Follow up on the trip/conference

Well, greetings all! I hope you all are doing well. I am ok. I am still a little tired from my trip to the conference and I just got over allergies, still got a cough, but otherwise I am peppy.
We (my mom & dad & I) decided, before I went to the big conference, that it would be best if I did not go to the second conference after it, so I am not all booked up as I was expecting…which is perfectly fine with me!
So I have been busy catching up with things around here and preparing to do some gardening and yard work…otherwise I feel useless…sort of…oh anyway.
I had a great time at the conference! I got to go to a Cabala’s store for the first time! That was tons of fun; though the kids in the family that I went with did not think as I did because they make the stop every year and they spend hours in it- which was great for me! I got a very good preview of the store, but still didn’t get all the way through it! They had lots of taxidermy animals in there that were totally awesome! Anything from elephants to bears and chipmunks to lions you name it! They even had an aquarium with the largest fish I have ever seen! One of the catfish were as big as me! Now granted, I aren’t real tall, but I aren’t short either (sorry for the lack of grammar there). It was totally awesome! They even had a shooting gallery that was huge! It was really fun! And their fudge! Oh their beautiful, wonderful, sugary, chocolatey, smooth fudge! Makes the world go round I tell ya! (not really, but ya get the point)
I got some awesome pictures of the animals. Some of them look like I was right up there with a real animal! I got one of a lion and it looks like he is charging me! They are awesome! I had to get in some pretty crazy positions to get pictures like that, but it was worth it! I shall have to post some on here sometime…just for you!
Well, we got to the conference area at 1:00 am…and we unloaded the trailer and everything and went to bed. I can’t remember what time we got up, but it was considered late. However, it was not a big deal because that day was a play/rest day for the travelers before the week long conference started, sooooo…we went scootering!!! Oh we went crazy! R.S. and I pulled off some pretty crazy stunts a couple of times on those scooters to the point of near death!!! Well, not that close, but we would have been in need of stitches if we had crashed a few of the times no doubt! It was great; though I don’t think I want to try flying off a bridge again for a while…that is a long story of which I would love to tell you, but time and space does not permit me too…nor dignity…
Well, the next day was busy as I had to go back and forth to classes and choir and what not and I found it a great priority on my mind to keep my eye out for cameras…mostly video cameras. I don’t want to be on video unless I am called to become a movie star… period. And this was what I spent almost all my time doing; walking to classes (I estimate that I was walking a minimum of 2 1/12 miles a day), helping the B. family whenever possible and watching for video cameras…
Choir was cool (as usual), but terrible! It seemed like there were thousands of giddy girls there at choir that a bullfrog could have out sang! A lot of them didn’t even try to sing! It was really starting to irritate me (and the choir master) and I could not guess why on earth they wanted to be in choir until I over heard some of them talking…they were hoping to be on TV! How stupid is that! You are supposed to sing for the LORD, not the camera man or the stupid TV! Ugg, it was disgusting. It also did not help matters when this one guy that was signed up as a camera man told me that he would be sure to pick me out in choir and close up on me with the camera…fortunately, he could not find me; lucky for him he didn’t…
Anyway, I learned a lot of wonderful stuff there and I am still in the process of regurgitating it all to my family and I lost five pounds in the process...whoohoo. Bleh. My mom lost five pounds just sitting around eating brownies…grrrr. Oh well! I also got to meet some old friends and get reacquainted with them again…one of them anyway.
The trip home from the conference was interesting as well (I rode home with a different family that time). It did not seem so long for some reason…hmm…anyway, the main thing that was super exciting on that trip was the- uhhh- slight little- ummm- well, little fender bender accident that we had…now don’t freak out like some people did when I told them…ok, I am still alive and well, and nobody got hurt. So don’t pass out in front of the computer, ok? Anyways, our vehicle went undamaged, but the other people had a big ding behind their back tire; that’s all. All the little kids in our vehicle kind a went crazy after it happened and some of them got pretty scared (talk about post panic! Whew!), but everyone was ok afterward.
Also on the trip home, we stopped at Cabalas again…which was fun, but we did not get to stay for very long, just long enough for me to take the kids around and show them most of the cool sights.
I had a wonderful time with the family. When it got dark and we were still driving we decided to sing songs, which was really fun.
My parents came and picked me up from that family’s house that night and I just rattled on and on the whole way home about the wonderful time that I had.
I was very glad to sleep in my own bed that night…I enjoyed sleeping in a tent and in the dorm, but there is just something about coming home and sleeping in your own bed.
Needless to say, I spent the most of the next day in bed with a sore, runny nose and stopped up throat from all the flowers that were blooming…
And you wanna know something weird? Well, I suppose that it is not real weird, but: I hardly missed my book at all…I was too busy to miss it. Ha- ha! That’s funny…well, you may not think that it is funny, but I think it is!
So anyway, I had a great time going down there and spending a lot of time with the family that took me, I had a great time while I was there, I had a great time coming back and spending time with the family that brought me back, and I have had a great time retelling my great times…and I am glad to be feeding the geese again and putting my book characters through more torture…mwhahahah!
I want to give a special thanks to the S. family for taking me down there and providing me food and a great time and like nearly adopting me into their family (even though I am an insane nut!) and I want to give a special thanks to the B. family for bringing me back home and providing food and a great adventure on the way back and treating me as one of their family too!
I also want to thank my mom and dad for allowing me to go on this wonderful trip and for trying to provide as many opportunities for me as possible! Love Ya!
Sweetpea/Shieldmaiden
P.S.
Here are some pictures! Enjoy!

An update and the riddle answer

Well, how are ya'll doing? Its been crazy around here. We took on two extra children Wednesday and we get to keep them until tomorrow (Friday). So it has been a buzz around here. To top it off, mom set me up with a Facebook page...hehe...I have been having fun with that one. It is very simple to use. I just type a little snip of what I have been doing and what I am thinking and what not and I can chat with friends and it is a very controlled place. The only people that can look at it are those that you accept as friends.So that is nice. You can change it where everyone can look at it if you want, but its nice to have control over your peers! Mwhahahah!
Also, I am going to be gone to a big conference with some friends for about three or four day, maybe more. I am going to help them with their lil ones and hopefully I can get to go to some classes as well...so that's gonna be fun. I am also going to go to a political conference in May...that is a three day thing as well. Soooooo...I am pretty booked up. I am looking forward to it all except for one thing...I can't take my book with me...that is a terrible thing to think about! My book is at a very elevated point in the crisis and me having to leave my characters in such a predicament is just terrible!...Not only for me, but for them as well! Oh well. I'll get over it cause I am coming right back home after each conference...I may be having severe withdrawals when I get back, but I'll live.
And as to the riddle...YES! The answer is a Credit Card! Yay! You guys did a great job!
Well, I gotta run now. I hope things have been going well for all you readers and I would be blessed if you would pray for me as i prepare to go on these trips. Thanks!
Shieldmaiden

A new riddle

Ok. This is not a Drivers License... just to let you know...
Anyway, leave your guesses or your answers; either one.

What is convenient, but dangerous, is plastic and can fit in your wallet?

Again, I'm not gonna give a hint until at least 2 people try a guess...I might not give an answer until 2 people guess...hehe...I'll be mean.
Anyway, have fun and good luck!

The battle for the little peice of plastic...

……………………I’m a failure…. I am a disgrace to my family….they continue to assure me that I am not, but so far, I’m not too sure…….I am sooooooo bummed…
I FLUNKED MY FOURTH DRIVERS TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Need I say any more????
(groan)
We actually wonder if the examiner flunked me unnecessarily. She does not have a very high opinion of home schoolers…there have been several other home schooling families that have complained about her flunking their kids for dumb reasons.
Now that I think about it, there was another girl (public schooled) that messed up on basically the same things that I did, but she still passed…
NOW I AM STARTING TO SEETH…
Well! If she flunked me on purpose then I am going to blow her whistle next time! I am gonna to look over every shoulder, watch every corner, and, and, and…well… ya know, the only reasons that I got flunked were these: I looked in my mirrors at one point instead of over my shoulder, I didn’t look over the correct shoulder, I didn’t exaggerate something enough…ummm…I can’t think of anymore…hmmm…the only thing that the other girl didn’t do was exaggerating something or other, she did something else… otherwise we basically got the same things missed…I’m thinking that I was flunked on purpose…huff! Fancy that! Phooey!

Well, maybe God doesn’t want me to have my drivers license…with the end of the world coming on (in my belief) and all of us Christians are gonna have to run for our lives, maybe He doesn’t want me to have a license…but I don’t know why???
I have a Social Security Number, so it couldn’t be to keep my identity safe…You got any ideas? Maybe you could figure it out. If you have an idea, go ahead and leave it in a comment, it might help…if not, leave a comment anyway for encouragement. I am really bummed over this. I never thought that I would get so bummed over something sooooo stupid like a little piece of plastic, but I am.
Well, I have got to go now. I’ll be taking my test in 30 days- again. Maybe. (Groan).
Till then, I am still on my quest for that dumb, worthless, illegal tax, piece of plastic…and the battle is draining me. (SIGH).
The bummed, war worn,
Shieldmaiden

A trip to the big city

My mom and I decided to go for a trip in the city just to have some away time together and to maybe find some nice clothes for me- better yet; find my style of clothes. We don’t have much opportunity to do that way out here in the boonies…
Anyhow, we took a friend along so she could have some away time too and help us with my clothes and whatnot.
Now before we get into the actual adventure I would like to point out something that I noticed: women go through great pains to look pretty on occasions like this.
I am totally serious.
(I am mostly referring to my mom)
They cake their face in their most special makeup, have to make sure that their clothes look flattering, fitting and nice- not one wrinkle, crease, bubble or bend- and they have to make themselves look thin and trim.
That is when the real pain comes in.
(The big intro)
FIRST it was stays and corsets, to trim a woman’s waste, THEN it was the girdle, NOW…SHAPERS!! The only difference? LYCRA!
Ok, back to the point; they put themselves through tremendous amounts of unnecessary pain and smothering, just to look like they used to when they were younger: they put on shapers.
“Oh as long as I go to the bathroom before hand and don’t eat very much, I’m alright.” Is the common excuse.
Ok, whatever you think. Not my body, but I think it’s kind of silly to go through that just to look good. My thought is: Who cares if you look good? If they don’t like it, then they can stop looking at you. If you don’t like your figure…step away from the mirror and you’ll feel better or throw the mirror away so you don’t have to see.
Ahem, anyway.
Now, onto the general purpose of this post: the actual adventure.
Well, the 4 hour trip over there is like- well- usual, except that I like looking out the window now better than I did when I was a kid. I like to observe the land for future reference (like drawing or details in my book and whatnot) and I like to read the stupid signs as we go through towns: might make a good joke later with my dad or I could see some new names for new companies and come up with weird names for book characters and stuff by taking them apart and putting them together like a quilt.
Anyway, when we got into the city and to the mall, we walk in and the first store we stop at is a baby store.
I enjoyed playing with the baby toys, while the two moms groaned over prices and cried over the cute baby outfits and cribs.
The next store we go to was the nightmare- an underwear store.
Yes, it was nothing but underwear and some makeup with pictures of strippers all over the walls wearing the company’s underwear.
Our friend was really excited because they had a new bra out that she wanted to try and was, undoubtedly, most likely comfortable.
We walk in and I think my stomach went into my throat and my eyes were wide and my body tense ready to run or kill.
This really sweet gingerbread girl (black woman if you would prefer it that way) came up and asked our names and told us hers and asked if there was anything in the store we wanted to try on.
“Oh yeah, anything you wanna try, you can.” She said real enthusiastic like with a big and pretty smile.
My mom then asked about some nighties (that are basically fit to be underwear as well) that she saw at the front of the store and she wanted to try on one or two of them.
The girl said that was great and she got on her little ear intercom/ walky talky thingy and started to give this girl on the other end a detailed description of what my mom wanted.
As I listened to the description, I believe my eyes grew three sizes larger and I lost all feeling of my stomach and held my breath.
I looked at my mom like she was insane (oh forgot- she kind of already is..hehe) and she said
“Oh you will understand when you get married.” And walked off with this other girl to go try these ‘nighties’.
I turned on my heel beside our friend and said
“Ok, I will be running up the down escalator when you guys are ready to come out.”
But sadly, before I could move one muscle to walk out of the place, our friend grabbed me by the shoulders, turned me back around and with excitement in her voice said
“Oh, no! You HAVE to try this new bra!” And I was suddenly in the clutches of that nice gingerbread girl’s hands.
She took my measurements and referred to me as a ‘busty girl’ then enthusiastically pulled out two draws full of bras for me to try and showed me herself how they should fit.
Well, I gulped down my- well whatever emotion was running through me at that moment- I think possibly a sort of fear and urge to scream and run- and stepped into the dressing room and tried things on, found out that I really only liked one and they didn’t have my proper size, then I stepped out to find that our friend was not quite done and my mom standing around with a bag googling over the ‘cute lacy underwear and poke-a-dots’.
She then walked out with me... trotted after me… and we went to look at the mini shops out in the open.
We found one that had all sorts of neat shiny objects and wigs and stuff, but the lady treated us like we were on warrant posters or had the word ‘thief’ written on us and she stayed within an inch of us, dusting off anything we touched and being rood and snappy.
We finally gave up on trying to be nice and started to walk back to the accursed underwear store to see if our friend was done yet.
I had relaxed by this time and was feeling much better and comfortable and I was just following my mom when I realized I was about half way into the underwear store.
I promptly turned on my heel, without a word to my mother and walked right back out and stood at the door until the two goofy women came out.
“Yeah I noticed that I lost her.” My mom teased as the two came out.
Our friend asked me why I didn’t like it…beats me! There is just something wrong with a store being only underwear and with pictures of strippers and really friendly girls and- don’t ask me, but that is not a store to have fun and play in.
Well, that was the only nightmare, except at the Cheesecake Factory, where we went for lunch, but that was a good nightmare (that is an oxymoron, I know). The nightmare in in the Cheesecake Factory was not being able to eat all of the cheesecake and the food, but what made it a good nightmare was the wonderful, lovable, useful gift of doggie bags!
Oh, wow! The Cheesecake Factory was just wonderful! You MUST try it sometime!
Anyway, we went to plenty of stores and found my clothing style.
I look good in swing- dress type dresses and wrapped tops all with a slight V- neck. They are very flattering and comfortable.
Unfortunately, most all of them were expensive too… $80 for one top- that is a little extreme.
But we did find one store that was having a sale and we got a whole bunch of things for me there: None of the wrapped tops or anything, but some tops that looked nice on me.
Anyway, I also finally got to try my first REAL Starbucks coffee and my verdict is…um, sorry to disappoint you Starbuck lovers, but…I can make better with just a can of Arabian coffee. It was good, but…honestly, I can make better coffee for cheaper, but it was nice to try it!
Well, that was the extent of the trip between lots of laughs and talking and looking and more talking and whatnot.
It was fun except for the underwear store…perhaps one day I will understand this strange liking of underwear, but not likely. You don’t buy underwear for everyone to see, sorry, and I think I’ll stick with sports bras.
All in all, it was fun and enjoyable and relaxing and mom and I did not come home too tired, which of course is always a GOOD thing!

Oh yeah! The answer to the riddle is---FIRE! Yay!!! Somebody got it right again! I figured it would be pretty easy. Keep it up!

A new riddle

I am so glad that someone guessed the last riddle! Here is the next one for you bonnie folk to try again:
I don’t have lungs or a chest, but I need air;
I am not alive, but I grow;
I don’t have a mouth and I am allergic to water.
What am I?
This is a fun one and just to give you a litle hint before hand: someone made a guess to another riddle that is the answer to this one...
Like before, just give it your bestest of best shot (not proper grammer, I know) and if you know the answer go ahead and put it on there as a guess! Have fun!
Sweetpea