Just the other Saturday I woke up and something about the way the light was streaming through the windows evoked a strong desire to do, um, housework (brace yourselves) AND yardwork.  Crazy, right?  So off I went happily pruning rose bushes.  But I didn’t stop there.  I started washing the windows.  ALL of them, inside and out.  The strangest part?  I felt a sense of quiet satisfaction and maybe even pleasure at my unexplainable domestic productivity.

The best part?  I felt like I was living in a brand new house.  Everything seemed brighter, shinier and new.  I started feeling happier about life.  I befriended some small woodland creatures.  I composed a song about sunshine and daffodils and then had the entire neighborhood join me singing and dancing outside while wearing brightly colored costumes.

And that was that.

Marriage never seemed like a good fit for me.  I always wondered just what kind of guy would it take to convince me that living selfishly, fiercely and joyfully independent wasn’t as much fun as sharing a life with an icky boy.  In the past year I have certainly had a lot of fun with my husband Darrell.  We’ve traveled, told inappropriate jokes, and made new friends along the way.

I admit that when I read this article about the benefits of being single, I felt a twinge of nostalgia.  I’m not ashamed to say that I enjoyed being single.  Reveled in it, actually.  This marriage thing is new and unexpected.  There are days I wonder what I’m doing here.  (You mean I was supposed to take the ‘A’ train?)  Most of the time I just thing it’s a grand, funny, beautiful life.  I am literally entertained every day.  Between my cat and my husband, I’m adored in our home.  Just for being here.

I’m probably supposed to get into sappier territory here.  Perhaps quote some famous movie line that sounds good but is actually a myth.  “You complete me.”  Please.  If we weren’t complete before marriage then we’re both idiots for taking home  unfinished products.  I don’t think another person can ever complete you.  They can influence, inspire, love, and bring out the best in you — but complete?  That’s what I love about my marriage: we don’t look to the other to give us meaning in our lives.  We’re just 2 happy people joyfully enjoying the ride together.  And we’ve managed to do it without any stupid pet names, either.

But alas, summer is ending and it seems my thorny beauties won’t thrive much longer.  I’ve enjoyed filling our home with fresh roses.  I’ve decided that I should always have fresh flowers in the house.  They turned my so-so living room into a work of art.  No wonder all those fancy interior design magazine photo shoots always have them on hand.

Regardless, it seems flowers might be hard to have year round in a place like Utah.  I suppose that as winter descends I’ll have to be content with my green houseplants and the occasional poinsettia.  Then again, a break from weeding, pruning and other yard-related tasks is definitely a happy occasion in my book.

- Good thing about Montana #1: A casino is attached to every gas station, which is super convenient because you can also buy hunting supplies while you’re filling up your car.  Talk about one-stop shopping!

- Good thing about Montana #2: Their advertising budget must be entirely comprised of license plate designs.  I counted at least 7.  All of them different, all pretty nice.  (It helps when you are known for “big sky country” rather than, say, potatoes, dairy, or some other non-Atkins-approved edible.)

- You have to wonder about just what goes on in Idaho Falls gas stations when the bathroom includes a vending machine for “delightfully delicious,  tastefully yours” flavored condoms.   Makes me glad they had seat covers.

- Overalls are never a good option for adults, particularly for senior women who have lived  long enough to know better.  Listen, we all like to let loose a little bit when we travel.  And being in the great outdoors, maybe we feel like letting our hair down a bit.  But let’s have some personal pride, huh?  Leave the overall shorts at home.

- And speaking of fashionistas… Ladies, the older you are the more important your undergarments become — even on vacation.  Remember, there’s a reason the store department is sometimes called “foundations” — because without a sure one, the rest of the outfit crumbles.  Even the Bible backs me up on this.

- And lastly, no matter where you go, it’s crucial to read the signs, especially at Yellowstone:

We just returned from a great trip to Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park.  Although I had been to Yellowstone several times before, we saw things I had never seen before, including Lower Falls, pictured below.

Nice, huh?  Glacier, too, was glorious.   See below.

I have been wanting to visit Glacier for a long while now (noticing a theme?), so I was thrilled to finally see it in person.  Surprisingly, it was actually warmer camping in Glacier than in Yellowstone.  And as you can probably gather from the picture, the water in Glacier is as clear and beautiful as any I’ve seen.

Were it not for the cold temperature, there’s no way I would have been so content on the shore.  All the butterflies flying about were an added bonus.  In other words, wow.

You all know I’ve been skydiving before.  And now I’ve been again.  Indoors.  And maybe that doesn’t sound as cool as regular skydiving, but trust me, it has its perks.

First, no parachutes.  You still have to wear the conehead helmet, eyeglasses, and onesie, but that’s a small price to pay.

Second, quick, painless thrills.  No adjusting to altitude or worries about landing or strapping into anything.

But most of all, you get to do tricks (with the help of an instructor who stands by your side the whole time – see above).

Before our session a military group was practicing different maneuvers, which was really cool.  And our instructor, Devin, also put on a little demonstration for us.

In other words, it was loads of fun.  One word of advice: if you happen to be grinning wildly while flying, you might want to keep your mouth closed, otherwise you might find that, in addition to looking super nerdy, you’re also drooling.

I didn’t really know any of the girls very well, so I wondered how they would receive me.  By the end of the week I had been told that I’m cool, I’m skinny, and I look like I’m 19.  So perhaps I wouldn’t mind going next year for a self-esteem boost.

I think I won them over the first night when we had to do a skit for all the other campers and I volunteered to play the part of a flasher.  (Don’t worry, I wore clothes underneath the towel.  What kind of gal do you think I am?)  I ran on stage yelling, “I’m naked! I’m naked! I’m naked!”  and for some reason that left everyone laughing.  I guess you could say I’m gifted.

I grew up being envious of my brothers who got to attend camps that included things like water skiing and archery.  Mine included hair braiding and eating Tootsie Rolls.  Which is why I wanted to actually let the girls try building a fire and cooking and hiking and things.  Midway through the week I realized that perhaps it’s not so much about outdoor skills as bonding with one another in an electronics-free forum.  I mean, how can you not bond after playing a game that involves spelling your name with your rear end?

In other words, despite my reluctance to go, girls’ camp was actually a really great time, hair braiding and all.

Drawbacks: sore hands, sore body the following day (which is strange because it seemed so effortless when I did it), huge bruise behind the knee, and abs that hurt when I laughed for several days following.

But the sheer exhilaration was worth it.  Check out my awesome form below.

What’s that, you say?  Is that yours truly meeting the Jonas Brothers?  Why yes, it looks like it is.  Why?  Good question.  Am I fan?  Not really.  Up until a couple months ago I didn’t even know their names.  Now, thanks to several teen magazines, web sites and wikipedia I can confidently tell you several interesting tidbits about them.

But who cares about tidbits when you see a picture like this?

You see, I arranged for this little meeting.  I work for a non-profit organization for teenagers and, upon the recommendation of one of our volunteer ambassadors, approached the Jonas Brothers about doing something for our group.  And they said yes.  (I’m very convincing.)

They are very polite, well-spoken guys with great hair.  They strive to contribute and be good examples.  They even have their own charitable foundation.  Nick, the youngest (and biggest heartthrob, I have learned), has even talked about his experience with diabetes.

When it was our turn to meet with them  I was in charge of introducing our group.  I shook hands with each brother.  I had my photo taken with them.  We bonded.  And in a way, I feel guilty about it.  I mean, I’m not a big fan, it’s not a life-defining moment for me (cool, but not life defining), I’ve never dreamt of meeting or dating them, and I’m a good 6 inches taller than each one of them.

There is, however, one very nice perk: I am now the envy of every teenage girl.  As soon as we left the presence of the Jonas Brothers there were squeals and sighs and “oh my gosh!”es from every girl in the group.  I couldn’t have been more amused.

I don’t think there’s ever been a moment I was the envy of teenage girls, save for (perhaps) having good skin throughout my life.  If being on Oprah doesn’t get me major respect from teenage girls, then the Jonas Brothers definitely will.  Not that it matters.

I’ve just never understood idolizing pop stars.  Growing up I was barely aware of pop stars.  I liked lots of music, but never so much that I would just die if I met any of them.  I think I’d rather be my own favorite idol.  As Oscar Wilde wrote, “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

Knowing that teenagers envy me makes that somehow easier.