Tonight was the Perseid meteor shower.  I've always either heard about it after it happened, or it's been cloudy...but tonight the sky was perfectly clear!

At 10:00 p.m. the kids and I decided to grab our blankets, pillows, camp chairs and snacks and jump in the truck to head out of town.  David, smart man, stayed home and went to bed.

We headed out to county road 105 and found a nice spot to pull off the road.  It was an access to a hay field and the surrounding hills kept the few yard lights at bay.  As I opened the door to get out, Ethan announced that he was not going to get out in the tall, dried up weeds with just shorts and crocs!  I told him we were going to sit in the bed of the truck anyway and I'd just put him back there without him having to even touch the ground. 

As I finished piling him, his blanket, pillow and snack in the back, Naya said "Um, I'll get out on your side,too.  I hear something crawling in the grass over here."  And just then I heard it on MY side, TOO!  I damn near slammed my foot in the door; I couldn't get in fast enough!!!  After exchanging "What was THAT"'s and "I can't see a thing"'s we hear Ethan ... outside in the back of the truck ...

"OH YEAH, leave ME out HERE!!!"

Bravery

The only way to get to Ethan was through the back window. 

HELLO!!!!  WE weren't going to open the doors and risk our lives to some badger, skunk or rabid deer!!!  Whatever kind of animal was still crawling around after a 1-ton diesel and three loud city folk pulled up is either wounded or sick, and I wasn't going to stand there and wait for it to show itself.  Being seasoned campers, though, (insert sarcastic grin and rolling eyes) we knew whatever it was would go away...and we wanted to see some meteors! 

We made it out the back window to where Ethan was, of course, safe.  After squinting into the darkness on all sides of the truck and deciding we were bigger than "it", we unfolded our chairs and snuggled in under the blankets to gaze at the stars.

"Omigod, mom...what's that shadow over there...I think it's getting closer."   "Here, keep your eye on it and tell me if it moves."  I hit the alarm button on the key   "Did it move?"  "No."  "Must be a hay bale."  (YES I took they keys out of the ignition with me!  I wouldn't want anything to jump in and drive off with us, would I?  And just look how handy the alarm button is out in the middle of nowhere!!!)

After everyone's nerves settled down a bit, we actually DID get to see some bright-tailed meteors enter the atmosphere...my kids' first shooting stars!!!

"Omigod mom, what is that great big red light over there?  It just, like, came over the hill!!!"  "That is the moon rising."  "oh... ... ...Cool!"

"Whoa, mom...look, that mountain wasn't there before!"  "Yes, it's always been there...it's Cedar Mountain, you just didn't notice it before."

"Ok, mom?  Can we go yet?  This is kinda freaky.  I'm going to sit in the truck."  "But you can't see the shooting stars from in there!"  "Yeah, but, it's cold and I want to go home."  "Let me see just TWO more big meteors, OK?  Then we'll go."

"Hey, there's one!"  "I didn't see it." 

"Have you seen two yet?  We just need to go, mom.  I'm getting in the truck."   (sigh) "OK, fine.  I'll go through the window first."

In case you missed it, that was where we earned our badge for Perseverance.  We were home at 11:00.

And that crawling around noise?  I'm thinking grasshoppers.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/31jul_perseids2009.htm

Oh you guys, it's been so insanely busy around here!!!  We've done football and volleyball camps, special olympics, concerts, cub scout activities, yard work, spring cleaning, membership drive for the concert association AND we're remodeling the basement! 

BUT, as a proud mother, I simply MUST take the time to share these videos with you!  Naya's been taking singing lessons since the first of the year, and we were interested to see how she would do performing outside of the living room.  She did AWESOME!!!!!  We were certain she either wouldn't get up out of her chair, or would stand at the microphone and stare in fear with nary a peep.   

Between Grandpa and I we got some good shots...nothing like devout fans!

My Monday shopping ritual involves dry goods at Wal-Mart, produce at City Market, and my hard-to-find necessities at the health food store.  Our beef comes from the 4-H/FFA sale.

90% of what I buy on Mondays is labeled Organic.

I take my own cloth bags to the store…and have for the last three years.

I drink unpasteurized milk from a cow that lives in the same county I do…though I have never actually met this cow.

I LOVE maps…especially topographical maps of where we play.

I am only fearless when my husband isn’t around.

My brand of fearlessness is equal parts ignorant rationalization and fuzzy logic.  Bravery is not part of the equation.

In order to make a good meal, I must be wearing my apron and listening to 40’s or 50’s music on my satellite radio.

I get nervous cooking for guests.

My ring-back tone is Louis Armstrong singing “What’s New?” on the cell phone I rarely use.

I sold Dish Network in 1996, and still have the same 15 channel, $15 per month subscription I bought then. 

We are using the same 19” TV from back then too.

My touch screen washing machine, on the other hand, tells my dryer what to do via USB connection.

I have taught myself how to use basic digital movie and music editing programs, and I have created logos and digital artwork for a restaurant, a hockey team and a non-profit!