Flying Standby

I'm going to try and make this short. So I'll break down my itenerary from these past couple days...

April 7th -

3 AM - wake up shower
4 AM - Leave Andrew and Stephanies headed for Idaho Falls International Airport.
5AM - Check into 6 o'clock flight
6AM - Depart Idaho Falls headed for Boise.
9AM - Receive the last seat on the Boise ---> Seattle Flight.
10:20 AM - Arrive in Seattle and attempt to work my way up a standby list 40 people long.
1PM- At last, Alaska flights clear the revenue passengers off the standby list, I can relax and enjoy a frosty.
2PM- "You're never going to get out of here. Well not till thursday night atleast. Go back to Boise"
3:45 PM - Back to Boise I fly to catch the 9:40 flight Boise ---> Spokane. It had 11 open seats and they said I had a GREAT Chance.
7 PM - I wait...
9:30PM: Boarding
9:50PM: No seat for me, I'm the only one left standing. (tears)...Phone calls, confusion.
10 PM Allyia comes to my rescue and I stay at her Boyfriends Parents house with her.

April 8th

7AM: Wake up
7:30 AM: Go to airport.
8 AM: YAY THEY GAVE ME A SEAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH FOR BEING SO COOPERATIVE.
11:50 AM : I'M HOME!
3PM: Finally a shower:)

Congrats Stephanie!

Test Drive

Dad and I thought it'd be an excellent idea for me to bring my electric scooter I inherited from Grandpa Scouller to Rexburg... Let me tell you of my adventure.



I was nervous it wouldn't make it up the hills around the area, so Stephanie, Andrew and David took me for a test run. Our family home evening last week consisted of the following:



We put the scooter in the trunk of the Grand Prix, and drove down the hill next to the Smith building. After a quick seat adjustment, I started my journey back up the hills towards The Ridge. Of course, right away the battery went from full to ONE BAR, and the guts on it were ridiculous. I was coming to a creeping stop....i kept having to use my foot to push me along. I got past by a cyclist...and 2 joggers. I have a feeling that every car that past that evening also was dieing in laughter. I KNOW I WOULD BE IF I SAW MYSELF! All in all, listening to David yell "SCOOTER!" was a thrill...and his mom even let him go for a short ride in the (flat) parking lot. What a fun family home evening. I was the laughing stock of Rexburg. So now, it'll remain in a closet for the time being.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf - CREATE

A friend sent this to me an email. It's so inspirational. It encourages everyone to share their creativitiy to make this world a better place. When Uchtdorf came to speak in our stake it was one of the most memorable experience. I will forever remember his desire to shake every single youths hand before extending out to the adults. He stressed the importance of todays youth, and the effect the world will have on them. He is so right, the more we trust and rely on the spirit, the greater compacity we have to create.

Home Sweet Home?

I left Sandpoint around Noon yesterday. I made really good timing until about Dillon, when it began to look like sketchy. I pulled off to get gas, and by the time I had returned to the highway there was at least and inch. I wasn't too worried, only that it was getting dark and colder. As I progressed the snow got deeper and Deeper and DEEPER. Soon cars were pulling over and letting me pass so that they could follow my plowed tracks. By this time I was beginning to stress, as I'm no experienced driver to be leading others down I-15? hahah. Sooner or later, we caught up to other cars and semi's and then I wasn't so nervous about leading the way in low visibility. A plow came by for a bit, and plowed only a section. At the time I was yelling at the plow man to get back on the road, i was so frustrated that he pulled over and started going back the other direction. By now there had to be about a foot of snow on the road, and I was thanking my lucky stars to not be in the front. It took me an hour and a half to go just 36 miles. How irritating. I couldn't even really listen to music it was too distracting. When I finally got service I sent a picture to most all my friends of why I wasn't in Rexburg yet. Curious, they were all texting me to make sure I made it safely. Too their surprise this is what had been holding up traffic....

A semi that had jackknifed in he median. I was so concerned about getting a picture I didn't even see which direction the truck had been traveling. Finally the weather and traffic cleared up just off Monida. It turned to rain, and then about Dubios I had clear roads. When I was stuck in the weather all these thoughts ran through my head....one: I should have asked dad to come....two: just my luck for traveling on Sunday, and three: I need to get to my interview tomorrow! I got to Stephanie's and she had made me some corn dogs. So thoughtful of her to think of me! I was so hungry considering the last thing in my belly was from mom's breakfast she had made before I left home. Good thing she's a wonderful mother and thought to do that or I quite literally might have starved by the time I got to Rexburg.

Today, I awoke to David repeating HI DANNA! Since I didn't get in till late last night, I really hadn't gotten to see him yet! He was thrilled and probably repeated my name a million times. After some laundry and relaxation I got ready for my interview. It went well I suppose. I don't know when I start till he does the schedule Wednesday. But I did get my cool "the Rex" polo and all my I9 and W4 forms. I'm pretty excited to get started there. They will be starting me downstairs to learn all the basics of the bowling alley, concessions, ticket sales, arcade, pizza shop, and Ice cream makers, then gradually they'll move me upstairs when a position comes open a couple months. I can't be too picky here in Rexburg, I would think anything is better than being a waitress or housekeeping. After my interview I returned to Stephanie and Andrews to play with David some. Here some pictures of our crazy fun afternoon!

He's so Kissable, Huggable, Lovable, UNBELIEVABLE! (he is so smart!)

Is he not the cutest kid ever?!

He even got to push the button on this one. Oh how I love David!

When we were done David even helped pick up the mess we made in the hallway. Oh we had so much fun playing together. It'll be an eventful few months. Look forward to many posts with pictures! I miss Sandpoint, and my friends there. But I have a feeling this experience is something I need in my life right now.

Registering for classes

Last night at midnight I got on to register for classes. I had the ones picked out that I wanted to take. Big surprise, nothing left. Lucky for me though, there was a lot of room in a few of the classes I need to take, but didn't necessarily want to do it this semester. Like writing foundations? Gross. But anyhow, since its the first semester back, and I'm going to see how juggling school, work, and social life...I'm only taking 10 credits. That will be good so that I can figure out how to do it all.

North Idaho Law Enforcement

Some of you may recall me complaining about a specific chubby officer who pulled me over for going too slow for conditions. Do to the recent occurrence I'm going to blog about my past experience with Officer ____________.

It was a Friday night (I think) and I was on my way home from work. Mom and Dad were a little ahead of me, but I had to drop the bank deposit by Wells Fargo before heading home. As I come across the long bridge heading South out of Sandpoint, the first road on the right is Lakeshore Drive. A police officer in an SUV was parked there. He pulled out soon after I passed by. The road was terrible. It had snowed quite a bit and the visibility was terrible. I was probably traveling at about 35 mph coming across the bridge. When I slowed down to turn on Bottle Bay rd I noticed he flipped on his blinker also. [side note : he was not following me closely, in fact he was a little ways behind me probably traveling slower than I, and I was in the neon.] As I went to turn, he flipped on his lights. "GREAT!" He walked up to my window, and I knew i surely wasn't speeding. When he asked if I knew how fast I was going I said yes right around 35. He then began to criticize that if there had been traffic, at that speed I would have been holding up other road users. He wanted to warn me that yes due to conditions speed should decrease, but my rate of travel was too slow. Therefore, he was suggesting that in the next winter storm warning I speed up, or pull over to let others by. OK HAD THERE BEEN ANYONE BEHIND ME AT ALL I WOULD HAVE. He was a real jerk. He let me go threatening that he could write me a ticket, but never did. Ohh, police think they have all the power in the world.

Now, Last night....

It was right around 1 am, and I was exhausted. I was returning from a hot tubbing trip out at Carsons parents with Robby, Marissa, Del and Carson. My hair was wet, I was cold...and I just wanted to get home. Once again, it had been snowing quite a bit, and the roads were very slushy on the way out of town. As I was traveling south across the long bridge out of Sandpoint, I once again must have past Officer __________ on Lakeshore. I was following behind a Car, and Semi. I noticed headlights appear in my rear view mirror soon before I moved over into the turn lane to head around Bottle Bay. Once again as I followed through with my turn, here are the red and blue lights. I wasn't even nervous, I knew I wasn't speeding, and my blinkers worked. The only thing I could think of was I got my license plates 2 days ago when my temporary registration expired. I haven't had time to put the plates on, but they are on my front seat. I even went and got screws for them! Knowing I could probably get away with a warning I wasn't too worried. THEN....Same guy. Here is our conversation:

Officer: Good evening?
Me: It is!
Officer: Where are you coming from?
Me: Hot tubbing
Officer: Are you sure it wasn't clubbing?
Me: IN SANDPOINT HAHAHA. No.
Officer: Are you sure you haven't been drinking? I smell alcohol.
Me: I'm positive sir, I haven't drank a thing.
Officer: Do you know why I'm pulling you over?
Me: Nope.
Officer: Well you were going too FAST for conditions. It's trucks like you who think they are invisible and cause accidents in weather like this.
Me: I was following traffic, and the road was clear?
Officer: I'm going to need to see license and registration.

[when he come back]

Officer: do you know you don't have license plates?
Me: Yes I do, there here on my front seat, I just haven't put them on.
Officer: you need to do that.
Me: Yep I know.
Officer: With your bad attitude I want you to know I could write you a ticket for traveling at excess speeds for conditions.
Me: and your not?
Officer: Slow down going around bottle bay, it can be sketchy sometimes.
Me: I know I drive it twice a day!
Officer: Well I go around there twice a day on my rounds so I would know.
Me: Have a great night.

OH MY HECK! Just my luck, are you kidding?! Why!? Trucks like me, OK...all of you know that I drive like a grandma...Especially in bad weather. How ironic is it that he got me for going too slow, and not even a month later too fast? Goodness. On a Saturday and Friday night I'm sure he was just trying to find someone to get on a DUI. Unfortunately for him, I was a waste of time. Haha I was irritated at the time, but after talking to Del and Carson, I laughed it off. It's now a great story.

Puppy-Sitting

I picked up Piper from Adam and Brandi's on Wednesday morning before heading home from Coeur D'alene. They were heading to the annual Bear Lake snowmobiling trip and Piper is pregnant. She was so sad for the first 10 minutes and was literally yelling at me for taking me from her home when she was so close to giving birth. Mom suggested that I give Piper her blanket that Adam and Brandi sent with me to give to her after giving birth. She fell right asleep. Yesterday morning I awoke to Bodie crying and whining at the door. I called him and laid next to him a few moments when I heard the same crying coming from the downstairs bathroom where Piper was put for the night. I went down and checked on her and she was standing backwards, in her kennel, on all 4's. Then, a few hours later similar cries filled the house and when I went to check on her she was standing backwards? I thought maybe she was having contractions or something. While I was at work, I had a feeling that there was going to be puppies when I got home. Carson beat me to the house as he, Janel, Del, Marissa and Robby were to come over and play rockband. I asked Carson to check on the dogs, and he responded with "you got 3 puppies" haha, When I got home Janel helped me clean up the mess on the bathroom floor and we handed Piper her quilt. She looked really tired but very well. Today she is perky and drinking water. I have no problems at all getting her away from the puppies to go to the bathroom either. One is a whiner, I have yet to figure out which one it is. Anyways, here are some pictures of Brandi and Adams new puppies.

3 puppies, 2 girls, 1 boy

All they do it eat! They are going to be chubby

They fit in my hand. But piper doesn't like it to leave her so she picks it up by the rear end and brings it back to the others!

One of the females. She's the cuter of the two.

The male is the brown one.

Bodie loves playing with the puppies, but Piper scares him. This particular smokey gray puppy was dropped when piper headed out to go the bathroom.

She proves to be an excellent mother!

She licks, licks and licks some more. Goodness!

How precious. Mommy and her son!

The dark female

David Cook and Carrie Underwood Duet at Walt Disney World

this is exactly why i love american idol, for the stars and idols it does bring! What talent they have!

Valentines day

Today I replaced the blown speakers in the back of my truck. $100 later i'm glad I didn't put the sub and amp that the salesmen suggested in. You see, I thought it'd be a good idea, then I got to thinking...Why would I spend so much money on putting in such a huge system I could really care less for. I don't really feel the need for it to bump like that. To be honest, it's fine now...and since I am going to Alaska and the truck will sit for 5months might as well save the money and make a payment on the truck. Heck for how much the sub and amp would've costed 4 truck payments:D All around, it was a good afternoon. I'm happy with what I got, and what I didn't get.

Mom has the sweetest daughter

Look mom got something in the mail:D

So sweet

It even came with chocolates!

Today the delivery guy brought mom a special surprise. Stephanie knew she wasn't going to get to see mom for valentines day and is so considerate to think of mom on this holiday. Mom opened the flowers and turned to me "Deanna did you do this?" haha I replied "no mom i'm not that considerate!" I hate valentines day haha. But - Stephanie and Andrew are so sweet. Mom started balling when she read the card that came with the beautiful roses. I took some pictures so that everyone could enjoy mom's flowers from Steph. "Thanks steph - from mom"

David After Dentist

What do you do when your home alone for a week?

Besides forgetting to eat, and working alot? Well apparently time goes by faster if you try buying a vehicle. So the truck below was a VERY pretty truck, but the guy was asking wayyyyy too much fun it. He kept saying he put a lot of money into it, and I wasn't really interested in what he had put in it...I wasn't looking for some tricked out truck that I wouldn't even know the first thing about. I spent a long time on websites looking around at how things work, fuel economy, consumer reports, crash tests...everything. I wasn't exactly looking for a ranger...In fact originally I thought I wanted a Toyota Tacoma but do you know how much they are! If I were to buy that vehicle i would've been in a major debt hole. I wasn't settled on the Black Ranger at all, and I kept looking around. When I called Stephanie to complain about how sick I was of people telling me I shouldn't buy a vehicle she said Andrew had stumbled across a newer ranger, less miles and cheaper. It was white, and they could go check it out if need be. I looked into it more, talked to the lady a couple times...Received pictures, forwarded them to Andrew... The problems it did have we found is a cheap fix, and I was getting an awesome deal. So I went through the bank and got everything worked out to see if it was a legit deal, and could work. The bank approved, and Russ Hiatt said the truck had never been in a major accident or even a fender bender. I knew others were looking at the truck so I asked her if Andrew could test drive it this weekend (Saturday) and pending his approval (aha that sounds funny) I will fly down to fill out paperwork and pick up the truck. She said since the bank was already on board and everything she told all others interested in the truck that it had sold. The catch: her bank technically owns it because she still owes on it. US bank does not keep titles in their branch so they have to "order" it. After I sign it, they have to fax it to SFCU who will then have me go to the DMV. Pam from Safeway Federal Credit Union says they run into this all the time, and it's just more paperwork but VERY doable. So Andrew will be driving the potential truck on Saturday and I plan to fly down on Tuesday and drive it home possibly Thursday. Everything is coming together I just hope something major isn't wrong with it. I also hope they have service records so I can see when things were last changed and replaced. (tranny fluid and such) We'll just cross our fingers. So just a newsflash to all, I didn't buy a black 1999 Ranger, even though I wanted it. I'm instead working on buying a 2000 White Ford Ranger, for much less. Wish me luck :D

Ranger?

I have wanted to buy my own vehicle recently, but I wasn't really sure what it was that I wanted. Over the past couple months I realized I wanted something reliable, and that had 4 wheel drive. I have been looking a lot of craigslist and have been very careful to not get into another scam type deal. I came across this 1999 Ford Ranger. I have been emailing this guy back and forth, and today recieved the auto report. The title is clean and it's a gorgeous truck. I HOPE I CAN HAVE IT! The only problem? They're in Bothell, WA...So unless Jeremy can possibly go look and drive it I can't get it. Another, I have no credit...So if mom and dad won't co-sign I can't get it...A third and final problem...SFCU closed my account because I didn't have the minimum in there. I never knew there was a minimum, so now i have to open another account in order to apply for a loan. Buying a new car is so stressful but I really feel it's the right thing for me to do now. I can make the payments, and build credit on top of that. Plus mom and dad will be able to do what they want now with their car without worrying about leaving me without transportation. There is so much to figure out, and I'm so excited to go through it. Here are some picutres and a copy of the craigslist ad :D I hope it all works out!

1999 Ford Ranger XLT – Black
4.0L V6, 4x4, automatic, extended cab, PS/PB, cruise, tilt, CD, Line-X spray in bedliner, rear slider, running boards, alloy wheels, Wild Country Radial tires with plenty of tread left, towing package set up with trailer brake system, 102k miles. This truck has been great to me. I recently purchased a larger truck and can't justify having two! It has new brakes both front and rear, ball joints, shocks, plugs and wires, and a new battery. This is fantastic deal and well below Kelly Blue Book and NADA values. respond to the ad if interested. I will consider all reasonable offers. Thanks for looking.

Starbucks Grassroots Commercial

I was just watching CNN live where i'm learning about Nanci Poloesi and Obama's recent disagreements and issues. It kind of fun to watch this transition as I'm actually understanding what is happening. I saw this commercial and thought it was actually pretty neat :D I felt it really reflected on what is going on in our country. With the new 44th president inaugruated yesterday on the stand to come together and "yes we can" I thought this commercial had a very loud statement for the Obama campaign...We'll definitly have to see how the new government works out.

Washington

welcome to Omak, Washington. On friday morning mom and dad and I traveled the 4 hours to Okanogan to go to Melanie Mills baby shower. Baby Parker Eden will be born soon now, and we wanted to show our love and support for her baby girl. The shower was great. I think they said they counted 38 people there which was really good. Melanie looked so happy! I hadn't seen her since Alaska, but I'm so glad I had to opportunity to go spend sometime back where my story began. Jeremy and Morgan had asked that we go and take pictures of the house on Sandflat road. (I think that's what it was called) the whole way there mom and dad were trying to point out things and memories of Omak, but unfortunately I was so young I don't remember much about it. In fact the baby shower was a little bit daunting as I couldn't remember anyone there except Shawna Law. I'll get to that in a minute.

Carson Mills Aka: my first kiss. We grew up together! Man I missed this kid, it was good catching up with him from the good old days.

I volunteered to write down the gifts and who they were from.

This is Melanie's overflowing gift table. It took like 2 hours to open them!

Growing up Lori was like a 2ND mother. Our families have been great friends over the years, and Lori is one women to really look up too. She has such a positive personality and always wants to see the best of everyone. Something I could really learn to do.

At the shower everyone kept telling me they hadn't seen me since my classic sombrero act. I remember doing a Christmas talent show performance with Stephanie where we beat on some drums and sang some silly song. But I don't remember these people, so it was awkward to hear how much "I've grown up!"

Sunday morning we got up at 5am to drive to Wenatchee. Ricky's ward was at 9am and we knew the roads would be a little snowy. Luckily, the roads were really good, and we got there with 15 minutes to spare. Ricky gave a really good talk. Also on the roster for that morning was sister Wengreen, and lynsie white. It was a very good sacrament meeting. Afterwards we went over to Dicks house to visit and have dinner. Dick prepared a Ham and potatoes for dinner and then we took pictures. They are to follow. I stayed at Brittney's house and mom and dad stayed at the Felty's. Sorry it's so short but American Idol is on and I don't really have the attention span to blog.

When it was time to leave Ricky didn't want to let me go. He held on with all his might. Note: I'm in a dress. Noah and Landon helped try to "rescue" me.

Noah is growing up so much also. He's now 13 in the 7th grade. He lives with Allen and Erin in Moses Lake. I remember when he was a little boy when Stephanie would babysit him.

Uncle Ricky and Landon

Cousinly Love!

I love you Ricky, and will miss you terribly. best of luck on your mission. I have no doubt you'll make the best missionary Ventura, California has ever seen!