Did I really do that? 31-35

31. Hit a home run -
This one time...at band camp (ha ha, just kidding), the little boy who lived across the street from me, hit me in the head with a plastic baseball bat. And I ran home. Does that count?

32. Been on a cruise -

Last year, when Chad and I went to Universal Studios, we drove up to Marina Del Rey to take a 2 hour cruise along the coast line of Santa Monica to Malibu Beach.
During the cruise, they point out places of interest. We saw the beach where they film Baywatch, the O.C. house and Barbara Streisand's house. It was pretty interesting.
I'm glad that we didn't go out too far into the ocean because I'm not much into boats and water, but Chad was very excited to go. It was fun and I would probably do it again.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
It was not Niagara Falls (and these waterfalls do not even compare), but in Zion National Park, I have not only seen, but walked to, and under, some of the most beautiful waterfalls you can find there.

34. Snow Skied -I have always wanted to snow ski, but never have and since I live in the desert, I have haven't had the opportunity.

35. Been thrown from a horse- I have ridden horses many times, but have never been thrown or fallen off.

What topics would you like to see?

There are some topics on my 99 things list, that I would like to exchange for something else. Some are so obvious that even coming up with a good story would just not be believable. Here are a few that I would like to change:

Visited Africa
Visited Russia
Visited the Great Wall of China
Been to the Eiffel Tower
Seen the Sistine Chapel
Bounced a check
Seen a Nazi Concentration Camp


There are a few others, but replacing these would be a good start. So, if there are any topics that any of you can think of that you would like me to answer, just leave a comment and I will replace the ones on this list with you suggest.

Have fun and try to come up with some really good ones. List as many as you want.

Did I Really Do That? 26-30

26. Gone skinny dipping -
Yeah right -
Are you kidding? I have never been skinny dipping in my life....:wink::wink:

27. Run a Marathon -

In the 5th grade, my teacher, Mrs. Hansen, was an avid runner. She talked a lot about running and invited her class to participate in one of her marathons. We were given logs book and then logged the first 25 miles. We could run those miles at recess or at home, as long as we got our log book signed by our teacher or parent.We ran the last mile on the track at the school playground. It was 1/4 mile and we had to run around it 4 times.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice -
I have ridden in a gondola at the Venetian in Las Vegas. They have both outdoor and indoor rides, and we rode the indoor one. It takes you under bridges and cafe's and through the Grand Canal Shoppes. Each gondola seats about 4 people and then there is the gondoliers who serenade you as you make your way through Italy. It's pretty cool.

29. Seen a total eclipse

A total solar eclipse is when the Sun is completely covered by the Moon. I have witnessed two total eclipses. The first one was when I was in elementary school. We used construction paper with pin holes to look at the sun.

A solar eclipse offers students a unique opportunity to see a natural phenomenon that illustrates the basic principles of mathematics and science taught through elementary and secondary school. Indeed, many scientists (including astronomers) have been inspired to study science as a result of seeing a total solar eclipse. Teachers can use eclipses to show how the laws of motion and the mathematics of orbits can predict the occurrence of eclipses. The use of pinhole cameras and telescopes or binoculars to observe an eclipse leads to an understanding of the optics of these devices. The rise and fall of environmental light levels during an eclipse illustrate the principles of radiometry and photometry, while biology classes can observe the associated behavior of plants and animals. It is also an opportunity for children of school age to contribute actively to scientific research—observations of contact timings at different locations along the eclipse path are useful in refining our knowledge of the orbital motions of the Moon and Earth, and sketches and photographs of the solar corona can be used to build a three-dimensional picture of the Sun’s extended atmosphere during the eclipse.

Observing the Sun, however, can be dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken. The solar radiation that reaches the surface of the Earth ranges from ultraviolet (UV) radiation at wavelengths longer than 290 nm, to radio waves in the meter range. The tissues in the eye transmit a substantial part of the radiation between 380–400 nm to the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye. While environmental exposure to UV radiation is known to contribute to the accelerated aging of the outer layers of the eye and the development of cataracts, the primary concern over improper viewing of the Sun during an eclipse is the development of “eclipse blindness” or retinal burns.

The second time was just a few years ago when we still lived in Las Vegas. This time, I used Chad's welding hat and sat on the hay stack to view the eclipse of the sun.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset -

When Chad and I went to California last year. We went to dinner at a restaurant that was right on the beach. We just happened to be there when the sun was setting. The sky was a little cloudy and as the sun stared setting behind the ocean, the sky turned bright pink and orange. It was nothing like I had ever seen before. I wish I would have had my camera.

Did I Really Do that? 21 - 25

21. Had a pillow fight -
We got Anthony a new bed for his graduation and on the day it was delivered, Kristy and I had to try it out to see how soft it was. We jumped and bounced and it eventually turned into a pillow fight.
She was only 4, but she hit me so hard with the pillow (I think there was a push to back up the hit) that I flew off the side of the bed. She had such a shocked look on her face when I fell to the floor. We laughed so
hard I almost peed my pants.

22. Hitch hiked -
One time when I was really young, I decided I was going to run away from home. I packed all my stuffed animals into my bedspread, threw it over my shoulder and was on my way. I thought I would hitch hike to my grandparents house. Lucky for me, the first car that passed (going the opposite direction) was my grandparents and they picked me up.

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill -
Although I don't remember a specific instance, I am going to say that yes I have.

24. Built a snow fort -
Define Fort: It has been snowing here all day. Tonight, when we got home from dropping Christopher off at his house, Chad and I went out and gathered all the snow from the front lawn to build a fort for this post. We froze our butts off. It may have not been a very big fort, but it is still a fort.

25. Held a lamb -
Chad and I traveled to Kamas, Utah in an old red Cadillac. We were on a mission. There was an old sheep herder who had some bummer lambs. We thought it would be kind of cool to have a lamb or two, so we loaded the kids in the back of the Cadi and made the trip. We ended up with 3 or 4 lambs and I held one all the way home. The others shared the back seat with the kids.

Don't Worry....Be Happy

I haven't abandoned the game......I have more coming up. Soon. I just got a little behind and I'm working hard to catch up. In the meantime....If there is anyone watching who thinks they might know all (or even some of ) (or even none of) the answers, and have not posted them yet, hurry. I do have a FABULOUS prize to give away. Hurry...Hurry...Hurry.

Did I really do that? 16 - 20

16. Had food poisoning -

Without naming names, we went to a place that (starts with a K) that serves fried chicken on 90th south in West Jordan, Utah. The only thing (KFC - Pahrump, NV 1/23/10)

different that I had from everyone else was coleslaw. I love coleslaw and no one else will eat it. Within an hour, I started to get really sick. I had the worst stomach cramps that I have ever had. I had to miss 2 days of work. I hope to never be that sick again.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty -(Statue of Liberty in front of Freedom Homes on Highway 160 in Pahrump, NV. 2/2010)

This is like the last one about Paris. I have not been to New York, so I have not been to the top of the Statue of Liberty. But I have been to New York, New York in Las Vegas and have rode the roller coaster and ate at America (the restaurant). That should be close enough.

18. Grown your own vegetables -

I have grown my own carrots. You have to be careful when you thinning them out to avoid carrot root fly (bugs). They are attracted by the smell released when the skin of the carrot is bruised. You have to keep the weeds away from them because they can easily overtake carrots. And you should keep the soil evenly moist, that avoids splitting.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France -

Holy Cow, whats with all the questions? I have never been to France, but I did see a replica of the Mona Lisa at the Paris Hotel and Casino.

20. Slept on an overnight train -

One summer while on vacation we rode a train and then went to a hotel and slept, overnight. The next morning we got up early drove to another town, in another state and rode another train. Then, went to another hotel and slept, overnight. Then got up early and rode another train in the opposite direction.

Did I really do this? 11 - 15

11. Bungee jumped -


I was at the Salt Lake County Fair with my family the first time I ever saw anyone bungee jump. It was like a crane with a platform at the top. I guess kind of like what you would see at a circus where the trapeze artists wait to get "hooked up".

You have to have nerves of steel just to climb up the latter because when you get there, you have a second to really think about it just before they strap you up. If your experienced, you can choose to jump head first, like a dive. Or you can choose to jump feet first. For feet first, you step into a harness, sort of like a child's swing seat. The seat is then hooked up to to the bungees, one on each side at your waist. They cinch you up real tight and tell you to take a deep breath and jump.

You should make sure that you jump before you have your lunch or you might lose it. I have never done it. I don't have the guts. Or do I?

12. Visited Paris-


I have not visited THE Paris....as in Paris, France. But, I have visited the Paris Las Vegas on the strip. Oh, and...I have been to Paris, Idaho too!

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea -


I don't remember if there was lightning or not, and it wasn't really the sea. But I was once on a boat in the middle of Lake Mead during a really bad storm.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch-


According to Wikipedia, Art is the process or product of deliberately and arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or Emotions. Hmmmmm........I would say: No, I have not done this.

15. Adopted a child-


Yes! I have adopted 3 of them.

Did I really do this? 6 - 10

6. Given more than you can afford to charity -

I would like to have some amazing story about how I have given more than I could afford to charity, but I don't want to make up a story like that. So...I will just say I have not.

7. Been to Disneyland -

I always dreamed of going to Disneyland when I was a kid, but as an adult, I have never really had the desire. I have never been, and I'm not sure I ever will.

8. Climbed a mountain -

When I was little, my family visited a place in Piute County, Utah called Big Rock Candy Mountain where we visited the lemonade springs. I climbed with my Parents and Grandparents, up to the top of the mountain.

Years later, I took my own kids to Big Rock Candy Mountain and climbed to the top with them.

9. Held a praying mantis -

Just recently actually, while Chad and I were building the planters in our front yard. I was raking the rocks around the tree out front and I thought I saw a small stick move. Chad kept telling me is was a praying mantis, but it didn't really look like one. I reached down and picked it up to show him. By that time I realized it really was some kind of bug, but still wasn't convinced it was a praying mantis. I kept saying "no it's not, it's not the right shape". Finally Chad had to sternly tell me "Trudi, your right, it's not A praying mantis. It's TWO! They are mating and the female is eating the male." As soon as he said that, I recognized that that is what it was and tried to throw them, but the legs were stuck to my finger and I had to shake them off. It was so gross.

10. Sang a solo -

I was in Choir at Bingham Middle School and we went to Crossroads Plaza in Downtown Salt Lake City during the Christmas Season. Everyone in the choir had at least one solo part. My part was.........In the meadow we can build a snowman, then pretend that he is Parson Brown. He'll say: are you married? We'll say: No man....but you can do the job while your in town.

Did I really do this? 1st 5

1. Started your own blog -

This one is easy. We all know I started my own blog. But, do you know why I started a blog? Well, I wanted to find an easy way to keep my family up with whats going on with us, and I like to write. So, there are two of the reasons for my blog.

2. Slept under the stars -

One night when my kids were little, Chad and I decided to have a sleep out. We took all of our sleeping bags out to the back of the truck and made a nice bed. It was a warm night and the sky was clear. It was so peaceful. Until.........About 2 or 3 in the morning. We woke up to a billion-zillion flying ants. It must have been Thanksgiving in the flying insect world because they were having a feast. They were everywhere. Needless to say, we headed back to the house.

3. Played in a band -

When I was in the 6th grade, I really wanted to play the clarinet like my older sister Michelle. But there were already enough clarinet players in our school band and they couldn't fit me in. So instead, I played the oboe which is a double reed musical instrument in the woodwind family. I was fast learner and my teacher said I had a natural affinity for the instrument.

4. Visited Hawaii -
Chad and I (I have a feeling most of these answers are going to start like this)never had a Honeymoon so a several years ago, we decided to travel to Hawaii. We stayed at New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel on Hawaii's Big Island. We picnicked at Spencer Beach Park on the Kohala Coast. We were able to take a wagon ride at the Parker Ranch and learn about the real-life Hawaiian cowboys. We visited the planetarium and interactive exhibits in the Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii>and and also went stargazing through telescopes at the Ellison S. Onizuka Center for International Astronomy which is 9,300 feet up Mauna Kea. Then we got to explore an active volcano at the Kilauea Visitor Center.

We had a great time and can't wait to go back.

5. Watched a meteor shower -

In 2001, we lived on Pioneer Way in Las Vegas. That part of town wasn't very populated so watching stars was easy to do because we were away from the city lights.
In November of that year, we were able to watch the annual Leonid's meteor shower from our back yard at about 2 in the morning. I don't ever remember seeing a meteor shower before that.

Who wants to play?

The other day, I received an email that contains a list of 99 things that may or may have not been done by the person who sent it to me. The things that she has done, were in bold text on the list. I'm supposed change the ones that I have done to bold, and pass it on to my friends.

Well I thought that would be fun to make a game of this list on my blog. So, I'm going to take that same list of 99 things and write a short story of when I did that particular thing. Your job is to decide if I'm telling the truth or not.

I'll post my stories in groups of 5 and then you leave a comment on the post telling me if they are true stories or not.

Anyone can play and whoever gets the most correct answers will win a really cool prize.

Are you ready? Tell all your friends and have fun!