MY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!

Here is about my trip last week Every year my family get together and have Thanksgiving / Christmas the out of town family members at a different place every year this year it was in Aspen Colorado. (My family has been doing it every year for 24 yrs) At my uncle Gary & aunt Shari house.(They have a small place outside of Aspen But they have money)
Wednesday Nov 22
I just took it easy and make sure that everything was packed and was ready for my trip, I went to take care of things that I need to take care of. then I just relaxed got some rest and waited for the time to catch my flight To Aspen. Left for my plane around 12 midnight.
Thursday Nov 23
Got up in the mid morning and help fixed the dinner and The rest of my family came in from far away as Iowa and Missouri. My sister Tatsumi and my mother and my father came in they drove for 12 Hrs to be there. We had dinner around 1 pm We had Turkey and ham and Mashed potatoes. After dinner the guys went and watch football and us girls helped clean up the mess up. After the clean the girls sat around and talked, I getting bored so, I deiced to go horse back riding. There is noting like a nice horse back ride in the crisp mountain air and to be alone to forget your problems (Right now I have a lot of them to deal with in my life) and just enjoy the scenery and just watch nature and think about things. and enjoy what you miss in the big city & towns. Later that night they threw a small birthday party for me. We had cake and Ice cream Then my uncle Gary grabbed me and put me in a head lock and gave a whipping and had everyone else have a turn (even the young kids got to do it) My uncle told that it was way over do for me! I gotten a lot of presents I got a new MP3 player and a Beatles t shirt And a Baseball Cardinals glass mug and some money, And my uncle Gary got a Fur coat (He like to spend on big items) I will never go anywhere to wear the coat. It will just be hung up and forgotten. We spent the rest of night playing cards and games and other things and Kids played and the others Just watch the others play or watch TV. It was late when everyone got to bed. I stayed up talked with my mother and my sister I stayed up and listen to some of my music I brought with me (Jpop) until I fell asleep.
Friday Nov 24
Everyone got up at different times as long it was by 10 am. After getting something to eat. We went a scavenger hunt (We had a list what we had to find in a certain time limit) And so we can get out of our host hair, so they can have the house to themselves. And we had to buy a $3.00 USD gift for later. ( We drew names for the gifts and gag gift was allowed) We went out and gotten thing on the list and our gift. Came back and hurried and wrap them so the person you got it for wont see it. We had left overs My uncle let me drive his Corvette (I was so thrilled) went for a little drive, (I got so excited I hit the gas too hard and burned rubber) yes I got in trouble when I got back (it was worth it to me) We had left overs for dinner. Later we had Christmas we sat around and handed out our $3.00 gift the person had to guess who got it for them. then we handed out the big gifts (started out with the youngest to oldest you also had to use it or wear it like if a guy got some nail polish, Etc.) You took turns opening and then showed everyone what you have got. And thank the person And then we sat around and talked and we went around told everyone what is going on in their lives. When it was my turn I told everyone about the nice wonderful people I met here on the forum (it was all good) and what been going on in my life. Then everyone we and did thing for the rest of the evening.
Saturday Nov 25
We all got up and had dinner Hang out or some went shopping, Etc. And relaxed. untill the girls tricked me in to going to see some Male Strippers They wanted me to ride along go back to the store and pick some more things up. They kept putting drinks and told me to drink up and enjoy the boy toys. They arranged a private dance with 2 of the strippers DR love and the Handyman. I past out on the way home.
Sunday Nov 26
I was woken up by Daniel (a little kid) hitting me with a toy plastic hammer and screaming at me to get up. I spent the part of day sick and hung over and the rest of the day being kidded about my time out with the girls. My Uncle told me that I had a wild time and when he carried me for the car I had a big old smile on my face. and told that asked 2 of the stripper to marry me. I don `t remember if I did or not? only what I was told I did? The rest of the day was talking it easy and some people had to leave.
Monday Nov 27
I decide to stay one more day I just went skiing and horse back ridding and helping out around the place. And got a lecture about what I need to do with my life. I told that a young girl like me should be married and have a family and stay off the Internet and talk to friends. watch TV and went to bed.
Tuesday Nov 28
Got up and had a bite to eat and got my stuff packed and left for the airport to fly back home. It nice to get away for while

One Lonely Knight

One Lonely Knight

He found her lost and alone Walking along the shore. So tiny, like an angel, She was too hard to ignore.

He was powerful, clad in armor. With arms so tender, he drew her near. From now on, nothing would harm her. Gently, he wiped away a tear.

Both had known great hardship, Both had known great pain. Now joined as one Discovering their world, They had everything to gain.

Life is a journey often filled With sorrow and strife. Together they followed a narrow path That led along the road of life

The Legend of the Piasa Bird

The Piasa bird (pronounced Pie-a-saw), is said to have flown over the "Great Father of Waters" thousands of moons before the white man came, when magolonyn and mastodon were still living." The Piasa, or Piusa, means "the bird that devours men" or "bird of the evil spirit". Early drawings depict it as part bird, reptile, mammal, and fish. The colors used in early paintings symbolize war and vengeance (red), death and despair (black), and hope and triumph over death (green).
Marquette and Joliet recorded in their diaries a description of an image of this creature incised into the limestone bluffs 40 to 50 feet above the water near their historic landing site at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. This image was later painted, and has been relocated several times. Today a painting of the Piasa Bird can be seen on the bluffs near Alton, Illinois. The most enduring and fascinating legend about this bird was written by John Russell in 1836. It follows:
Before the village of the Illini, the mighty river swept to the south, clear and fresh. The surrounding woods were rich with game. The bluffs and the mighty trees shielded the Illini from the harsh winds that sometimes swept in from the north. Their village was a secure and happy place. Chief of the Illini was Ouatoga (Watoga). He was old and had led his tribe in the ways of peace for most of his lifetime. Ouatoga and his people loved their home and their way of life. Then one morning, as the sun began to climb towards the summit of its cloudless sky, terror touched the Illini. The village stirred. A number of younger braves were leaving on an early morning fishing expedition. Some were already on the river in their canoes, others preparing to embark, when suddenly the very earth seemed to shudder with the sound of an alien scream.
Out of the Western sky came a gigantic flying monster. Its body was much the size and shape of a horse; long, white fangs stabbed upward from the protruding lower jaw and flames leaped from its nostrils; two white, deer-like horns angled wickedly from its head. Its huge wings pounded the air with such force the trees bent; its stubby legs held dagger-like talons and its spiked tail wound around the grotesque body three times.
Almost before the braves realized their danger, the beast, soon to be named the Piasa Bird, swooped across the beach and carried one away. From that moment on, the Illini were terrorized by this incredible and blood-thirsty monster. Each morning and afternoon thereafter, the Piasa Bird came, shattering the peace of the village with its blood-chilling screams and the thunderous beat of its wings. More often than not, it returned to its lair with a victim.
The Illini looked to their chief, Ouatoga, for a solution to this menace. Time and time again he had led them through the trials of famine, illness, and the threat of warlike tribes. But Ouatoga felt helpless before this danger and the years weighed heavily upon him. The beast seemed invulnerable. His body was covered with scales, like a coat-of-mail. The best efforts of Tera-hi-on-a-wa-ka, the arrow maker, and the tribe's finest archers were to no avail.
Then Ouatoga appealed to the Great Spirit. For nearly a full moon he prayed and fasted. Then in a dream he found the answer. The body of the Piasa Bird was not protected under the wings. After offering thanks to the Great Spirit, Ouatoga called the tribe together and devised a plan that could destroy the Piasa Bird. All that day Tera-hi-on-a-wa-ka sharpened arrowheads and painted them with poison while the tribe fasted and prayed. That night, Ouatoga and six of the finest braves crept to the top of the high bluff overlooking the Great Father of Waters. When dawn came only Ouatoga was visible, standing straight and firm in full view. The braves were hidden nearby behind a rock ledge, bows ready.
Suddenly, the scream of the Piasa Bird broke the silence and the winged monster swept into view. Immediately it sighted Ouatoga and with what seemed a shriek of delight, it pounced. As it did, Ouatoga fell to the ground and grasped the strong roots that grew there. The pain of the talons sinking into his flesh inspired him to grip the roots even more tightly. As the Piasa Bird raised its great wings in an effort to carry off its victim, the six braves stepped from their hiding place and shot six poisoned arrows into the unprotected place beneath the beast's wings. Again and again the bird raised its wings to fly. But Ouatoga held fast and each time six poisoned arrows drove into the bird's vulnerable spot. Finally, the poison did its job. With a scream of agony, the Piasa Bird released its hold on Ouatoga and plunged down the bluff to disappear forever in the swift waters of the great river.
Carefully, tenderly, the braves carried Ouatoga to his tepee where, in time, he was nursed back to health. Then a great celebration was held in the camp of the Illini. The next day, Tera-hi-on-a-wa-ka mixed paints and, carrying them to the bluff, painted a picture of the Piasa Bird in tribute to the victory of Ouatoga and the Illini. Every time an Indian passed the painting, he shot an arrow in salute to the bravery of Ouatoga and deliverance from the Piasa Bird.