Why the doom and gloom? Would you believe that Mr. S had to have surgery on his leg again only days after he lost his job? I know, right? How much is one great looking couple asked to endure in one year? And it’s only July.

Thank goodness we were able to go on our motorcycle trip and enjoy one month of summer without incident. Thank goodness for awesome neighbors who have kept us well fed. Thank goodness for Oreos. Without them I would be 5 lbs lighter but cope a  little less. Pass the milk.

I came across a great video on the Disney Parks blog showing footage from opening day 55 years ago. Take a look and celebrate with Walt Disney on his big day.

Finding the link to my new blog is going to take at least another 6 months. And then finding this particular post…well, that could take years!

Well, wouldn’t you know, I received a call from my mom the other night telling me she had read my blog and by some gift from God (or WordPress) she found that particular post. Only took 15 months. She enjoyed it so much she printed off a copy, which was probably a good idea if she ever wants to read it again. Looks like I have only further cemented my status as the favorite child.

The long weekend also meant that Mr. S and I embarked on our 2nd annual July 4th weekend motorcycle trip. This year’s trip took us on almost 900 miles of some of the most beautiful highways in Idaho and Montana. The only hiccup we experienced happened about 16.8 miles in. How can I know down to the tenth of a mile? Because that is when I lost my odometer cable. I also noticed that the speedometer was no longer working. Apparently the two are connected. Who knew.

We made it safely to a Yamaha dealership and once we were assured that it was still safe to ride we continued on. And I left confident that if I did get pulled over, for the first time in my driving career I would finally be able to answer honestly when the officer asked me if I had any idea how fast I was going. I never got my chance.

Here is how the trip broke down -

Day 1: Twin Falls to Riggins, ID. At check-in our hotel offered us complimentary beer. They also welcome pets. Horses included. Day 2: Riggins, ID to Darby, MT. We found the White Bird Battlefield, rode the Nez Perce and Lewis and Clark trails, and were not offered beer at our hotel. But that didn’t matter because Darby is “the best kept secret in Montana.” It’s true. They have street banners that say so. Day 3: Darby, MT to Hailey, ID. In honor of Independence Day we took some time to visit the Veterans Memorial across the street from our hotel in Darby. Then on to Hailey. The only requirement for where we would stay was whether or not there were going to be fireworks. We stayed at a Bed & Breakfast, of which I am now the mayor, and we were able to watch fireworks from the parking lot. Not the greatest display I’ve seen and I did have to sing the patriotic themed songs in my head, but it was sufficient. Day 4: Hailey to Twin Falls to Salt Lake. Only 60 miles on the motorcycles then back to the truck. We picked up Kingston at my sister’s and made it home.I think Kingston had a great time playing with my nieces and nephews, but he was definitely happy to see us. And I him. Apparently my love for my dog is transparent. As I was snuggling with Kingston and telling him how much I missed him my 5 yr old niece asked me, “Are you going to love your babies more than Kingston?” No. Of course not. Maybe? By the way – this is not an announcement of any kind.

Not sure where we will go next year, but I’m kinda hoping I still have an excuse to speed.