…Cayman

2010-08-16T18:39:00.001-07:00

Spotted Eagle Rays

Trumpetfish

Squid

Nurse Shark

Lobster

Yellow Sting Ray

Parrotfish with Dentures

Tayah and Turtle

Fire worm

Lionfish

Sting Ray City

2010-08-16T17:59:00.001-07:00

One of our favorite spots to dive in the Caymans is Sting Ray City. It is a shallow dive of 12 feet but quite an interactive experience. The following pictures detail the excitement…up close and personal. Krissy and Tayah sampled some of the squid that they use to entice the sting rays.

Adventures Abound in Cayman

2010-08-14T17:57:00.001-07:00

After a long but uneventful trip here, we checked into the Marriott and headed out for dinner at EATS cafe. The food was not as good as we had remembered but everyone was so hungry it didn’t really matter. After dinner, we dropped Tayah and Kenny back at the hotel while we ran to the grocery store to get so breakfast for the morning. After teasing everyone in the store, my Dad got into the rental car and the next thirty seconds of our lives was out of the movie Inception. Backing out the parking lot the accelerator got stuck. In reverse we side swiped a truck and crashed into a parked vehicle. It was extremely scary and I think both Krissy and I developed an arrhymia like my Dad’s…atleast for a few hours. Luckily no one was in the parking lot at the time this happened so nobody was injured and they had purchased insurance. Best $14.00/a day ever spent! Krissy and I hired a taxi to bring us home while my Dad and Kenny stayed and dealt with the police. Sleep was difficult last night. My Dad took some valium and still only managed to sleep 3 hours.

Today, we embarked on a two tank dive trip with Neptune Divers. While we dove to depths of 100 feet through the walls, Tayah worked with Jorge on a resort dive course. She was very brave! I would have been so nervous but she seemed fine.

She joined us on the second dive, Doc Poulson Wreck which was a shallow dive above the walls. The following pictures are from the second dive and don’t need much explanation.

After the dives, I developed a migraine which resulted in an unpleasant afternoon. Krissy and Tayah played in the ocean and collected shells. Dinner was steak, salad, and potatoes. Another successful adventure in paradise.

Shakespeare….we LOVE!

2010-08-08T17:31:00.001-07:00

The last weekend in July we ventured off on a road trip to Cedar City, Utah for their annual Shakespeare Festival. It is something we have always wanted to do but with the encouragement of Steve and Kathy it became a reality. At the last minute, we convinced Krissy to come along and bring her kids. We loaded into two vehicles and left Thursday night after work for Las Vegas. We stayed at Texas Station and endured a very long night. Elle must have thrown up atleast ten times. After we exhausted all the linens we called housekeeping. Then a few hours later we had to call again for more clean linens. No more Skittles! What is crazy is the next morning when she awoke I asked her how she slept and with a smile on her face she said “Great.”

Friday we drove the three hours to Cedar City, arriving just in time for the first play, 39 Steps. It was a Hitchcock murder mystery played by a four man cast. Despite the British humor and great acting, I found it hard to keep my eyes open. Following the play, we went out to a steak dinner up the canyon with Steve and Kathy. The creek/river was running high and very chocolatey!

Our favorite play of all the weekend was Merchant of Venice which was performed in their outdoor theater. The theater was built to be as close to the Old Globe as possible. We had front row seats otherwise known as the spit section. It was fabulous.

Saturday, we got off to an early start and hit a few of our favorite places: Shopping at Maurices and lunch at Cafe Rio. We attend the matinee of Great Expectations. It was premiering for the first time at the festival. We all enjoyed it but wished we had been more familiar with the music. We thought Miss Havisham was incredible. We ran into a couple of people from the past and from home…… Vicky Rogers and Julie Searfoss.

Swimming and pizza were on the agenda for the youngsters. My parents went to dinner with Steve and Kathy while we stayed back at the hotel. The final play was Macbeth and due to the rain we were forced to watch the first act inside. This meant giving up our front row seat which we missed terribly. Luckily the sky cleared and they moved the second act back to the outdoor theater. Back to our front row seats, we were able to watch Lady Macbeth loose her mind before our very eyes.

Sunday we drove back to Las Vegas where we spent the night before returning on Monday. We stayed at the amazing South Point hotel. Kelly and my mom went to the movies in their theater. I took Elle to the arcade while Kent and Nicole rested in the room. Elle and Kent were very preoccupied by the lights and noises of the slot machines and sat there long enough for security to find us.

The trip home was hot and long but luckily we stopped in Primm for some outlet shopping! Fun was had by all the girls! A very special thanks goes out to my Dad who made the trip possible. He was a driver, a lifter, a facilitator, and the best grandpa/babysitter.

We are hoping to make this an annual event and have already looked into next years performances. We are going to try and actually read and study them before we go next time.

My favorite ………Sunflowers!

2010-08-08T17:29:00.001-07:00

This is one of three sunflowers from my yard this year. They were transplanted by Harley’s boys from dixie cups. And they all survived and flourished.

Sky Safaris Zipline

2010-06-16T08:32:00.001-07:00

To round out our adventure, we traveled to the “rain forest” to take the zip line challenge. We went early as to avoid the extreme heat and it rained a little while we were there. It only took an hour and a bit to do the 5 lines. It was a good rush and of course beautiful views of the rain forest and the ocean. Zach and Kenny picked a few mangos and enjoyed them. Sadly, we are back at the hotel getting ready to depart. The worst part is actually flying home. I will be of course happy to be back in my own bed late tonight. Another incredible trip to paradise.

A few more Macro shots from St. Kitts

2010-06-15T16:01:00.001-07:00

Macro pictures today…still learning

2010-06-14T11:57:00.001-07:00

LOBSTER FEST

2010-06-13T16:06:00.001-07:00

Dead Batteries and Zach the lobster hunter

2010-06-13T11:03:00.001-07:00

My Dad and Zach showing off yesterday’s catch from largest to smallest.

Zach and his LOBSTER TAILS

St. Kitts again….June 2010

2010-06-12T12:10:00.001-07:00

We are back! Yes, we love St. Kitts. When we arrived yesterday, Kenny said this is beginning to feel like “home.” After a seriously needed long nights rest, we went out with Pro Divers. It is an owner/operator company and the service is the best. We did two dives this morning both right in the harbor where the cruise ships come in. The water temperature is 80-82degrees….which is lovely! Between Zach and my Dad, we captured three lobsters which will contribute to our surf and turf dinner tonight. The corals were beautiful at both sites. Sea cucumber, green moray eel, spotted eel, and lots and lots of lobster.

Phil and Fran’s Wedding

2010-05-17T22:58:00.001-07:00

Nicole, Kelly, my parents, and I were fortunate to be able to travel to Arizona last month for my cousin Philip Blair’s wedding. We flew from Bakersfield to Phoenix. The weekend was packed with great food, shopping in Scottsdale, visiting with extended family, and gorgeous weather. We enjoyed catching up with the Hollis family and playing the game “Truth Be Told” (which we have since brought and played and laughed and laughed). The wedding festivities were lovely and it was a special treat to visit with my Mom’s cousin Kim who traveled all the way from Connecticut to be there. The weekend concluded with Craig doing a bit of dental work on my Dad which takes a load off my shoulders! Looking forward to another excuse to visit Arizona next spring……maybe Phil’s twin Patrick will provide another occasion.

Top Ten Reasons Not to Buy Rental Property or Become a Landlord

2010-05-17T22:37:00.001-07:00

10. It sucks every bit of time, energy, and money out of you and your pocket.

9. Paint ends up on everything you possess.

8. Tenants that get arrested within the first month of the rental contract.

7. Borrowing and spending more money than your ever expected too.

6. Having to repeatedly explain that criminal activity is not allowed.

5. Getting bit twice by your tenant’s vicious dog.

4. You can’t sit through a movie without a call from the nice neighbors with noise complaints.

3. Cleaning and cleaning and more cleaning. And watch out for how well bleach works!

2. The joys of dealing with the building department.

1. Despite every effort to make the place nice and attract good tenants, you still become a SLUM LORD.

Beginning and Progress Pictures of the House…..

Walking for Joe Kent 2010

2010-04-03T18:02:00.001-07:00

This year the FARA Race for Results was held on Easter weekend. As a result, we didn’t have the best turnout but it was still a special year for us as a family. We decided to have special shirts designed in honor of our dear brother Joe. Kelly, Krissy, and I together designed the shirt with the help of Custom Ink. The picture of Joe is from his walking days.

This year they added a 1/4 mile run for the young children. We had 4 runners BUNNY RUNNERS : Adam, Luke, Sienna and Luke

The Gonzalez and Ozier families made a bold showing. Emily and Leif both won medals for their age divisions. The Ozier’s traveled all the way from San Bernadino to participate.

Also traveling a distance from Yorba Linda was Rick and Wendy. Randi joined us from Ridgecrest. Kelly’s friends are wonderful and have been supporters for the past three years.

And Joe’s Number one Fan: Elle Tucker

Thanks to all who participated and showed continue to show their love and support to my family. We are truly blessed with or without a cure for this devastating disease. Wishing all a Happy Easter!

Before and Afters of Apartment A

2010-03-28T08:54:00.001-07:00

BEFORE AFTER

BEFORE AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Race 4 Results 5/10K Run/Walk for FARA

2010-03-12T07:02:00.001-08:00

Its hard to believe but another year has flown by and its time again for the annual Walk/Run for Friedreich’s Ataxia. We would love anyone who is interested to join us in raising money and awareness for this devastating disease. The details are as follows:

When:   Saturday, April 3, 2010

Time:    8:30am

Where: Yokuts Park in Bakersfield

Entry Fee: $30.00

This includes a T-shirt and BBQ lunch following the race.   They are also having a “Bunny Run” for children this year. The cost is $15.00 and each child will receive a T-shirt, ribbon, candy filled egg, and lunch also.

Online registration is available at www.bakersfieldtrackclub.com or on Active. com. I have registration forms available if anyone needs them. Thanks to all who have supported us in the past! Looking forward to a fun day on Saturday, April 3rd!

Looking for good renters…

2010-03-07T14:32:00.001-08:00

For this cute little 670 ft apartment. Two bedroom. One bath. Laundry room. Yard. Patio. Close to shopping center and beautiful view of the mountains and of course Arlies’s Bar.

Here’s a quick tour through Apartment B.

Views of the living room…………..

Views of Kitchen………………..

Views of the Laundry Room…………

Views of the Bedrooms and Closets……….

The Money Pit---a few before and after……

2010-03-07T14:29:00.001-08:00

Whiskey Flats Weekend

2010-02-17T20:24:00.001-08:00

After being back in the Kern Valley for nearly five years, I ventured out for this weekend to the community’s annual Whiskey Flat’s Day celebrations for the first time. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and I was in need for something other than my duplex to think about. Which by the way…. it is almost done and ready to put up for rent! So if you know anyone interested have them get in touch with me.

Krissy, Harley, and I, along with their kids , went to Kernville to watch the parade. I was quite impressed because as a child I don’t recall the parade lasting more than thirty minutes and this one was nearly an hour and a half. Actually tooo long for the young ones! It was fun to see lots of acquaintances and patients participating in the parade. After the parade, we took the kids to the carnival area. I have always thought carnival workers and clowns were creepy and this experience didn’t change that. The kids loved the broken down rides. Kent didn’t want to leave the bounce castle. But as he jumped we were all disgusted by the dirt that flew off. He was filthy when we finally got him out of there. Elle loved the big slide but insisted that Krissy go with her. After spending way too much money on these pathetic rides, I realized why my parents never took us to Whiskey Plats when we were young.

Krissy was smart enough to pack lots of healthy snacks for the kids and that saved the day. Everyone that I spoke to the days proceeding said that I had to get an Indian Taco. So I was fixated on the idea, until I spent 20 minutes in a line that wasn’t moving anywhere. So we all left exhausted and the adults were hungry.

We rounded out the evening with dinner and a movie at the Tucker’s. Thanks to both of my Valentine’s who together surprised me with these beautiful roses.

Alta Sierra Fun

2010-01-23T20:29:00.001-08:00

Growing up in the Kern River Valley, I have many great memories of going to Shirley Meadows. Learning how to ski, sledding with church friends, and ditching a day of school to ski with my Dad are among the memories that come to mind. But my most fond memory is of a time when the Robert’s family loaned us two snow mobiles. Joe, my Dad, my cousin Josh, and I blazed the Greenhorn trails and had a blast. Unfortunately, Joe and I were riding together and we hit a bump in the trail and his head flew into the back of mine. The result wasn’t so pretty. Needless to say, Joe had a broken nose. Luckily he forgave me for my poor driving and we laughed about that event for years after.

Its been many years since I have been back up to Shirley Meadows/Greenhorn. Today the Tucker family, Harley and his twins, and I went to check out the snow. It was a beautiful drive and not really as far as I had remembered from my childhood. A high school friend Leah Sturm’s parents were there with their grandchildren. They happily shared their sleds and helped us make a snowman. The kids loved the whole experience. I think they had more fun destroying the snowman than actually building it. And of course, they loved eating/ licking/ kissing the snow. Krissy brought hot chocolate and marshmellows to help us warm up before driving home.

Some Recent “FINDS”

2010-01-19T21:27:00.001-08:00

In cleaning out my latest project, I have found lots of interesting things. Yesterday, a friend picked up a windshield for a car that we found beneath the house. I saved this particular box just for my Dad and we are all wondering how old they really are. Yes, they are nine individually wrapped suppositories still in their foil.

The other find actually might be worth a bit of money according to the propane man and my plumber. From what I have discovered it is a Wedgewood Holly Gas Range from the 40-50’s. I am now trying to find someone who can either appraise it or just make me an offer. From what I have read, these are popular to restore and can be very valuable.

My Wonderful Family

2010-01-09T21:26:00.001-08:00

Fun with my niece and nephew

2010-01-09T21:13:00.001-08:00

My favorite nephew, Kent, celebrating at Ray Hollis’ 90th Birthday Party.

Elle and I had a slumber party and while I was busy she helped herself to some Cheetos and dumped out the whole bag to enjoy. She is truly a Kent girl!

Going to the movies to see Alvin and the Chipmunks with Elle’s favorite boys….Luke and Adam.

The Invisible Woman

2009-12-16T23:33:00.000-08:00

Sightseeing above sea level and BELOW…

2009-12-11T00:32:00.001-08:00

On Tuesday, Kelly and I ventured out to see the rest of the island. We did a bit of shopping first which I am grateful for because we sat in the car for nearly four hours driving to the other side of the island. Along the way we stopped to see a few waterfalls: the Wailau Falls and Opaekaa Falls. The first stop wasn’t accessible for the wheelchair to view. Luckily the second was!

Kelly was hoping to do a helicopter tour but due to limited time and outrageous costs we didn’t do it after all. So this was as good as it got.

We drove to the North Shore to see the big waves. These pictures don’t really do it justice since they claimed the swells were 30-40 feet. Needless to say the lifeguards weren’t letting anyone get in the water.

We viewed the dry and wet caves from the car since neither were very accessible and we were both tired of getting in and out. When we got back into Poipu, we met the rest of the family for dinner at a Burger joint in the nearby shopping center. The burgers were HUGE and the fish and chips were enjoyed by many. Everyone enjoyed sipping on Kelly’s strawberry frosty…especially Elle and Kent.

Wednesday was a rather quiet day hanging around the resort with visits to the beach and swimming pool.

In the evening, the Girls (Marcie, Teyah, Krissy, Nicole, Kelly, my Mom and I) went to see a dinner show at the Kauai Hilton. We felt it quite appropriate to see a performance of South Pacific since it was filmed on the island in the 50’s. Nicole was in love with Emilie or at least his voice. We laughed and ate(too much) and sang along quietly to our favorite songs. It turned out to be a fun girls night out!

Thursday was are only dive day. We dove with Fathom Five Divers. They have a small operation and there was hardly enough room on the boat for us and our gear. The water temperature was 74 which is much cooler than what we are used to. The captain and dive master were both helpful but not overly friendly. The dives were good but I was bummed because at some point during the trip my dive computer disappeared. I tried not to let it ruin the morning but it definitely upset me. Some days I feel like I am really losing it. I can’t seem to keep track of my stuff, let alone, help out with the rest of the group. Oh well, here are a few of the pictures I got today.

And tonight we attempted to get some family pictures taken. The results are a bit disappointing. I think it is almost impossible to get a group of 7 adults and 2 children to have their eyes open, to be looking at the camera, and smiling at the same time. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the better results….. Notice the number of people in them. Thanks Marcie for your help.

We DID SOMETHING DIRTY

2009-12-09T13:55:00.001-08:00

On Monday, Dylan, Krissy, Kelly and I went on an ATV tour. Kelly was especially excited about this experience because it was something she had never done before. They outfitted us in shirts, pants, goggles, and helmets. They recommended we purchase these orange bandanas which they ended up giving out to those who weren’t smart enough to purchase them.

Krissy’s shirt was holey, my pants had to be tied up with a rope, and many of the buttons were missing on all of our pants. Quite stylish.

Kelly and I drove a Yellow MudBug and the Tuckers were in a red four seater because that is what they had available. The tour covered 22 miles of land that is privately owned by the owner of AOL. The Mudbugs were easy to drive and luckily the trails weren’t too bumpy. The tour began by an old rundown Sugar Mill.

We drove through an underground tunnel that was about 1/2 mile long. It was built by laborers without an engineer on staff in the 1940’s. Amazingly it took only 9 months to complete. I’m sure today with all the regulations it would take 5-10 years. The tunnel was for transporting sugar cane from one side of the mountain to the sugar mill.

The trails were extremely dusty but luckily not too muddy. The most mud we encountered was passing through a little stream.

A tasty lunch was served by a waterfalls. Krissy and Dylan jumped off the rocks and enjoyed a cool dip in the water. Kelly and I relaxed in the Mudbug and were entertained by the other tourists and our tour guide PAT.

All in all we had a great time. The tour lasted a little over four hours and we came back disgustingly dirty. Krissy is the cleanest because she had cleaned off in the waterfall. We had dirt everywhere. Last night we found more hidden in all the crevices of our ears. YUCK!

We cleaned up quickly so we could rush off to a Luau at the Lihue Marriott. We opted to eat dinner as a group and attend a Luau that didn’t serve dinner. My Dad wanted to know what the point of going was??? I can guarantee you that the group as a whole enjoyed the meal we prepared 100 times better than anything they would have served at the Luau.

The show was put on by a local family who has been performing at the Marriott for over 40 years. The highlight of the show was watching Elle and the Bushling children perform on stage.

Elle had been talking all night about wanting to dance and had to wear her dress in case she got too. But when the time came she was too scared to go by herself. After the performance this 8 year old girl gave Elle her Lei. She was in heaven!

Kents in Kauai

2009-12-06T18:56:00.001-08:00

We arrived late Friday evening and picked up two rental cars. Our first stop was Costco to pick up groceries for the week. Then Kelly’s favorite restaurant stop: Taco Bell. We arrived at the Waoihai to find a lobby decorated beautifully for the Christmas season. Everyone was exhausted so sleep was the main priority.

Saturday morning we got off to an early but slow start. Elle, Kelly, Krissy and I explored the beautiful grounds of the resort. I think it is probably the most gorgeous hotel we have ever stayed in. Upon returning, we made a meal plan for the week and my mother and I headed off to the grocery store. We made trip two to Costco and then to a Save-U-Mart for a few things we didn’t need to buy in bulk. The most requested item to bring back was POG juice and not only did we find it, we found light POG juice for Nicole.

Kelly and I decided to go out exploring in the afternoon. We went to Spouting Horn which is a “blowhole” created by waves forcing water into a shoreline cave, resulting in water shooting out of a hole in the lava formations nearly 60-70 feet high. The pictures that follow don’t accurately depict how high the water really shoots. We of course brought a few items from the local vendors.

Following that we went check out a few shopping locations. We stopped at Snorkel Bobs which claimed to have fun gift items but only found really cheap snorkel rentals. Next we hit the main street in Koloa but found it not to be very accessible. Last stop was the shopping village in Poipu just a short drive from the resort. We found lots of things we wanted to buy until we saw the prices. OUCH!

My dad cooked Hamburgers and Hot Dogs on the BBQ out by the pool for dinner. Elle and Kent were very excited about seeing the Christmas tree all lit up from the balcony. I love these pictures.

Then we had to venture to see it close up. I was hoping to get a few decent pictures of the two of them standing in front of them but these are the results. They were more interested in touching the presents and the lights than anything else.

Today my Dad woke with a touch of the stomach flu. So only part of the group ventured off to Waimea Canyon. It was about an hour drive from the resort but the sights along the way were beautiful. The road was a bit windy and steep rising to approximately 3500 ft. (at least that’s where we turned around) I was a bit worried since some in our group get motion sickness but we all survived. Mark Twain referred to this sight as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and I definitely agreed.

On the drive back, we stopped in the little town of Waimea for lunch and to visit Aunt Likikoi, a store that produces passion fruit products. Ever since we traveled to St. Thomas when I was sixteen, I have longed to eat passion fruit again. It seems almost impossible to find the actual fruit. I got one today I think because the woman at the store took pity on me. But we also purchased some passion fruit products that they had for sale. Can’t wait to try them when we get home.

Windows, Paint, Ward Dinner, and a Wedding

2009-11-21T21:05:00.001-08:00

The last few weeks have been extremely busy. Sometimes I wonder what I am thinking when I take upon so many projects. I like to think I am SUPERWOMAN but keep realizing I’m not.

Pictured above are Apartment A (painted grey) and Apartment B (painted bluish green). The house is a green color with glitter in the stucco. Its just plain ugly. When trying to make a decision in regards to one color to paint them all, this was my first pick.

The picture doesn’t really do it justice because it looks very orange. Needless to say I was in tears but luckily the supplies hadn’t been purchased. So I picked a much more conservative light brown color and I am not pleased with the look of it either. The difference being that the paint had been purchased and what’s done is done. Unfortunately, the painter seems to be taking forever!!!

I have been cleaning, painting, throwing things away, cleaning, and throwing more and more away. We have filled 2 roll off containers(huge grey trash container pictured above) and the third one is well on its way.

Last night, I was in charge of organizing a ward Thanksgiving dinner. I have just recently been called as the Activities Chairperson and had just a few weeks to put on a dinner for 100-140 people with no budget. Thanks to some generous ward members,who wish to remain anonymous, I obtained funding to pull off the event. The stress I experienced in organizing this was incredible. I am not good at delegating but I didn’t have a choice. I guess this will be a good learning opportunity for me. I also learned last night that 90% of people will do what they committed to. Being the pessimist that I am, I worried all week about who I could count on to bring what they had signed up for and who I couldn’t. In the end, the dinner had lower than average attendance, plenty of delicious food, and lots of yummy desserts. I was very grateful to the Bernsteins, the Stingels, and Jacque Durk for all their help! I couldn’t have done it without them. Thanks to my mom and Christine Minor who baked lots and lots of their famous homemade rolls. I also appreciate the youth organizations for helping with the set up and the beautiful fall decorations they made. Lastly, thanks to the many wards member who contributed to the meal and those who were willing to stick around and help clean up.

Today at the triplex---- Bo Hurley worked empting the two attics out. Poor guy! Hugh and Genaro got about half of the windows in. I helped out for a few hours before leaving to be Kelly’s date for a wedding.

Kelly’s good friend Randi Cossey married Randy Chappell today at the Nazarene Church in Lake Isabella. It was a lovely ceremony followed by a reception at Paradise Cove. Randi was a beautiful bride! Kelly’s crazy friend Andi Bolt entertained us with her comic personality.

And the cake was amazing………tasted great and was gorgeous.

Ooops….I almost forgot to mention that Friday morning, Kelly organized a group of women to go see New Moon. Thanks Kelly for sharing your love of the Twilight Saga with all of us. We love you.

Kelly’s joined the blogging world

2009-11-21T20:09:00.001-08:00

Check out her new blog at http://www.kellyslifeonwheels.blogspot.com/

More Pictures…..not completely BEFORE

2009-11-07T21:37:00.001-08:00

Views of the Kitchen in Apartment A

The Living Area in Apartment A

One of two bedrooms in Apartment A

Laundry Room in Apartment A

I love before and after pictures of projects like this. I wish I had taken more pictures before I started tearing things out of the apartments. I was just too eager I guess. I have torn out all the flooring and window treatments. I continue to sweep pile after pile of dust from the floors. Between some hired help and myself, we have loaded two roll-off containers with “junk” and roofing material. A couple great friends of mine from Paso Robles agreed to help me with the project. They helped with a remodel of my parents kitchen this week and then came to roof the apartments. I had previously hired a crew to removed what looked like 4 roofs, but in areas ended up being more like 6-7 with all the patchwork. What a mess!

Hugh and Jinaro hard at work. Thanks~

The following are a few shots of the area in front of the garage and workshop.

2009-10-31T22:54:00.001-07:00

2009-10-31T17:08:00.001-07:00

My Newest Venture

2009-10-30T20:55:00.001-07:00

I decided I wasn’t busy enough this year and that I needed to undertake another housing project. But its more than just one house!!! This picture shows the main residence. It was built in the 60’s by the previous owner who is now 92 year old. He was quite the builder and never stopped repairing things on his own. He was also a collector of everything imaginable (particularly things like tools, car parts, junk, and more junk). Fortunately, a 86 year old collector friend of his wanted most of the “stuff” in the house. But there is still lots of cleaning to do.

This area pictured encompasses a garage, a huge workshop, and a shed. I think it is about as large as the house.

One of the first things to address was this problem: TERMITES. Today, the main house was “tented.” It truly looks like a haunted house which is so appropriate for the upcoming weekend.

A sneak peak to the inside of the main house. Sadly, the deer was removed from the house so no need to be jealous.

I cleaned out two small closets and filled 3 1/2 black Huskie garbage bags with clothing. The Hospital thrift shop now has a variety of leisure suits and polyester pants galore. But you might be jealous of this next find…..TIES! All sorts and all kinds of interesting colors. Let me know if any of them interest you or might fit with your Halloween costume this year.

Tomorrow-----I will post pictures of the duplex on the back of the property. Yes, there are three possible residences eventually.

2009-10-20T17:37:00.001-07:00

Lobster Hunting AND Feasting

2009-10-20T17:10:00.001-07:00

Monday………………..

The lobster lasso has been a hit. Zach and Emily have been keeping our stomachs happy with lobster. One night we had surf and turf for dinner and another night we had lobster fettuccini alfredo. Everyone in the group has loved the food. Nicole would be jealous! A smaller group went diving today because the rest were zip-lining. I’ve been a bit disappointed in the diving this time. It seems the larger life has gone missing. But in their defense, the corals and fauna are gorgeous and very much alive.

A group of eight went deep sea fishing in the afternoon. Sadly, they only came back with one fish. I think they still enjoyed the experience and no one got sick on the four hour boat ride.

Tuesday……………

Last day of diving was great. Unfortunately I am didn’t bring my extra battery and twenty minutes into the first dive I was out of charge. Of course, we saw an octopus and a puffer fish inflated the size of a football. Oh well!

I spent the afternoon napping with Elle while a group went snorkeling. Michelle survived her first experience and even came back with some pictures too. Hopefully we can get her diving with us one of these days.

Tonight is the “Dive in Movie”. The kids loved this last year but it was too cold to swim. We will wait and see who is brave enough tonight.

A slideshow will follow of some of the better pictures from the last few days. Enjoy!

What else do you do on Sunday?

2009-10-19T12:16:00.001-07:00

Twenty-something of us attended church at the local branch on St. Kitts. I think between us and another tourist family we doubled their attendance. But the spirit is strong in their meetings. If you look closely at the picture, you will see the little boy we adopted. He wanted to be Elle’s best friend!

The afternoon was spent relaxing in bed, by the beach, and in the pool. Sybil Tucker, Krissy’s mother-in-law made a delicious pork loin dinner for our group. Elle helped me make brownies as evidenced by the following picture.

The evening was rounded out with a game of Chicken Foot in which Emily beat Michelle and I. Tomorrow I am hoping to get some reading done…since I have only read 30 pages thus far.

Isn’t John a Lucky Man!

2009-10-17T18:32:00.001-07:00

Today was a busy day filled with nonstop fun. We began the day with a two tank dive trip. Both dives were beautiful but I am just still not happy with the results my camera is getting. Here’s a few:

But the highlight of the day was an afternoon trip to the rain forest for zip-lining! Our group of ten piled into the van for a crowded ride. About twenty minutes later we arrived at an old sugar mill overlooking the ocean. The sights were beautiful. We got our gear together and did four different lines. Its was extremely hot and we were dripping in sweat by the time we reached the last zip line. Everyone had a great time and no accidents were had. Our guides Conner and Renaldo were very helpful and with my father’s help kept everyone laughing. At the conclusion of the adventure, one of the employees asked Michelle is she was married. She answered and his response has kept everyone giggling all night. “John is very lucky man.” We all agreed!

Lobster Lasso, Sprat Net, and Fire Man

2009-10-15T19:20:00.001-07:00

Today was the first real day of our vacation. We started off the morning with a two tank dive trip. The first dive was a beautiful wreck dive but unfortunately I had camera malfunction issues. So no pictures to record but the visibility wasn’t that great either.

The second dive was chosen because of my Dad’s recent purchase: a lobster lasso. It is a tool that helps you trap lobsters. Between the three Emily and Howard got and the two Zach and Kenny got, we ended up with three that were male. Two of them were female and full of eggs so we had to throw them back in the water. Zach loved lobster hunting and is looking forward to getting more tomorrow. Hopefully we will get another three or four to supplement our steak dinner tomorrow.

Here’s a few pictures from the second dive.

As you can tell, I am still struggling to get the proper underwater settings and the flash working together. I am wondering if I would be better off without the strobe.

Two vans full of people went to the Brimstone Hill Fortress. My mom and I stayed behind with Kent and Elle so they could get an afternoon nap in. For dinner we took a taxi to Sprat Net and met the rest of the group. Unfortunately, the sunset was covered by clouds but the lightening storm made up for it. Dinner and the company was great. Some had fresh lobster, some had ribs, some had shrimp, some had freshly caught Snapper, and some had pizza. I know I ate too much!

Then we piled 4 children and 10 adults into an 8 passenger van for the 30 minute ride home. The kids loved sitting in the back storage area. Too bad there wasn’t a trunk to put them in!

We stopped at Mr. X’s Shiggity Shack to watch the Fire Man on the beach. Elle was very intrigued by the man and wouldn’t take her eyes off him.

To finish off the night, Michelle, Emily, my Mom and I played a game of Chicken Foot. Now we are off to bed for a early morning dive at Monkey Shoals…..aka shark dive hopefully.

Goal Setting Malfunction

2009-09-04T14:25:00.001-07:00

I am reporting in on the progress I have made in regards to the goals I set in February. I am a bit disappointed in myself but I guess some progress is better than none.

* Receiving blankets made to date for the LDS Humanitarian effort: 57 (should be 80). On a side note, I have made three blankets (with the help of my mother) for the Project Linus “Make a Blanket Day” on September 12th.

* Garden produced very little this year and what it did produce wasn’t that tasty.

*As far as shopping the weekly ads for good deals for food storage, I failed. But I do need to give myself credit for seriously starting to work on my Emergency Preparedness. The first step was an emergency preparedness binder and it is pretty much done! I guess the credit should go to a RS Enrichment group that got me motivated.

* Haven’t done any scrapbooking :(

* I published my blog in June 0f this year and the result was just OK. Somehow the return key got bumped throwing the book’s layout off. So its not perfect…but then again what ever is. However, I did proudly publish a photo book of our underwater adventures using Shutterfly.

* I worked extensively in April and May on my genealogy. Kelly and I even took a trip to Pennsylvania and New York searching for family records. I thought I was pretty close to getting all the sources for my DAR application. But after meeting with Donna Bundy, I realize I have lots more to do. Thanks to my cousin Layne who has been scanning and sending me various family documents.

Stingray City, Grand Cayman

2009-08-05T09:15:00.001-07:00

Still learning….wondering if I am better off with or without a strobe

2009-08-03T19:49:00.001-07:00

I am worn out from having so much fun. So this post will mainly contain pictures from the dives taken today. We did two dives: Trinity Caves (again) and Fisherman’s Anchor Reef. In the afternoon, we drove to the other side of the island and visited Rum Point and Starfish Beach. A nice Italian dinner was had at Neptune’s Grotto. Trying to get some reading in when I am not napping. Life is good.

This is not upside down. The lobster was hanging this way from the wall.

Kenny makes friends with everybody.

Beautiful fans

Peacock Flounder

Juvenile fish

Tunneling through the Walls

Grand Cayman under a New Light

2009-08-02T18:35:00.001-07:00

Day three of diving was supposed to be the best yet with my new toy. Kenny said I looked professional with my new strobe but the results were less than professional. So tonight I have been trying to educate myself on the basics of using a strobe light. So maybe tomorrow I will have better results. Here’s a few of today’s pictures.

Grouper at a Cleaning Station

Aren’t they scary looking?!?!

Where are all the fish?

Lion Fish in the Caribbean…..??

Beautiful Colors

Filefish

After two dives and a yummy lunch, we headed up Seven Mile Beach to Cemetery Reef. Even though it was over 15 years ago, I have many fond memories of snorkeling at this reef with all my siblings. We came equipped with bagels to feed the fish and that we did. Here are a few shots of the fish frenzy that resulted.

The next stop was Dolphin Discovery. It is an attraction that allows you to swim with dolphins. Next time we come we are going to do it. I think Elle would be in heaven!

A quick stop in HELL was prevented by the fact that it was closed on Sunday. We spent the afternoon napping and relaxing in our cool rooms. A hamburger and fries dinner was enjoyed by all at EATS. The following are a few pictures of the Marriott resort where we are staying.

Grand Cayman Day 2

2009-08-01T19:36:00.001-07:00

Today we started earlier with an 8:10 pickup by Neptune Divers. Diver destinations: Trinity Caves and Tuluga. The first one was another WALL dive with 100 ft maximum depth. We dove through caverns that were covered with beautiful flora.

I took lots of pictures inside the caves but they didn’t turn out as well as I hoped. Thus the reason for our big purchase this afternoon: a underwater flash/strobe.

The second dive was a reef dive and it was covered with fish of all sizes and colors. We swam with a small turtle and some good size grouper. We spotted a large lobster out in the open and wished we could have grabbed it for dinner.

From the boat we saw two turtles mating and when we tried to get close they got shy and went underwater.

We went and explored the island a bit anticipating a return trip in the years to come. We visited a Skate/Wave park that we figured Kenny’s kids would love. We saw the LDS meetinghouse and it reminded us of the one in St. Kitts. The main stop was to Cathy’s Church which is a camera shop. We decided it was time to invest in an underwater flash/strobe. I am hoping that it will improve the pictures that I take on the deeper dives. Only tomorrow will tell…and probably a few dives trouble shooting.

Dinner was at Chicken! Chicken! We had wood roasted chicken with a variety of different side dishes. On the walk back, we stopped in at Wendy’s for yummy milkshakes.

Grand Cayman Day 1

2009-08-01T16:48:00.001-07:00

We arrived late Thursday night via a flight to Miami and then on to Grand Cayman. On the way to the hotel, we got lost but found a grocery store. We went into Fosters Food Fair and obtained necessary items for breakfast and lunch for the week. The price are amazing high but the selection is better than any of the islands we have been on recently.

The Marriott Hotel is small and our rooms have a garden/courtyard. In the courtyard is a pond that is home to turtles of varying sizes. The resort has a beautiful sandy beach but a rather small pool. When we checked in they said they were extremely busy but we have yet to see any crowds.

Neptune Divers picked us up at 9:10 on Friday morning and luckily we were the only ones on the boat. They take up to a maximum of 8 people which for their tiny boats is like a heard of cows(as we discovered today). The first dive was a WALL dive with a maximum depth of 100 ft. The coral formations are truly amazing.

We penetrated through the wall and in one area there were hundreds of silversides. As you can see, my camera doesn’t do quite as well on the deeper dives unless you are right next to the subject. More to follow on that subject. :)

Unfortunately for us, their is a law in the Caymans against touching anything underwater. Gloves are not allowed at all. So when we spotted this pufferfish there was not chance the divemaster was going to get it agitated.

On the second dive, Kenny had the eagle eyes in the group. He spotted a large lobster and spiny starfish. Overall the reef was good but nothing to brag about.

Dinner was had at Paradise Bar&Grill in Georgetown. Kenny had lobster, Dad had steak, and I had Chicken Tiki Masala. The service was slow but it was beautiful location right on the water. After we finished our meal, the gnats came to scavenge what was left of the lobster on Kenny’s plate.

Exhaustion caught up with us and we all retired early for the night.

Summer Fun Photos

2009-07-22T20:16:00.001-07:00

Elle, Teagan, Morgan, and Tylee on the 4th of July

Elle torturing helpless Nicole.

Teething….fun????

Carpinteria State Beach

Elle, Adam, and Luke loved the beach!

Joe’s Eulogy

2009-07-22T20:04:00.001-07:00

“On behalf of our family, I thank you for you presence. Your coming today is a demonstration of the love, honor and respect you have for the life of Joseph Maughan Kent II better known by many as Joe or for those who have known him since birth, Joey. We have received an outpouring of love from many of you through the telephone and written notes and because of answers to yours and our prayers, we have been uplifted by the gentle comforting spirit of the Holy Ghost. Having knowledge of the gospel message of Jesus Christ and his plan of happiness has given my family the strength to carry on. I know that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love my family. These truths are the very essence of the life of Joe.

Joe was born on Labor Day September 2, 1974. After a prolonged labor, Joe arrived weighing a whopping 9 lbs. 12 oz., the largest baby in the nursery. In his second year a sister arrived, and we moved to Lake Isabella. At just under 3 years of age, Joe saved the life of his sister Jenny. We had recently moved into our new home that had an unfenced pool, and 16 month old toddler, Jenny, fell into the pool. Joe cried out for help and I came running and scooped her out as she spewed water from her mouth. Jenny and Joe have always had an incredible bond, consistently supporting and encouraging the other to achieve their goals.

Joe loved to spend time with his extended family. Pickup soccer and softball games with the cousins, Becky, Mindy, Josh, Timmy, Dave, Natalie and aunt and uncles was one of his fondest memories. Summers were spent swimming, and bike riding and trips to The Saddleflask for treats. Joe was active in youth soccer, cub scouts, boy scouts and ventured briefly into politics as President of Wallace Elementary School. Loving teachers nurtured our boy during those years and we are ever grateful to them. In March 1984 Joe’s clumsiness was thought to be his rapid growing body, but within a month we learned of the cause. A month later a flu hit our home leaving Joe so weak and lacking in coordination that he had to crawl for a week to get around. We had been told it would be years before this would happen. We were all devastated wondering how this could happen so quickly, but he did recover and walked until he was almost 15 years old. Joe had many childhood friends that helped him transition into the use of a wheelchair. No one dared to mock Joe, or they would suffer dearly at the hands of all his friends. Having seen Joe grow and develop, these friends found ways to include him in everyday activities. From scout hikes to pack saddle caves, racing wheelchairs through parks, towing him behind their bikes, taking him out on the lake on wave runners, carrying him to the top of the gymnasium at a Lakers Championship game, riding the waves at Carpinteria State Beach. Why did they do it? They loved being around Joe. He was a jokester. Never a whiner. One evening a couple of female high school friends took him the local theater. Being unfamiliar with how to maneuver the wheelchair led to his falling out of his chair. The ladies were befuddled and unable to get him back into the chair, but Joe just laughed it off, reassuring them that it was no big deal. Other people came to the rescue with no harm done.

Joe excelled in school. His love of sports led him to follow baseball and basketball. His Grandpa Whittleton and Uncle Mark made sure that he followed the San Diego Padres and the LA Lakes. He attended 4 Padres World Series games, 1 Dodger World Series game thanks to Terri Boyle’s Family. 1 Lakers Championship game in the 1990’s thanks to Kenny Roberts and his connection to the Lakers. As a family we traveled to warm weather climates that would allow Joe to continue his love of swimming and snorkeling. He travel to St Thomas Virgin Island, St John Virgin Island, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Maui and Kauai. Many wondered why there was so much traveling during those years, but my daddy always told me to bail hay when there was hay to bail. There was no putting off until next year. There was limited time and no one knew the future.

As you can surely understand, Joe mourned the loss of things he was unable to do. He had trouble understanding people who would not take the initiative to get out and achieve. He knew that Life is short. He also understood life is to be lived, not waiting around for life to happen to you. Upon graduation from High School, he desired more education and challenges. He wanted to graduate from college in four years. His loving Mother assured that he would by continuing her education along with his. His determination was an inspiration for all the students in his college classes. Many of his friends have expressed that Joe’s determination was inspiration to them to reach for loftier goal.

Regardless of his challenges, Joe was always concerned with the well being of others. His smile was infectious, his jokes were corny, and his compliments and concern for other was genuine.

His limitations required him to rely upon his trusted computer for pursuing his interest and communicating with distant friends. He was always concerned with getting the fastest download speed for his computer. Then it was getting fasted processor in his computer. The computer allowed him to advance his understanding of gospel principals, read worthy books, study Sunday school lessons, read the Scriptures, and even watch Padre Baseball over the internet. Many of you have been the recipient of forwarded emails from Joe, the internet postmaster. He was always grateful to receive your emails with information and details about your lives. He was always grateful of the little things that people would do for him.

What an honor it is to have Joe in our family. He understands that God loves him, and that he will not be denied any blessing promised to God’s children. He knows that He will have all the missed opportunities during Christ’s millennial reign. His entire life was spent preparing for where he is now. Now free of his diseased body, free of his wheelchair and glasses, Joe is now serving a mission that his frail body did not allow him to do when he was 19 years old. He just won’t be riding a bicycle like the missionaries you see around towns. We all, even his little 3 year old niece Elle, morn his departure for this mission, but she understands that now he not encumbered by his frail body any longer. He is now free to run, jump, and talk without difficulty. What joy he must now feel. I pray that we may all seek to become worthy to return with honor as Joe has done to live with our Heavenly Father. This, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. “ Given by Maughan Kent (our father)

Joe, Rosa’s and the Fire

2009-07-03T17:08:00.001-07:00

Its been quite a while since I last posted because life has been …….life. One week after my parents returned from their European adventure, Joe started throwing up again and running a high fever. As a family it was our desire to avoid taking him to the hospital again. But his condition gradually worsened and last Thursday he was admitted to Memorial Hospital. He spent a week in ICU and has just recently been transferred to a regular room. Pneumonia and sepsis were the main condition and they have been treating with high levels of oxygen and antibiotics. Doctors are still trying to figure out the initial source of the infection/inflammation. As soon as possible, we are hoping to bring him home and care for him the best we can. Thank you all for keeping Joe and the rest of my family in your prayers. We have really needed the support.

One of the days that we went to visit Joe, we took a lunch break at one of our favorite Italian restaurant’s Rosa’s. The real reason I am mentioning this is because Elle and Kent decided the best part of the meal was the butter. Yes the were eating it wrapper and all. Here’s the evidence. Disgusting!

Lastly, it life wasn’t exciting enough, we had a fire in Mt. Mesa this week and it got a little too close for comfort. As I was finishing the end of my lunch hour, the telephone rang. It was Terri Boyle informing us not to return to work because of a fire down the street from the dental office. I quickly jumped in my car to go check on my house, Howard and Marcia’s house and then to the office. There were two brush fires close to the dental office that started as a result of burning embers from a house on the fire two blocks away. Emily and Michelle were involved in the initial attempts to put out the fire. Thankfully, the local Rio Bravo Hot Shots came to the scene and got the brush fires under control. Unfortunately, the original source of the fire burned one home to the ground and damaged two others significantly.

With the power outage and the mayhem, we canceled the remainder of our work day. Yeah!!

2009-06-14T19:33:00.001-07:00

While the parents are away….

2009-06-13T21:00:00.001-07:00

My parents took off for ten days ago for a European cruise. I have been staying at their home looking out for my brother and sisters. It is an extremely overwhelming job and I spend my nights wondering how my parents do it each and every day. Luckily, the Minor family was kind enough to relieve me for a few days. So I set out for Southern California with Kelly, Krissy, Elle, and Kent. We spent two partial days at Disneyland. The weather was cool but perfect for a day in the park.

I think my favorite part was watching my niece Elle meet the characters. The lines weren’t too bad and see was pretty patient for the most part. While waiting to meet the princesses, she practiced giving me hugs and was also preoccupied by what was behind this particular door. I told her it was a “bad lady and a dragon” thinking she would lose interest. No such luck, she became even more interested in seeing them. When she finally got to see her favorite character Aurora she hugged her for what seemed like forever. We had to tell her to let go. The same happened with Mulan and Minnie Mouse.

Another highlight of the trip was going on Peter Pans First Flight. In all the times that I have been to Disneyland, I have never gone on that ride. It had to be my favorite ride this time! Elle’s least favorite was Pirates of the Caribbean. She kept talking about how bad the pirates were because they drink naughty things.

We ended the first day at Disney with a couple pieces of yummy cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.

Day Two was much shorter because Kelly had a rehearsal dinner to attend in Laguna Beach. We went to California Adventure. Highlights of that day included the Aladdin show and watching Elle at Mickey Mouse Playhouse.

Now look at the two prettiest princesses of all……

More pictures of the wedding festivities to follow.

Elle is 3 and Kent is 1

2009-05-27T21:09:00.001-07:00

These two little ones bring so much joy into our lives. I am grateful for their laughs, smiles, crazy kisses, and cuddly hugs. Wishing them the happiest of birthdays. I love you both!

I’m lazy…….Kelly’s the author of this one….

2009-05-27T21:02:00.001-07:00

“What you’re doing is illegal.”

by Kelly Kent

During our latest trip to New York, a quote from the hilarious film Weekend at Bernie’s sprung to my mind on multiple occasions: “What you’re doing is illegal.” As if the main characters did not realize their actions were illegal, an overly-tanned, obnoxious yacht owner reprimanded Richard and Larry’s actions with this ridiculous phrase in the movie.

Upon arrival to Newark, New Jersey, we rented a car and drove three hours to Pennsylvania. Jenny’s iPhone was very helpful in safely directing us to our final destination. It's GPS system and internet access is amazing! We only managed to break a few traffic laws; multiple one-way streets were driven down in the wrong direction. Good thing we were only in Scranton! Upon arrival to our hotel in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the hotel manager gave Jenny a red rose and wished her a Happy Mother’s Day. Jenny quickly said that we were sisters and only eight years separated us. It should be illegal to give birth at age eight! I ended up with the flower and can add it to my ever growing list of roses from strangers!

One can guess why we went to Scranton, Pennsylvania, but you may be absolutely dead-wrong. The television show, The Office, takes place in Scranton, but is filmed in Los Angeles. We drove on Mulberry Street and past Poor Richard’s Pub in order to reach our reason for visiting Scranton: going to cemeteries.

In order to become a Daughter of the America Revolution (DAR), Jenny needed to find some of our ancestors’ graves for documentation. My sixth great-grandfather served in the America Revolution: Samuel Breese. While Jenny searched through hilly, old graveyards, I studied hundreds of exercisers walking through the cemeteries and read Mr. Darcy's Diary. Apparently, The Office’s depiction of Scranton being a bland area is not an exaggeration. You really can take an underground ride in an elevator down to a coal mine, like when Michael Scott tried to facilitate a surprise for the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. It was not quite the “freefall” Michael had imagined.

We discovered two of our relatives married into the Tripp family, a famous family in Scranton, and were originally buried at the Tripp House. The Tripp House, built in 1771, still stands and is the oldest building in the Scranton. In the 1800s when the house was turned over to the historic society, our relatives were reburied in the cemetery. After visiting the Tripp House, we quickly discovered there was not much to do in Scranton, so we went to the movies! No complaints were heard from me as we went to a late showing (7 p.m.) of 17 Again. I was laughing hysterically while the three other audience members (Jenny and two other women) wondered about my mental capacity.

Jenny witnessed an illegal incident in a one of the cemeteries. A man apologized for his dog taking a bowel movement on someone's grave, but did not remove the remains. If that is not illegal in Pennsylvania, it should be! (Three words: Roy D. Mercer!) We ate breakfast at Glider’s, a local diner, which was made famous when President Obama and Vice President Biden had breakfast with everyday working-class individuals. Our meal was very good. The bacon was thick! A local informed us that Scranton claims more connection to Hillary Clinton than to Vice President Joe Biden. Hillary Clinton’s relatives are buried in Scranton, while Joe Biden only lived in Scranton for 10 years.

We’re on the move…

We reached Elmira, New York, and went straight to the Woodlawn Cemetery in search of our ancestors’ graves, the LaFrances. After 45 minutes of searching through a huge cemetery, we found the graves we were looking for. Fairly close to Mark Twain’s grave, rests Truckson Slocum LaFrance, the inventor of the LaFrance fire engine, and his family. Truckson’s son, Frederick LaFrance, a local florist, was also buried there. We put some family history puzzle pieces together as we drove to their homes in Elmira. Truckson’s home no longer existed. Only a few miles away from Truckson's home was, we saw where Frederick’s home was located. We don't know if the house currently there was originally Frederick's home or not.

Interesting fact: Eleanor LaFrance Redman, my mother's grandmother, was born in her grandfather's home, Truckson LaFrance.

Luckily for us, the public library did not close until nine o'clock. We encountered an illegal, maybe not illegal but really stupid, pickup line at the two-story Elmira Public Library. Jenny and I were on two different stories, and were hit on by the same man using the exact same pickup line: “Are you from Hollywood? ‘Cause you look famous.”

Visiting Elmira’s local museum was uneventful and unfruitful. There was approximately one paragraph on the LaFrance fire engine with an original picture. We had to take a picture. I hope that was not illegal!

We’re on the move… and none of the gas stations sell fountain drinks!! That should be illegal!

Stamford, Connecticut was our next destination. We went out to dinner with my Grandma Whittleton’s twin sister, Jackie, her son, Layne, and his wife, Sonhild at Harris’ Fish Market. After I finished my Costa Rican mahi-mahi and unseasoned clam chowder, we drove to Layne’s home for more conversation. Topics of discussion included: elephants, politics, triplets, snails, feet, and GPS devices.

The next day we drove back to Newark, New Jersey where we returned our rental car. We will never forget our 2009 ride into New York City! Mohammed asked Jenny to sit up front with him, in his Lincoln Navigator, as we drove us to the Grand Hyatt. Jenny mistakenly did not question Mohammed as to why. He certainly made it very obvious as to why he asked Jenny to sit beside him. Poor Jenny was gawked at, sexually harassed, and then asked out to dinner by Mohammed. When asked if he had any children he said, “Not that I am aware of.” Talk about creepy!! We always seem to find interesting characters to drive us into New York City. We thought the last guy was unusual because he did not have a legitimate business. On the other hand, Mohammed’s business was legitimate!

Michael Scott described New York City as “Scranton on acid. No, on speed. No, on steroids.” Well, I would not use any of those idiotic comparisons when analyzing the two cities. Action-packed New York City is filled with Broadway shows, museums, historical sites, restaurants, and Central Park. Driving backwards down a one-way street is the only action you will find in Scranton.

We saw four musicals in three days: Rock of Ages, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, and South Pacific. All four were new to us, so we were wide awake during all of them (well, except for maybe Jenny in The Little Mermaid). Jenny was grateful that I picked Rock of Ages and thus I could not blame her for taking me to an inappropriate musical. Thankfully, I think my naïveté prevented my understanding of some of the jokes. HA HA! Rock of Ages storyline is not complex. It is 1986 in Hollywood, California. Small-town girl, Sherry goes to Hollywood to become famous but ends up working at a gentlemen’s club. Drew, played by Constantine Maroulis from American Idol (otherwise known as the guy with smoldering eyes), is the main character who is also trying to become famous. The story is cleverly written with famous 80’s music from Guns and Roses, Journey, Twisted Sister, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, and Foreigner. Jenny had a great time reminiscing junior high, while listening to the great collection of songs!

Mary Poppins was my favorite performance to watch! The staging was incredible in this classic story. Some of the characters were a little different compared to the film, but overall they were the same. Joe will be happy to know that one of the maids said the movie quote: “Don’t stumble on the way out, deary.” Some of the new songs included: “Practically Perfect,” “Temper, Temper,” and for all those feminists, “Being Mrs. Banks.” My favorite part was when Bert sang “Jolly Holiday” during their walk in the chalk painting. The costumes were amazing during this scene! Instead of dancing penguins seen in the film, mythology statues come alive in the play version. The “Step in Time” performance was my second favorite. Bert sang and danced upside down! The scene with “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” should receive honorable mention. The entire scene where Mary sang “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” was pretty absurd. The Banks and Mary visit a jive scrabble party. I think the writers were more concerned with political correctness than that fact that it took place in London at the turn of the last century! I’ve heard of this play described as “cool.” I would say that that adjective perfectly describes Mary Poppins!

The Little Mermaid was very entertaining. The costumes were extraordinary during the underwater scenes! The mermaids wear scales with wheelies so they can glide across stage. The actress playing Ariel was making her debut to Broadway. Her voice was so beautiful even when she was a mute! There are a few new songs when Ariel becomes human. Obviously, nobody can hear them except for the audience! Prince Eric actually sings in the Broadway production. He shows that he can do something other than pursue females. My favorite part was when Sebastian sang “Kiss the Girl.” So cute!!

South Pacific was Jenny's favorite performance! We both were strangely not familiar with South Pacific’s storyline. My favorite scene was when Nellie sang “I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.” The shower on the stage was amazing during this scene! It was hilarious when the military men sang “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame.” HA HA! I enjoyed the “Sexy Lieutenant’s” husky voice. It reminded me of the actor Wentworth Miller. I am usually quite the romantic, but I had a very cynical attitude concerning Cable’s song “Younger Than Springtime.” See me for my sarcastic commentary. I did, however, appreciate the romance between Nellie and the Frenchie. “Some Enchanted Evening” is a beautiful song! Interesting fact: The New York City temple is located across the street from the Lincoln Center, which was where South Pacific was showing.

After waiting for 20 minutes for old books and receiving a New York City Public Library card, Jenny was ready to cause bodily harm to me at the library. We handled copies of Pride & Prejudice from the 1800s. It was well worth the wait!

People sunbathed while we took a stroll through Central Park. I'm sure the reason that we didn't see any nudists sunbathing in Central Park was because it is illegal. If we would have gone to the AIDS marathon that weekend, we would have seen some nudists running. If only Jenny was willing!

On a beautiful day, we viewed New York City from the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Building. The “Top of the Rock” is quite spacious compared to the Empire State Building. Before enjoying views of Central Park and Midtown, we watched a movie about the Rockettes. I found it fascinating that the dancers comprising the Rockettes are women who are normally stay-at-home-moms, students, and teachers. The Rockettes lead normal lives until they gather for the annual Christmas show.

Layne, Kim, and Ray drove us to the cemetery where my great-grandparents (the Lehns) were buried. We planted Layne's birthday present in the family urn. Interesting facts: 1) Layne was named after his mother’s maiden name, but she chose to spell it differently so everyone would pronounce it correctly. 2) John D. Rockefeller taught Herman Lehn’s Sunday school class.

After we paid, what should be, an illegal amount for a buffet breakfast at the Hyatt, we headed to the Tribute to the World Trade Center Visitor Center. It was a very touching and powerful memorial with first- hand accounts, a missing person’s wall, artifacts from the aftermath, and a tribute wall where you can share your feelings. Walking through the hallway was special because on the ceiling hung origami sent by Japanese children to America after September 11th.

As always, I'd like to conclude by thanking everyone who made this trip a success! Jenny you are amazing. It's almost illegal to have such a great sister. Love ya!

Outback-FARA Benefit Luncheon

2009-04-22T20:23:00.001-07:00

Join us for lunch at the Bakersfield Outback Steakhouse on Friday, May 1st @ noon. The cost per person is $20.00 and Outback Steakhouse is giving 100% of the proceeds from this luncheon to help fund Friedreich’s Ataxia research. If you are interested in joining the Kent’s for lunch drop me a message.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

2009-03-23T19:35:00.001-07:00

We landed front row seats to the performance of the century for the Kern River Valley Ward. My applause goes out to all who made this night a success. I am amazed by the courage and strength of each of the women who performed. I am truly grateful that I wasn't asked to be involved. They practiced for hours and hour to bring forth this inspired musical program. I am very proud of my sister who conquered her fear of publicly singing a solo. I didn't think any Kent girl could carry a tune, but she proved me wrong. Very impressive Krissy!

Thanks for all your support!

2009-03-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

Lake Isabella not only showed their support yesterday at the Race for Results but were among the winners in many age categories. Kenny Bushling, Emily Gonzalez, Zac Bushling, Taryn Kent, Teyah Bushling, Daniel Minor and Marcia Kent all placed in their age divisions. Go Kern Valley!

The weather turned out a beautiful morning for walking and fun was had by all. I am very grateful for our many friends and family who were in attendance. Your support is very much appreciated.

Race For Results

2009-03-22T11:59:00.001-07:00

Kelly's debute to the Kern Valley Sun

2009-03-11T12:56:00.001-07:00

Published on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 8:09 PM PDT

Kelly Kent
Special to the Sun
Not many people have heard of Friedreich's ataxia (FA), a neuro-muscular disease that affects one in 50,000 people in the United States. Three lifetime residents of Squirrel Valley, Joe Kent, 34, Nicole Kent, 30, and Kelly Kent, 24, were diagnosed in childhood with this progressive, genetic disease. Joe, Nicole, and Kelly developed like any other child. Each reached the same early milestones as any other child would—talking, walking, etc. But over time, they began losing coordination in their arms and legs. By their early teens, they became wheelchair bound. Some of their other symptoms include: visual impairment, hearing loss, slurred speech, and scoliosis. Friedreich's ataxia has no effect whatsoever on mental capabilities. Joe and Nicole received bachelor's degrees from C.S.U.B. and B.Y.U., while Kelly remains a permanent junior at C.S.U.B. Despite having a progressive disease wreaking havoc in their family, the Kents remain positive. Humor and their faith play important roles in their lives. The family refers to themselves as ‘the Wheelchair Brigade’ and their car as ‘the Handi Van.’
In April of last year, the 2nd Annual "Race 4 Results" 5K/10K raised $11,901.60 for the FARA (Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance), a national, public, non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to researching Friedreich’s ataxia. FARA researches FA in order to improve quality and length of life for patients and, possibly, to find a cure. At the finish line, prizes were awarded to the participants, and a bouncy house entertained children, as well as some adults. Corporate sponsors included Costco, San Joaquin Community Hospital, and Jake’s Tex Mex Restaurant.

This year the 3rd Annual "Race 4 Results" 5K/10K will take place on Saturday, March 21, at Yokuts Park in Bakersfield at 8:00 a.m. Check-in begins at 7:00 a. m. Registration for individuals is $30 and a team of four individuals is $100. The entry forms are available at bakersfieldtrackclub.com. Registration includes a T-shirt, goodie bag, and a BBQ lunch. Ending on March 13, pre-registration guarantees applicants a T-shirt. Individuals not walking/running can purchase the BBQ lunch for $6. Please join with the Kents in the fight against Friedreich's ataxia.

CREATE by President Uchtdorf

2009-03-07T21:42:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons I LOVE Spring!

2009-03-02T13:19:00.001-08:00

These beautiful daffodils are in full bloom in my backyard. Soon I will have tulips!

Its that time of year again.....

2009-03-01T22:09:00.001-08:00

Please come participate in the 3rd Annual "Race 4 Results" for Friedreich's Ataxia. This year the 5K/10K will occur on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 8:00am.

Check-in begins at 7:00 am. The event will take place at Yokuts Park in Bakersfield. Registration for individuals is $30 and teams of four is $100. The entry forms are available at bakersfieldtrackclub.com. Registration includes a T-shirt, goodie bag, and a BBQ lunch. Pre-registration guarantees you a T-shirt and ends on Friday, March 13th.

Goals for 2009

2009-02-21T15:47:00.001-08:00

Yes, it is a little late to be setting New Year's Resolutions but better late than never. Here's the first six goals for 2009:

* Complete 10 receiving blankets each month to donate to the LDS Humanitarian effort.

*Start a small garden in my back yard and actually eat what grows in it.

*Shop the weekly ads for good deals on canned food in an effort to obtain food storage items that I would actually eat.

*Finish scrapbooking my 2006 trip to Italy and France.

*Learn how to publish my blog and get it done.

* Work on my genealogy. Complete the application process for DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).

Plantation, Monkeys, and Sprat Net

2009-02-13T16:35:00.001-08:00

After completing our final morning of diving, we ventured out to see a bit more of St. Kitts. We arrived at Caribelle Batik, formerly Romney’s Plantation, just as it was closing. BUMMER! We drove up through the exit to get a quick glance at the beautiful gardens and their infamous 350 year old tree.

The plantation’s grounds were gorgeous and we even saw a few monkeys as we left.

Aren’t they cute?? We actually spotted quite a few of them on the road to the Fortress just before 5:00. Don’t you wish I could bring one home to you??

On the drive back to the hotel, we stopped to have dinner at Sprat Net. It was an outdoor restaurant with a fun atmosphere. We watched the sunset over the Caribbean and enjoyed some of the local flavors. The views were absolutely incredible.

2009-02-13T15:53:00.000-08:00

A few attempts to capture fish

2009-02-13T15:49:00.001-08:00

Day Four: Cold Water Diving’s NOT FOR ME

2009-02-12T12:56:00.001-08:00

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY….Come again in five days

2009-02-11T14:32:00.001-08:00

Another day of rain and cold in St. Kitts. I am wondering if those enduring the snow at home sent the cold front our way. The water temperature is around 76 degrees and the air temperature has been around 72 and then you have to add the wind chill to that. As soon as we surfaced after the first dive, we were ready to get back into the water to get warm. I took the towel and wrapped it around my head to try and stay warm. When we got to the car we actually turned on the heat. And no one can say its a girl thing because all the men felt the same way.

Kelly and my mom hadn’t left the room due to the sudden downpours and cold winds. Tonight we are looking forward to dinner at Rock Lobster. We’ve heard that they have good king crab and lobster which should keep everyone happy. We will be thinking of you Nicole!

TEETH CHATTERING DIVES

2009-02-10T13:48:00.001-08:00

A chilly day underwater

2009-02-09T17:50:00.001-08:00

We started the day a bit earlier with a two tank dive trip with Pro Divers. Unfortunately, the visibility was poor and the water seemed freezing to me even with my full wet suit. The dives weren’t the best but we still had a good time.

FYI- Bushling’s and Tucker’s: my friend Jermaine was in a car accident about ten days ago and broke his arm. He won’t be working with Austin for a few months but dropped by to say hello.

Here’s a few pictures that highlight the dives.

I took a serious nap this afternoon consisting of three hours. It was lovely. I also finished reading the Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck. Its pretty depressing for the first 3/4 of the book but ends with an uplifting message. Tonight I am going to start another book that has been sitting on my nightstand for months…..because I am more addicted to sudoku than anything else.

Island Tour of St. Kitts

2009-02-08T15:57:00.001-08:00

It is Sunday here and we are serious slackers. We had planned to attend church this morning to pay the missionaries back but slept through until 11:00. What’s crazy is we went to bed at 8:00 last night. We got lots of sleep but we must have needed it. We started the day with a wild ride around the island. My dad gets better each time he drives on the left side of the road but it still scares the rest of us. Our first stop was the Brimstone Hill Fortress. It is a fort built by the British in the 17^th century. It wasn’t wheelchair accessible but Mom and Dad made the hike to see it. Kelly and I watched a little movie about it and walked around the portion that was accessible. Kelly said it reminded her of the architecture of the castles we saw in Great Britain. We bought some guava juice to try but Kelly turned her noise up at it after one sip. The second stop was down by port where the cruise ship dock. We did a bit of shopping. My dad flirted and teased all the Indian women working the stores. Pirana Joe’s provided for a fun photo shoot.

Then we drove out to Turtle Beach to see the big pig and monkey. The monkey was cuddled up in his cage by a goat asleep so no such luck holding it. On the drive back we stopped at a lookout point. From here you can see views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Ocean. We unloaded Kelly for a photo opportunity and there was a man with a monkey. Kelly got to hold the monkey and was convinced she smelled like a wet dog afterwards.

Dinner was had at an Italian restaurant called PJ’s. We all ordered something different and tried each others. Now we are back at the hotel and Kelly’s getting the wet dog smell rinsed off her body in the shower.

Bear Hugs, the Tree of Life, the Lion King, and an African Safari

2009-01-18T17:08:00.001-08:00

Disney Hollywood Studios

2009-01-18T16:54:00.001-08:00

One advantage of being in a wheelchair-FRONT ROW SEATS on occasion. We loved the Beauty and the Beast Performance, followed by the American Idol Experience, and then the Little Mermaid Show.

To finish off the day, we headed to another one of our favorite restaurants, The Cheesecake Factory. After an 80 minute wait, which is the longest I can ever recall waiting, we decided it was worth the wait. Even though my mom and I are dieting, we couldn’t skip sharing a piece of cheesecake three-ways with Kelly. YUMMY!

EPCOT

2009-01-18T06:57:00.001-08:00

Too many late nights make it hard to blog so here are a few pictures.

Magical Kingdom

2009-01-15T18:36:00.001-08:00

I Need some SPACE!

2009-01-14T19:35:00.000-08:00

An hour’s drive from Orlando, we found ourselves at the Kennedy Space Center. We rushed into the IMAX film that was starting momentarily. It was all about the Space Station and was narrated by Tom Cruise. I found it to be very informative since I know very little about NASA. Then we hopped aboard a tour bus. First destination: Launch Pad 39 A and B. We missed seeing the shuttle crawler transporter take the shuttle Discovery to its destination on the pad by a few hours. It is set to launch on February 12th and will be delivering more components to the Space Station. We had a nice view of it from the observation platform.

The Vehicle Assembly Building is just huge! It covers 8 acres and is 525 feet tall. The doors open to 464 feet and it took 6,000 gallons to paint the US flag on the side of it. The second stop on the tour was the Apollo/ Saturn Center. We watched an film that shows all that goes into the days and hours and minutes before each actual launch. Exiting the film, you are brought into a huge area that houses the Saturn V moon rocket that transported people to the moon and back. We also saw the lunar vehicle that was actually used on the moon.

The final stop on the tour was the International Space Station center. It is the location were all the parts and supplies are prepared for transport to the Space Station. We got to pass through a real size replica of it and we most impressed by the bathroom facilities…. or the lack thereof. We also found it interesting the number of inventions that we commonly use today that were initially discovered for space travel. Diapers! CAT scans! Cordless power tools!

Before departing, we went on their newest attraction: the Shuttle Launch Experience. It is meant to help you experience the sights, sounds, and feelings of a vertical launch into space. It was pretty awesome.

Back in Orlando, we met Dave, Jeni and family at House of Blues for a late dinner. It was great to catch up and visit with them.

Gators, Schmidts, and the Titanic

2009-01-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

The morning started out rather slow or should I say afternoon because it was 12:00 (9:00 CA time) before we left our villa. We arrived last night to the Marriott Vacation Club property, Grande Vista. Thanks Dad for finding such a deal. We paid less than $500.00 for a two bedroom villa for a week. It is just like the villas in Aruba and St. Kitts that we have stayed in.

Our first destination was Toho lake to go on an airboat ride. When we arrived it was threatening rain. But thanks to my mother's prayers, it didn't start raining until we finished our 45 minute ride. We glided along the lake while keeping our eyes out for wildlife but more importantly alligators. Unfortunatly, the driver only came across one area that had one large alligator and a few small ones. We couldn't get very close, so my pictures aren't worth posting. We saw lots of beautiful birds. Sand Hill cranes, Great Blue Herons, egrets, and others that I didn't recognize the names of. The ride was smooth and so fast that it felt like we were getting a facelift or maybe just windblown.

Lunch/Dinner was eaten at one of Kelly and my personal favorite’s Mccormick and Schmidts. As always the food was incredible! Kelly had mahi mahi, my mother had swordfish, and I devoured stuffed salmon. It didn’t take much to convince my mother why it was a must dine while in Orlando.

Anyone recognize this staircase? Its a replica from the White Stage Line’s infamous ship Titanic. No Leonardo dicaprio to swoon over but a tour guide with a fake Irish accent lead us through the exhibit. The exhibit was very informative and really made you think about what you would have done if you were aboard the ship. I was amazed to hear that the average human could live anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes in the freezing cold water. Kelly wondered how long she would survive.

Day one was concluded with a trip to the Walmart Supercenter. We purchased our tickets for DisneyWorld and the Kennedy Space Center at slightly discounted prices. Breakfast foods, snacks, and a few souvenirs rounded out our cart.

Magic Mountain Fright Festival

2009-01-03T17:37:00.001-08:00

As an Enrichment group, we went to Magic Mountain for the day. We had a small group (Angela, Lynn, Tabi, and I) but the fun we had made up for it. Thanks ladies for joining me on this adventure and helping me feel young again. Angela bought these little wallet size pictures for each of us. I got a scanner a few weeks ago and I am trying to figure it out. Here is my first scanned picture.

"Sometimes nice girls do finish first."

2008-12-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

My entire family and many friends got bitten this past year by Stephanie Meyer's Twilight saga. T-shirts, book club parties, homemade bookmarks, dressing up as the characters, and even a book signing concert at UCLA turned the saga into quite an experience. The morning after the movie was released a group of nearly twenty gathered for a lunch/movie date. Thanks Kelly for getting us involved in reading this harmless vampire love saga and planning all the fun events to go along with it.

Time Magazine has named the author Stephanie Meyer as one of the People Who Mattered in 2008. The following is the commentary that was published along with her picture.

"Maybe Americans aren't ready for a Mormon presidential nominee yet. But they're more than ready to anoint a Mormon as the best-selling novelist of the year. The hero of Meyer's Twilight series — and hit movie — is a vampire named Edward who doesn't kill people and declines to sleep with, or bite, his girlfriend Bella. Meyer's religious upbringing taught her something few writers grasp, that fantasies can be about restraint as well as excess. Sometimes nice girls do finish first."

—Lev Grossman

Post Christmas Visit to San Diego

2008-12-29T16:39:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas we loaded up the Silver Bullet along with my car and headed to San Diego. The snow that fell overnight left the roads icy so we drove very carefully over Walker Pass. Our first stop was my Grandma Whittleton's residence at Sommerford Place. I think just the sight of all of us overwhelmed her but that didn't keep my Dad from teasing her. We had her giggling and had a decent visit, considering the situation.

We met Tawn and Asha for dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. I was in the mood for Thai food so I ordered the Thai Chicken Pasta and it was delicious. Tawn just graduated with a degree in Political Science and both he and Asha are working on getting their special education credentials. Congratulations to both of them for their perseverance!

Saturday morning we went to visit my Grandmother again but we were a bit smarter. We went in to see her in pairs of two which seem to work better. I guess I don't blame anyone who gets overwhelmed when they see us coming. So when Kelly, my mother and I were done visiting, we left to hit the after Christmas sales at the outlets in Carlsbad. Now I have adjusted quite well to leaving San Diego but one thing I do miss is the outlets. And just to make my day, Banana Republic had a 50% off sale. Yes, everything in the store was 1/2 off! I don't know how long we spent in BR before we met the rest of the crew for lunch. Joining us was my mother's sister Diane, her husband Ron, and their twin sons Patrick and Philip. To finish out the day, we drove to Alpine to visit with my Uncle Mark. We enjoyed rootbeer floats while visiting in his 100+ year old home. He is a contractor and he is slowly renovating this old home. The kitchen is complete and was absolutely gorgeous!

Sunday, we hit the road for home. But a quick,family filled weekend of love was had by all.

Peaceful Christmas Day

2008-12-28T21:03:00.001-08:00

Falling snow, waffles topped with raspberries, our favorite cheesy artichoke dip, a round of Texas Hold 'Em, and a delicious dinner served on my Grandma Whittleton's beautiful white and gold china made for another memorable Christmas Day.

Of course, the gifts I received added to the joy of this special season. My parents bought me a Bosch mixer which is gift that my mother promised to buy for each of her children when they got married. I think they have given up on that and decided that it was time I learned how to cook our family's traditional dinner rolls. I hope this mixer makes all the difference and truly helps my baking skills.

Kelly got my name in the family drawing and got me exactly what I asked for. It's called a Bedlounger. I know it sounds like a gift for a lazy person and that I am not. I just love to do sudoku or read in bed at night. And no matter how many pillows I use, I still haven't found a comfortable position. I haven't logged in enough time yet using the Bedlounger to give an accurate evaluation but hopefully in the next few days I will get some serious lounging time.

Hoping you and your loved ones had a peaceful Christmas filled with all that your heart desired.

Kent Family Christmas Eve

2008-12-26T21:19:00.000-08:00

Every Christmas Eve, we gather with our extended family to celebrate the Savior's birth. Howard and Marcia usually host a dinner for about 20-25 people and this year was no different. My Aunt Marcia has a wonderful tradition of starting the meal with shrimp cocktail. She marinates it for many days in her family's secret recipe and it is delicious!! I look forward to it every year. This year the highlight of the gathering was baby Glenn. Kami and her husband David are in town for two weeks and we finally met their adorable six month old son. Visiting with the Kent cousins is always a treat and seeing their children growing older by the minute is amazing and disturbing at the same time. Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve.

Can you guess who Santa was?

2008-12-15T21:41:00.001-08:00