Sunday, December 28, 2008 | By: Sara

Einstein's Challenge

This is fun. Enjoy.

Einstein's Challenge:

"Einstein's Challenge" is a fairly difficult logic puzzle. This puzzle is typically prefaced with a note explaining that it was written by Einstein in the last century (i.e., the 19th century) and that he claimed only 2% of the world's population could solve it. This story is likely apocryphal, and certainly more than 2% of all people could solve it, given enough time. Hopefully this won't detract from your enjoyment of it:

FACTS OF THE PUZZLE

There are five houses in five different colours.
In each house lives a person of a different nationality.
These five owners drink a certain beverage, smoke a certain brand of
cigarette and keep a certain pet.
No owners have the same pet, smoke the same brand of smoke or drink
the same drink.

HINTS
The Brit lives in the red house.
The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
The Dane drinks tea.
The green house is on the left of the white house.
The green house owner drinks coffee.
The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.
The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.
The man living in the house right in the center drinks milk.
The Norwegian lives in the first house.
The man who smokes Blend lives next to the one who keeps cats.
The man who keeps horses lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill.
The owner who smokes Blue Master drinks beer.
The German smokes Prince.
The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
The man who smokes Blend has a neighbour who drinks water.
The question is: WHO OWNS FISH?

And for extra points:

Could the claim that Albert Einstein authored this puzzle last century be true?
Friday, December 26, 2008 | By: Sara

Christmas Eve Terror

Charlie ate half my gifts on Christmas Eve night...dummy.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 | By: Sara

Christmas Crazzzy

Christmas preparations cannot, I repeat CANNOT, be completed in only 2 days. Sorry to everyone who doesn't get a gift from us this year..... just kidding...sort of. :D
Friday, December 19, 2008 | By: Sara

We're Movin' Out

So...some big news.
After 3 1/2 years at this house, we are finally moving! This has been a great house to live in, but, since I am graduating soon, we are now moving up north to Davis County, closer to where we will eventually end up.
We will be renting a house in Bountiful. We like it. :)
Move date is Sat January 3rd all day. Keep it open if you would like to help us move in. ;P

Mmmm....croutons

I just tried to eat a whole head of iceberg lettuce to no avail.
Mission FAILED.
Friday, December 12, 2008 | By: Sara

...And I'm Back

Orlando was Absolutely Awesome! I will post a few pics when I get a chance. :)
Friday, December 5, 2008 | By: Sara

Universal Studios...Here I Come!!

....And I'm off to Orlando. Blog you when I get back!! ~S
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 | By: Sara

So nice...

I gave my Seminar yesterday on Ortho Evra (the birth control patch) and risk for blood clots. It went extremly well. I am very happy. :)
It is so nice to be done with all my final school projects! Wahoo!
Saturday, November 29, 2008 | By: Sara

OUR THANKSIVERSARY

Our anniversary is on Nov 27th (every year!) so we like to have Thanksgiving to ourselves. We cook our own Thanksgiving feast and we look forward to it every year because we can just do what we want and don't have to worry about anything. It is quite nice. I was just thinking how fast time flies. We have lived in this house for 3 1/2 years! Can you believe it! Below is a recap of all our thanksgivings that we have cooked (and they are all in this house! Crazy!)
Below those pics are some from this year. Enjoy.
Thanksgiving 2008
Thanksgiving 2007
Thanksgiving 2006


Thanksgiving 2005

And a few from this year...
Thursday, November 27, 2008 | By: Sara

Here I am.

So, here I am.
I finished my 4th (out of 6) rotation yesterday (my flash drive died so I had to quickly redo my final poster presentation before I left- that was fun. ;P ).
I have my clinical seminar on Tuesday, which is an hour long presentation to faculty and students debating a controversial pharmaceutical issue (My seminar debate is "Does Ortho Evra, the contraceptive patch, cause blood clots?").
After I present my seminar, I get to write a journal article (before Saturday).
I then fly to Orlando, FL on Saturday to present my poster/article at the National ASHP Convention (American Society of Health System Pharmacists).
I fly home on Wednesday and.....I'm done!
...until January 2nd.
then I have two more rotations. One at the UofU Redwood Pharmacy and then the Pregnancy Risk Line. Then I'm done....maybe. Yay! :)

Oh yeah....and today is Ben and my 6th Anniversary! Can you believe it?

Happy Thanksgiving


Thanksgiving Divorce

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce....forty-five years of misery is enough."

"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer" the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced..." she shouts. "I'll take care of this."

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.

The old man hangs up the phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says, "They're coming for Thanksgiving, and paying their own way."
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 | By: Sara

FYI: Med Recall

"Johnson & Johnson-Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co. recalled certain bottles of nonstaining Mylicon gas-relief dye-free drops. The recalled drops were sold in one-ounce plastic bottles that were distributed to stores and pharmacies after Oct. 5. ... The recalled bottles are from lots SMF007 and SMF008." The "numbers are printed on the bottom of the box and on the lower-left side of the sticker on each bottle."

According to Bloomberg News, Johnson & Johnson-Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals are recalling approximately 12,000 units "because some bottles may include metal fragments." The company "said the metal fragments were generated during the manufacturing process. The company urged consumers to stop using the recalled drops though it said if any medical effects occur, most are expected to be temporary and resolved without medical treatment."

ASHP Quality and Safety Newsletter
Saturday, November 8, 2008 | By: Sara

Life is crazy right now

Life is so crazy right now...I don't even have time to post anything fun. So that's what's going on with me. No.... I didn't die.
Saturday, October 25, 2008 | By: Sara
Monday, October 20, 2008 | By: Sara

I've Got The Powa!

Who would have known I could have so much power and influence in the land of pharmacy?! Somehow I convinced Brandon to take meds up to the patient floors in a Victoria Secret bag while skipping. Haha....what a good sport. Maybe I should go into sales...hmmm......

There have been many other great escapades like this as well, but this is a classic. :)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 | By: Sara

Biometric Hand Scans

**Addendum on the bottom**

This is crazy!


Biometric hand scans may help hospital staff obtain personal information in ED, during admissions.

Florida's St. Petersburg Times reported some medical facilities are using biometrics to streamline hospital admittance procedures. For instance, "Tampa Bay's largest hospital group," Baycare, has implemented "the Patient Secure Identity system." Following "a large hospital chain in the Carolinas" that launched the system last year, "registration clerks" at certain Florida facilities use the "little block box," which consists of a "tiny built-in camera" that beams infrared light into the palms of patients' hands. It scans "an image of the veins inside" their palms, "a signature that's supposed to be as unique as a fingerprint." Then, a "computer records it in digital code." The "scanners save time, and are more accurate than names and numbers for collecting patient records." Moreover, they "can cut down on fraud by helping find patients who try to use someone else's name or insurance." Eventually, "hospitals even plan to use the devices to identify unconscious patients who" are admitted into the emergency department (ED).

Addendum:So, I didn't get a chance to comment on this when I posted it.
Cool idea huh! Theoretically this sounds awesome... but what happens to the guy whose hands got crushed in a motorvehicle accident or the guy who got caught in a conveyor belt? Huh?! What about them?!

I can see it now...
Setting: Trauma Bay at the University of Utah. Patient's blood pressure is crashing. He's not breathing. The beeping of the life monitors can hardly be heard over the doctor's orders. ER nurses are frantically grabbing vasopressors and trying to place an IV while the respiratory therapists are intubating him:

AirMed Technician: "Pt is a 43 year old white male found 20 feet from his vehicle on a road in vernal. Patient is unconcious and unarousable. Lacerations cover his entire body and head and 70% of his body is covered in road rash. We have nothing on this guy's history."
Doctor: "Nothing? He's perfectly healthy?"
AirMed:" No, I mean we don't know who this guy is. We can't pull him up in the database."
Doctor: "Did you do the scanny thingy?"
AirMed: "Of course I did the scanny thingy...but nothing came up. He wouldn't scan."
Doctor: "Oh gosh, Let me try it...What the...! His hands! What the heck did that?"
AirMed: "When we arrived at the scene, we saw 2 badgers gnawing at his hands."
Doctor: **silence**
AirMed: "...let me try scanning his hands again..."
Doctor: "No, no...nevermind that! Can't you pull him up by his social?"
AirMed: "No Doc. We got rid of that system back in 2009."
Doctor: "They didn't make a backup system?"
Airmed: "No way! That would be a huge project! Besides, how could we have ever forseen that this would happen to anyone?"

In all honesty- this is way cool!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 | By: Sara
Saturday, October 11, 2008 | By: Sara

Battle of the Churches

This is awesome. These churches face each other on opposite sides of the street. Enjoy.










Friday, October 10, 2008 | By: Sara

Argghhhh.

I've lost touch with reality and I don't like it.

Let me apologize for all the unreturned voicemail, email, snailmail, etc, etc. Someday I may respond. Don't worry...it's not you... it's me.
Thursday, October 9, 2008 | By: Sara
My internet has been down....I'll post something fabulous soon!
Monday, September 29, 2008 | By: Sara

The 'Ridges' Girls

Emily, Marla, Camille, Aspen and me at Women's Conference.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 | By: Sara

Steady As She Goes...

I got the awesome opportunity of watching surgeries all day today! It was quite an experience.
I watched a rotator cuff repair, gall bladder removal and achilles tendon repair.
I felt all official wearing the sacred green scrubs only surgeons are allowed to where.
I thought it would be all quiet and sterile during the surgery like Grey's Anatomy. Boy was I wrong! The ortho surgeon was jammin' out to music from his iPod while the assistants were dancing. Ironically, this song was playing in the background as the doctor was grinding away at the cartilage.
Above is a look through the arthroscope as they work on the patient. The "strings" are the sutures. The shiny metal object at the bottom is one of the instruments.

The rotator cuff repair made me realize why people are so sore when they wake up. :) It kind of grossed me out a little bit to see them poking the instruments into the skin so roughly. (Don't be alarmed... I did not faint. I've been desensitized ever since anatomy class.) They do the whole surgery laparoscopically so I was able to watch it from the monitor. Fun Fact: There is only a 50:50 chance that it will heal and won't blow out again!

During the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, they pulled out two gall stones as hard as rocks and the size of large grapes! Cauterizing the gall bladder out did not smell good.
Above you can see the brownish cauterized areas. This is done to both stop the bleeding and burn away the connective tissue that is holding the gall bladder to the rest of the liver.
Fun Fact: They pull the gall bladder out through the belly button!

I couldn't see much of the achilles tendon repair because no scopes were needed. I was surprised to see how little the leg bled when they sliced into it. I really thought there should be more blood.

Sorry, this cannot be done laparoscopically so the pictures is a little graphic. Queezy people... avert your eyes now.


Anyway, cool experience if you ever get the chance!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 | By: Sara

Ninja Cat

This one is dedicated to my ninja of a brother-in-law, Marty. Enjoy.

Monday, September 22, 2008 | By: Sara

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF FALL!!!
Saturday, September 20, 2008 | By: Sara

Tasty Vortex

My sister-in-law dedicated this clip to me. "Why?" you ask. So, I like bacon and I may have eaten just a whole plate of bacon for breakfast while I was in California on a band trip. To my defense it was the best bacon I have ever had and the day before (just to be safe) I tried out only a handful of bacon to make sure I didn't get sick from it. Bacon.


via videosift.com
Friday, September 19, 2008 | By: Sara

WTH?!

I don't really have much to say...only a warning to all to never accidentally lock their boxer in a room all day. Enjoy. :)

I promise it didn't start out this way....



He must have really had to pee...
I lied... I have one more thing to say. I had no idea an animal could do this... my first reaction was that someone was in my house looking for something. Stuff was ripped out of my bags and things were across the room from where they started. Sheesh!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 | By: Sara

Fieldtrip to the Libary

I stopped by the library yesterday to get a new library card. It has been about 5 years since I have last been there. Lately I have had a lot of time to listen to books on CD as a handful of my rotations are down in Utah Valley and I am loving it. I have gotten a lot of books read (listened to) recently, which I normally wouldn't get to do because of my schedule. It is such a valuable way to spend my time driving and I recommened everyone try it. I look forward to driving now because I get to read while I drive! **(Do not try this at home kids)**
Just thought I would share this idea... :)

Sushi Smushi.....Literally.


So, my preceptor took me with him to a drug rep lunch at Happy Sumo.

First off, I had no idea there were that many types of sushi.
Second, I don't care for sushi... and here is why...

I mean, the sushi was alright but I just won't ever buy it for myself. The "best" kind was a tempura tuna thingy with some sort of orange sauce on it... I know... you must be thinking I have an amazing palate. To be honest, I am happy with mac-n-cheese with hot dogs cut up in it. Anyway, I felt so stupid because both he and the drug rep were teaching me how to mix up the wasabe/soy stuff and eat sushi.
Disclaimer: I have a small mouth (contrary to popular belief). This is extremely incompatible with eating sushi. The second bite of sushi almost gagged me. I literally was thinking to myself... "What do I do if I puke all over the table? Will I fail my rotation?"
I have excellent gag reflexes- if anything touches the back of my throat... it is out of there in less than 2 seconds. My eyes started watering as I did everything in my power to just chew up this large piece of slimy raw fishy stuff that was completely filling my mouth. When I say completely fill my mouth... I mean COMPLETELY! I honestly don't know how I got out of that situation without embarassing myself. Anyway, enough of that. I just thought you all would care. :)

I also tried some fish eggs... disgusting! :) (They really do pop in your mouth... blagh...)
... And don't worry...I am definitely not turning japanese!
Sunday, September 14, 2008 | By: Sara

Priorities People!

Hurricane Survival Kit

Toilet Paper.......................................................check

Bud Light...........................................................check

Keystone Ice......................................................check

Budweiser........................................................check

Red Dog............................................................check

Misc. other bottles of alcohol...............................check

Piece of plywood to float your old lady and booze on....check

Friday, September 12, 2008 | By: Sara

Confessions of a Diet Stricken Woman


Diet Journal Entries

September 2008: Initiation of diet

Day 1: FAILED
Fritos and Full Throttle is not part of a balanced breakfast. Thanks Brandon.

Day 2: SUCCESS
Dehydration from Full Throttle lead to nausea and large consumption of water.

Day 3: SUCCESS
Still too nauseous to eat a lot.

Day 4: FAILED
Leftover candy from trip looked better than a cardboard boca burger

Day 5: FAILED
Snack Attack

Day 6 (today): FAILED
Caramel Ice Cream Drumstick and Beef Jerky for breakfast

It's a futile cause. Rationalization will be the death of me. It all seemed like a good idea at the time. Maybe the Full Throttle idea was a good one....hmmmm.
Thursday, September 11, 2008 | By: Sara

"....um....Z...."

Wheel of Fortune is not for me:

Fictional Character:
__N__LE
S__M


My guess: Ankle Sam ---> FAIL
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 | By: Sara

Want 75% OFF a Magazine Subscription?!

Hello all you magazine readers!
Have you ever wished you had a magazine subscription of your very own to read and cut up as you wish without having to rip pages out sneakily as you wait at the doctors office? Well, it's your lucky day...now you can!

Available as of: September 9, 2008
Welcome Back U Students & Faculty gift for the 2008-2009 school year
  • 75% discount on EVERY major magazine subscription currently in circulation
  • Use the school discount code at the sponsor's website for any mag on the site
  • Available today and will extend for the next few weeks
  • Family and friends may use the school code to take advantage of this offer
  • Take advantage of this great opportunity
YOUR DISCOUNT CODE: edu14046
SPONSOR LINK:http://www.FullYearMags.com/h/199936
P.S. Please don't think this is a weird scam or gimmick... it's not. The U gives us discounts to a certain item at the beginning of every school year or semester. Last year it was IPods! :)
Monday, September 8, 2008 | By: Sara

Yippee Skippee!!

Lookey....Lookey....Lookey.... to the right at the Graduation countdown. ---------->
I've broke 200 days!! Wahoo!
I can't believe it!
Saturday, September 6, 2008 | By: Sara

Confessions of a Diet-Stricken Woman

Diet Journal Entries

September 2008: Initiation of diet

Day 1: FAILED
Fritos and Full Throttle is not part of a balanced breakfast. Thanks Brandon.

Day 2: SUCCESS
Dehydration from Full Throttle lead to nausea and large consumption of water.

Day 3: SUCCESS
Still too nauseous to eat.

Day 4: FAILED
Leftover candy from trip looked better than a cardboard boca burger.

Day 5: FAILED
Snack Attack.

Day 6 (today): FAILED
Caramel Ice Cream Drumstick and Beef Jerky for breakfast.

It's a futile cause for me. Rationalization will be the death of me. It all seemed like a good idea at the time. Maybe the Full Throttle idea was a good one....hmmmm.

**Note: I write this post as I am eating my ice cream cone**
Thursday, September 4, 2008 | By: Sara

Pleasanton, California Highland Games

The Pleasanton Highland Games was a blast! Below are pictures from the spoil. We played drums by day and poker by night. You can't beat band trips! Enjoy.


WDPB Concert

Here are just a few "behind the scenes" pictures from the concert. We all had a lot of fun. Thanks to those of you who came out!... and to those that didn't....may the pox be upon you and your family. Enjoy.


Friday, August 29, 2008 | By: Sara

California!!!

Here I come California!!

I am going to Pleasanton, California this weekend to compete with my band. Wahoo! Maybe I'll get a chance to post something new on Monday!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 | By: Sara

Just A Reminder!


The Wasatch and District Pipe Band is having their annual concert on August 28th (Thursday) at 7:30 pm. We usually have it in the spring but since we moved up a grade (yay!) we had to change most of our music and there was a plethera of stuff to learn for the new season... I'll tell you what!
Anyway, we truely appreciate everyone who supports us by coming to the concerts and donating time or money to the band so that we may continue to compete, educate and have fun with our instruments. I would love to see you come out.
It is in a beautiful spot this year... Edward Kenley Amphitheater in Layton (address above). It is outdoors so dress appropriately. There is space to sit in chairs or you can lay down a blanket on the open grassy hill behind. We opened for Leahy last year at this same place and it is gorgeous! Come and see it!
If you have any questions or would like to purchase tickets or donate to the band, please feel free to contact me or Megan McDonald at 856-2332. Thanks so much! Hope to see you there!
Thursday, August 21, 2008 | By: Sara

Churros are the bomb

Sorry, I haven't posted lately.... someone didn't pay the Qwest bill and hasn't had internet for a few days....woopsies!

Anyway, churros are delicious.

Churrio
Monday, August 18, 2008 | By: Sara

Off To School

This is my little half-brother, Nicholas, off to his first day of school. Isn't he cute!?

I Am Ready To Get Slapped

For those of you who don't know, I am on rotation at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center (UVRMC) in the NICU. I am really liking it and learning a ton. It takes me an hour to get there and I quite enjoy the drive actually (not considering the gas money to get there and back!). It gives me time to just think, which I haven't had for a while. Life gets so busy and crazy that we rarely get a chance to just sit and think. I found out that I quite like thinking and I look forward to the drive most of the time.
I also get to listen to books on CD. I have gotten a lot "read" since I started this rotation. If you have any good books on CD that you would like to let me borrow or have any good recommendations.... let me know! I listened to the Fall 2007 General Conference and am listening to Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis right now.
This rotation ends on September 5th then I start my next management rotation at American Fork Hospital the following Monday. It is always nice to change paces and do something different, so I am excited for that one.
Anyway, I am really enjoying life right now despite being the busiest I have ever been, because I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I can smell the fresh air. I have a wonderful life and see nothing to be sad or regretful about. I am extremely lucky to have you guys as friends and family and to have the wonderful support that you are so willing to share with me.
Time is passing so quickly it is a little scary to realize I will soon have large responsibilities that most of you already have. I think I am ready for the challenge though (hopefully I am-I've been preparing for 24 years!). Thank you all for being you. ~S : )
Friday, August 15, 2008 | By: Sara

Haunted Cinemark on 13th

I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian last night with Brandi, the Beej and his sisters and found out the theater was haunted! In the middle of the movie the projection started dimming and then finally went off, but we could still hear the movie going. "You've got to be kidding me!" we heard from one of the Narnia characters.... we all cracked up. When the movie-man was trying to fix it, the lights would go bright and make a buzzing noise for a second and he just kept trying that and it wasn't working. Next we heard " I wouldn't be trying that boy." Again... extremely funny for the scenario. It was pretty good.
We ended up having to leave without finishing the movie. The beginning was really good so I can't wait to see it "again".

Coincidence?.... I think not. Haunted?.... I think so.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 | By: Sara

Spelchek is Highly Undrutilized


I happened to stumble upon this as I was purchasing an item from the internet. I had to take a picture of it, come on! ~S
Sunday, August 10, 2008 | By: Sara

A new meaning to "Hail the Size of Golf Balls"

There was hail the size of golf balls today!

Here is my pictorial representation:



The hail was making such a ruckus on the swamp cooler I thought another bird was caught in it. I look outside and low and behold, giant ice balls falling from heaven.
Saturday, August 9, 2008 | By: Sara

Poplar Pub Now Open!!

Want to have a fabulous meal with an awesome atmosphere?
The Poplar Street Pub is now open!
"Eclectic twists on bar food, including margherita pizza & chili verde, with an emphasis on locally grown products straight from the Farmers Market. Open 3 p.m.-1 a.m." SL Weekly
My grandfather and uncle opened their pub recently and it has gotten some great reviews so far. I hear their Fish-n-Chips are fabulous. Go check them out at 242 South and 200 West in Salt Lake right next to Red Rock.
Friday, August 8, 2008 | By: Sara

Iron Man

I went and saw Iron Man last night and I loved it (Plus it's only a buck at the dollar theaters). I would definitely recommend it! Robert Downey Jr did an awesome job. FYI.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 | By: Sara

You might be a Redneck if....

...this is your idea of a fashionable summer ensemble.
Look......harder.

Now I ask you.. Who sits and looks at a pair of men's briefs and says hmmmm...I can make a nice summer top from these!! On the other hand...$6 for a three pack is a good price!!

Monday, August 4, 2008 | By: Sara

Enumclaw Competition Vids

Here is our MSR. Hear those awesome tenors!? Sweeet!!



Here is our Medley.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | By: Sara

Drum Roll Please.......

The poll has been closed and the votes tallied for "Adulthood Eating Habits".

From the poll we can conclude:
  • 80% of us eat Oreos for breakfast
  • 50% were force-fed brocolli as a child
  • 20% gave in to parent-pressure
  • 100% of you are now craving Oreos

So...all my poll really proved is that adults eat like crap no matter how they were fed as a child. So, parents... you can lay off the "eat yer vegetables" or "no dessert 'til you finished everything on yer plate"... it apparently doesn't work and you pretty much just scar them for life and make them hate you.

For real though, a little junk food won't hurt your child as long as they are getting adequate nutrition aside. A good diet makes for strong bones and smart brains... and who doesn't want smart brains. I know, It's easier said than done giving your child a healthy balanced diet when all they want is mac-n-cheese or cookie crisp (which is not part of a balanced breakfast!). Let them splurge at least on their birthday!

Besides... candy gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't. ;)

Enumclaw Scottish Festival!!

...Sorry if you don't care for the bagpipes... too bad. :)

Another week without a post....it's just heartbreaking.

The reason?...I started my Neonatal Intensive Care Unit rotation on Monday. I am enjoying it a lot. It is pretty laid back and I am learning a ton.

This past weekend, my band went to the Scottish Highland Games in Enumclaw, Washington. I had a blast! It was one of the best (if not THE best) games I have been too. We took 6th overall in both our sets; however, we got a 3rd place in drumming the first day! Wahoo! It was tough competition and just shows how much we have to improve upon for the next games, which is in Pleasanton, California in September. We competed with our drum salute as well and took 2nd! (out of 2). It was a blast and we got a great reaction from the crowd. Here are the memories. Enjoy.




Kristen and Megan appearing to enjoy the heat.
Awesome.

Dano stretching the head of the bass drumming and yelling "Ride 'em cowboy! Giddyup!"
(Just kidding...he didn't yell that. Actually, our bass drummer (a.k.a. Tasty Dave) was telling us it's like taking your pipes and breaking them over your knee. It was torture for him to see his baby getting stretched and all disfigured so)
My idols. Simon Fraser University. The best part about going to the bigger games is the competition. They had Grades 1-4 competing. I got to watch the Grade 1 bands rehearse and compete. I even chatted a few of them up for some tips. It is awesome how they are so willing to help you . Triumph Street, a grade 1 band with two of our pipers in it, came and helped us tune our pipes and drums.

I also got to eat some delicious food. On Saturday we went down to the piers to have dinner at Duke's restaurant. They had delicious breads, salads and Lobster chowder and the service was great... highly recommended if you are in the area.
The Duke's Crew: BJ, Brandi, Kerri, Kylene, Me, Dano, Mikey, Dustin, Tyler and Kristen
Dano and Mikey snuggling after a delicious meal. awwwww...
So...warning... people get murdered in room 309 of Days Inn in Fife. We came back on Saturday from our games and later Brandi proceeded to snuggle up in the blankets. I pull the covers down to get in and discover blood on the sheets. I ripped off the rest of the blankets and we find fresh blood spots all over the sheets. The sheets on the other bed were slashed along the side and had a blood spot on the matress as well. Slightly creepy. We weren't sure what to do so we just called and asked for a new set of sheets. Our hypothesis is one of two scenarios. 1- Someone was murdered in our hotel and stuffed inside the bed (I did check under the bed for a body or parts of one only to find that there were wooden slats surrounding the bed) or 2- a blind housemaid got a bloody nose and didn't notice the blood spots all over the place. It even got on my pilllow! Ewwww!!!
The clan. Tyler, Kristen, Dustin, Brandi, BJ and Jill


Waiting at Famous Dave's for everyone else to be seated


Enjoying a delicious meal at Dairy Queen for $3 rather than Famous Dave's for $20+. (Look at all that food!)


Mike solo competing Grade1 with Triumph Street's MSR


Brandi, Meaghan, Jill and Brandi's stick
Kristen and me
How many drummers does it take to change a flat tire?...None....they call U-Haul!
Note Kerri's futile attempt to be out of the picture.

Lisa, Kristen and Sara being their normal weird selves.
Sign Reads: "It's Back and it's Good. Caesar Chicken and Bacon Yummy"
Brandilicious and the Beej on the way to Washington!
Me and Brandi in the van
Jill, Brandi and Kristen
Kristen, Tyler, Brandi, BJ and Kerri.
Notice the gremlins in the back seat... that's what happens after 14 hours in the car.
Kristen got a tattoo!!