tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385710553801254852024-03-17T15:28:27.254-07:00JoniopolisJoni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.comBlogger695125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-51940217630531852952024-03-12T07:00:00.000-07:002024-03-12T07:00:00.140-07:00Carmel Sauce<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">What do you do
when your computer crashes? You go to <i>Carmel-by-the-Sea. </i><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjGOo94xNnZTGrXR0C3Lsh1srZqZhkLFBzxED7xBgNcfQgkTxjrgtUbuwoThluy_bmCDrw6nO7hiCVT1jY7GbYD5K4ct_jE-fjOOpnLG6re58PGu0n9Zcn_pObWLj3YKE7kum2KY52rgXnST9eUwFCML7YVJoRx2_DwCf0GrSuXQocNKu5GrITXFgMZ8A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjGOo94xNnZTGrXR0C3Lsh1srZqZhkLFBzxED7xBgNcfQgkTxjrgtUbuwoThluy_bmCDrw6nO7hiCVT1jY7GbYD5K4ct_jE-fjOOpnLG6re58PGu0n9Zcn_pObWLj3YKE7kum2KY52rgXnST9eUwFCML7YVJoRx2_DwCf0GrSuXQocNKu5GrITXFgMZ8A" width="320" /></a></div><br />This time of year the
hills looked like Ireland as we started our trip.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFNxgjANe88SCZHvGvb2lv4c8TCxmFAAd7W6_LUmcgWCp9zDIRUS0TEhEY3TUIZluxhxVyAcJJnAiFvwvWg1YOFmIBneBk4rbmSHux5dlxyT6dpF-hEQ-PTSVykQDRQIdLaTlZO4iFo6xyOgIiu34pAk4Y7QL20E3PX68KRY5lFBKfVR0vPmLfHjSZN-g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFNxgjANe88SCZHvGvb2lv4c8TCxmFAAd7W6_LUmcgWCp9zDIRUS0TEhEY3TUIZluxhxVyAcJJnAiFvwvWg1YOFmIBneBk4rbmSHux5dlxyT6dpF-hEQ-PTSVykQDRQIdLaTlZO4iFo6xyOgIiu34pAk4Y7QL20E3PX68KRY5lFBKfVR0vPmLfHjSZN-g" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> A</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">t last we arrived at this
charming little village </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnTl_LipG54m7YWcNjZ_amtoZ1kQdZQFqHOsVc-zecbgFepZoLWG6ABXqjQfXTALkBa30kEKmmV3shYJXoIF-hkBREPWTdon2BW3nNffqg8SUczw8fj3QFh9K6vHXeuPsp-Ny-8QUzddwLhvgf1MKL4PjNqxMec3P6VpKwpAfGKpeTeYXLJcy9x6H1Rik" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnTl_LipG54m7YWcNjZ_amtoZ1kQdZQFqHOsVc-zecbgFepZoLWG6ABXqjQfXTALkBa30kEKmmV3shYJXoIF-hkBREPWTdon2BW3nNffqg8SUczw8fj3QFh9K6vHXeuPsp-Ny-8QUzddwLhvgf1MKL4PjNqxMec3P6VpKwpAfGKpeTeYXLJcy9x6H1Rik" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdseY3dGGjTpYqTjeBZgITnMmMLyc-7p2N-zWVlmGJihA2FfJR52lpe2eMRp6Bcamy6lh0Erh3WNnpqfDLXRwJl9Bg-xjulzBHcZ6bOB8GynEhPMmM8Lswv0TwY9Mkg0uRME_dtyKBj_CrDKVx7MAHXTZMpDPZHsDYqOSNeBevN3L_CfczcFb8jmZuAr8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdseY3dGGjTpYqTjeBZgITnMmMLyc-7p2N-zWVlmGJihA2FfJR52lpe2eMRp6Bcamy6lh0Erh3WNnpqfDLXRwJl9Bg-xjulzBHcZ6bOB8GynEhPMmM8Lswv0TwY9Mkg0uRME_dtyKBj_CrDKVx7MAHXTZMpDPZHsDYqOSNeBevN3L_CfczcFb8jmZuAr8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaOjxAaziiDK-Pww48nPF1A3QQxsSWgEtvJ8iSs2GyyQ5_OMOE8yjZfJCTB6Nf8DZ8j9wS6oOOieHuXs4p4od8p-YuWrTBsB35fXmeyXbwIHDxh2S0frosLYXC1YLthsx5KRKT-LUGlBXhltSffxTlXtDkqHdgPOo7NmL2yYBeYiIKJ5vYK6ReMtj3OOo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaOjxAaziiDK-Pww48nPF1A3QQxsSWgEtvJ8iSs2GyyQ5_OMOE8yjZfJCTB6Nf8DZ8j9wS6oOOieHuXs4p4od8p-YuWrTBsB35fXmeyXbwIHDxh2S0frosLYXC1YLthsx5KRKT-LUGlBXhltSffxTlXtDkqHdgPOo7NmL2yYBeYiIKJ5vYK6ReMtj3OOo" width="320" /></a></div><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdseY3dGGjTpYqTjeBZgITnMmMLyc-7p2N-zWVlmGJihA2FfJR52lpe2eMRp6Bcamy6lh0Erh3WNnpqfDLXRwJl9Bg-xjulzBHcZ6bOB8GynEhPMmM8Lswv0TwY9Mkg0uRME_dtyKBj_CrDKVx7MAHXTZMpDPZHsDYqOSNeBevN3L_CfczcFb8jmZuAr8" width="320" /><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">where sunsets are gorgeous,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnuqzbIOd4iLJfgVqrMfMu2HQpFf4Y7IGrXo9Ezu5Tv_PQpz8bR_01V7MBXVP_kscyzTfjR68Rv7E6lWqSj3cpqmRcAQ6-BtL8owHpg8za-CkSVEHpM3p8uUY_1A9e7A9ibbYOAVzkJXwcCVs4Jtizg6bf60TAdYhlsih9dJ2NQdXYNCqrzBeNJZjBt1k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnuqzbIOd4iLJfgVqrMfMu2HQpFf4Y7IGrXo9Ezu5Tv_PQpz8bR_01V7MBXVP_kscyzTfjR68Rv7E6lWqSj3cpqmRcAQ6-BtL8owHpg8za-CkSVEHpM3p8uUY_1A9e7A9ibbYOAVzkJXwcCVs4Jtizg6bf60TAdYhlsih9dJ2NQdXYNCqrzBeNJZjBt1k" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigMClim03gQdl1jfbLYQ6kP9LX76XLgPn-atiod8teshiUKqHrK07uyVf1w9aZLPHUAW7HZTmabBojHlYlxzNmKB-9NvXDhDAO5UlUdN5PxCYTvedFdeHHOiUeelIru1M5qDYqm-pyzIhLH7CL-hdhYWbukbYW4lgI0LBrhCpqKQclZRPRqHs747pjPPg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigMClim03gQdl1jfbLYQ6kP9LX76XLgPn-atiod8teshiUKqHrK07uyVf1w9aZLPHUAW7HZTmabBojHlYlxzNmKB-9NvXDhDAO5UlUdN5PxCYTvedFdeHHOiUeelIru1M5qDYqm-pyzIhLH7CL-hdhYWbukbYW4lgI0LBrhCpqKQclZRPRqHs747pjPPg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGl1KFVoAhgADTq3zxr19bWOS2lqoUAfBe-Aokt7BZ4fgdlkQcDazusPyoShLs6wj2wAjE9xQ6jIUZJAJdfqCRBaWLje1vs-nv1Me1eSM-cJ7vEdVPxU2DnoL9HEvf94Omaf7c9G5waXV1sv_gczkqL5nw3zEAg9FoyekSR1mVkuEGcwJR3lhBMeY_yWU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGl1KFVoAhgADTq3zxr19bWOS2lqoUAfBe-Aokt7BZ4fgdlkQcDazusPyoShLs6wj2wAjE9xQ6jIUZJAJdfqCRBaWLje1vs-nv1Me1eSM-cJ7vEdVPxU2DnoL9HEvf94Omaf7c9G5waXV1sv_gczkqL5nw3zEAg9FoyekSR1mVkuEGcwJR3lhBMeY_yWU" width="320" /></a></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">food is amazing, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9uzpqrnV1GOq8pbMAKRYp2NIq8XTxbrwXxTvL6IKkg1kkG2ZGVJBXY5o_SBQWodOFBDPP24PuyKS7hi51g_CjFNLUIyxroUHUTBeyE2-YdWTy-eJOcllkb8wAbgQ9DXbLAAMAs8MOrf0-dDYlA5MTXe-1wcJG8_zDosyG5IW0jmjkmCNYTVq52ewo0mk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4284" data-original-width="5712" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9uzpqrnV1GOq8pbMAKRYp2NIq8XTxbrwXxTvL6IKkg1kkG2ZGVJBXY5o_SBQWodOFBDPP24PuyKS7hi51g_CjFNLUIyxroUHUTBeyE2-YdWTy-eJOcllkb8wAbgQ9DXbLAAMAs8MOrf0-dDYlA5MTXe-1wcJG8_zDosyG5IW0jmjkmCNYTVq52ewo0mk" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibG5nDPS9Q2tb2TQ6tCSAgNz16ui0k_Dp-NhF1bzRjPSDe0o206WFzz37-J7z4axO3qP6U9ifxKFjQpneMnCXtiIQddKBzRIS_DpmgBpIt8zB7-jZKstSS_aB-o78oQ73qk0YmXDMLh6k6vJ2x84mtBnv1IiS3m6bruRf_ELTQ4sXjDNqq18C89YCiZCY" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibG5nDPS9Q2tb2TQ6tCSAgNz16ui0k_Dp-NhF1bzRjPSDe0o206WFzz37-J7z4axO3qP6U9ifxKFjQpneMnCXtiIQddKBzRIS_DpmgBpIt8zB7-jZKstSS_aB-o78oQ73qk0YmXDMLh6k6vJ2x84mtBnv1IiS3m6bruRf_ELTQ4sXjDNqq18C89YCiZCY" width="180" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> and there are
even a bunch of fairytale cottages to find, built by Hugh Comstock for his wife, exactly 100 years ago.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWjg3xti6j8qQZcwfVZpitTNIkiDTFfz8ljTC-LX_EJZEBY3Bb5cz9fbkKf1GOcQiTwcMe19goD9fx7YYreLNW0NC7pvJ2qeX89qmfu03bn3uZT0nAaXhOL_avWUFRS_n0S-4nouoxDkuqJYMhAIl364RIREFCxAOVfZpqBqMdn9VHbraqHYiZvEvdavE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWjg3xti6j8qQZcwfVZpitTNIkiDTFfz8ljTC-LX_EJZEBY3Bb5cz9fbkKf1GOcQiTwcMe19goD9fx7YYreLNW0NC7pvJ2qeX89qmfu03bn3uZT0nAaXhOL_avWUFRS_n0S-4nouoxDkuqJYMhAIl364RIREFCxAOVfZpqBqMdn9VHbraqHYiZvEvdavE" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHDHcrQS7idJLhglbSGf7rbTFANWMaYTdxDlaf8bCCbsxuufc4gNX4s91Aoa7HRfX_4QeuMJrEiHWPKELdCjYmztoZ2xEU2O04vII8iA8xRJe6vNrWaO-N4cTvo-MjwRdKPMLZGhVW1pzEJsSGaDOJoaevgWJI4xBYsWIvSqJiIZEzeaCAkKyS-KbpsVs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHDHcrQS7idJLhglbSGf7rbTFANWMaYTdxDlaf8bCCbsxuufc4gNX4s91Aoa7HRfX_4QeuMJrEiHWPKELdCjYmztoZ2xEU2O04vII8iA8xRJe6vNrWaO-N4cTvo-MjwRdKPMLZGhVW1pzEJsSGaDOJoaevgWJI4xBYsWIvSqJiIZEzeaCAkKyS-KbpsVs" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjViwagbQV03rYmydWaooNZTc8ZpOX5Ev86y_yPr7NFjiXsvaBgAvug-spSHKOSzg_5TbrGr7Q-FG7TNtFDLPxqut5AQI5179Kym5gYgWT6X40dTWui_STT-R_2S8wclsLEW9CTBIUpC8xhLSyJwef8b2-4nCL3LklPMBKUKUiJEzH-eH3ASHC_Jxay5sY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjViwagbQV03rYmydWaooNZTc8ZpOX5Ev86y_yPr7NFjiXsvaBgAvug-spSHKOSzg_5TbrGr7Q-FG7TNtFDLPxqut5AQI5179Kym5gYgWT6X40dTWui_STT-R_2S8wclsLEW9CTBIUpC8xhLSyJwef8b2-4nCL3LklPMBKUKUiJEzH-eH3ASHC_Jxay5sY" width="180" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhydjLMUCfuqyaW_4USJmzeJPDiaWuDpxwlFuHWDbxUKdgfp8efnxv9zKM-sDGquJLP9e8i9wTyt-nCsNl6NrosFdF_D0hTEMPxK0jx-ior4hLEn8LPkAWrhHHjomoRUVZhpATbY_hhBrhKW9oIt6rDb9n42-vC6SdlgyxbPdvk2kWN0YhvTb9QIjVPwyw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhydjLMUCfuqyaW_4USJmzeJPDiaWuDpxwlFuHWDbxUKdgfp8efnxv9zKM-sDGquJLP9e8i9wTyt-nCsNl6NrosFdF_D0hTEMPxK0jx-ior4hLEn8LPkAWrhHHjomoRUVZhpATbY_hhBrhKW9oIt6rDb9n42-vC6SdlgyxbPdvk2kWN0YhvTb9QIjVPwyw" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgacOb6cUTdASgY5Yeb8JR6xSo3dnd08zABXBtg2htLm2tUT902jllsRpL_oau3vOJd9PUeSrrce8zmXy3bR-SM796fGA41uRLxQWatGlOF8MDfleN02HTBEeow4DZzDxXI00Ml5j4fYw5lQKMohgXUyaNUvxzJb6aiSwkbR_2txjpRtsZoufifqNFnQsM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgacOb6cUTdASgY5Yeb8JR6xSo3dnd08zABXBtg2htLm2tUT902jllsRpL_oau3vOJd9PUeSrrce8zmXy3bR-SM796fGA41uRLxQWatGlOF8MDfleN02HTBEeow4DZzDxXI00Ml5j4fYw5lQKMohgXUyaNUvxzJb6aiSwkbR_2txjpRtsZoufifqNFnQsM" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLsl6u1BHEAtIHJc-x8hM-5xc8hHMfsZ9MoQ-Fl6mWC0veNkFqx_kymaLzZfKFU3bM7LWS4YCYh19zUFHXq8XRueTkczH1ZxoYbfUf9aIidhgn0IqlF1n0RJJbsM9lp7w4a0EsQDTpess-xqKj24mF2ZaKrD1a8446cRaShUdudEcALP81dEuBL46VBME" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLsl6u1BHEAtIHJc-x8hM-5xc8hHMfsZ9MoQ-Fl6mWC0veNkFqx_kymaLzZfKFU3bM7LWS4YCYh19zUFHXq8XRueTkczH1ZxoYbfUf9aIidhgn0IqlF1n0RJJbsM9lp7w4a0EsQDTpess-xqKj24mF2ZaKrD1a8446cRaShUdudEcALP81dEuBL46VBME" width="320" /></a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">We drove past
Pebble Beach,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhortz4SHEpSIC3GgewvQkcaAFODZuNSBY0MfuMymaouYOobo8FlWMIGCfTL3yR3GZfO2X-TToqG9aXDf1TfJX3MK3v9ZEi15G_4u8IKIEoetKrZafv_LU4kMnKXgfPS56k_uEf7TCklXmmU_rPYv4hA6WdS_pI7DwrKZuo41m8tqM4OuFy6etuK6eev-Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2390" data-original-width="4030" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhortz4SHEpSIC3GgewvQkcaAFODZuNSBY0MfuMymaouYOobo8FlWMIGCfTL3yR3GZfO2X-TToqG9aXDf1TfJX3MK3v9ZEi15G_4u8IKIEoetKrZafv_LU4kMnKXgfPS56k_uEf7TCklXmmU_rPYv4hA6WdS_pI7DwrKZuo41m8tqM4OuFy6etuK6eev-Q" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">and enjoyed the fact that the seals are all gathered at Bird
Rock, and the birds are all gathered at Seal Rock.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCzaFoEiiXYqREqbxBtER20l9OHQs6CAZZy_AbUsuS3y7WpoFb7MntzyF6BpiAZx1uks_jkeWVMIIXJNjS_9bVflnpy3u4DlsPT-rDd_Tn5RLgzpJADOHZUtDS-Nv8uTk-MnoHfNZ80Dx_RvTaYVsm0yU7FsVLFqQkux73Nx35B-4hn6Yvma5ntfDUZyA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1880" data-original-width="1189" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCzaFoEiiXYqREqbxBtER20l9OHQs6CAZZy_AbUsuS3y7WpoFb7MntzyF6BpiAZx1uks_jkeWVMIIXJNjS_9bVflnpy3u4DlsPT-rDd_Tn5RLgzpJADOHZUtDS-Nv8uTk-MnoHfNZ80Dx_RvTaYVsm0yU7FsVLFqQkux73Nx35B-4hn6Yvma5ntfDUZyA" width="152" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCnX3yPan-WDRmL7QCyOgjsVl5YnQQi56ZlZg4L0HDHC8b9gPCHPyfE3PicZzg0r4JcshbQafsP7VJeEGiq0puxRg-ABVQUG-e4JJZksuxK9_KyJ7kFnfdwnHb6wuSE3FppOf8o1N8kj7CdoeM6Fw88v6ZrhfOQ6Dg6FNMIO-8XpOzeU_dL4X6nQg98ZI" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCnX3yPan-WDRmL7QCyOgjsVl5YnQQi56ZlZg4L0HDHC8b9gPCHPyfE3PicZzg0r4JcshbQafsP7VJeEGiq0puxRg-ABVQUG-e4JJZksuxK9_KyJ7kFnfdwnHb6wuSE3FppOf8o1N8kj7CdoeM6Fw88v6ZrhfOQ6Dg6FNMIO-8XpOzeU_dL4X6nQg98ZI" width="180" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> This Frank
Lloyd Wright house just sold for $22 million.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhySHI8s7bP3Ih80SVQiX4dX2-l_TLO63fgKVC6jAcpN_HHPibOYvLiMIiPMsEl1Lf9GoZ15dVwYvipQSb6H929AjNZv3a9ZlZjuU2fLLD_tVpoKf7nddcVm4sdxWP2QwvRAdVhIrzzL2RTBuzdddskPO1lwNTdKXisgUNy3m9J8YbXM84q6_ZzjmlrWpQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhySHI8s7bP3Ih80SVQiX4dX2-l_TLO63fgKVC6jAcpN_HHPibOYvLiMIiPMsEl1Lf9GoZ15dVwYvipQSb6H929AjNZv3a9ZlZjuU2fLLD_tVpoKf7nddcVm4sdxWP2QwvRAdVhIrzzL2RTBuzdddskPO1lwNTdKXisgUNy3m9J8YbXM84q6_ZzjmlrWpQ" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There are lots of other homes still on the market, but let’s
just say it helps if you’re a billionaire.</span></span><p></p><p></p>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <b>However, for the fabulous price of FREE, you can enjoy
dozens and dozens of my Youtube Mom life hack <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton">videos</a>.</b></span>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-39204708617908207612024-03-05T07:00:00.000-08:002024-03-05T07:00:00.156-08:00Write This Down<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Are you
still using Number 2 pencils? I know, I know, we use pens far more often, but
most of us still own a few pencils. I use one to jot on a notepad beside my bed
when I get ideas in the middle of the night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTHKsKDunKanNJZZ8SD05hPp-sBXTA65nLNFHqX0l5MXiZv7sGeTO_Y_l89gOUV_zoZ7_ik428rvxzkUu1k7t-71J39G9urIXqcLJJqqrEm9HN-0GhX0LffY4as2fAFUKMw3mRj2iNetbrTU_XU7XBNCzt5tTdSK-eap9qbp6sDSszPF6heUV1x4seeVI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTHKsKDunKanNJZZ8SD05hPp-sBXTA65nLNFHqX0l5MXiZv7sGeTO_Y_l89gOUV_zoZ7_ik428rvxzkUu1k7t-71J39G9urIXqcLJJqqrEm9HN-0GhX0LffY4as2fAFUKMw3mRj2iNetbrTU_XU7XBNCzt5tTdSK-eap9qbp6sDSszPF6heUV1x4seeVI" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But don’t
you wonder why we’re all using #2s? Why not #1s?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aha! Today I shall enlighten you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First,
pencil “leads” aren’t lead, but a mixture of graphite, clay, and water. The
higher the number, the harder the core, and the lighter the marking is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Turns out
that #1 pencils have more graphite, and thus make darker markings, so sign me
up! I have always thought pencil marks were too light and skinny. I’m the same
way with pens. I always choose bold over the fine tip.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But here’s
why: I have terrible handwriting. It looks like I’m in 3<sup>rd</sup>
grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that a wider, smudgier
line is more forgiving than a sharp point, and my handwriting looks cleaner
with it. You may have gorgeous printing, in which case you can use any tip you
like.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLYgnMRfAri_bKj7j92TPkSCDOrs_tO83D5UoDiR2ntqleCpW8XARDIgcqNnTTpkWo-pncuCKjOtU90BRDR384WUcy8F79Yxxzku5yEOhM9xa1_TT4w-ZETRS3pycUc5NsQOspPCmcFdwNTKW4PWJEKAWbF4jxkVNaXXAJ_PUG173LRDmawgytdedRIGw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLYgnMRfAri_bKj7j92TPkSCDOrs_tO83D5UoDiR2ntqleCpW8XARDIgcqNnTTpkWo-pncuCKjOtU90BRDR384WUcy8F79Yxxzku5yEOhM9xa1_TT4w-ZETRS3pycUc5NsQOspPCmcFdwNTKW4PWJEKAWbF4jxkVNaXXAJ_PUG173LRDmawgytdedRIGw" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So back to
#2 pencils. It’s the standard here because it’s average, right in the middle of
the grading scale. But only in the US, folks. This designation doesn’t exist in
the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpODrgW180VZbHw10o357Fgh5evyuiBVcusN9lhAPQGUP3SwqySVbUOMTP4-W25y2oNM9JNQGvR5t_8-_52ISzVQu4aJVM47K3XZgKIG9uxU_95FT6TyvMI7RYOwdq-6Xse6C7tyS-tuyfVHGVQ5P_9CcgB8RpDSCcSYQnPuex2dg5tAEZu3d-RnxlqsA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1123" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpODrgW180VZbHw10o357Fgh5evyuiBVcusN9lhAPQGUP3SwqySVbUOMTP4-W25y2oNM9JNQGvR5t_8-_52ISzVQu4aJVM47K3XZgKIG9uxU_95FT6TyvMI7RYOwdq-6Xse6C7tyS-tuyfVHGVQ5P_9CcgB8RpDSCcSYQnPuex2dg5tAEZu3d-RnxlqsA" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> Still, </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">why so
many kinds? Art. Drafting. Some people want very precise tips. And if you want
a challenge, try writing with a super-hard 10H pencil. On the other hand, I hear
that Japanese pencils add wax and other additives, to give dark, yet non-smudgy
results.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipRc56o3sJHBos2U96SVE3byjKLCMAEKQhdroZbFw4WLLvCbK5f6IbmTedOoFpqS9sfgvSRnqi0gyxoeCy8HsD6_HJrV7kLb_9Rx4mHiEdTpk-7FUjkEdwQ30_ILT4lL8aGAQ6yMSs21yfobivBcgQfW4Q_Tyk1EG6deTE8WdQ-AnhE_3-l9uVTzn6zEs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipRc56o3sJHBos2U96SVE3byjKLCMAEKQhdroZbFw4WLLvCbK5f6IbmTedOoFpqS9sfgvSRnqi0gyxoeCy8HsD6_HJrV7kLb_9Rx4mHiEdTpk-7FUjkEdwQ30_ILT4lL8aGAQ6yMSs21yfobivBcgQfW4Q_Tyk1EG6deTE8WdQ-AnhE_3-l9uVTzn6zEs" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3_dnQi9L0yxUJWXsXlGcz1dic45OpZRtQlNfKZ3O_mzIY2v6YBm5QD-RBNUb0e1Of8xrC1-ZqjNJIO9F50crNZZNdVhxznwZXAO6GsBucyq4PIhQcqneViUZN_GQh9mLbyJvtYVhADFuAWv9XmkKxhQawAC8gaVQ0IAJvW9PV5Ye1LeZJZ5EQF_q_hAw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="265" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3_dnQi9L0yxUJWXsXlGcz1dic45OpZRtQlNfKZ3O_mzIY2v6YBm5QD-RBNUb0e1Of8xrC1-ZqjNJIO9F50crNZZNdVhxznwZXAO6GsBucyq4PIhQcqneViUZN_GQh9mLbyJvtYVhADFuAWv9XmkKxhQawAC8gaVQ0IAJvW9PV5Ye1LeZJZ5EQF_q_hAw" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> L</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">ast
bit of pencil trivia for you: Henry David Thoreau’s family manufactured pencils,
and he worked with his father, even inventing a new way to grind the graphite. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">And now you
will never see a common pencil in the same way again.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>However,
you can see my <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">Youtube Mom videos</a> whether you own a pencil or not. Check out
dozens of life hacks on my channel!<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-89820642452544716762024-02-27T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-27T07:00:00.149-08:00Currying Favor<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I’ve told you
before that our four kids are comedians. Not professionally, just
happenstance-ily.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We were on a
Facetime call last weekend, all sharing what’s new in our lives, when Nicole
mentioned that she is seeing someone, and that he brought curry over and they
watched a documentary by a Swedish guy with a Hispanic name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What was in
the curry?” everyone wanted to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
listed a few ingredients.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheLC_d_ikldHraERc6rCfAIzM-8664aiFp9cY62WgkyGxQXDDEoI_qm44WcmrHt5pzDtHZIr_0JihDW_yWzl3CQB-jvgtxEoYj-dWkPo3Ip8hOxGNGAn8R0IIjIPB5duLhOGbA6O-40Xx_YoLr7wjltGAOP-VF4cO2bTtkpijK2rAAizsOObvTcQa6i68" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="163" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheLC_d_ikldHraERc6rCfAIzM-8664aiFp9cY62WgkyGxQXDDEoI_qm44WcmrHt5pzDtHZIr_0JihDW_yWzl3CQB-jvgtxEoYj-dWkPo3Ip8hOxGNGAn8R0IIjIPB5duLhOGbA6O-40Xx_YoLr7wjltGAOP-VF4cO2bTtkpijK2rAAizsOObvTcQa6i68" width="264" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“That’s good
that he can cook,” someone said.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And why does
the Swedish documentary guy have a Spanish name?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She pointed out
that lots of people who live in Sweden are from somewhere else.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I frowned. I
like the dolls in <i>It’s a Small World</i> to stay in their assigned spots. No
hula dancers wiggling off to the igloo area, no one in a sombrero joining the
can-can dancers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz0RVYVJ0j_Fdup1hvZcJ_yuHgu71rRtGJ2fLYUFcSI_2fFGRAHvOCmzOirXOe_VY-_L2ot5r0MJLy-vmXHPUdsCgl5wjXOouy3rwrnoNdKd_t1KkVKKbjk7DZ3zMrKjW48lVkNSQUS2J3Q1DO5VzG3EZxhN3WSZv5KsQ7CgjtbU9NQAQw_med8BKSdPo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz0RVYVJ0j_Fdup1hvZcJ_yuHgu71rRtGJ2fLYUFcSI_2fFGRAHvOCmzOirXOe_VY-_L2ot5r0MJLy-vmXHPUdsCgl5wjXOouy3rwrnoNdKd_t1KkVKKbjk7DZ3zMrKjW48lVkNSQUS2J3Q1DO5VzG3EZxhN3WSZv5KsQ7CgjtbU9NQAQw_med8BKSdPo" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There were more
questions about the curry. What kind of rice? How was the meat seasoned?</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Someone asked
our daughter-in-law, Tiffany, about her upcoming yoga retreat and she said that
her students’ trauma was a heavy thing for them to carry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Especially
when they have to carry it doing all those hard poses,” Brandon pointed out.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjLzXgsa5jEJMWYtW3dLE5XhWIHJy7tlHc9EKvmgt3LT-UhF_NB0Hnj590QEL17S_LWjRModz9zZtI41vtO1gyVI7J2QhywvYYWNFpOwk9fxCdJyKIdvrrOn1yAk-C3ZYyk5AseSlvXp_YCbUIojFSxLPgqKIOL5nmEsHk-3rhU4WJFfACxVtC1eRPd34" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="253" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjLzXgsa5jEJMWYtW3dLE5XhWIHJy7tlHc9EKvmgt3LT-UhF_NB0Hnj590QEL17S_LWjRModz9zZtI41vtO1gyVI7J2QhywvYYWNFpOwk9fxCdJyKIdvrrOn1yAk-C3ZYyk5AseSlvXp_YCbUIojFSxLPgqKIOL5nmEsHk-3rhU4WJFfACxVtC1eRPd34" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then Cassidy asked
Brandon how many kids he has (which is zero), and complimented him on his Dad
joke.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I like how
Nicole mentioned she’s seeing someone, and all anyone asked about was the
curry,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well, and the
documentary,” Brandon added. Yes, good point. Another successful family
gathering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Have you seen my latest <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">Youtube Mom</a> videos?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hundreds of life hacks you can watch right
where you’re sitting. With or without your family.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-50653937641743106022024-02-20T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-20T07:00:00.132-08:00World Champion Haggler<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> I honestly think St. Bob should come with a warning sign. It
would say, “Enter into negotiations with this man at your own risk.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He competes at
this “game” like it’s the Chiseling Olympics, and he’s defending his gold
medal. If he gets even a whiff that a price is negotiable, the day is gone and
he will wheedle and bargain until closing time. Had he been born in a country
with open markets and flexible prices, I would never see him again.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMTW5kFOg1BJs_3kOgFeHvxESHDncwgMyljAK-0Nb7i-gYfmgkpfzVF-sPExrCI0TnN4Imki6c3yRqn5ul4PwmVGZyb7BDZLCsu8tBVVvPWLDqHvzn15CWRwGEPeftWTMUCUHzr0j_KxFTYvWchm6EILL4MvA-sixcDjpnvAvuPKwAPrKlWnYtQz7uKIc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMTW5kFOg1BJs_3kOgFeHvxESHDncwgMyljAK-0Nb7i-gYfmgkpfzVF-sPExrCI0TnN4Imki6c3yRqn5ul4PwmVGZyb7BDZLCsu8tBVVvPWLDqHvzn15CWRwGEPeftWTMUCUHzr0j_KxFTYvWchm6EILL4MvA-sixcDjpnvAvuPKwAPrKlWnYtQz7uKIc" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But in the U.S.
this hobby is pretty much restricted to car dealerships. And heaven help the
car salesman who doesn’t match Bob’s talents. It is a point of pride that Bob
can finagle a make and model for less money than anyone else you will ever hear
of.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week he
sold his SUV, so the haggling began. Over and over he “walked away.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point he told me he really did want a certain
car, so I said, “Then call and tell them.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjND9OFPveJMLdaCmwXW51XEaNgTZjlGGsM4VZTcbCqRDL8F_PDekP2QT26MgkzDsdnbkfUgy_HrU5BiVC3kfCHtvrs3p-JMUCo46ONf13IyY9X0Pvc3eMOK-0QafElG-XAKzQ5a8delIM1SUoMgU2qbn2x1GFZh5N62VXCmIjQujXesiGCgyp8xPMFQd8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="258" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjND9OFPveJMLdaCmwXW51XEaNgTZjlGGsM4VZTcbCqRDL8F_PDekP2QT26MgkzDsdnbkfUgy_HrU5BiVC3kfCHtvrs3p-JMUCo46ONf13IyY9X0Pvc3eMOK-0QafElG-XAKzQ5a8delIM1SUoMgU2qbn2x1GFZh5N62VXCmIjQujXesiGCgyp8xPMFQd8" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ha! He looked
at me like I was crazy and said, “Whoever calls next loses.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There’s a method to his madness and he can
tell exactly when the salesman is ready to lower the price, throw in a warranty,
and include a new set of tires.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally it was
over. “Did you get the price you wanted?” I asked. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Even lower,”
he said. “Plus he threw in new floor mats, a tank of gas, and Sirius FM.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Good grief. No
wonder he was so good as the host of NBC TV’s <i>Let’s Make a Deal</i> during
the 90s. These poor salesmen haven’t got a chance.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGTdb4n3scGe_zObUJOgeOXueVLRGqlUPOI1WJPXAWUHK_wJJLwpz9bm-cEWaNH2YUb21z-WOMDsHgQxr2y19wu_y86d2A2POhp1yK8YerzncLEtj2c6q-Yp2Tz71SFVqOcsA5j5wMtyJHfNLTmCNPEUnWZ9UgAZZgQ5senRR3sKuXlCzKZzAG0cknp6s" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1468" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGTdb4n3scGe_zObUJOgeOXueVLRGqlUPOI1WJPXAWUHK_wJJLwpz9bm-cEWaNH2YUb21z-WOMDsHgQxr2y19wu_y86d2A2POhp1yK8YerzncLEtj2c6q-Yp2Tz71SFVqOcsA5j5wMtyJHfNLTmCNPEUnWZ9UgAZZgQ5senRR3sKuXlCzKZzAG0cknp6s" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGTdb4n3scGe_zObUJOgeOXueVLRGqlUPOI1WJPXAWUHK_wJJLwpz9bm-cEWaNH2YUb21z-WOMDsHgQxr2y19wu_y86d2A2POhp1yK8YerzncLEtj2c6q-Yp2Tz71SFVqOcsA5j5wMtyJHfNLTmCNPEUnWZ9UgAZZgQ5senRR3sKuXlCzKZzAG0cknp6s" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE3gW2_CnV-jYfG2bwmYQkjSvGi2fQHWYCeoBGX1ab7-uGdj7KzdXqVPs9i2WaJmWg_Hl7cq9nJ95SdVk0MEOP482uydnDpQ_0fsghwhoSvMT5k1Qw_gtZfmV5eN5kFfca3WfnYBuOjcpOMNydtAeIVyuh7M3jLNfD9qTyFCvVLYMYWJgbbtxAbyjQaOs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE3gW2_CnV-jYfG2bwmYQkjSvGi2fQHWYCeoBGX1ab7-uGdj7KzdXqVPs9i2WaJmWg_Hl7cq9nJ95SdVk0MEOP482uydnDpQ_0fsghwhoSvMT5k1Qw_gtZfmV5eN5kFfca3WfnYBuOjcpOMNydtAeIVyuh7M3jLNfD9qTyFCvVLYMYWJgbbtxAbyjQaOs" width="165" /></a></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Yes, you can
watch episodes of St. Bob wheeling and dealing, but don’t forget to watch a few
of my Youtube Mom life hack <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">videos</a> as well!</b></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-10516671346639223102024-02-13T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-13T07:00:00.158-08:00Okay, but.. a Shark?<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Last week California
had a record-breaking storm. Buckets of rain, and amazingly, 61-mile-an-hour
winds. 70 is a hurricane, so you can imagine tree limbs, roof tiles, and even
garbage cans blowing sideways.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It sounded like
a freight train and caused several power outages. At one point I looked out at
the front street and there, crumpled up on our lawn, was a shark!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4A_o_U4wGiYDym_-UkSby-q8Y0BRb5kcfCol8BWr8auA3ysZsRabN82OflVgCqFTNcb08kT-lb7o6ESyh7FRU1BFK2MgeGTWDu_Qx7k41FEGvQO7F9r_2TPg6-Lfxjfm7_Rkvlw4vk5gCyafVhftQws_1riyDFid0qqj6W-TfViE4iNsZrDI1RE46DfU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="269" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4A_o_U4wGiYDym_-UkSby-q8Y0BRb5kcfCol8BWr8auA3ysZsRabN82OflVgCqFTNcb08kT-lb7o6ESyh7FRU1BFK2MgeGTWDu_Qx7k41FEGvQO7F9r_2TPg6-Lfxjfm7_Rkvlw4vk5gCyafVhftQws_1riyDFid0qqj6W-TfViE4iNsZrDI1RE46DfU" width="320" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Okay, a pool
shark.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9-QCi_DaOQ36hBzUPBeIGMiQEJUF2NtCLDZeKzvPGMRAPz0ck7FzAHor3UpxKSn1E9KdSO1g1Njg3DSnBqUYaeznVJ0_MRLwAcg4zuiapfIfzSBdTouvM11lsR0veiqTYb4vu5jSS3JzSHSgoSeAJ47XWW1mDW1vE9L-wUI1foKVzFKXEI0hoPlk6v-Y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="271" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9-QCi_DaOQ36hBzUPBeIGMiQEJUF2NtCLDZeKzvPGMRAPz0ck7FzAHor3UpxKSn1E9KdSO1g1Njg3DSnBqUYaeznVJ0_MRLwAcg4zuiapfIfzSBdTouvM11lsR0veiqTYb4vu5jSS3JzSHSgoSeAJ47XWW1mDW1vE9L-wUI1foKVzFKXEI0hoPlk6v-Y" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Okay, not that
kind of pool shark. An inflatable one for a swimming pool.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUijPt21obHthwXTRtoQLNnb7IZ3RUVRTiO6A4Vpqr9Y-7jkm2MuvWQFDttinLDcpULnbHUdt8l7Ouk6nsr8M9nh_Jbs6GVMhAiEQ7pYozI9W2yxYys_dLK_HSvnQhGISh0iH9OTW2FWXm7QHu5SUPDYBaUrEDR622u0hzDqLTCWfEk-QdLCisGrUVyss" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="246" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUijPt21obHthwXTRtoQLNnb7IZ3RUVRTiO6A4Vpqr9Y-7jkm2MuvWQFDttinLDcpULnbHUdt8l7Ouk6nsr8M9nh_Jbs6GVMhAiEQ7pYozI9W2yxYys_dLK_HSvnQhGISh0iH9OTW2FWXm7QHu5SUPDYBaUrEDR622u0hzDqLTCWfEk-QdLCisGrUVyss" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Although it
would have been cool if various sea creatures had blown into the neighborhood,
all the way from the coast.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtIYZzLU_K_Yu-JJUu2jkN2_9anG0c5Ccz1cAeNnWYY9oyLFNnUl_9ouHeIUuD5aPgV2LJ8yNQZWu5K8DcuKXKM7O2hh9AYrguWFRxPkMFQrxop__oj9fLGeS6uQL7B0AKTAJriEQoQ55M87HhRpTDMaHVCehDuci7BVemuGCxm-l-b86vVMd8ytN0-Mk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtIYZzLU_K_Yu-JJUu2jkN2_9anG0c5Ccz1cAeNnWYY9oyLFNnUl_9ouHeIUuD5aPgV2LJ8yNQZWu5K8DcuKXKM7O2hh9AYrguWFRxPkMFQrxop__oj9fLGeS6uQL7B0AKTAJriEQoQ55M87HhRpTDMaHVCehDuci7BVemuGCxm-l-b86vVMd8ytN0-Mk" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I ran back to
grab my phone and take a picture. But in the few seconds it took, the shark had
blown away, probably to San Francisco.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Maybe those are
the real lyrics to the song! <i>I left my shark…. In San Francisco…<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We survived the
onslaught with only some fence damage, but somewhere a family is missing its pool
floatie.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>Weather-- or sharp teeth-- keeping you inside? That’s a perfect time to watch my <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">Youtube Mom</a> life hacks!<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-87467313079415495682024-02-06T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-09T15:42:10.292-08:00You're in a Band?<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">We had just
gone to bed last night when St. Bob told me his shoulder was hurting again.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Aren’t you doing
physical therapy for it?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And here’s
where the story breaks down. Evidently he went to PT and thought they’d have him
lift some weights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLeehj2jDG97qRvS0ay3G4MNzosk8U3nzBnMSbhwOznmbqE996f7YND9XHVltCkY9d8So8yw9ygglOhMSWzMRdlX7d9ZbZ8u4XEpfDNEyemBI38-eGNIzCTG7mshG240bGv2B_bDPSe2edqps80qHqbEFCwRqErxtR1SNxo8EE1Uj1dVJdZWUEZUavAUg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="177" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLeehj2jDG97qRvS0ay3G4MNzosk8U3nzBnMSbhwOznmbqE996f7YND9XHVltCkY9d8So8yw9ygglOhMSWzMRdlX7d9ZbZ8u4XEpfDNEyemBI38-eGNIzCTG7mshG240bGv2B_bDPSe2edqps80qHqbEFCwRqErxtR1SNxo8EE1Uj1dVJdZWUEZUavAUg" width="186" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> But, instead, he was shown
how to use one of those wide resistance bands. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXxqoryHYffUKybYXajytEeZFvKNapdBoeqBDj1y-qtossLousygPpUkg9m7hcHnb0sCoVlA-2qD4bBB3A4ZgAOrAAXjyVABxy2I6wJS1Kphm7s-VT-NZzXeyMYb67xSXVQEMmtJ5aeT4dEA6cfkgr8ayqDpZ0Dzab6SXVdD2cjCi7E9uIqhDOOyjrPcg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="275" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXxqoryHYffUKybYXajytEeZFvKNapdBoeqBDj1y-qtossLousygPpUkg9m7hcHnb0sCoVlA-2qD4bBB3A4ZgAOrAAXjyVABxy2I6wJS1Kphm7s-VT-NZzXeyMYb67xSXVQEMmtJ5aeT4dEA6cfkgr8ayqDpZ0Dzab6SXVdD2cjCi7E9uIqhDOOyjrPcg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“And everybody doing it was about
900 years old and I hate that frickin’ place, so I left.” </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">(pause) “And I went to Burger King.”</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“But if you’d
try what they said to do—”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s rubber
bands!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rubber bands!” Bob said, getting
worked up.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDPAFaP-XDt_CTh0ArMiI5xrpIcBdlrbV6LJUEqAYNvpVrLUdUfvMxQOyBDjNZBqL64KAhOPguAKOYlVGOHMZ81jUgZfXbFayU43_ikLlNvOOEW37nnYREXFgp5Me4Nc_m_FpM5Qi0fS9DcFTPw9e_Q9gr5LNuifCPTIgP7FdOp27qA4IqfU7NV_Hvzlg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="272" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDPAFaP-XDt_CTh0ArMiI5xrpIcBdlrbV6LJUEqAYNvpVrLUdUfvMxQOyBDjNZBqL64KAhOPguAKOYlVGOHMZ81jUgZfXbFayU43_ikLlNvOOEW37nnYREXFgp5Me4Nc_m_FpM5Qi0fS9DcFTPw9e_Q9gr5LNuifCPTIgP7FdOp27qA4IqfU7NV_Hvzlg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And now I’m
giggling uncontrollably. I can just picture him refusing to join a geriatric
group. Bob would rather live in denial than rehab his shoulder.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_dGhbWaAPD0PTZb--DZL55MFwtBwLKVQIMktLKRkztj6VYSAWlTkDoBGRFYuBtmZ-juzmsfqCM0X8N3VAH8h5v8Fgcgxx0LMYaDbF2UOjc2pJgt4K5f6sHPjyqDKTExAoLwHJns0g0pWRfJCYXUS3jh9BhsAQgtY2tpcaJhmsftV2RDp9342pG982Hfg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_dGhbWaAPD0PTZb--DZL55MFwtBwLKVQIMktLKRkztj6VYSAWlTkDoBGRFYuBtmZ-juzmsfqCM0X8N3VAH8h5v8Fgcgxx0LMYaDbF2UOjc2pJgt4K5f6sHPjyqDKTExAoLwHJns0g0pWRfJCYXUS3jh9BhsAQgtY2tpcaJhmsftV2RDp9342pG982Hfg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> H</span>e recommends
the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Double Whopper, no onions, extra pickles.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>And I
recommend my Youtube Mom channel <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">here</a>. You might not heal your shoulder, but
you’ll learn a lot of life hacks.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-62283603795033331752024-01-30T07:00:00.000-08:002024-01-30T07:00:00.183-08:00Who Nose?<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">A friend of
mine stopped by to visit, and told me she had a “Joni Moment” this week.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Aha, I thought,
time to find out just what that means. Does it mean she thought of a brilliant
invention, a life-saving device, a solution to the world’s woes?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of course not.
She accidentally brushed eyeliner on the end of her nose. She was switching
from one eye to the other, got too close, and brushed a wide swath of black on
the tip of her nose.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsxopCqsmup-jMKfs9KGHOMgGkwaztjAyGMmq5frA5AZw4O7IddOI4TuaWId4hPzXpBAE9253EUk-SVv8bjSDB5seh9TpqihKMbQhDpgxriJ7p5jkO-mIj26fbTa9eVmrB6QX2qHUqKxzaZau59o5ZHlnYLj98x_V4lgbQp1NUuwmoc6zig8f_XtIXVnM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="217" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsxopCqsmup-jMKfs9KGHOMgGkwaztjAyGMmq5frA5AZw4O7IddOI4TuaWId4hPzXpBAE9253EUk-SVv8bjSDB5seh9TpqihKMbQhDpgxriJ7p5jkO-mIj26fbTa9eVmrB6QX2qHUqKxzaZau59o5ZHlnYLj98x_V4lgbQp1NUuwmoc6zig8f_XtIXVnM" width="253" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mind you, I am
sitting there with my own black splotch on the end of my nose. But mine is a scar
repair-- from skin cancer-- with stitches, and looks like a little spider with
turquoise legs (the thread). I am told to put Vaseline on it twice a day, and
that’s how we know it isn’t an actual spider, because it just holds still for
this.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDB06t4XUMB5LWjJkJ1k2n_QBbDLJ2l5XGV4_NmH6hzkJjcMoVNv8pRn2Cq6v0_d7Ai_jG_Lf4PttJYWNed4E6obLNpNLruYJxzQ7ZUkMUiRc7qK3e15GhJnJf-WdPK93dV7cV1SpOSfzdxAimODbfKuCzBM-fxtdhID0X8-bb8wCcgSkjQl37ngl9qQk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="195" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDB06t4XUMB5LWjJkJ1k2n_QBbDLJ2l5XGV4_NmH6hzkJjcMoVNv8pRn2Cq6v0_d7Ai_jG_Lf4PttJYWNed4E6obLNpNLruYJxzQ7ZUkMUiRc7qK3e15GhJnJf-WdPK93dV7cV1SpOSfzdxAimODbfKuCzBM-fxtdhID0X8-bb8wCcgSkjQl37ngl9qQk" width="256" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I sighed. I
also remembered that whenever I get a hot flash and pick up a fan to wave it, I
smack my nose with it.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, if you see
me sporting a black spot on the end of my nose, you need not worry that I
smudged my makeup. I merely had my unicorn horn smoothed out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>See if you
can see it on my Youtube Mom life hack videos right <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-88028778032349967362024-01-23T07:00:00.000-08:002024-01-23T07:00:00.144-08:00Where Bon-Bons Play<p> <span> </span><span> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ahh… a new French bakery came to town.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIJhOENqBYhlbtwKMItaDvRzEGhCVOnN4fv9zcaOHxWsckMj-u_7kZgCfZhr5HQmdVtzOWnGxBncA2KOh8TGIeHHF8ZzWIVZUyouPN0U47xhr2wBWaenyO3ZwrjxXczjHLeEM-2dD2jlqudnptrsmC7mmElzJXghup2UUl41U4IT2i0Dv_88ejwLjO130" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="3776" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIJhOENqBYhlbtwKMItaDvRzEGhCVOnN4fv9zcaOHxWsckMj-u_7kZgCfZhr5HQmdVtzOWnGxBncA2KOh8TGIeHHF8ZzWIVZUyouPN0U47xhr2wBWaenyO3ZwrjxXczjHLeEM-2dD2jlqudnptrsmC7mmElzJXghup2UUl41U4IT2i0Dv_88ejwLjO130" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course St. Bob and I had to
check it out. The second we walked in, Bob took one look at the rows and rows of goodies and said, “Well, I’ll never see you again.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnjftZiWk4JJDc1vlvtrq3Yr4mRWy3ia950HHZGPMDDASScSthXzGrWXsaFkvHbyPSrlAC4KjLNozJoSAzy-9XSN3on6BpW0IZ6vIUKO1nbZ0V5TEAzHqVQ0aTLfx6fMCBmpogoGFUH2spmOdQm4wrnCGwlZ06px7xLUf-hA1EwGky6qcFf1VBSPHc0-s" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1806" data-original-width="2918" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnjftZiWk4JJDc1vlvtrq3Yr4mRWy3ia950HHZGPMDDASScSthXzGrWXsaFkvHbyPSrlAC4KjLNozJoSAzy-9XSN3on6BpW0IZ6vIUKO1nbZ0V5TEAzHqVQ0aTLfx6fMCBmpogoGFUH2spmOdQm4wrnCGwlZ06px7xLUf-hA1EwGky6qcFf1VBSPHc0-s" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Pastries of all
kinds beckoned. We were each given a tray, a sheet of parchment, and a pair of
tongs. Like everyone else, we loaded up. One guy was holding as much
as he possibly could:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXnEr-QwOX3gqOkBklyiMnBrl-JzZOsYpzG2oK_dFQZ6NDNjGga1TUtipa5z8tCvwAMFpsF4WpaGA8TuIMacPRchEfIIGS0mFIpwuzHW0aON_r3lc-flMmebJzPBPR51PeTq73nDDAh1VGH_i30e3NBGxCGqU1CYLMDTouoSz3j9vn-Fg72SD-7pH8YAM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="1398" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXnEr-QwOX3gqOkBklyiMnBrl-JzZOsYpzG2oK_dFQZ6NDNjGga1TUtipa5z8tCvwAMFpsF4WpaGA8TuIMacPRchEfIIGS0mFIpwuzHW0aON_r3lc-flMmebJzPBPR51PeTq73nDDAh1VGH_i30e3NBGxCGqU1CYLMDTouoSz3j9vn-Fg72SD-7pH8YAM" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Two dozen
tables were filled with happy munchers. We sampled a cake, a sweet roll, a
fried apple thing, a quiche, and I can’t remember what else.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFtnaCAptdZKu84YaH5Y1ZWTVuMtNny2DF2dhLyr41cBJdkZ6iBoVATn59rwRHld9a4eD_e7pfnHwliKJSE7I719U4GwxXoQoAre9ZlZ-Sdar3Lm-NF6FztyrkyfowGjx5J7OQaur5owtSt6wMFrOCnuN-YImnot-cfBQHdRA5qPYdC_76UWDhMxo3MDw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFtnaCAptdZKu84YaH5Y1ZWTVuMtNny2DF2dhLyr41cBJdkZ6iBoVATn59rwRHld9a4eD_e7pfnHwliKJSE7I719U4GwxXoQoAre9ZlZ-Sdar3Lm-NF6FztyrkyfowGjx5J7OQaur5owtSt6wMFrOCnuN-YImnot-cfBQHdRA5qPYdC_76UWDhMxo3MDw" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEcBGCDD8udcWZNRQnulV9YQHOOzg7JwKh7a-N4PY7l54EegCkNKhy1fOHZww5S1Sgul3FWYDqeADHtgwYca394W0th-gRzPvJNq4OuSE0h8bLoBkDXv1h4GdHabWErWxux2qOe09but8MsqprHQo0kqX5FgHrdHJCMC6DeQfUJwN6wCuj4UfYDM_-rmQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="4032" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEcBGCDD8udcWZNRQnulV9YQHOOzg7JwKh7a-N4PY7l54EegCkNKhy1fOHZww5S1Sgul3FWYDqeADHtgwYca394W0th-gRzPvJNq4OuSE0h8bLoBkDXv1h4GdHabWErWxux2qOe09but8MsqprHQo0kqX5FgHrdHJCMC6DeQfUJwN6wCuj4UfYDM_-rmQ" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Flaky crusts,
creamy fillings—it was probably not good to know that this place is rather
close to our house. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsctMwlrlEgmBlildEizOKXB8GNdOIDSJRIeJst-pQGijhMH-MjnEkJZRmxlklghRkBlVx2fzF_bqIancdnekpoCcSFtwsqg77WZfAm7WaAix2BYTIKJRSClOPz9oOhRySBrcpAJvppXc08co39aGdHXdtC9NAIs3gI3JLIZlq0PQ57A_SggfS8lGzj18" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2443" data-original-width="2233" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsctMwlrlEgmBlildEizOKXB8GNdOIDSJRIeJst-pQGijhMH-MjnEkJZRmxlklghRkBlVx2fzF_bqIancdnekpoCcSFtwsqg77WZfAm7WaAix2BYTIKJRSClOPz9oOhRySBrcpAJvppXc08co39aGdHXdtC9NAIs3gI3JLIZlq0PQ57A_SggfS8lGzj18=w217-h240" width="217" /></a></div><br />Yikes. Pray for me, readers.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>Oh—and watch
my <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton">Youtube channel</a>. Lots of fun life hacks.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3PKCbNQjelv3RjwYnQLE6gklK4fB-tDP2aEZlrZ88sUs2002Y0CzOfwsmC0xItzdQsufFJJ4JxPPSQRpzhHSPvSOIyvjsD5SAe96Rj5uelzi69pUWfJthaUpdMHYIA_bAEQMxDIQ7xQGZApgMbt4Nbc5z5yBLfh94ZAoLIpb_ElrQJER4JmLt-s66z-8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /></a></div><p></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-42750628650885483462024-01-16T07:00:00.000-08:002024-01-16T07:00:00.132-08:00Packing it Up<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Most of you
have already packed up your holiday décor. But a friend just called me and said
she thinks she needs an intervention. She has way too much Christmas clutter
and can’t part with any of it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sound familiar?
Just this year I told St. Bob that we should use this “re-packing”
opportunity to throw away the stuff we scarcely use anymore.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5WPMPlbIkTi0y89VxAAOeaV9eYkEDs1gHfQhxPe4GPGUsVseF73V4JFCXnmC4jEHx63_HpQbrSRpCiqEXkHcjtRZfeijEUCy0E8htkU0M6fP5Tru3S261AanW8OJP5uvfECTmINGQb6SK7DsL7HJ9SJ2S7of-ZyjGu3IC3uB5GKlEu5ds9J0fu6p2XBo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5WPMPlbIkTi0y89VxAAOeaV9eYkEDs1gHfQhxPe4GPGUsVseF73V4JFCXnmC4jEHx63_HpQbrSRpCiqEXkHcjtRZfeijEUCy0E8htkU0M6fP5Tru3S261AanW8OJP5uvfECTmINGQb6SK7DsL7HJ9SJ2S7of-ZyjGu3IC3uB5GKlEu5ds9J0fu6p2XBo" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think I came
up with two tiny items. Two. Tiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
know the theory that you should toss or donate everything which doesn’t bring joy? Well,
every bit of this brings joy—that’s its whole purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It looks like
Santa threw up in my living room,” my friend said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQQgZCGfdaqxbanQoNTj7fnIJxkdYjnweBk3iIa4fZVFPS4ITX-4nBGyrY3c5c9Dn1txXjImyldsFeO6BUEX8aScAWkJcsiTG1VjH75cJZ7uArNDC3XVsvET8ddNDUvH4nsltkWXNsCufQky5c_M9rjZ0jJF8x-TtTG3-m6yirwiJ6WNyhB3UOZJ5ctkw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="249" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQQgZCGfdaqxbanQoNTj7fnIJxkdYjnweBk3iIa4fZVFPS4ITX-4nBGyrY3c5c9Dn1txXjImyldsFeO6BUEX8aScAWkJcsiTG1VjH75cJZ7uArNDC3XVsvET8ddNDUvH4nsltkWXNsCufQky5c_M9rjZ0jJF8x-TtTG3-m6yirwiJ6WNyhB3UOZJ5ctkw" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I told her I
couldn’t come and help because I would bring empty bins, say that I’m loading
them up for </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Goodwill,</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> and then secretly keep them all.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I devoted
one <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1x8SGhVkqQ" target="_blank">bedroom</a> to Christmas all year, I used a number of decorations. So, you’d think
it would thin down my storage. But no. How do I still have the same number of
boxes as before?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally, I came
up with the perfect solution and shared it with my pal. “You don’t have too
much stuff,” I said. “You have too few houses.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And that’s the
best I can do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>But hundreds
of quick life hacks can be yours—including ones about organizing—right <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">here</a> on
my Youtube Mom channel.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-34996046761757359302024-01-09T07:00:00.000-08:002024-01-09T07:00:00.128-08:00Getting Around<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Circles don’t
get enough credit for all they do.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This
wonderful, round shape has come in handy throughout history.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Take horse
training. If you don’t use a round pen, horses will go into the corner and
stop. They are smarter than most people think, and will try to get out of
training.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIWxThbTJzXpUqb0GFokO-ACEe8Tq1x5ACP1CmzRirb2dniXodul_PT-FrfsJCLzw1jCSjEWV3L2pSTQV8mb29x9xJs4Wak76uyj-VRPqtTYT9Z0xAHtsp4gMXzVLLtstUKns0g11Cxm5RMNLWmvQ-7D_CnHYxCyd9pqQzbgnv6Gd97XepSysWFufn5Qg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="228" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIWxThbTJzXpUqb0GFokO-ACEe8Tq1x5ACP1CmzRirb2dniXodul_PT-FrfsJCLzw1jCSjEWV3L2pSTQV8mb29x9xJs4Wak76uyj-VRPqtTYT9Z0xAHtsp4gMXzVLLtstUKns0g11Cxm5RMNLWmvQ-7D_CnHYxCyd9pqQzbgnv6Gd97XepSysWFufn5Qg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">You get more
structural stability with round shape designs; they have given us gears, wheels,
and arches.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-JvJKkncle-kgjo_2Sp5CsYjguHrySpJfC9s2fed-ayGQFdtr3dS5-y3mlb26nyiTT9_ZoqNYxIvBn2atlKZIvrGnEp7XHq2kpSB09EM5CeGg9uwSUq8IeGd_MuDkqWnHBjzPxHMtR2PnmrdA7XFSrOr13VPz0Z7PUmzBsizIY6jCdLoFVf5eH5cv454" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="236" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-JvJKkncle-kgjo_2Sp5CsYjguHrySpJfC9s2fed-ayGQFdtr3dS5-y3mlb26nyiTT9_ZoqNYxIvBn2atlKZIvrGnEp7XHq2kpSB09EM5CeGg9uwSUq8IeGd_MuDkqWnHBjzPxHMtR2PnmrdA7XFSrOr13VPz0Z7PUmzBsizIY6jCdLoFVf5eH5cv454" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">They’re all
around. We see this favored shape in dishes, plates, clocks, planets, cakes,
buttons, camera lenses, pizzas, rings, pies, steering wheels, the tip of a pen,
telescopes, microscopes, and even the pupils in your eye, from which you are
reading this.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They keep traffic
moving in roundabouts, and they keep manhole covers from falling into the
sewer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcu6ueYjFolihW3wOPkkeLI4NtVuau6K50CPd3IZlBB_7fnAzwAYzVDDzGaoEIrsmuZxlqg_42DMGCEQxWJHOg_9hF2K_kxo9Jmyz9MCRCpwhbunBO-0Ktg7ZAEcKhpemDSG0r02PuGgeOsPR1Zg28rwapn14N_UruZDHT20QXfH8aV-HHUJCuq8xplzs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="260" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcu6ueYjFolihW3wOPkkeLI4NtVuau6K50CPd3IZlBB_7fnAzwAYzVDDzGaoEIrsmuZxlqg_42DMGCEQxWJHOg_9hF2K_kxo9Jmyz9MCRCpwhbunBO-0Ktg7ZAEcKhpemDSG0r02PuGgeOsPR1Zg28rwapn14N_UruZDHT20QXfH8aV-HHUJCuq8xplzs" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Circles were
essential for developing geometry, astronomy, and calculus. The circle
symbolizes harmony, eternity, and perfection.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last, a
circle is the most popular shape for cookies. Need I say more?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgailyiGKQLC6iBxpJbUyp-0WJxqgA_PzrSXbv1lur-_HS4j27CiGl27fh_XPyt1DM9KRA7EY0oEpGNMn3Z61ZAizK8EaEp85lYq2Z8Yc0pswcypqvMgtgKCPmrHoXinue3TfWsCIrqirVW4QY8JsQ-eOZ7IQI9igAaOMQwJDnYVLE7xRhPQdC1Be88vn4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="148" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgailyiGKQLC6iBxpJbUyp-0WJxqgA_PzrSXbv1lur-_HS4j27CiGl27fh_XPyt1DM9KRA7EY0oEpGNMn3Z61ZAizK8EaEp85lYq2Z8Yc0pswcypqvMgtgKCPmrHoXinue3TfWsCIrqirVW4QY8JsQ-eOZ7IQI9igAaOMQwJDnYVLE7xRhPQdC1Be88vn4" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">So let’s hear
it for the circle! And you can blow through your party whistle which is, yes, also a
circular shape.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>Check out
my Youtube Mom life hack videos on my channel <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton">right here!</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-19522128201036643862024-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:002024-01-02T07:00:00.138-08:00Christmas Done Wrong<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Folks, just as
you were sipping hot chocolate in the soft light of your Christmas tree, or listening
to happy carolers at your door, a friend of mine was attending an entirely
different kind of Christmas Eve:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Her grandson and his wife<br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">got hauled off to jail.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvHhniS6ff-mmREa5FJWirlDuCb8nKcEJOCq5M6GmjeM6dBHi6GrUKtpNkpUAtph4uY5chBuBdOCXWsyk6TToDHcqajQndUXukijINQNQSTzPD8ur6ynvz8E2ErHuSjHF9Gy0gI5JJI6V9hyyeFYcqDqJUD27CjzS-TgV2tplxWYvNdYJ81TrX9hwzkoA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="188" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvHhniS6ff-mmREa5FJWirlDuCb8nKcEJOCq5M6GmjeM6dBHi6GrUKtpNkpUAtph4uY5chBuBdOCXWsyk6TToDHcqajQndUXukijINQNQSTzPD8ur6ynvz8E2ErHuSjHF9Gy0gI5JJI6V9hyyeFYcqDqJUD27CjzS-TgV2tplxWYvNdYJ81TrX9hwzkoA" width="305" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Yes, it was one
of those moments when the needle scratches the record and a drunken brawl occurred.
Insults were shouted, spit was spat, fists were formed and knuckleheads were
knocked. Alcohol, not surprisingly, played a starring role.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As she was
telling me this, I was thinking, “So they probably cancelled the nativity reenactment.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8Dyjj2p9RQWhNsoxhNuv_1XZ8w-AUtrezC6QPJzxRKNqm6GjAasXpjaQyZ_UC0q7vSGEwgKp_VjropnCjCnmUaNOZUM7j_Mk7m4XeoupYlsIQSXOuVHjFHQm51pbzp9sGZgG0-Plzycb_OJS31u_a5lNYnzj4nI3hI5k9WJMUvLsEEBwT-I5v3Nk9CcQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="228" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8Dyjj2p9RQWhNsoxhNuv_1XZ8w-AUtrezC6QPJzxRKNqm6GjAasXpjaQyZ_UC0q7vSGEwgKp_VjropnCjCnmUaNOZUM7j_Mk7m4XeoupYlsIQSXOuVHjFHQm51pbzp9sGZgG0-Plzycb_OJS31u_a5lNYnzj4nI3hI5k9WJMUvLsEEBwT-I5v3Nk9CcQ" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">And their four kids were left to wonder just how naughty one has to be, for
Santa to boycott their entire event.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But my friend had
already distributed gifts, and when she called me I assured her that, 20 years
from now, this will be the hilarious story those kids tell. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I gave her the advice I give all
innocent bystanders: “Get some chocolate ice cream, sit down in a comfy chair,
put your feet up, and watch whatever you want on television. You had no part in
this.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoatRDqm6dD_RGi6z_vx-_MorlJGSbtlrUJfHZg2yFndB-QuqkknwCVQRgGCxM_HQisLNpnu3pEAmNp7io9w0-PdO0pVZ6l3-3ObWXa6TJSn8hJVwkXk_b8WaHsTZZzW76ZOh8P2KVF2lu8jbo_bHeWEu4-YmTNEtAc0S-xegkrA5IAdOiIGwwNnYVDZc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="148" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoatRDqm6dD_RGi6z_vx-_MorlJGSbtlrUJfHZg2yFndB-QuqkknwCVQRgGCxM_HQisLNpnu3pEAmNp7io9w0-PdO0pVZ6l3-3ObWXa6TJSn8hJVwkXk_b8WaHsTZZzW76ZOh8P2KVF2lu8jbo_bHeWEu4-YmTNEtAc0S-xegkrA5IAdOiIGwwNnYVDZc" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">And you know what? That’s exactly
what she did. Well played, Grandma.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She’s probably watching one of my
<a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">Youtube Mom</a> life hack videos right now!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-36060383353870306252023-12-26T07:00:00.000-08:002023-12-26T07:00:00.141-08:00Not Enough Bandwidth<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <br />If any of you have ever seen one of these:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ530zdGdm27W5an5Uq1tru7aCHXGtavlWVQEuSYwc9pbYTxeIvNkbqBkogWEfGEMPtMXycTWnoOgJpqFd6R7LgiKAriyINWW4qgvSPPf5-SHubXoRUZ8nNKyEf2dfkTOvDHoDftKHGAnIKWwXR4YA5vnuMwue4ezehk172qq98xAas6acPfcYlvHgUr4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="92" data-original-width="92" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ530zdGdm27W5an5Uq1tru7aCHXGtavlWVQEuSYwc9pbYTxeIvNkbqBkogWEfGEMPtMXycTWnoOgJpqFd6R7LgiKAriyINWW4qgvSPPf5-SHubXoRUZ8nNKyEf2dfkTOvDHoDftKHGAnIKWwXR4YA5vnuMwue4ezehk172qq98xAas6acPfcYlvHgUr4" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then we are
comrades in pain, treating a sore sacrum with a tight belt that brings a bit of
relief.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So the other
night I felt pretty good, and left it off. Thinking St. Bob would be happy for
me, I said, “I slept without the band last night.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">But no. He said, “Me too; I just
sang <i>a capella</i>.”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp37Stdr6AkTKb7gqVVVWKRzgNfwk_yAdTrxnVS8AElo8myyRxcztA75avhfWcYlA8UxW7kkNYzKl6c763hO8XQ3fcYUDOjF380pJz0cJPC8tDmDovId6JCg9JPhKg1Crx_JlwD8d_IFuMH8UGCzOhIH3X0kIYIYrCIWIatEfvgZJLpcpBEVUCEzGrQSs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="177" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp37Stdr6AkTKb7gqVVVWKRzgNfwk_yAdTrxnVS8AElo8myyRxcztA75avhfWcYlA8UxW7kkNYzKl6c763hO8XQ3fcYUDOjF380pJz0cJPC8tDmDovId6JCg9JPhKg1Crx_JlwD8d_IFuMH8UGCzOhIH3X0kIYIYrCIWIatEfvgZJLpcpBEVUCEzGrQSs" width="287" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">There is no reigning in his
brain.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This conversation went on. I
stepped into the bathroom where he was sitting on a chair, tying his shoes. My
phone rang, which is the tune of the cartoon show, <i>The Jetsons, </i>which I
enjoyed as a child.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_9-qzGxuN1mxnaJyx_wUtHkAW35Wq8IsJ2xWEHde3qiJODVB36wy4GYf_ST8G5pVEyA0QJqmimfp9q0njmp8DWflLKGfYy9dd2MgdJ2B94UlULrByP0sLpysgypFPo5hCtme9w9CPMHFAfD2kG8bBfjRMEhZEPqLj22VGsaHIUCy1PgtgeTDeEZaenwY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="232" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_9-qzGxuN1mxnaJyx_wUtHkAW35Wq8IsJ2xWEHde3qiJODVB36wy4GYf_ST8G5pVEyA0QJqmimfp9q0njmp8DWflLKGfYy9dd2MgdJ2B94UlULrByP0sLpysgypFPo5hCtme9w9CPMHFAfD2kG8bBfjRMEhZEPqLj22VGsaHIUCy1PgtgeTDeEZaenwY" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Bob looked up, “Who is this
George Jetson and why is he announcing himself in my bathroom?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Maybe he wants to report that he
slept without wearing a band. If so, I will tell him he just found a way to
beat the band.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">And you can learn all kinds of life
hacks <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">right here</a>, on my Youtube Mom channel!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-25616484677887891172023-12-19T07:00:00.000-08:002023-12-19T07:00:00.131-08:00My Latest Lucy Moment<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I just got back from my Book Club’s Christmas gathering. We
always meet at someone’s home for a luncheon, and someone else does a book
review. But for Christmas, we all share Christmas books and stories we love,
and even gift ideas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This time we
met at the lovely home of a new member, about 30 minutes away for most of the gals. Her pretty home has been in magazines. Here are a few pics, before I tell you what happened:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM1v1xa4Ce9YlD2RMRdK6Xn02XJrCvehCh6F-DrKl-Ti4uObNlG41csu4mUPpUqqrxu0QzE-vSXFrlsgFkJ36bI8Pf2MPJ0Tvbda4y-MoNsPBFcb_u6T2M2IrMl1mEiiu8gYg7jtsFhhYFfXICpBY2LKZ9PqNI1dRn_d4CHkvTwvrDTRWEX0qckXwm6mY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM1v1xa4Ce9YlD2RMRdK6Xn02XJrCvehCh6F-DrKl-Ti4uObNlG41csu4mUPpUqqrxu0QzE-vSXFrlsgFkJ36bI8Pf2MPJ0Tvbda4y-MoNsPBFcb_u6T2M2IrMl1mEiiu8gYg7jtsFhhYFfXICpBY2LKZ9PqNI1dRn_d4CHkvTwvrDTRWEX0qckXwm6mY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOHW-pRGq2f85ev1sarRPXwjPntnVYuxxkIWJXC5kdhCkUzWO-f8esLKUY06Uw3mvtU5juy-81oKBjsY4Odz-1kagGNPhtz5Z5K5Gutlx6vGqCRIyH2oVZE35a8fAMdTpr70AEUI_KWcAA1DOb7sAVGdKinTgMCxuYDhW8v0sfRFItPM2pQhWRU6saFo0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3663" data-original-width="2611" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOHW-pRGq2f85ev1sarRPXwjPntnVYuxxkIWJXC5kdhCkUzWO-f8esLKUY06Uw3mvtU5juy-81oKBjsY4Odz-1kagGNPhtz5Z5K5Gutlx6vGqCRIyH2oVZE35a8fAMdTpr70AEUI_KWcAA1DOb7sAVGdKinTgMCxuYDhW8v0sfRFItPM2pQhWRU6saFo0" width="171" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0BuHnUoWEQMrvx1Ey-ChknttvP2G770sGq8tIZV8Z-PNCfsGzkE4S6UdYggN9eDoHa8j1CW2C5-RFj6tdetdqiqknKIlkgZ7dgBVmdw2cod9Xpi79UtIZL-xh3XZflP2j8PGqk_q9IezwE9FIqYRfWJ8DRglq5UKBbLFeIz-hydGDBkbnpj-CYIyP8as" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2143" data-original-width="2915" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0BuHnUoWEQMrvx1Ey-ChknttvP2G770sGq8tIZV8Z-PNCfsGzkE4S6UdYggN9eDoHa8j1CW2C5-RFj6tdetdqiqknKIlkgZ7dgBVmdw2cod9Xpi79UtIZL-xh3XZflP2j8PGqk_q9IezwE9FIqYRfWJ8DRglq5UKBbLFeIz-hydGDBkbnpj-CYIyP8as" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmZVnFnPf16JU09bZgvUvvYu4s1v7Z1XPL5RgPVtjztV02kN6iSumgcmx3Xhs7lg-7g0HlewtD5rJKKhZ-qAqillaCLelg3lbgzEnqzJauGJnhqiydkB2oRmmr7GuVz6TMRIXc0tfwlkRmOx-BmnBfQSXp2s2UkMnT3nigX23w1rDnuFowH1oGRLGNero" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmZVnFnPf16JU09bZgvUvvYu4s1v7Z1XPL5RgPVtjztV02kN6iSumgcmx3Xhs7lg-7g0HlewtD5rJKKhZ-qAqillaCLelg3lbgzEnqzJauGJnhqiydkB2oRmmr7GuVz6TMRIXc0tfwlkRmOx-BmnBfQSXp2s2UkMnT3nigX23w1rDnuFowH1oGRLGNero" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMyUeiKmsfSsbDuwTuvRyT-7YBZWBvO7NvcJCk_KPqjw7LdJD1fqiKN2sVDwiNNDIOi-nWXyBPcvHP_1SKoN-E8gv9ELGZfV_n3K0m_z1GVNGMthF82kexwYgM-CkJ65JFNpqzDIqJeHV0Jni8Z_HcFVVhwwCWAgsEcQgpQ3IwEaeVjVCI7D4sA_CAdSE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2931" data-original-width="4022" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMyUeiKmsfSsbDuwTuvRyT-7YBZWBvO7NvcJCk_KPqjw7LdJD1fqiKN2sVDwiNNDIOi-nWXyBPcvHP_1SKoN-E8gv9ELGZfV_n3K0m_z1GVNGMthF82kexwYgM-CkJ65JFNpqzDIqJeHV0Jni8Z_HcFVVhwwCWAgsEcQgpQ3IwEaeVjVCI7D4sA_CAdSE" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfq93PkY5HUJuHQvfX4nSxJk0recx5Ap8CoSQpL_WB5ckK3PTPZhZUX4cg85onnQUG-ahta0Lr37EkrnY3IGybwTL-kIesxWCmYmA1wiEH9OyvWgcVZ8AhJvXkaQC5I35Wt8uSTcU5Vm7eoTtbmUQaKFw9SbvVAJOZjIUhmRJYmmmJNszeXOsPnyUA0dQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfq93PkY5HUJuHQvfX4nSxJk0recx5Ap8CoSQpL_WB5ckK3PTPZhZUX4cg85onnQUG-ahta0Lr37EkrnY3IGybwTL-kIesxWCmYmA1wiEH9OyvWgcVZ8AhJvXkaQC5I35Wt8uSTcU5Vm7eoTtbmUQaKFw9SbvVAJOZjIUhmRJYmmmJNszeXOsPnyUA0dQ" width="180" /></a></div></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM1v1xa4Ce9YlD2RMRdK6Xn02XJrCvehCh6F-DrKl-Ti4uObNlG41csu4mUPpUqqrxu0QzE-vSXFrlsgFkJ36bI8Pf2MPJ0Tvbda4y-MoNsPBFcb_u6T2M2IrMl1mEiiu8gYg7jtsFhhYFfXICpBY2LKZ9PqNI1dRn_d4CHkvTwvrDTRWEX0qckXwm6mY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM1v1xa4Ce9YlD2RMRdK6Xn02XJrCvehCh6F-DrKl-Ti4uObNlG41csu4mUPpUqqrxu0QzE-vSXFrlsgFkJ36bI8Pf2MPJ0Tvbda4y-MoNsPBFcb_u6T2M2IrMl1mEiiu8gYg7jtsFhhYFfXICpBY2LKZ9PqNI1dRn_d4CHkvTwvrDTRWEX0qckXwm6mY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHlODyQoIUJyUx4_49lbKnSl0I7s6BG_lQL0LQqEqjPzBYHZyEQ4k5vj3qN0pP-1b-vCvmjyhUkv4lwM4EWvY2OXpKdoBguHoneGWotG4JKTfmx3NaQX2AVDE2jn2GQkvvYd5f0OmiwaSRu2HF5wbE4GwAaXsLVL6VWISy2x7epM0EckMvm5u7x5QGB8M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2683" data-original-width="1886" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHlODyQoIUJyUx4_49lbKnSl0I7s6BG_lQL0LQqEqjPzBYHZyEQ4k5vj3qN0pP-1b-vCvmjyhUkv4lwM4EWvY2OXpKdoBguHoneGWotG4JKTfmx3NaQX2AVDE2jn2GQkvvYd5f0OmiwaSRu2HF5wbE4GwAaXsLVL6VWISy2x7epM0EckMvm5u7x5QGB8M" width="169" /></a></div><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie_pd4zMftPno8mT3Wc0ihTYvb7Yrif3Fq6JtR3PLhqKhFAdBtpfeQVx3_r_JNQHiMkw6wpCBFEN_ThPVttOCe60b5t12rTe5jW8aQY03W_YxWQA-RWbwz9FLVmfCP9RdPRuPF3EWJGb8BB5zLZC9qBkLRh15OgfD0-zVEF7kmfWiiHqc0WEgP_pxz0FI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie_pd4zMftPno8mT3Wc0ihTYvb7Yrif3Fq6JtR3PLhqKhFAdBtpfeQVx3_r_JNQHiMkw6wpCBFEN_ThPVttOCe60b5t12rTe5jW8aQY03W_YxWQA-RWbwz9FLVmfCP9RdPRuPF3EWJGb8BB5zLZC9qBkLRh15OgfD0-zVEF7kmfWiiHqc0WEgP_pxz0FI" width="180" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Driving off,
I noticed Tina was pulled over.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I pulled
up beside her and rolled my window down. “Just stay on this street until you
hit Sunset, then turn left,” I called.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And then, as I
drove off, I noticed she was </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">following me in her car. I thought I'd continue to wave at each turn, to help her find the freeway. A friendly, helpful thing to do, right? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEYWOIwNwGTx8lYWNjC9YI-qPj-glLUR4UBr1gcN5imzSsIcKpOZmC-8f2Yq3kCuwwUH4TLDqxXrVBQaZcKaUqMnJdo4Xw84C-S-1r2SN1Sa2D3mYwCsXKmFtEjBJOESdEzgYq9f3PzH2E_1gSFvF38ph9aR0Mfh7S_TGxqCkV7kkhsrZlVLi7sUoKBLs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="207" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEYWOIwNwGTx8lYWNjC9YI-qPj-glLUR4UBr1gcN5imzSsIcKpOZmC-8f2Yq3kCuwwUH4TLDqxXrVBQaZcKaUqMnJdo4Xw84C-S-1r2SN1Sa2D3mYwCsXKmFtEjBJOESdEzgYq9f3PzH2E_1gSFvF38ph9aR0Mfh7S_TGxqCkV7kkhsrZlVLi7sUoKBLs" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> We actually made several turns,
and I waited for her to catch up a couple of times. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Everything was going great until we got to Sunset. I looked over and realized IT WASN'T EVEN HER! </span><div><div style="text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjM3J4c1rDLihen2pD6L7pHQ7iCH33fRqMzxID4qhewFpkf6yFih5hxInmOVXzMfXCFXdbXLd4ffSFYa56HIkL13l4TNccS4YZOmAdqWLL2ChnOfDwJsXDyYjgCbt557m2o_OM-wfZ221a0JOdc5MVdq3xmbkXzInCM8tiBg2X-0BusIRQ-AojlXCyboQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="258" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjM3J4c1rDLihen2pD6L7pHQ7iCH33fRqMzxID4qhewFpkf6yFih5hxInmOVXzMfXCFXdbXLd4ffSFYa56HIkL13l4TNccS4YZOmAdqWLL2ChnOfDwJsXDyYjgCbt557m2o_OM-wfZ221a0JOdc5MVdq3xmbkXzInCM8tiBg2X-0BusIRQ-AojlXCyboQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Yes, I had been
motioning to a total stranger in a similar car, who probably thought I was complete
lunatic. Or a creeper. Or a combination of both (a creepatic?)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">She certainly didn’t suspect that I was being
friendly or helpful.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiylBIFalV1f9HYoZ3QN3hy1IdvlCP03QwfgwVb5XA87A1-pj1kG9F-9sx6B8TpxePJpTxDqgmqe0uXUe0x5ihPtAHDNQ1-csLFufjTQHtUTR9XxhGFSqJgowD7dxo-YeryIStqukuHBkb9M5s4aeTI1SLsaLztDOPwdUaC2IdZCa9fmK17ZbSxQitjxa0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiylBIFalV1f9HYoZ3QN3hy1IdvlCP03QwfgwVb5XA87A1-pj1kG9F-9sx6B8TpxePJpTxDqgmqe0uXUe0x5ihPtAHDNQ1-csLFufjTQHtUTR9XxhGFSqJgowD7dxo-YeryIStqukuHBkb9M5s4aeTI1SLsaLztDOPwdUaC2IdZCa9fmK17ZbSxQitjxa0" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I sighed. It
was anyone’s guess where Tina actually was. Probably way ahead of me. So…
if you need help finding your way, just dial</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>1-800-LucyStrikesAgain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And you might
want to order my books. Check ‘em out <a href="http://www.jonihilton.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-42559893713047302332023-12-12T07:00:00.000-08:002023-12-12T07:00:00.137-08:00A Hairy Problem<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">St. Bob is on a quest.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">He wants to buy the shampoo and conditioner they have on Viking cruise
lines.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">He is </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">this close</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> to booking
another cruise, just to get their hair products.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiByFRMpt-YZ6AYywVF9gF1OSucBw8jT2Cgs9Cagk8rNCJ_sfqKNhMtoEgvqHwn8dvEARyZ9qArJm-izUJOIfXrFG9Sf-kmmM-Xb7KlPbbXWD8LEGfGXb3JEEw2DBkfCx_x56zxfAR_D7Z5nTuT_8HaHeF_9I4WJljKPSZoCzm17Nf0RDXpAC-q_tNOQ_E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="259" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiByFRMpt-YZ6AYywVF9gF1OSucBw8jT2Cgs9Cagk8rNCJ_sfqKNhMtoEgvqHwn8dvEARyZ9qArJm-izUJOIfXrFG9Sf-kmmM-Xb7KlPbbXWD8LEGfGXb3JEEw2DBkfCx_x56zxfAR_D7Z5nTuT_8HaHeF_9I4WJljKPSZoCzm17Nf0RDXpAC-q_tNOQ_E" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now, as a
reasonable person, you might think these items could be for sale online.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Not a chance. Oh, sure, some traveler may be
trying to sell theirs on ebay, but are those opened? Old? Germy?</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi17Jx-xChCBz5QQdz3uA2xVMNQjje8vzloQU9uzIWjpksy_D_NqFG-k1v7UzrU6ONvv6Lq3lpl6Cp0L8-IwdlBkYn1vimgDpPfAqJB8LcChj5D1pAsPnWby-xP9cmWUql1X_F34tEqerCCGFa6vSBlZqsxeZAuuFeQkXz7y_DgnL0VTiZ2rQvf9raKMnI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="149" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi17Jx-xChCBz5QQdz3uA2xVMNQjje8vzloQU9uzIWjpksy_D_NqFG-k1v7UzrU6ONvv6Lq3lpl6Cp0L8-IwdlBkYn1vimgDpPfAqJB8LcChj5D1pAsPnWby-xP9cmWUql1X_F34tEqerCCGFa6vSBlZqsxeZAuuFeQkXz7y_DgnL0VTiZ2rQvf9raKMnI" width="242" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He called the
company and spoke to someone in charge of such things, and was told that even
he—the “in charge” guy—couldn’t acquire them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like giant diamonds in a hidden vault in a hidden warehouse, it simply
couldn’t be done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well, you try
not to tell St. Bob that something can’t be done. He picks up that challenge,
puts it on, and does battle with the impossible dream. And sings it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Meanwhile, I am
calculating what it would cost, per ounce, to go on another cruise just to get
the shampoo and conditioner. I’m figuring several thousand dollars per
container. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Maybe this is
why some people sell their homes and just cruise for the rest of their lives. They
may not see loved ones for awhile, but their hair looks awesome. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>It's not too late-- grab a few copies of my super-inexpensive book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Christmas-Prayer-Joni-Hilton/dp/1524410071" target="_blank">A Little Christmas Prayer</a></i> to give as gifts. </b></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-4280493817939820592023-12-05T07:00:00.000-08:002023-12-05T07:00:00.147-08:00I Yam What I Yam<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I love food
fights. Let me clarify. I don’t love it when people throw food (or fling mashed
potatoes throughout the kitchen by lifting the beaters out of the bowl too soon,
</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">St. Bob</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">), but I love what we could call a “Food Dispute.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’ll back up. I
had the immense blessing of reconnecting with a long lost cousin, and he brought
his family for Thanksgiving. It was magical, like a Hallmark movie. People I
have never met poured through the front door and every one of them was happy,
smart, and hilarious. It made for lots of laughter and love as 18 of us gathered
around.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguFivCsU6qZ494TlA7jrD4nequSdfFZ0YHr-RA1p8Jll7F5Y0Ga58XikMsLSJsDTpldYKtWWl4Jcktb8xjfhZAyG4zy7JTFctk0z91tvc0f3b-jqrbDaTu5srRAXa5Pva0H0B-c9bthBnksDFu-AZC7kQE0AuW3KPZ_Q3ipBnQFXdw-9gT-eq23LtOI6g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2435" data-original-width="3247" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguFivCsU6qZ494TlA7jrD4nequSdfFZ0YHr-RA1p8Jll7F5Y0Ga58XikMsLSJsDTpldYKtWWl4Jcktb8xjfhZAyG4zy7JTFctk0z91tvc0f3b-jqrbDaTu5srRAXa5Pva0H0B-c9bthBnksDFu-AZC7kQE0AuW3KPZ_Q3ipBnQFXdw-9gT-eq23LtOI6g" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">We played a
game I made up, which gets you beyond small talk, to really get acquainted.
First you ask everyone to share something they don’t understand. The whole
world seems to get it, except you.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then
we go around and share something you know, or can do, that few others can do.
(I curled my tongue in a clover leaf.) Here's someone else doing it:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidpn34miW8VMR4b1McPkOIVkyJCsQP4ZWErOg-Zo3GqVyBv0UI5izBLgfqCntQKunwoa3NNBHK66Urp_jNbVyQ-4JaQGfmeIp2EOx8jpy4PkERG1mUSeN7ZerfbZ4uF-A6fZEUL7ZudZerDnmslGKmMAOpmvzI62T9EJedPWPxWXNCzZHXSaV6c8Hn6V4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidpn34miW8VMR4b1McPkOIVkyJCsQP4ZWErOg-Zo3GqVyBv0UI5izBLgfqCntQKunwoa3NNBHK66Urp_jNbVyQ-4JaQGfmeIp2EOx8jpy4PkERG1mUSeN7ZerfbZ4uF-A6fZEUL7ZudZerDnmslGKmMAOpmvzI62T9EJedPWPxWXNCzZHXSaV6c8Hn6V4" width="180" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">One couple
began a friendly disagreement about yams vs. sweet potatoes, where they come
from, and why they are called what they are called. Neither one would concede
an inch. The rest of us were bursting with laughter as it escalated (and now we
know what topic to bring up in the future, if things get dull).</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjevLwkGAgB9Tn2J0c39BhTbZLGDhsizolY0apb7R5zmG1zIxNIKXSQTa6Nzl07I3qaNuBvh0WSQqYfSGn-eMYe68lebW6gii_o4AvzVgxnlshce5wI80BbzCSbbatOp-veFN66D8YhwoDJ8JT361uJ6kUxD6AFGxM3rVH1Zfm5EOlAdMhrwPAFCSqXO_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjevLwkGAgB9Tn2J0c39BhTbZLGDhsizolY0apb7R5zmG1zIxNIKXSQTa6Nzl07I3qaNuBvh0WSQqYfSGn-eMYe68lebW6gii_o4AvzVgxnlshce5wI80BbzCSbbatOp-veFN66D8YhwoDJ8JT361uJ6kUxD6AFGxM3rVH1Zfm5EOlAdMhrwPAFCSqXO_g" width="160" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you want, I
can tell you how all this confusion started, but it won’t earn you any points
in an argument. What we buy-- the soft-fleshed veggie labeled “Yams”--
are actually sweet potatoes. But slaves who had come from West Africa compared
them to the paler-fleshed yams they had grown back home, and the name stuck. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As for me, I am
thankful for both, thankful for all the new cousins I met, and thankful for
Richie and Nicole, our only two kids who could make it this year, because they
hopped up without even being asked, did all the dishes, and packed up take-home
trays for everyone. I may have over-eaten, but <i>that’s </i>the real reason I was bursting my
buttons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Buy a dozen copies of my super inexpensive book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Christmas-Prayer-Joni-Hilton/dp/1524410071" target="_blank">ALittle Christmas Prayer</a></i> and hand them out (just $3.49) Great gift for kids or adults,
really anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-11893641293104699562023-11-28T07:00:00.000-08:002023-11-28T07:00:00.147-08:00I Should Be a Detective<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">The other day
we were walking through the grounds of the Sacramento LDS Temple. Sometimes you'll see deer here, and nearly always some turkeys. Suddenly St.
Bob stopped. “Look at this footprint. Do you think it’s a mountain lion?”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDZiWcrptLVNBzo862zQGt9U203DGMu7bzZcsAgyh8-wJQhBh1VP9sdAvO57DCPNPhEMENw1_HeCP4vHzoF8BcHP8FsMfUqQyyaCh1xZ92ZBBujtz1rDDVxm7DkzoSmfnSNynzOZzIDSeMssqjpaSJajyDoie3nV5SrH5GLZ8_0EiBCpTbxxRX5diYQws" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="315" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDZiWcrptLVNBzo862zQGt9U203DGMu7bzZcsAgyh8-wJQhBh1VP9sdAvO57DCPNPhEMENw1_HeCP4vHzoF8BcHP8FsMfUqQyyaCh1xZ92ZBBujtz1rDDVxm7DkzoSmfnSNynzOZzIDSeMssqjpaSJajyDoie3nV5SrH5GLZ8_0EiBCpTbxxRX5diYQws" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Uh-oh.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Yep, I did think that. It was fresh, too. He
snapped a photo of it with his sunglasses for scale.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdFtqFXUJo_sudqZuvpaHW2XgItaX31PWHEj3D67A-Z8XbB66Ia9o2aOXc-1SyQrxj6ik4HLi0uk5HiswXVaqwyYt2B0m-bPAwuWrU7LRmP0wYlo2wL0MsbLq4jRNfa4f_XSFtyzpzRGBPcZegzK1UokWGSgaU9rJXTwFxGoaewcomu8ps8_9cDgY4dfY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdFtqFXUJo_sudqZuvpaHW2XgItaX31PWHEj3D67A-Z8XbB66Ia9o2aOXc-1SyQrxj6ik4HLi0uk5HiswXVaqwyYt2B0m-bPAwuWrU7LRmP0wYlo2wL0MsbLq4jRNfa4f_XSFtyzpzRGBPcZegzK1UokWGSgaU9rJXTwFxGoaewcomu8ps8_9cDgY4dfY" width="180" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> Now, you may
think I don’t know my cougars, but I grew up in Utah and everyone in Utah knows
several people’s cougar stories. I even blogged about my favorite one </span><a href="https://jonihilton.blogspot.com/2014/04/cat-astrophic.html"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The other
possibility is that it’s a dog footprint. However, that would be a pretty
gigantic dog, and what would one be doing at the temple? So I looked up the
footprints.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK0CB2XVvURdvI-xShKsB_1G54lqeLE1AYNhzKD4bEfhlRLQnIRdIbhv51ETwoFhRCcow015uDdNAwTJZQoqgdzs7wxggtN8FrMohYjFNuLi1tGlM_Nw8DVAlt_nmhChxXM3qQxKzIAwMBIaDAmUOOsPYsvrlkQkIoLICxJydB8ascGTT8fiQLOAbaDY0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="124" data-original-width="165" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK0CB2XVvURdvI-xShKsB_1G54lqeLE1AYNhzKD4bEfhlRLQnIRdIbhv51ETwoFhRCcow015uDdNAwTJZQoqgdzs7wxggtN8FrMohYjFNuLi1tGlM_Nw8DVAlt_nmhChxXM3qQxKzIAwMBIaDAmUOOsPYsvrlkQkIoLICxJydB8ascGTT8fiQLOAbaDY0" width="319" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> Dogs leave nail prints; this one had none. Co</span>ugars have a
dip on the top of their heel pad, and this sort of has that.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wouldn’t you
know this one was smeared a bit. Maybe the animal slipped. OR IT'S A SPY, AND TWISTS ITS FOOTPRINTS ON PURPOSE.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">But I’m going
with mountain lion because there wasn't one turkey in sight, and also, they used to have a sign there like this:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-ZsBhYpiLJofzsW49V5JiRUdBiziRT8q3iHDNunPMtEeaXmWmmhiB12lcbw9FOkikVi2QlPGeaPqso16g-TmAA6O28ASfn5Wamr2djLH0QeAfd3wOw7EdJ5ebZHBQbnmND50zHLoGskl-3Zs6e9YpYCJ9iU46W4rslofXDF7Qr5lY5UbIxPaEr7U9Bq8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="177" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-ZsBhYpiLJofzsW49V5JiRUdBiziRT8q3iHDNunPMtEeaXmWmmhiB12lcbw9FOkikVi2QlPGeaPqso16g-TmAA6O28ASfn5Wamr2djLH0QeAfd3wOw7EdJ5ebZHBQbnmND50zHLoGskl-3Zs6e9YpYCJ9iU46W4rslofXDF7Qr5lY5UbIxPaEr7U9Bq8" width="203" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">And replaced it
with one like this:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8D-QDIpYSRomEewSwyqSg-WpTUwWJ_GPymZ7fGroCgBcWOW-4rEL54hZ0s876smNg9E-2wC0yJKYWbiuKb2Y2HyE2Luadu4d72itJMGQSWQ8woFFo-EbL3Ip-6tvplaalGOJpi86qEHRTPOwg8lTxK0eRK5dwqBRFjeSba50ndEXacLdtfZseypRfV80" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="107" data-original-width="111" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8D-QDIpYSRomEewSwyqSg-WpTUwWJ_GPymZ7fGroCgBcWOW-4rEL54hZ0s876smNg9E-2wC0yJKYWbiuKb2Y2HyE2Luadu4d72itJMGQSWQ8woFFo-EbL3Ip-6tvplaalGOJpi86qEHRTPOwg8lTxK0eRK5dwqBRFjeSba50ndEXacLdtfZseypRfV80" width="249" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">Either way, we
got back in the car and took off. </span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And that’s a
lucky thing, because now I can continue making Youtube Mom life hack <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">videos</a> for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-72195551773663561032023-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:002023-11-21T06:00:00.185-08:00Thankful for Fairies<div class="separator"><p class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></p></div><p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">You all know that I have a <a href="https://jonihilton.blogspot.com/2023/02/rent-gram.html" target="_blank">fairy garden</a> that wraps around a
tree in my back yard. BUT… did you know they celebrate Thanksgiving?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_oQFv24gwn7Rh-4IWTQ4WOZ7ygdKEBpeMWbx7mT16yQJq34Hk25p6gW09TTn_7uCiPY30qqIlWAlpO5DzPhrkEJM0y4mOqE3PQC3Q_D1igI6N2fl57IAdo-KvcIygQl89K4hEFJpI3QEYR8sr9b9jinzwmUQcuaNO2BXHFuYISluVlJ6P5KtPVDpfQys" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_oQFv24gwn7Rh-4IWTQ4WOZ7ygdKEBpeMWbx7mT16yQJq34Hk25p6gW09TTn_7uCiPY30qqIlWAlpO5DzPhrkEJM0y4mOqE3PQC3Q_D1igI6N2fl57IAdo-KvcIygQl89K4hEFJpI3QEYR8sr9b9jinzwmUQcuaNO2BXHFuYISluVlJ6P5KtPVDpfQys" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Oh yes. I’ve
seen the table they’ve laid out for a feast! They use acorn tops for cups, and
little round “plates” of wood. They even have wee chairs!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3MhNUEpDuwiem0aXKcCIuuBxb6a2VMxYatk4gA4WtmiURzy5kIPvqlVF1VSjMzBEkub2Kt5z9g4wiAANbSJoy_CtPw_kVFTdBIf1kb9H0iK0mEtb3rDOmgl1VvvZhoZo6owTGvV0qlAzJ_0EJILrvnM6kNQmqb4Za7mGspf40lu562c81nZBF38bh93A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3MhNUEpDuwiem0aXKcCIuuBxb6a2VMxYatk4gA4WtmiURzy5kIPvqlVF1VSjMzBEkub2Kt5z9g4wiAANbSJoy_CtPw_kVFTdBIf1kb9H0iK0mEtb3rDOmgl1VvvZhoZo6owTGvV0qlAzJ_0EJILrvnM6kNQmqb4Za7mGspf40lu562c81nZBF38bh93A" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I can only imagine
the tiny food they’ll serve this Thursday. One of them left her eyeglasses in
the hobbit house doorway, so I hope she finds them.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZ9QShChYsZbFknSrNSNBRBVA_aoCHdGBS9hKu0zOvOSrqXvk18pBnfhchWs3-968scclHHElevkWIcZTA1hO3IwLAlJgbTnyWkhfqhSxfUZQN7b0MMN8KtH6N84g5BnnN8LVp5-XU3hLyj9IYa9tGUiyULt7VcvBhMH9VkZBFABaK8R2yug5zqHfDFo/s4032/IMG_1575.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZ9QShChYsZbFknSrNSNBRBVA_aoCHdGBS9hKu0zOvOSrqXvk18pBnfhchWs3-968scclHHElevkWIcZTA1hO3IwLAlJgbTnyWkhfqhSxfUZQN7b0MMN8KtH6N84g5BnnN8LVp5-XU3hLyj9IYa9tGUiyULt7VcvBhMH9VkZBFABaK8R2yug5zqHfDFo/s320/IMG_1575.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">I’m so glad they decided to move
into my yard!</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Subscribe to my Youtube Mom <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">videos</a> for quick life hacks, and I will be thankful for you as well! AND... simplify your Christmas list this year-- buy a dozen copies of my classic, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Christmas-Prayer-Joni-Hilton/dp/1524410071" target="_blank">A LITTLE CHRISTMAS PRAYER</a> for just $3.49 on Amazon, and hand them out. Perfect for anyone, child or adult!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-9474047901115846902023-11-14T07:00:00.071-08:002023-11-14T07:00:00.139-08:00Is That Really You?<p> Y<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">es, that was me you saw on the sidewalk, in socks, pajama
bottoms, and a mis-matched top.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was getting ready
to paint, and we all know you wear grubbies to do that, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi78oLhmmSlV1RMSBosCJACd7VZDnCRv5EBhwGpubDQUuxR08N71cp_QfyLDCj8d2DSlV3ObBMQWFVeZ4rA5ySsvpTQDojeItiGjjLtzqfOMQGc_KOT8l36bdV1EdXwM-LjSHaQQNYaffdLtzJ_3BN1Zz63BtXsRu7icMLnCJTwNaZGwOWZK0tnCRG7gZo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi78oLhmmSlV1RMSBosCJACd7VZDnCRv5EBhwGpubDQUuxR08N71cp_QfyLDCj8d2DSlV3ObBMQWFVeZ4rA5ySsvpTQDojeItiGjjLtzqfOMQGc_KOT8l36bdV1EdXwM-LjSHaQQNYaffdLtzJ_3BN1Zz63BtXsRu7icMLnCJTwNaZGwOWZK0tnCRG7gZo" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Suddenly I got
a message from my doctor asking if I was there yet. YIKES! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I had cancelled the appointment, but then
reinstated it, and forgot to fix my calendar. And I hate to be late.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I leapt into
the car and headed to the medical office. I didn’t have time to pull off my
woolly socks and put shoes on. These clothes approximate what I wore:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVb4zDlY_TW42OJqTfe2a05ifrx2M0f-gboTDQujkuluBW5FB-_eqPaf82j96jQA1iUT4GQSl_G67ZN9xIpJmVGoLfKSFwMS_vheGEM4s0eQkI6soqq3FSglEh1bBs6LWs3l5zRdPNQaLkq10G3-KHLyeDRHR6nMNh67EjYB6pGOepooZ7ttNQqew6FjY" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="186" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVb4zDlY_TW42OJqTfe2a05ifrx2M0f-gboTDQujkuluBW5FB-_eqPaf82j96jQA1iUT4GQSl_G67ZN9xIpJmVGoLfKSFwMS_vheGEM4s0eQkI6soqq3FSglEh1bBs6LWs3l5zRdPNQaLkq10G3-KHLyeDRHR6nMNh67EjYB6pGOepooZ7ttNQqew6FjY=w242-h324" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLcSSR7KYwlG7MvRcgeLNHvBKEwnpMa8g81XNDugp4glwhV3qyRXQSIAkx7UhcOvGV3EskSaPi9w3L6pKNFLFEUs9h5YvuKRHQHL5wjjfRfRrjyuojseGwxiv7CNRik3QU4LUbJgiF4YlW6fKGLdojsR82rD__YdnutcUh5yztWzV-qv0kfkQnhIWAwJM" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLcSSR7KYwlG7MvRcgeLNHvBKEwnpMa8g81XNDugp4glwhV3qyRXQSIAkx7UhcOvGV3EskSaPi9w3L6pKNFLFEUs9h5YvuKRHQHL5wjjfRfRrjyuojseGwxiv7CNRik3QU4LUbJgiF4YlW6fKGLdojsR82rD__YdnutcUh5yztWzV-qv0kfkQnhIWAwJM=w218-h240" width="218" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX9CsLxqkIXfKxTZm_6y_TfKrqY0M3-c-xBp5zxTvzWJ9PDwpHgDitp4ZSh273pwr4Y4MZ83d3ETOVq_aQ_K8Q6RhWT2at4FZd9Z6CQdvoqKIfWCSh1nSXmHQU924vljw1zNG0ePU4heMkBvgC_RZfEs9TSgqC-FPDc6iB0bLWiHeJ2MrIks6IQiII8Xs" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="736" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX9CsLxqkIXfKxTZm_6y_TfKrqY0M3-c-xBp5zxTvzWJ9PDwpHgDitp4ZSh273pwr4Y4MZ83d3ETOVq_aQ_K8Q6RhWT2at4FZd9Z6CQdvoqKIfWCSh1nSXmHQU924vljw1zNG0ePU4heMkBvgC_RZfEs9TSgqC-FPDc6iB0bLWiHeJ2MrIks6IQiII8Xs=w192-h248" width="192" /></a></div> <br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here is the picture
of my bra:</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Aha! There isn’t
one, because I wasn’t wearing one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Other people
were in the elevator as I headed up to the office. They looked at my chest and
my feet. I looked at the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the waiting
room there were several women staring, so I finally said, “Hey, if this isn’t
proof that I no longer care about other people’s opinions, then nothing is.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They chuckled,
and one of them told me she wore a pajama top to a restaurant once, and a lady complimented
her on her pretty blouse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">A nurse called my name. “Cute
pants,” she said. “You look like a teenager.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">And now I think we both know a
new fashion trend is afoot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Check out my Youtube Mom life hacks <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-85917548814756082292023-11-07T07:00:00.048-08:002023-11-07T07:00:00.138-08:00Never Stop Imagining<p> I've<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> done it—I’ve created a Narnia-style entrance to the magical
Christmas <a href="https://jonihilton.blogspot.com/2023/02/rent-gram.html" target="_blank">bedroom</a>! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">First we
measured to see how large a cabinet or armoire we needed. Then we began
looking. Months later, after gasping at prices, we found a tall, used wardrobe online
that was not only the perfect size, but whimsical as well:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8xdZBpWoxp1InIzZmW7zpS6urJGkgM1csC05gIB_s1XSFvGomHtTLjSrpBJsQZsnxjzieJ8-VRob2g2vzaBUGOKHaRBpXO1m6dAZFqZON0i8-kMUAoGZtNk1h0lvfCUkJCD7XvB4ucRhF4dtOR9CxXN7ofRe_HA7xwWM1ZhTTKvkxFJDo_SNOHU6w5YA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8xdZBpWoxp1InIzZmW7zpS6urJGkgM1csC05gIB_s1XSFvGomHtTLjSrpBJsQZsnxjzieJ8-VRob2g2vzaBUGOKHaRBpXO1m6dAZFqZON0i8-kMUAoGZtNk1h0lvfCUkJCD7XvB4ucRhF4dtOR9CxXN7ofRe_HA7xwWM1ZhTTKvkxFJDo_SNOHU6w5YA" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">St. Bob took the
back off, removed the shelves, then tried to dolly it about, getting thrown
into the bushes as you read </span><a href="https://jonihilton.blogspot.com/2023/10/whimsy-comes-at-price.html" style="font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But with the
help of three of our five amazing pretend grandchildren across the street (strapping
teens) we got it upstairs and Bob fastened it to the wall.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFD1RtNacLHmoxut8l4EdGVAZIYK8i0oiQqs0tTwkk-ThZ2jhaFAcxaAAxLitY_gHYTJgNenBNMsd4MFMvgEzy4jxwfFBUYIk5OiOyt1nVSzr55Da2CtcxIlxKqvttFXtIEPqSQuAfniFcnKw8YFqNckLoxmvDScpwlFEt2qKM_K9p8Wm2qHY3QWHUAM/s4032/IMG_1455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFD1RtNacLHmoxut8l4EdGVAZIYK8i0oiQqs0tTwkk-ThZ2jhaFAcxaAAxLitY_gHYTJgNenBNMsd4MFMvgEzy4jxwfFBUYIk5OiOyt1nVSzr55Da2CtcxIlxKqvttFXtIEPqSQuAfniFcnKw8YFqNckLoxmvDScpwlFEt2qKM_K9p8Wm2qHY3QWHUAM/s320/IMG_1455.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Next we gave it twig-shaped handles,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc_u65oEy98OcptH04MllXIVsHNq3XN2sUye0A_L1OUUI_Cf5WlzvOIrvcwqBfDOd2wua1H-GjLAnGc3te8bWae5WpJwKFeSwRtIgWrIqcXGQqLofKfiYedy3mBAaDLRrpkWctY8QB6ptkZGeYStpvbU4DOuViaEGFNI3mQK1R2PrT2R2i5aI6EtA2YtE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc_u65oEy98OcptH04MllXIVsHNq3XN2sUye0A_L1OUUI_Cf5WlzvOIrvcwqBfDOd2wua1H-GjLAnGc3te8bWae5WpJwKFeSwRtIgWrIqcXGQqLofKfiYedy3mBAaDLRrpkWctY8QB6ptkZGeYStpvbU4DOuViaEGFNI3mQK1R2PrT2R2i5aI6EtA2YtE" width="180" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">then hung some
clothes to camouflage the surprise. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitQ5xHjnJJxQGXbjXyPR0p2Q3gLJVFRmVY5qXWJAc8aNk2MFTRARTF-y8zSrN-pclr90XA7QvwEinQZmJtKCza1ClkHQnjTlN5YJt59x5tSn479K-Ufwikz_FfoZM9YpcLLScNGMEjAY-YwcPCK-mfHM9gBGjj3YQpZiNjQ3HagN8WHsYpR-WO37mimM0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2963" data-original-width="2171" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitQ5xHjnJJxQGXbjXyPR0p2Q3gLJVFRmVY5qXWJAc8aNk2MFTRARTF-y8zSrN-pclr90XA7QvwEinQZmJtKCza1ClkHQnjTlN5YJt59x5tSn479K-Ufwikz_FfoZM9YpcLLScNGMEjAY-YwcPCK-mfHM9gBGjj3YQpZiNjQ3HagN8WHsYpR-WO37mimM0" width="176" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> You push the clothes aside, and this is the final result:</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxl-sdrHI-OOITRS7DYhrRpHDo2P3udlKLCayv_XERy-uUWXHNrKTr13XC47Ens3vrpFq-4iqvmuHamRc6AZ_8GZp96aUaYpxJw7u6DzjkvhKlsxc2YjiJiHAmbP9Z7pZlW5jqLNubtGa0yEwXCWCQeopJ7uhQWAP3hAmbcFPp4SpvxGNQcTP3zkg8xbg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxl-sdrHI-OOITRS7DYhrRpHDo2P3udlKLCayv_XERy-uUWXHNrKTr13XC47Ens3vrpFq-4iqvmuHamRc6AZ_8GZp96aUaYpxJw7u6DzjkvhKlsxc2YjiJiHAmbP9Z7pZlW5jqLNubtGa0yEwXCWCQeopJ7uhQWAP3hAmbcFPp4SpvxGNQcTP3zkg8xbg" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When you’re not
going through secret passageways into Christmas Land, </span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR1BFRSJttmJCwuk0ZH5OC5VMcWK8XR66_j9m8W4OImYSf-VvqYcP6vtX4mLVn6XntbWylh8cF68OkdUqjjO-WqU797HFn6413EOPKDVVlAkrwr1zFgQSei8INuZYD5y4F6MCa-rWg-FS6iALw_XS6yGv17xP-vjHGyMYdxQTY3LGj8AHo66dGhao9vI/s4032/Christmas%20Room.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR1BFRSJttmJCwuk0ZH5OC5VMcWK8XR66_j9m8W4OImYSf-VvqYcP6vtX4mLVn6XntbWylh8cF68OkdUqjjO-WqU797HFn6413EOPKDVVlAkrwr1zFgQSei8INuZYD5y4F6MCa-rWg-FS6iALw_XS6yGv17xP-vjHGyMYdxQTY3LGj8AHo66dGhao9vI/s320/Christmas%20Room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">be sure to watch my
Youtube Mom life hacks </span><a href=" https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">.</span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-6510865257238195482023-10-31T07:00:00.020-07:002023-10-31T07:00:00.140-07:00Whimsy Comes at a Price<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> You recently read that I have a fairy garden, a Christmas
room, and refuse to relinquish my childhood. I was even given this shirt:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlpqXPBGgJJr32l_xJJR1y9fJSVwAuYDalk4pcNgHREXM0MgB3DCU-SwEV6ma8dErXUIUYyj1iL5nrBUPpj_yLZbTn7rnLxozg9Q3nNtEKPfVDmEWiLh_L2RDK_8wUE0MZYF5Zo4I3A0NkecawDrpoXc8lLzyECtnG7kg64IFjAHqGUoWy-CFX1X5lOGg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3237" data-original-width="2661" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlpqXPBGgJJr32l_xJJR1y9fJSVwAuYDalk4pcNgHREXM0MgB3DCU-SwEV6ma8dErXUIUYyj1iL5nrBUPpj_yLZbTn7rnLxozg9Q3nNtEKPfVDmEWiLh_L2RDK_8wUE0MZYF5Zo4I3A0NkecawDrpoXc8lLzyECtnG7kg64IFjAHqGUoWy-CFX1X5lOGg" width="197" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">But now I have
ANOTHER fantastic project: In front of the door to the Christmas room we are
installing a Narnia wardrobe—a secret passageway!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am super
excited. It took months to find an armoire that was not only whimsical, but had
the right dimensions. I’ll be posting later about the final result of this
project.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>BUT… first we see St. Bob out on the driveway, trying to move the heavy wooden armoire all
by himself. He figures he will use his dolly and move it inside with no trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Incidentally,
there needs to be an alarm that will go off whenever Bob decides to take on
something like this <i>by himself.)</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMgzI9FaiHcSnHu4OKX9StLc8ZaDxwy65xKgkA3saf-qFph9i6lxhJSBXajC7-tN0RJNkQh9XITajVdXoIEhanLEl9wS6Y4wckZ7OgDvAoOnLGXqTqgpxxeFzhOozVi3_saI--HjMD6elUYni34bx09FCRhnmrjenJ9nvo8mvxmYhDFSqLyejlCAzH3ls" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="177" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMgzI9FaiHcSnHu4OKX9StLc8ZaDxwy65xKgkA3saf-qFph9i6lxhJSBXajC7-tN0RJNkQh9XITajVdXoIEhanLEl9wS6Y4wckZ7OgDvAoOnLGXqTqgpxxeFzhOozVi3_saI--HjMD6elUYni34bx09FCRhnmrjenJ9nvo8mvxmYhDFSqLyejlCAzH3ls" width="320" /></a></i></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He gets the
dolly under the furniture, tips it up, and then realizes that, because he took
the back off, it is now top heavy and it begins to fall.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Somehow—and I
still can’t visualize this—it spins and throws him into the bushes. It knocks
off his glasses and breaks a knob off a door.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bob’s head pops
up out of the bushes,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU2T8JE8lPQQw6oAprjUXKK9XL485rUhN6T4vYvjzdrlI3tSSj9X0Yt_nuGauKhyLfLpCuVkLiPN6WOBincx1DUyzM7_q6SzQQJTOI3rjsutf9YR0t5p9tfxjEKg4xEK5fkoWT71TK1eYMCSvRZXVe67PpRhnONOEeLcYqsQ1VtNEJS3hgKqcmfGg6_Qg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU2T8JE8lPQQw6oAprjUXKK9XL485rUhN6T4vYvjzdrlI3tSSj9X0Yt_nuGauKhyLfLpCuVkLiPN6WOBincx1DUyzM7_q6SzQQJTOI3rjsutf9YR0t5p9tfxjEKg4xEK5fkoWT71TK1eYMCSvRZXVe67PpRhnONOEeLcYqsQ1VtNEJS3hgKqcmfGg6_Qg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>and his very
first thought is to look about, and see if someone was watching. Okay, I do
this first as well, but I am clumsier than average.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No one
saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HOWEVER, St. Bob got whiplash from
his adventure. Hopefully there won’t be any more injuries before it’s nailed
into place. The wardrobe, not the whiplash.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Be sure to watch my Youtube Mom life hack <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton">videos</a>, while you’re waiting to
see the final result!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-92161242718913247262023-10-24T07:00:00.039-07:002023-10-24T07:00:00.135-07:00Lessons from the Curb<p> I<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> just returned from a belated birthday celebration with three
girlfriends in Newport Beach. We’ve known each other for decades, and it was a
fabulous trip.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTTwyUhQ2N6lHJpRjniLvSobggPBTMIS7ZbzzTlvLyq7OtFHheS50YsMkNPc8WOLajVX3veDSFliXG2HMww3dbgFvjzT2RJr5QnKN9IlAQHaAv8QAKZjLbB-ElIKgnSAEPIpwsWTIqkVFn0bBA4R22RX7EAOL3w37XS2r2JsdF1e2K2Ts8IxYcQaBJQYI" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTTwyUhQ2N6lHJpRjniLvSobggPBTMIS7ZbzzTlvLyq7OtFHheS50YsMkNPc8WOLajVX3veDSFliXG2HMww3dbgFvjzT2RJr5QnKN9IlAQHaAv8QAKZjLbB-ElIKgnSAEPIpwsWTIqkVFn0bBA4R22RX7EAOL3w37XS2r2JsdF1e2K2Ts8IxYcQaBJQYI" width="320" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnYrfOmsXXqHpWCc8lKKaUnaWWEVO0sNo7pEdg_OfKkTx53MAT0BpfhVUb52dbhQuFMVIM10o-HQbAsX2Tx3VAzkV0KKSwLmFAsz8xe2aoeGxK1VWoPxTAn5-jqajXRLumAqJPT78zBzgLlk9xpRHcgGs0EG0RZHTbcX2pMolTRo9ivIQeyqN1w-PMW-I" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnYrfOmsXXqHpWCc8lKKaUnaWWEVO0sNo7pEdg_OfKkTx53MAT0BpfhVUb52dbhQuFMVIM10o-HQbAsX2Tx3VAzkV0KKSwLmFAsz8xe2aoeGxK1VWoPxTAn5-jqajXRLumAqJPT78zBzgLlk9xpRHcgGs0EG0RZHTbcX2pMolTRo9ivIQeyqN1w-PMW-I" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgarXKxXucEzxvI-NxyS_9E1ilh9EBfrwNzF_eFXsj58ZHYJsN1VTvDo6rVWr1uxNTxbzp1lVuQTPnHq9n2uIxRzMaxBwa9oz5Ve18vuToJPAQYhYoXNPNynJHJ2zBUIhQmsF4T3v-RyuyOGaE5k5Mvd9J-4Ut3xB1kzbCadtClTSg7WAPbWD0Kizn3jJM" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgarXKxXucEzxvI-NxyS_9E1ilh9EBfrwNzF_eFXsj58ZHYJsN1VTvDo6rVWr1uxNTxbzp1lVuQTPnHq9n2uIxRzMaxBwa9oz5Ve18vuToJPAQYhYoXNPNynJHJ2zBUIhQmsF4T3v-RyuyOGaE5k5Mvd9J-4Ut3xB1kzbCadtClTSg7WAPbWD0Kizn3jJM" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7hxlxZmPry2l4gVT92ZQTnJ3hq_xR2SaygkmYWjY820TvOD10Bl_i3j95pn02T7QrDQeRu7I_ZTQsC4nyMrx6koZ7DSeB958-J-pvMQcuee9faL59zk7_MmluTTdGZwvPfVVQGR6ugWdFWAIYS2mPXdn3hL2tdzq24IjPdAeM585nVcC0KDLTS5fpPAA" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="808" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7hxlxZmPry2l4gVT92ZQTnJ3hq_xR2SaygkmYWjY820TvOD10Bl_i3j95pn02T7QrDQeRu7I_ZTQsC4nyMrx6koZ7DSeB958-J-pvMQcuee9faL59zk7_MmluTTdGZwvPfVVQGR6ugWdFWAIYS2mPXdn3hL2tdzq24IjPdAeM585nVcC0KDLTS5fpPAA" width="242" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /><br /> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHCRKeYTXzShXnZjp52vuz1eLnlq5dqJprmLryDAKvtyaZHJNWNoIrKznuLXYPRzCE5E16Y2ITK22LDPYVVedHQv3E9uFYdtpM7lXTTdVUNy9uHNfJ6E_ovXV2eNe3yzWrpRcJ4SqXKHgIZlOaRX4SqMk54f9vS5UZlT4-DXuB32TIfhgKuFuKzDRFikg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHCRKeYTXzShXnZjp52vuz1eLnlq5dqJprmLryDAKvtyaZHJNWNoIrKznuLXYPRzCE5E16Y2ITK22LDPYVVedHQv3E9uFYdtpM7lXTTdVUNy9uHNfJ6E_ovXV2eNe3yzWrpRcJ4SqXKHgIZlOaRX4SqMk54f9vS5UZlT4-DXuB32TIfhgKuFuKzDRFikg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But before it
even started, I was standing at the curb at the airport, with various women. A
car pulled up for one of them, and she immediately began gushing over the dog
in the back seat. The window was down, and she leaned through for lots of
kissing and tail-wagging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Meanwhile, her
husband was dutifully dragging her suitcases to the trunk, then getting back in
the car without so much as a nod.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4jzdLrus2AOroq8E1-TUT2IhUrup7pZQNh_VztHhZ6_XbCi8FejbdPz0ENlu7N6ZsV3vW0NSxrVVadLXHb0P3ELNk8pACiSiuHcFWvvWMX6QavTZam_iLikE1JKuEppJawQ48zYcrH8QTQAeuKB8iom-9RigQ6nBITL5SXTXBkOvsPDb69k6FEF6sI8c" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4jzdLrus2AOroq8E1-TUT2IhUrup7pZQNh_VztHhZ6_XbCi8FejbdPz0ENlu7N6ZsV3vW0NSxrVVadLXHb0P3ELNk8pACiSiuHcFWvvWMX6QavTZam_iLikE1JKuEppJawQ48zYcrH8QTQAeuKB8iom-9RigQ6nBITL5SXTXBkOvsPDb69k6FEF6sI8c" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">And then it
happened again!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Another car pulled up
and it was “I missed you so much! How’s my babycakes? Yes, Yes, I love you!” to
the dog, while the husband simply loaded luggage and got back in the car.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEha66H_mrKxM8WRAlYcTva_oiLmu17SKQph5oHjRX2bTihaYzLk2kmqqRGCPLhSwv5RxiGW10h-D1q57YvyYWXwtylxmSBkFe5SSxdmpUXrXtyXWcgC2ik-FeCHS8RkMHIubCjlbdKaq_UwglBHfK7Kn8Xb-WYHZOJr4UAnK0H77CQlOGsfSyaRDi7PfyA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="282" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEha66H_mrKxM8WRAlYcTva_oiLmu17SKQph5oHjRX2bTihaYzLk2kmqqRGCPLhSwv5RxiGW10h-D1q57YvyYWXwtylxmSBkFe5SSxdmpUXrXtyXWcgC2ik-FeCHS8RkMHIubCjlbdKaq_UwglBHfK7Kn8Xb-WYHZOJr4UAnK0H77CQlOGsfSyaRDi7PfyA" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A lesson for
all: Wives, notice your husbands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
husbands, try to be more affectionate than the dog is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>Find more relationship advice, and hundreds of life hacks on my <a href="https://m.youtube.com/c/jonihilton" target="_blank">Youtube channel</a>. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-36250738480647588982023-10-17T07:00:00.036-07:002023-10-17T07:00:00.139-07:00Forever Young?<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Last week St.
Bob and I were shopping in Sam’s Club when I saw a huge dollhouse:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqdcTLdnTfTBC5rbKZRvxJ7hyWozO7KSgSI0CzvjAaxLEn9a7EPLQiLhzbPdtw1Xpjfkpe4KjOQdoK_Aq3F1UoSqr1Bha24ncTTUaQhV9AqZoxif8R6bZuub3sKWjiROmwiy30OuLqQ3dbwZIM6adxMwjHxNoLKpd3Mpc3l1IooIX4SZDNTrdlQsO3oOU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqdcTLdnTfTBC5rbKZRvxJ7hyWozO7KSgSI0CzvjAaxLEn9a7EPLQiLhzbPdtw1Xpjfkpe4KjOQdoK_Aq3F1UoSqr1Bha24ncTTUaQhV9AqZoxif8R6bZuub3sKWjiROmwiy30OuLqQ3dbwZIM6adxMwjHxNoLKpd3Mpc3l1IooIX4SZDNTrdlQsO3oOU" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I gasped. It
even had an elevator! I gushed for a minute or two, then caught myself. “Oh my
goodness, I hope I won’t become one of those old women who reverts to her
childhood and plays with dolls,” I muttered.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Too late,” Bob
said (notice St. is now missing). He reminded me of my Christmas bedroom,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxhqpTazSt5K9zGkdlADriiVLF1I8pcEA4uNPVNg8OelImeMWHkjYIY1-ZyQxn6t8ZEuj59HhuGBPTE7qYhjoVMcDo791woq_0HGb-ITuKvs-ddutHfQd_zuHNyMkU_P_kDiF2k6TH9P7I2SopwcUIPDSioEQTypp2OLM65xoQyVvmFoVjnsPkCJSAF0/s4032/Christmas%20Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxhqpTazSt5K9zGkdlADriiVLF1I8pcEA4uNPVNg8OelImeMWHkjYIY1-ZyQxn6t8ZEuj59HhuGBPTE7qYhjoVMcDo791woq_0HGb-ITuKvs-ddutHfQd_zuHNyMkU_P_kDiF2k6TH9P7I2SopwcUIPDSioEQTypp2OLM65xoQyVvmFoVjnsPkCJSAF0/s320/Christmas%20Room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">my Fairy
Garden,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fkb8y2BpQmEyJTjxpI1y2H59XI42VjqCCxdxcb61Bmh1rSYSftZL_hEAozOFn1gsZ0P3ovzvgM4-UD2_h_qpnJoaoInzDid0AdVIBubw_NubaY99sM1ECekDl0KFXDYC52m2NxejNWG6tgw_p7HGgzvXus8Dj4l3W8eExTXLZG7ZTtdUG2oBnRI4RDs/s2327/fairy%20village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1751" data-original-width="2327" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fkb8y2BpQmEyJTjxpI1y2H59XI42VjqCCxdxcb61Bmh1rSYSftZL_hEAozOFn1gsZ0P3ovzvgM4-UD2_h_qpnJoaoInzDid0AdVIBubw_NubaY99sM1ECekDl0KFXDYC52m2NxejNWG6tgw_p7HGgzvXus8Dj4l3W8eExTXLZG7ZTtdUG2oBnRI4RDs/s320/fairy%20village.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">my little
Princess and the Pea mouse,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZlCZHNoLH3SuoZ68-i5XlVi0nRvBClL4mlE4qNdJcz00IRYfhqjAGa3K7l6_4zwqWTe0_51QloLsokoizllr_h6U3AX68yGDJocheHIqs-Jmwtq-8PMyXeRxXaBup2GVVJIHMb019UB0mdgJrc3N8BDs2fdnz8p6R24HtHIZDA59uGbQ19M85hGNJ7o/s4032/Princess%20on%20a%20pea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZlCZHNoLH3SuoZ68-i5XlVi0nRvBClL4mlE4qNdJcz00IRYfhqjAGa3K7l6_4zwqWTe0_51QloLsokoizllr_h6U3AX68yGDJocheHIqs-Jmwtq-8PMyXeRxXaBup2GVVJIHMb019UB0mdgJrc3N8BDs2fdnz8p6R24HtHIZDA59uGbQ19M85hGNJ7o/s320/Princess%20on%20a%20pea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">my collections
of bird nests, rocks, and boxes,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz1Ri0mo7aLq0-DxySvzUn_Iw2DiadgKOCv3ZWUvIka3bWGAdGpRLpjiT2X9gfTi6YbRmUaW55cknT50hejimmOsyH-IoHeaS1d5b2In-5RI_EczAVFJrdFUBgWh7VilrHQ6d_uVAlejhZjtQbZ1r7nIxdiTZGFCV_2VV3yDy2bjKP9E54GerXkcjQvq8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz1Ri0mo7aLq0-DxySvzUn_Iw2DiadgKOCv3ZWUvIka3bWGAdGpRLpjiT2X9gfTi6YbRmUaW55cknT50hejimmOsyH-IoHeaS1d5b2In-5RI_EczAVFJrdFUBgWh7VilrHQ6d_uVAlejhZjtQbZ1r7nIxdiTZGFCV_2VV3yDy2bjKP9E54GerXkcjQvq8" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">And several
other items that could be called “evidence.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Yikes. I’m
quite certain that the neighbor kids I play with each week will grow into their
teens while I remain five.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “But you won’t
have a second childhood,” Bob said, “because you’re still having the first
one.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>However, I
manage to be a mom to the world in my Youtube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Joni+Hilton" target="_blank">videos</a> sharing life hacks.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-36510415533145998242023-10-10T07:00:00.023-07:002023-10-10T07:00:00.165-07:00Bear With Me<p> <span> Having just returned from Alaska, I found myself telling bear stories. Not because we saw any, but because that's simply what you do. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I grew up in the Rocky Mountains, with many a family trip to Yellowstone, when they still had hundreds of black bears. We were told to steer clear of them, always good advice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjosUbTX5sMyEZFDK-XNupW2YhzkKH5Umupsra5wzmcG1luqWR-BHIoDWaXMZ4ofPRgXPbUMEzixtrGXuwsbM0_X_csnyA8T3RigoSf1bmgHR8r7_uvbsEqz2Tinf-xeQLtb331DzlXmi8Gaym890P7qcx3xIOqwXptJQeXBqEAYQ4ThyPAJTkOJWKkDSs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjosUbTX5sMyEZFDK-XNupW2YhzkKH5Umupsra5wzmcG1luqWR-BHIoDWaXMZ4ofPRgXPbUMEzixtrGXuwsbM0_X_csnyA8T3RigoSf1bmgHR8r7_uvbsEqz2Tinf-xeQLtb331DzlXmi8Gaym890P7qcx3xIOqwXptJQeXBqEAYQ4ThyPAJTkOJWKkDSs" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Unfortunately, no one has
trained bears to avoid humans.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So when
my dad, an avid fly fisherman known for his uncanny ability to sense a good
bend in the river, pulled over into a meadow and took off in his waders for a
perfect place to fish, my mother, sister, and I waited </span><i style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">inside</i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> the car, where it was safe.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dad disappeared into the
trees, and we sat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within five minutes,
we saw a gigantic bear lumbering towards us from the far end of the
meadow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instinctively, we locked our
doors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjORKctJR7aXzP1IIBUkUiNHK_AKMHbMNybCQQXFzwnrd-f8aLRycK2Dk1GRV5rdAXYUcs3_5jWT0fuA4ZckAt5gMGPNV-Yfda4CP1UY4p11eLFCxeOZOYOb3m3cn0UqFlWL8qEdd4NS_FkuQC089OnrSuZmGBk4mwXLzSiB-2RQw6x5xqkKkEYDZV2Va4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="193" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjORKctJR7aXzP1IIBUkUiNHK_AKMHbMNybCQQXFzwnrd-f8aLRycK2Dk1GRV5rdAXYUcs3_5jWT0fuA4ZckAt5gMGPNV-Yfda4CP1UY4p11eLFCxeOZOYOb3m3cn0UqFlWL8qEdd4NS_FkuQC089OnrSuZmGBk4mwXLzSiB-2RQw6x5xqkKkEYDZV2Va4" width="177" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> He got closer.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">And then closer.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">We looked around to see if there was
something else he could be heading for, but we were the only item of
distinction in the meadow.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Within seconds he was behind
our car, his long nose jabbing up into the air as he sniffed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at this moment that my mother realized
she had wrapped up some bacon and put it in the trunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yikes.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT8NvP3K5R2x7MvIeW5IufH5BK8g-3O2oh58wkNYzHBgd32pdg2D29aTjSsX0zpP2ZS4rh6_sJtxTJcHW5A1lzQ9rMLzXME7PH80qY7RKGzJpePhB9g3X6Y1un_y0uZu6Vhg_ekdSD7iaq7wVssFqMIZwWNd7E_IgcOUSBNP0ueOJ97ud-rkseMCWCk5w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT8NvP3K5R2x7MvIeW5IufH5BK8g-3O2oh58wkNYzHBgd32pdg2D29aTjSsX0zpP2ZS4rh6_sJtxTJcHW5A1lzQ9rMLzXME7PH80qY7RKGzJpePhB9g3X6Y1un_y0uZu6Vhg_ekdSD7iaq7wVssFqMIZwWNd7E_IgcOUSBNP0ueOJ97ud-rkseMCWCk5w" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The bear took a swipe at our
bumper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then at the fenders, denting
them in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He growled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew there was bacon somewhere in this
metal contraption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He placed his mammoth
paws atop the trunk and pushed down, bouncing the car on its shock absorbers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Don’t move!” my mother
whispered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the bear was bouncing my
sister and me like this was a trampoline.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now he roared, slammed all his
weight onto the trunk, broke the car’s axle and popped a tire. It also bent the trunk lid in enough to pop it open, revealing all our luggage and, of course, the
bacon.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgn7POHOArH_AllCGS4jj9-q7_-Tf9xCY8Uh1fLEHUoketqJLvjYtUtsTL3qinxnF72c3nDvtjNZjeYSBkODDgL21Mn2TZ8YZJ_6Odpk1941eCt0E31HhZqWZmB658JDZFhW2f8dY7yPybZPuxq_8RD0bxYP_49nAgxoeKT8rsYIy-V-WFWGc_y0mhy6X4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgn7POHOArH_AllCGS4jj9-q7_-Tf9xCY8Uh1fLEHUoketqJLvjYtUtsTL3qinxnF72c3nDvtjNZjeYSBkODDgL21Mn2TZ8YZJ_6Odpk1941eCt0E31HhZqWZmB658JDZFhW2f8dY7yPybZPuxq_8RD0bxYP_49nAgxoeKT8rsYIy-V-WFWGc_y0mhy6X4" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My mother was shrieking, my
sister was wailing that she had now sat on a fish hook, and I was frozen in
panic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bear rummaged hungrily
through our belongings, piercing a 3-inch thick book with his teeth, and finally
finding the bacon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few chomps later he
sauntered off, apparently unwilling to break windows and eat screaming females.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">No way were we going to open
the doors and survey the damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Besides, my sister’s fish hook was her greatest concern and getting a
barbed hook out of human flesh is no small project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Five minutes later my father
returned, having decided this was not the best fishing spot after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as he approached the car, you can imagine
his surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trunk lid was up,
clothing was strewn all around, and the entire back end of the car was
destroyed, like a bomb had gone off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“What on earth happened? I was
gone ten minutes!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And that, my friends, is all
it takes. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>I recommend staying in the safety of your home, and watching my Youtube Mom videos right <a href="http://bit.ly/YourYouTubeMom" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></span></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-44972461763799294682023-10-03T07:00:00.032-07:002023-10-03T09:41:20.984-07:00Not Quite Gilligan's Place<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Looks like I
have an island, folks. Okay, technically it’s not </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">my</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> island. But my
maiden name is Pennock and this is Pennock Island, so I’m inferring some attachment
to it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyn_71O2WCZp4E8eVqQ3rzqkTDthMb6VsadhB7xTcGk7jrRoJXmQok_fxUW5u13NdRe6nD9j8TOE7AI8HhFtslBfM2Y0gRJZo6AHjAOyZHadox-idHKE9LeDW7UHXJX3YCTX1JCgAPm8mvo7SQ9pNrm-qwkoc1pynOAqczC9tIYAb2vXlbQ4GN75hGJtA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyn_71O2WCZp4E8eVqQ3rzqkTDthMb6VsadhB7xTcGk7jrRoJXmQok_fxUW5u13NdRe6nD9j8TOE7AI8HhFtslBfM2Y0gRJZo6AHjAOyZHadox-idHKE9LeDW7UHXJX3YCTX1JCgAPm8mvo7SQ9pNrm-qwkoc1pynOAqczC9tIYAb2vXlbQ4GN75hGJtA" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s just southwest
of Ketchikan, Alaska and is thickly wooded. It’s about 3 miles long, half a
mile wide, and not many folks live there. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhy-WwAY8Lca1lvZirDxol_WlVfn0BTI-Lq_64vgVQPfcFuqxanoS38IgSWC_KhMUTd9M-ElbALEE1Qx1_Gkn_aB7xi8vG9OUNqxqIpcb5qCk72v3x7MNFvY0KUdhllq6Du-YCORGRZ06IFztAul7Gx-zZvMxjF3ok1-WutWa1Q2Cz4y7powdA1woiTMzY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhy-WwAY8Lca1lvZirDxol_WlVfn0BTI-Lq_64vgVQPfcFuqxanoS38IgSWC_KhMUTd9M-ElbALEE1Qx1_Gkn_aB7xi8vG9OUNqxqIpcb5qCk72v3x7MNFvY0KUdhllq6Du-YCORGRZ06IFztAul7Gx-zZvMxjF3ok1-WutWa1Q2Cz4y7powdA1woiTMzY" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Set in the Tongass Narrows, it’s
close to Gravina Island, which had all that “bridge to nowhere” publicity a few
years ago.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN418hkcIg-CvLL97nLTns2tK-HuXSflPpzG78osk1Wj_V2zPgalee86f5dkPUvy5nvN8FxP-NS7MfmgtYw4x5YNH7DB-SydYQUA2877KQezu3ITyjl1jBfsdp33oFYopoTDD6k9ULbPw0TO3QFrX3bMMZbijKoJjIa_z5CytCZ1fbC5H8-6lugy1AH7M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="210" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN418hkcIg-CvLL97nLTns2tK-HuXSflPpzG78osk1Wj_V2zPgalee86f5dkPUvy5nvN8FxP-NS7MfmgtYw4x5YNH7DB-SydYQUA2877KQezu3ITyjl1jBfsdp33oFYopoTDD6k9ULbPw0TO3QFrX3bMMZbijKoJjIa_z5CytCZ1fbC5H8-6lugy1AH7M" width="211" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Yes, it’s a three-mile island.
But it’s not </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">that </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">three-mile island. It was named for gold prospector
Homer Pennock in 1895, and now hosts the annual “Pennock Island Challenge” a swim
race all the way around it, in 55-60-degree water. Not for the feint of heart, clearly. Kayakers (rescuers?) come along.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhV8m-rICG2wWLzIpEIN64NfAJ4OcQWYFMQTZD_la1cJuQp3UAEc1WkhWJ-WGzSmwrH0MU8fQQfbU7Xx52i3F71OG7kh_fG2lTLlab02etCm5zVaeIYg2CxUDDPg8pWs3xDfCPOe0tpH197562ziHhg-Df5RskUmhSszESYmLGMpKACY40AYwmgxpxdyI4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhV8m-rICG2wWLzIpEIN64NfAJ4OcQWYFMQTZD_la1cJuQp3UAEc1WkhWJ-WGzSmwrH0MU8fQQfbU7Xx52i3F71OG7kh_fG2lTLlab02etCm5zVaeIYg2CxUDDPg8pWs3xDfCPOe0tpH197562ziHhg-Df5RskUmhSszESYmLGMpKACY40AYwmgxpxdyI4" width="320" /></a></div> Here's even a contingency from South Africa, ready to compete:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt-79Vw7KhO7CyVfWTn_sohlvTVV_k2z6DBlf0fZrqK2B_aDZM2SzcH2vkLhvqef11vQqjqqfma050pvmFrpQ0j7pRpA9qTZL6M3vzqnESRHulGyqiT7pexidb_n3-zPFRM7hlCzxTlfJ3_FI4Pc04iHWL88cX5soC3LY_OwrP5e_xcu869t3ox3A--2w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt-79Vw7KhO7CyVfWTn_sohlvTVV_k2z6DBlf0fZrqK2B_aDZM2SzcH2vkLhvqef11vQqjqqfma050pvmFrpQ0j7pRpA9qTZL6M3vzqnESRHulGyqiT7pexidb_n3-zPFRM7hlCzxTlfJ3_FI4Pc04iHWL88cX5soC3LY_OwrP5e_xcu869t3ox3A--2w" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">They no longer include it in the
census (does that mean it literally doesn’t count?) but if you’re looking for a
remote hideaway where you can watch whales and bald eagles, maybe consider
Pennock Island for your next vacation. And tell them Joni says</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">hi. </span><b>Or, you can stay in where it's warm and watch my Youtube Mom</b> <a href="http://bit.ly/YourYouTubeMom" target="_blank">videos</a>.Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38571055380125485.post-65205953928381041012023-09-26T10:00:00.001-07:002023-09-26T10:00:00.157-07:00Ah-laska!<p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">You know my philosophy:
Either things go great, or it’s material. Win-win.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So I never even
hope for smooth travel; I kind of wait for the disasters and, as you know,
travel never disappoints.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This time we cruised to Alaska with dear friends and had a fabulous time with them. St. Bob’s
text notification is a quacking duck, so every time ducks flew overhead (which
was often) he pulled out his phone to check his messages. Much to my
amusement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Did we see whales?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNs4BQ-1vNw1ezZlayZCNUOFX9SG2XzvUjx1BYYyXlcSuZjuPoK60cgTjjxVAGWuPftu13jtbnFWMuMgjT6ZwGy7CL7Yo-agfRmfo93zU-xrv3Q-9AdkUvZOavrKIphl9CrlKYQdb_SuWLGQm4oHsdwUTDaQLhQ7WIxeoLil1n5p3fW82cMOAHlZUT478" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="132" data-original-width="178" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNs4BQ-1vNw1ezZlayZCNUOFX9SG2XzvUjx1BYYyXlcSuZjuPoK60cgTjjxVAGWuPftu13jtbnFWMuMgjT6ZwGy7CL7Yo-agfRmfo93zU-xrv3Q-9AdkUvZOavrKIphl9CrlKYQdb_SuWLGQm4oHsdwUTDaQLhQ7WIxeoLil1n5p3fW82cMOAHlZUT478" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nope. Did we
see bears?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDA5LAYBOAtA4XMk3eKxlV4PaUGsk02fKO1s5zDirv7hxzW6VDhGUuwLcrWVRyFazqmyCSxgo597EczwprY7_Fatov9kb6wqSCmP2-1nKSk_CK-JRYQssUZyL-8G18ixu0hJKrxoZGypMIBYbwcfSlNOBmA_RnUug2jJW4SxSdfuOZLCQYuQuVYMllht0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="128" data-original-width="245" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDA5LAYBOAtA4XMk3eKxlV4PaUGsk02fKO1s5zDirv7hxzW6VDhGUuwLcrWVRyFazqmyCSxgo597EczwprY7_Fatov9kb6wqSCmP2-1nKSk_CK-JRYQssUZyL-8G18ixu0hJKrxoZGypMIBYbwcfSlNOBmA_RnUug2jJW4SxSdfuOZLCQYuQuVYMllht0" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nope. Did we
see moose?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv8O5bTR8zVB_4ZWfMW0U9OFcgG_1S_d1uM-0rGayyOlvkAbfHXbnUchT7I7aNNyEwNNcYZcd2ZLk5HQJTS8Mr0dAoJONq4FZwkLZ_o3UDksMhIDvzd66ukVD9lAa9VinRFTye9Ol4J6Y9jqhpnTyOqrQWg4Nw7Z19OU_C2mhdOfR40WrC-7jD1KDnWv0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv8O5bTR8zVB_4ZWfMW0U9OFcgG_1S_d1uM-0rGayyOlvkAbfHXbnUchT7I7aNNyEwNNcYZcd2ZLk5HQJTS8Mr0dAoJONq4FZwkLZ_o3UDksMhIDvzd66ukVD9lAa9VinRFTye9Ol4J6Y9jqhpnTyOqrQWg4Nw7Z19OU_C2mhdOfR40WrC-7jD1KDnWv0" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nope. Did we see the Northern Lights?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpwRwgM44ucDeyWiCW556IcYnvQhfzw-Z_1KMgLatCSKJpWjjLhkdweS4W52aaXUc6_MDocqyS3lf9XzkCcNEWS2n27ONvew0T0XTzjqwwxvfetpTISizN_P1NA9sihyEY14c630btiQIcfmJHyw9-OHhX8JEhE_lga08endandzziTfXr_l_rL-Pb8c0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="132" data-original-width="132" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpwRwgM44ucDeyWiCW556IcYnvQhfzw-Z_1KMgLatCSKJpWjjLhkdweS4W52aaXUc6_MDocqyS3lf9XzkCcNEWS2n27ONvew0T0XTzjqwwxvfetpTISizN_P1NA9sihyEY14c630btiQIcfmJHyw9-OHhX8JEhE_lga08endandzziTfXr_l_rL-Pb8c0" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /> Nope. Did our
helicopter ride to the top of a glacier get cancelled due to bad weather?</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMDgtpcJTT7TmD2Q04cV7BAGCNi44apJ8tKhUT9RXGosRFDg6ZDhGdC-MRn_R28vHCfHIQdHk1J8NTJ2cm0jLlzA1mfiLoSA11NCN9_7x7cOdRQgxpPrusYvlpnurAYNVB0T_Qa6Qsj8QUOmSWtBjU85_XFZyvsoXgZ8J77TEumaSKJk9zKQlTuvCbGoQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="303" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMDgtpcJTT7TmD2Q04cV7BAGCNi44apJ8tKhUT9RXGosRFDg6ZDhGdC-MRn_R28vHCfHIQdHk1J8NTJ2cm0jLlzA1mfiLoSA11NCN9_7x7cOdRQgxpPrusYvlpnurAYNVB0T_Qa6Qsj8QUOmSWtBjU85_XFZyvsoXgZ8J77TEumaSKJk9zKQlTuvCbGoQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Yep. Did our whale-watching
excursion get cancelled as well? Yep. But we did get to zip-line, see two bald
eagles, and eat ourselves into oblivion.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I think that last one is required on all cruises.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Well, that and watching my Youtube Mom videos <a href="http://bit.ly/YourYouTubeMom" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></span></p>Joni Hiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273440763325249255noreply@blogger.com0