Punkin Chuckin'

Maybe it was puff the magic dragon. Maybe it was watching a pumpkin seed soar gracefully from my mouth through the air to the black asphalt 19 feet beyond where I stood, baffled on the stage. Perhaps it was the perfect rigatoni-shaped pasta drizzled with a delightful red-sauce that left my mouth oozing with drool. Or then again, it may have been Mike, the bearded man who happily greeted me on my way to release my bowels at the rest stop.

I cannot pinpoint one event. Rather, I think that it was a culmination of all of these items that made Sat. Oct 27th 2007 a day that will go down in infamy.

It started at 5:30 in the morning after 4 hours of restless sleep. The anticipation of the delightful excursion to the Moab Pumpkin Chucking festival had been building inside of me for 3 days previous to its arrival. I was absolutely thrilled.

As I awoke to the sound of my buzzing telephone, I couldn't help but think that this was going to be the best day of my life. I scurried off to the shower to discover water that felt like ice pelting down on my skin. I was not going to let something as trivial as cold water put a damper on my spirits. Quickly I dressed and prepared myself mentally for a wonderful day to come.

The car trip there was fantastic. I was fortunate to see the sun rise from the horizon into a beautiful array of pinks, purples, and oranges.

We arrived at the pumpkin chucking festival in good spirits. Trebuchets, an air cannon, and catapults lined the old airport runway in Moab, UT. It was a magnificent site to behold. One by one each pumpkin chucking device took turns launching the pumpkins into the sky. We stood watching each pumpkin soar across the sky and then fall to the ground, emitting a small cloud of dust.

Puff the magic dragon was by far the most successful in his endeavors to reach great distances with each pumpkin. It could be said that Puff indeed "frolicked in the autumn mist" on this pleasant October day.

The Pumpkin Chucking festival had more to offer than just pumpkin chucking.

One of my favorite activities that I had the pleasure participating in was the renowned "seed spitting competition." As I felt the slimy seed transfer from my tongue to my lips and pass through the small "o" shaped opening in my mouth, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride. I knew that this seed was going to reach great limits. In fact, it did. I came into third place.

The festival also offered a rich variety of culture. I couldn't help but feel at home adorned in my blessed rainbow attire.

I saw many mullets, braided men, and men with sexy hams. Let's not forget the handle bars.

After pumpkin chucking, our party ventured to Arches National Park- the one Southern Utah park I had yet to visit. We clambored around on some rocks for a small period of time. It was rather enjoyable.

As I look back at this marvelous experience, I realize that there are three things that I learned:

1. Someday I will fulfill my dream of becoming a trucker.
2. I don't need to puff magic dragons to get high on life. Rather it comes naturally for me.
3. I like really big rocks.

Well, alas I have been forced into the blogging realm... yes. Forced... by boredom. As the Kinks say, or sing rather, "It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world."

So this week has been interesting. Today I found out that my "precious" grandma is back in the hospital... again. She may have only a few days left with us here in mortality. She has lived an excellent life full of love, compassion and service. I just hate sitting here and thinking about the pain that she is in. I love her and I miss her. But I'm happy that once the pain is over she'll be reunited with my grandpa.

Oh and I hate funerals. With a passion. Especially if it there is an open casket viewing before hand. Why do I need to see someone in that cold and lifeless state? I am much more content remembering how someone was during their lifetime, not how they looked right before they are to enter a hole in the ground. Well enough of that rant... it is probably not the best time for it.

Ever time I think of death I am reminded of the Pink Floyd song "Great Gig in the Sky." I love what he says at the beginning of the song:

"and I am not frightened of dying, any time will do, i Dont mind. why should I be frightened of dying? Theres no reason for it, youve gotta go sometime. i never said I was frightened of dying."

Well I think I'm done with being morbid. Onto nicer thoughts. This school year has been good so far, my favorite memory being the "Excursion to the other side of Utah." I had been planning this excursion for about 3 years and we finally went this past Sept. 2007.

It was absolutely and utterly fantastic as you can see by the expression on my face. We saw the rainbow hotel and casino at Wendover where we ate at a lovely restaurant with an inverted ceiling.

We also took a trip to Bauer Pit, a gas station in Tooele, the historic mining town of Eureka, a fungi field in Vernon, a hill-dwelling in Ganola, and a diner in Santaquin.

We also had the delightful experience of going to the Bonneville Salt Flats State Park which was exciting to say the least.

The memories will forever be engrained in my mind and looked upon with fondness.

Other somewhat notable news is that I am writing a book. A lovely book that is yet to be named.

Tomorrow I will have the delightful experience of going to annual pumpkin chucking contest in Moab, Utah. I am thrilled. I am expecting many wife-beaters, some butt cracks, and hopefully many mullets. It is an affair that I thought that I would only have the pleasure of dreaming about at one time in my life.

As for other useless information, this is a precursor for my halloween costume to come. What I am is really up to your interpretation seeing that no one will really no what I'm supposed to be anyways. So whether you look at me as Olive from "Little Miss Sunshine," a frumpy Mormom mother, or I, Stephanie, in her elementary school years is up to you. I'm just a chameleon... a kama kama kama chameleon.