Table for Eight

Met this guy Saturday while Dave and I were visiting a working farm in our area. Hilarious. I mean, turkeys are seriously trippy looking. For as long as I can remember I have been a To Do List kinda person. I make a list for myself each morning. I make a list for our kids (well, now that they are older, it's not so much a list as a calendar). And I make a HUGE list on our chalkboard wall each Sunday night with the BIG events, appointments, holidays or due dates for our family. I'm not sure why, but there's just something that makes me more calm/happy about seeing things on a list.  Now before you say "Oh, that's a Type A Personality thing" or "Lists are for X kinda person," l et me just say this: the lists aren't about achieving something, and  I usually don't panic if I can't complete everything them, t he lists just help me feel some calm and control in a world that is fairly detailed and often UNCONTROLLABLE. Yanno wha...

Soooooo glad it's Friday. It feels like it's been a super-long week. Actually, it feels like it's been a super-long winter; we have really been battling colds/sicknesses/injuries since October of last year. But in between sicknesses, we are good overall.  So no reason to complain-- just gotta get through it. PS: Something I've been thinking about lately, how do you manage colds/flus/temporary injuries?  Meaning, do you take time off work/school? Do you rest, etc.?  Dave and I were talking this week and both agreed that we see so many people work through their sicknesses. Now granted, sometimes situations require that you do, but when they don't, how do you rest and recover from illness? And do you teach/help your children to heal (by resting, what?)?  I'm just curious because we notice our own kids are feeling the need/pressure to work through illness--and I can't help but think that's not a good thing.  Just a thought. Have a great week...

First of all, I need to mention how excited Dave is to see The Sound of Music LIVE this Thursday on NBC. It's literally cracking me up. He's typically not a musicals kinda guy, but for some reason this one has him hooked. I think his excitement is half in-jest--because I played Marta in my high school's version of the musical when I was just 8 years old (they cast some kiddos for the younger roles). So there's a good possibility he may be mocking me.  But no matter what, he's into it and it's funny. And it's made me want to post My Favorite Photos This Week : This photo of the SNOW we received yesterday. (I swear it never snows when my warm-weather family visits ... until the day after they leave. Ugh!) This photo of the holiday outfit Bam bought for her cat Whitney--and the expression on Whitney's face. Whitney's pretty much against clothing for pets. She thinks it's "just not right." I half...

I am tired today. Like, super tired. I think it has something to do with not sleeping more than a few consecutive hours each night ... for, like, I don't know, the last 20 years! And throw in a few summers of sleepless nights on an island playing Survivor and I'm telling you, I'm the literal definition of really REALLY tired. Ha! So, I'm wondering, how do you all manage to get GOOD SLEEP?  I'd love some tips from you moms who feel more than a little harried. Lemme know: dawn_meehan@byu.edu (c) Monty Brinton, CBS, 2012. PS: Photo taken Day 39 in Survivor Caramoan. At this point, I hadn't sleep more than about 15 minutes a night--since Day 28! Crazy Town: Population = 1.

Harriet-the-dog LOVES ducks. Like L-O-V-E-S them. I'm pretty sure she dreamt about them all night last night. Ha! I have not been this excited for a weekend in a long time. It has felt like the busiest week ever. Thank goodness for weekends. Here's hoping we all have a wonderfully calm and relaxing weekend! **** PS: For those of you who've asked for my input on the newest season of Survivor (which started last Wed.) ... I have to be honest: I'm not watching this season.  I am definitely a Survivor die-hard fan, but the last time I played was SO emotional, draining, and downright painful, I'm not really ready to re-live that experience anytime soon (in HD, no less). (Plus, they are in the same location we were in ... so it's like flashback-central for me.) That being said, I am friends with Tyson--who's playing with his loved one Rachel--this season (S27 is called Blood vs. Water), and I absolutely love Tyson and Rachel! --We are all 3 ...

Me, on Survivor Caramoan--wearing a Lime Ricki swimsuit (with paint on it). (c) 2013, CBS, Monty Brinton. Even though Lime Ricki didn't ask me to do this, I feel like I should at least mention their kindness ... Contestants on Survivor are asked to submit/use their own swimsuits for gameplay--with a few restrictions/conditions: we are usually given a certain color scheme. (I think there are a few exceptions where wardrobe selects a bathing suit for players, but for the most part, we each purchase our own bathing suits.) When I played Survivor I wanted my clothing, if at all possible, to support a local Utah company (without them knowing--because we can't have any sponsorships). So both times I played I submitted Lime Ricki bathing suits for CBS' review. They are a local Utah swimwear company, and I have worn their suits for a few years now. Oddly, the first time I played, CBS ended up mixing and matching my Lime Ricki bottoms with a Target top (Survivor Sou...

German man catches 500lb+ Atlantic Halibut, Aug. 2013. (Over 8 ft. in length.) (c) imgur.com, 2013. Having spent a significant amount of time swimming in the South Pacific and South China Sea-- solo --photos like this scare the crap outta me. Yeah, I said it, " They scare the C-R-A-P out of ME !" How is it even possible for a halibut to get 8 ft. in length?   (I'm pretty sure t he last time I had halibut it fit on an 8 inch plate.) What the what is going on in the waters near Norway? **** Random Sidenote: On S23 Ozzy caught us a halibut and it was one of the best fish I ever ate. Oh man. Survivor South Pacific: Savaii Flashback Cochran and Jim Rice at Redemption Arena. (Two of my favorite people.) (PS: Jim's getting married next month to an incredible woman. So so so happy for him.) (c) Monty Brinton, 2011.  

Scout Troop atop King's Peak (Jr in back row, far right: Bandana Man-Child.).   Last weekend Jr and his Scout troop climbed/hiked King's Peak --the highest peak in Utah (13,500+ ft).  It really was a "Survivor-type" experience for Jr.: he was able to challenge himself on SO many levels. And he did such a great job (he's such a strong young man). We're proud of you for completing this GIGANTIC goal, Jr. (And we're so thankful to your leaders for preparing and guiding you along the way.)   **** PS: This morning's walk: Lu and Zu--up a little earlier than usual. This fella joined us. Psst: THE biggest bug I've seen since Survivor. Eeek! (PS: Zu begged me to let her hold it. I'm medium on bug-holding. How about you?)

Me. Not crying. LOL! Probably THE Number One Question people ask me about my experience on Survivor is this: Would you do it again? This used to strike me as a funny question. Why, you ask?   Well ... --I've played the game twice (which is pretty rare--less than 11% of the players have played two times). --My first time playing I had an AWESOME experience and won immunity for my tribe once (weight-bearing) and once for myself. --My second time playing, I lasted all 39 days, played with my dearest island friend (Cochran), and earned a cash award at the end.   "How could I ask for more? I've been so fortunate," I would often reply. But after talking with literally hundreds of people about this very subject, I realize what people are really asking is this: --Was it worth it? --Did Survivor/the game HURT you? --Was it so horrible that the costs outweigh the benefits? Now if you watch Survivor, those are fair questions.  I mean, we literal...

Last night Janae and I were able to see the Salt Lake City premier of Shannon Hale's book turned movie, Austenland (directed by Jerusha Hess ). It was the best Girls Night ever!   (I think our friend Shannon would call it lovely night --because her vocabulary is WAY fuller than mine.) Anyway, my point!   The theater was packed. The people audience laughed and laughed and laughed throughout. Janae and I laughed and laughed throughout. And at the end, Shannon and Jerusha did a Q & A which was really cool. Thank you, Shannon. You are an incredible friend and neighbor--and an inspiration. Truly.   Janae and me; Me and Janae. PS: For those of you who are new to Shannon Hale's work, she's a PHENOMENAL author. She's published over 10 novels and earned a Newberry Honor for Princess Academy. Here's the link to her wikipedia page (I love that I have a friend with a Wikipedia page, PS.): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_Hale And here'...

(c) Chef-in-Training, 2013. I know it's summer, so the last thing on most people's To Do List is "Make Cauliflower Soup." But this is INCREDIBLE cauliflower soup. Like, my kids can't stand cauliflower, but they get it EVERY time we go to Zupas . (PS: Zupas doesn't know me, but if you are in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, they have locations near ya. Jussayin'.) Anyway, I have a huge bag of cauliflower, so we decided we are going to try and copy-cat Zupa's recipe for Wisconsin Cauliflower soup tonight. And just in case it doesn't turn out supa, we're making bread. (You can always fill in the gaps with a big chunk of bread. Carbs have a way of making everything A-OK.) My bread. (Tee hee) Here's the complete recipe, in case you'd like to try it, too. It's from Chef In-Training (which is a beautiful blog, PS): http://www.chef-in-training.com/2012/09/copy-cat-zupas-wisconsin-cauliflower-soup/ **** PS: In other...