Pansy Lab Rat

Addendum to Blood Money post: Well, I got kicked out of the medical study yesterday. I fainted 7 minutes after the first blood draw and there were 16 left to go that day... so they kindly released me. It was a mutual decision, as I don't think I could have handled it. I'm a pansy lab rat after all. Sorry Peter. Goodbye $900... I'll have to find other ways to pay for my jewelry.

Blood Money

For a decade now, Peter's been doing medical studies for cash. They pay pretty well, if you don't mind being stuck with a needle up to 15 times a day! Well, he finally talked me into doing one myself. How can you resist $900 for four days, when only two of those days are actually "needle" days? You can tell that we're hard up for cash when I'm getting sucked into stuff like this. AARGH! Anyway, so this week we're both at Qualia where we will perform our lab rat duties. Peter gets $1,350 for his study and I get the aforementioned amount. WHEN, oh when will I be a dignified dentist's wife and don't have to resort so such measures? Just kidding. :) The irony is, last weekend I spent $75 on jewelry and Peter didn't quite understand how I could "afford" jewelry when we are selling our blood!? Will somebody please explain this to him!?

Pioneer Day

Southern, central CO still celebrates July 24 in grand style. For three days, the small towns of Manassa, La Jara (where I was born - population 1,200) and Sanford (where my dad grew up, population - 600) are consumed with parades - including spiritual and secular floats, rodeos, carnival rides, and amazing food. Peter and I drove out for nearly a week long stay. It was great to reconnect with family on both sides of the family (Mom and Dad's). My cousin Leann had worked on a YW float two weeks before, proudly featured here - "Sweet is the work." Also featured is my brother-in-law Dave, comfortably observing the parade in daughter Alyssa's chair (age 3), and me with Leann & mis padres in line for Manassa's famous hamburgers.

Go fish!

Uncle Deeks (my dad's brother Alan Reynolds) took us to his fishing pond in northern New Mexico over the 24th of July celebrations in southern Colorado. What a treat! We got to ride four-wheelers, play games, hike, and fish, of course! Uncle Deeks created this pond 12 years ago by digging a 30 foot hole and diverting a nearby creek. He stocks it annually with 200-300 rainbow trout at $2 a piece. His grandkids come here often, and even 3 year-old Keegan can catch fish because once a line is in the water, he throws "chum" around it and a ton of trout emerge in a feeding frenzy and inevitably chomp on the fishing line. The best part was the landscape and chatting with family. Many thanks to Deeks and Brad for taking us out and to Macey for trying to tip over our raft on our pond cruise (me and Sam were freaking out the entire time, especially when she mentioned the muskrats). In the last picture, my dad (right) is with his sister Eloise and brother Deeks.