National Park Road Trip 2014: Top Waterfalls

Who am I kidding?  They were all magnificent!  If waterfalls are your thing, head to Grand Teton National PRk and Yellowstone National Park!

Hidden Falls--Grand Teton. This was a crazy hike--wading through snow and slipping on muddy rocks next to a snow-melt swollen creek.

Keplar Cascades--Yellowstone.  Right off the road when you enter through the South Entrance.

Gibbon Falls--Yellowstone. I loved how this waterfall was so broad, with both a slow trickling waterfall and a fast rushing one.

Firehole Falls--Yellowstone. In a beautiful canyon on a lovely drive.

Mystic Falls--Yellowstone. Another crazy hike--rainy and cool and in a bear-frequented trail--and we were the first hikers.  I may have approached panic attack!

Upper Falls on the Yellowstone River--not the major one, but gorgeous--and we had it all to ourselves to watch rainbows.

Now it's time for the big one--Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River!

Lincoln at the Brink of the Falls--intense!

Lookout Point--full view--really brought home how amazing it was to stand near the edge!

Through the trees at Artist's Point . . .

The inspiring money shot at Artist's Point. 

We listened to a great sermon by Tim Keller about how we, as followers of Christ, should interact with nature--and one concept stood out:  the waterfall (or any natural thing) is praising God through being as created, so we should let the waterfall be the waterfall.  I rejoiced this trip in letting the waterfall be its own beautiful created splashing self.

And So It Begins . . .

In exactly one month, I will be learning 150 new names. Yep, August 20, that's when the English I magic begins. If I didn't have a calender, how would I know?

The Signs
*I visited Wal-Mart and Target today--both had their back-to-school sections set up.
*I received a letter informing me that I have been given the job as Co-Sponsor of Knowledge Bowl. (Yes! Fellow nerds!)
*I am meeting Mama Cool and Alaskan Auntie Cool for teacher shopping this week, hopefully.
*A cold pit of fear and excitement has settled into my stomach.

As Mr. Cool and I walked by the supplies, I informed him I felt ill and tired and had to move away from the binders, paper, and pencils. "You used to get so excited about this," he said. "Geez," I replied, "I guess after 22 years of going back to school, it's started to wear a little thin." I was briefly revived by colorful folders, including one (at Target, if you decide you need it) that had a large O.P.P. on it, with Other People's Paper underneath. (Yeah, you know me!)

I do, however, still have 24 days (I think), before I have to report.

The Last Ditch Summer Tasks
*Read at least three books.
*Knit one more hat, work on Mr. Cool's scarf, and start knitting a sock.
*Shop with Mama Cool.
*Help Papa Cool clean and organize back up in Wyoming.
*Help Sista Cool raise IV funds.
*See at least one more movie in the theater. (Mamma Mia? The Dark Knight? Swing Vote?)
*Paint and organize shared office.

So, all you teachers and non-teachers out there, what emotions does the end of July evoke? What is still on your summer to-do list?

If You're Laid Up . . .

Our friend Matty has suffered a bit of an injury--and with the added injustice that although I tried to comment on his post four times, it never let me actually post the comment.

So, you can visit his blog and read about why forestry and sandals don't mix, and I've added a few great links I've found, if you need to kill time.

*What happens when the Bible and Sir Mix-a-Lot combine.

*Entertainment Weekly examines the new classics--time for a debate! (LOTR--the films--#2! Yes!) Check out all the other lists as well.

* And now, a few Lord of the Rings cartoons to cheer you up this fine Friday!

I Can't Help Myself--Movie Quote Contest!

I’ve seen this on many a blog, and as I enjoy the start of my break, I thought I’d share a few quotes from my comfort movies. Leave your answers in the comments! Do I need to offer prizes?

1. “You know what I would do if I had a million dollars? I would invest half of it in low risk mutual funds and then take the other half over to my friend Asadulah who works in securities...”

2. “Shaun! I read your story. You used a lot of big words. Great! Good for you! It was a little long, so I didn't read the whole thing, but who cares 'cause I gave you an A!”

3. “I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly...”

4. “I like Mass better in Latin. It's nicer when you don't know what they're saying.”

5. “Then you should know now at KNOW things are a lot like they are at NOW, we have to interview every applicant for every job, and so do you or you'd be going against NOW's definition of discrimination and you wouldn't want the readers of NOW or KNOW to know that, now would you?”

6. “I got a question. If you guys know so much about women, how come you're here at like the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?”

7. “Well, I remember Mel Gibson accurately, and he didn't say that. That Polonius guy did.”

8. “See, now's the time of the meal when you start getting the McStomach ache. You start getting the McTummy. You get the McGurgles in there. You get the McBrick, then you get the McStomach ache. Right now I've got some McGas that's rockin'. My arms... I feel like I've got some McSweats goin'. My arms got the McTwitches going in here from all the sugar that's going in my body right now. I'm feeling a little McCrazy.”

9. “That's ludicrous - The great state of Vermont will not apologize for its cheese!”

10. “ He helped Joshua fight the battle of Jericho, he helped Daniel get out the lion's den, he helped Gilligan get off the island.”

Soothing the Savage Beast

I should be working on study guides, but hearing a song in the car today reminded me of a post I'd been meaning to do. Music is very important to me, from years studying piano and clarinet, to my love of singing loudly in the car. I have always kept a mental list of my Top Ten--the songs I always love to hear and sing along with, and immediately downloaded to my iPod. So, here's my list--mock it, or share your own.

Amanda's Top Ten Quite Cool Songs (in no particular order)
1. Ain't Too Proud to Beg--The Temptations
2. The Old Apartment--Barenaked Ladies
3. Maybe I'm Amazed--Paul McCartney
4. In Your Eyes--Peter Gabriel
5. Baba O'Riley--The Who
6. Read My Mind--The Killers
7. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes--Paul Simon
8. Can't Always Get What You Want--The Rolling Stones
9. Cecilia--Simon & Garfunkel
10. Under Pressure--Queen & David Bowie