A Conversation with Avery & Thomas

So, I was talking on the phone with my dad the other day when I walked up to my friend's house, so I lingered outside to finish things up. Her 4-year old and her 2-year old were outside and happily greeted me and Evan. As I thought about my conversation later I had to laugh at how the conversation must have sounded from his end.



Me talking to my dad

Avery: (pointing to Evan) "Is she a girl or a boy?"

Me: "She's a girl" (me noticing that Evan was wearing a pink onesie with a butterfly on the front).

Me still talking to my dad and looking down to see Thomas thumping Evan on the head, suprisingly Evan is laughing.

Me: "Oh no, don't thump her on the head!" (said in a very kind tone)

Continuing to talk to my dad and looking down to see Thomas walking towards Evan with a handful of dirt and a very suspicious looking face

Me: "OH NO! Uh, don't rub dirt on her!" (Again, said very cheerfully).

Finally my dad: "I think I better let you go."

Our First Vacation

Okay, so we've taken Evie some places, but this was the first time that we went just the three of us. Like real grown-up parents. Crazy, huh? It was actually wonderful. I think we'll do it again sometime. :)

We went to Giant Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, Yosemite, Devils Postpile and Great Basin. All in all I think we hiked about 46.5 miles (with Evan taboot), but who's counting?

It was quite an adventure with all the bears and hiking and driving and scary motels. But we made it back to tell our tale.

Actually I don't have too much to say, here are some of the choicest pics of the (no lie) 500+ we took.

Giant Sequoia was beautiful. The trees are giant. Strain your eyes and see if you can even see us standing next to them.

General Sherman is the largest known living tree.

some big roots

Can you see me and Evan on the right?

There was also a cave. We got Evie all suited up to stay warm. Funny story: the guide stopped our group in a room and started talking about all of the features. All of the sudden we smelled this awful aroma and we could hear the little culprit grunting on the front of me. It was dark but not dark enough to cover Evie's pooping face. It was all Andy and I could do to not just totally lose it laughing. It smelled so bad and you could totally hear her grunting it out, in a cave no less.

Ahh relief!

This is pretty much how Evan spent all of the hikes.


On to King's Canyon:



Playing with "Leonard" the rabbit. Another funny story: our friend named Evan's rabbit Leonard without knowing that it is Andy's middle name and the name of Grandpa Howell. So, Leonard it is. She loves it!

Me jumping off of Muir Rock. Super cold water, Super good time!

Born to hike...

but don't let the bears bite!
We didn't make her sleep in the bear box, though it was tempting after I saw a bear run through our campsite. We saw 5 bears!


Yosemite:

Star trails

wildflower trails

Great Basin:

Bristlecone Pine. what's so great about this trees? There are about 3 groves (that I know of) in Great Basin and the trees are literally THOUSANDS of years old. They accidentally cut one down in the sixties and discovered it was 5900 years old. so it started growing when the pyramids were being built. Needless to say, these are now protected. How cool is that?

And that's our trip folks!

Dear John, How Could You?

Dear John Edwards,

It is with a heavy heart that I lament, "how could you?" I truly do not understand. Honestly I am somewhat shocked at how deeply this affects me. I can not say that I have necessarily supported you in your high political aspirations, though we belong to the same party; however, I have never previously been offended by you either. So, why I am reeling at the news of your infidelity? What does it matter to me? Isn't this a "family matter" for you and your wife?

I have spent considerable time pondering this and here is what I've concluded. It matters to me because I have a hope for leaders who are true and virtuous. I guess that is somewhat naive of me. Even our great founding fathers had moral weaknesses. As I visited Monticello and partook of the estate Thomas Jefferson created with slave labor I realized that I cannot abide a lack of integrity in leaders. No one is perfect, but a complete lack of integrity regarding ideals that one espouses is intolerable to me.

I am actually one who does not believe in legislating morality despite my own strict moral compass. I think morals come from within. So, how could you? One who has held himself out as a moral family man. One who has criticised others for this very conduct? This isn't about sex; it's about trust. How could you be so senseless, reckless, entitled, selfish, momentary? Vote for you? How could I put my trust in your decisions as a leader expecting you to do what is right for many when you choose only to do what is right for yourself? Your remorse is well-placed. But how could this country repair itself and progress with a leader who leads his own family and self down a road of regrets. You could have been great, but now you are only a disappointment by your own choosing. America deserves better; I deserve better.

I am an idealist to be sure, but despite having men, not immortals for leaders, I think men in power can do better. I believe men and women in high offices can be clean. I believe leaders can practice what they preach. I won't stop voting. I won't stop hoping for leaders with integrity. And I am sure that I won't stop hurting.

Sincerely,
Shawn Howell