Up Helly Aa - An Epic Viking Festival

The Shetland Islands, archipelago of Scotland, were invaded and colonized by Norse viking settlers in the 8th century.  Today they celebrate a tradition called Up Helly Aa which is a viking festival where they dress up in traditional viking gear.

The groups of vikings are known as Jarl Squads and are leed by an elected Guizer Jar.

And it's KID FRIENDLY people!  You keep looking at photos while I go start work on Bug and Bunny's Viking uniforms!  Anyone know where I can buy one of those helmets??

They spend the whole day marching through Lerwick, the capital of Shetland province singing and chanting then head to the waterfront.

And these guys aren't messing around!

When they get there,  they burn a viking ship with 1 thousand torches.

Let me say that again. ONE THOUSAND TORCHES!

The whole thing ends with a huge blow out party at the town hall with much drinking and revelry.. and drinking!

Absolutely EPIC!  Who's coming with me next year?

Seriously.. Thoughts?

Here's the original article: Epic Photos From Viking Festival In Scotland

Growing up Basketball

For as long as I can remember my brother (Let's call him Big J), played basketball. And he wasn't just good, he was very very good.

So good that when I finally joined him in high school and all of us small skinny Frosh were getting our fitness evaluation, the basket ball coach said if I could jump as well as my brother could he'd start me on JV no tryout needed.  Not being my brother, I did not start JV. Other than one or two years in middle school, basketball wasn't my sport.

Anyway, because my brother was so good at basketball, it meant when he was in middle school through high school, if it was basketball season we lived on the courts. I spent countless weekends and week nights at the gym hanging out, doing homework, running wild with my BFF, consuming ungodly amounts of hot dogs, popcorn, and candy, learning all the cheers, and occasionally watching the games.

I didn't realize it at the time, but over the course of these seemingly endless years of basketball, the sport was worming its nostalgic way into my heart.  I've always liked college ball but couldn't get passed the egos in the professional games. But post-college, I just kind of forgot about it in favor of other interests (like archery, reading, raising kids, and you know napping).

A few years ago, in the interest of annoying a good friend of mine, in the spirit of a good rivalry, I started paying attention to March Madness and all of those wonderful memories of my childhood revived a love of the sport.  The Hubs even managed to get us a tickets to a few professional games. Once just a few rows back from the floor, and once in BOX seating!!! 

Which as you can see wasn't as thrilling for Bug at the time as it was for me. (To be fair, it was past his beadtime).

And now that soccer season is over, Bug is starting his own basketball journey. His very first practice was a few weeks ago. And yes, I am THAT mom, taking pics and video of everything.

From his first basket.

To his first team meeting.

To learning to be a pick.

To scrimmaging and going for a shot (even though he totally traveled).

It took a few games, but his team is finding their groove...

and so is he.

And so I find myself back in a middle school gym. And despite the oh so familiar smell and the squeak of shoes on the court, I can't say I'm anything but thrilled. In fact, I might go so far as to say I'm home.

Seriously... Thoughts?

Zumba Day 1

What. Was. I. Thinking?!?

Okay, I did 30 minutes of Zumba this morning.

Cons:

• My chest feels like it's full of gunk - and subsequently, I can't stop coughing and I wheeze.
• I used to think I had rhythm but I have been disabused of that notion.
• Why is the music so fast?  Are those songs always so fast??
• I swear they're on trampolines, how do they do all those jumps? Am I really that incapable of moving my body off the ground?
• I found muscles that I didn't know I had.. or rather, I had forgotten I had.

Pros:

• Euphoria is running wild right now.  
• Energy - I can do ANYTHING
• Great music.
• The funny looks the dogs kept giving me as I foundered and tripped my way through.
• Knowing I'm doing something good for myself.
• That feeling of finally starting.

This is every other day for the foreseeable future.  It feels good to have finally started.

Seriously... Thoughts?

Hiccup, Toothless & Astrid

Santa thought we'd been good, so he gifted us with 6 tickets..

to How To Train Your Dragon A Live Spectacular.

Where we got to see Hiccup and Toothless meet for the firs time.

See the gang learn about dragons.

Saw Astrid and Hiccup fall in love.

And watched the most amazing flying fight scene against the big dragon who enslaved the other dragons.

Best. Christmas. Gift. EVER.

Seriously.. Thoughts?

Online vs. In-Store

A little over 4 years ago, The Tweedles (via The Hubs) surprised me with a first generation Amazon Kindle. From the moment I heard about them, I was In. Love.  And with the exception of replacing the battery, I use the exact same Kindle today.  That's over four years of purchasing and reading all of my books online.  And in that time I even gave away almost my entire book library that's how in love I was.

But I think the bloom is coming off the rose of my love with the kindle book a little.  I decided this morning, I really wanted to go to the book store and get a crock pot cook book.  With some incredibly big scheduling changes happening in our house in the next week or so, I'm anticipating having even less time than normal for making dinner.  The crock pot is going to be my saving grace, and I wanted to have a lot of ideas ready so we didn't get bored with what we're eating.  While I could get a lot of those recipes online, I thought a book with pictures (yeah yeah, insert blonde joke here) might be my best bet.

The Hubs, The Tweedles and I all hit the local Barnes & Noble this morning and I remembered how much I LOVE bookstores!  We spent an hour wandering the books.  I picked up my cook book then wandered over to the sci-fi / fantasy section and browsed the shelves.  I didn't buy any (I do have a Kindle after all!) but I did find 5 new authors who's books I HAD to look up on Amazon when I got home. Amazon for all it's wonders, just doesn't browse very well.  You kinda have to know what you're looking for.  But a book store!  At a bookstore you can wander the shelves and check out covers.  See how thick a book is and really get a feel for it.

Don't get me wrong.  I think I do still love my Kindle.  I love that I can carry around my entire library in one little book, read and re-read every book at any time.  And it's all the better to have it available not only on my Kindle, but my computer and any other computer with internet.  And do you know how many times I've tried to re-buy a book I already own?  Back in the paperback days, I'd buy 2 or 3 copies of the same book over the years, not remembering I already own it.  With my Kindle, it doesn't let me buy it again.  It very sweetly tells me "Hey Dummy!  You already own that book.  Go check your library!".  If only Amazon could make browsing online as much of an experience as browsing in a real book store.

As for the Tweedles, they each got to pick out a book, and while they were browsing I was re-introduced to The American Girl books which reminded me how much I wanted to get one and a matching doll for Bunny. I told her we'd ask Santa to bring it.  And Bug found books with legos!  Books.. with LEGOS!  WOW!  Bunny picked up a book from the Candy Fairy series and Bug got a Dinosaur pop-up book.  Meanwhile, The Hubs got to peruse the History section and books on sailing.

All in all, a very successful book store adventure, and despite all the benefits of my kindle, one I think we'll repeat sometime soon.

Seriously.. Thoughts?

Chances Are..

I signed up for a giveaway via Facebook the other day to win a pair of cowboy boots from Country Outfitter.  They're giving away a pair of their most 'liked'.  I'm hoping it's either this pair of Ariat Presidio boots in chocolate and turquoise..

or these lovely Ariat Crossfire Caliente boots in weathered brown both of which are in the final 5.

I know I don't have much of a chance to win, but it's kind of like the lottery.  It's really fun to dream.  And since I was dreaming and surfing the rest of their website, I also stumbled across this beautiful spurs necklace and matching earrings.

Is it just me?  Does anyone else find these really beautiful?

Or this prairie blooms necklace.  Stunning I say.

Oh, and this crystal buckle ring.  There's just something about it that really speaks to me.  It says, buy me.  Buy me! Then I think it mumbles something about being better than actual big belt buckles, and I agreed.

And this black and white interlocking links ring.  Is it a black and white thing that draws me in?  The yin/yang of it.  Or is it just really cool country wear.

This country accessorizing is something I could really get into.

Seriously.. Thoughts?

I Spy

I spy with LW's big eye..

something that looks like me!


Digital photography is so cool!

Seriously.. Thoughts?

An Average Work Day

Just another day in the office...

Hanging with my co-workers :)

Seriously.. Thoughts?


PS: And yes, this is a real, honest to goodness day job, they just let me do it from home.