The Adventures of Sock Monkey, Odus ,and everyone else who comes along Volume #5

   Ok. Wednesday's post, now. I'm so far behind...We headed to Canyonlands and, to be honest with you, I was vaguely disappointed with the park. The visitor center was weensy and they didn't have flushing toilets. I mean, seriously! A national park with funding from the government and they don't have flushing toilets?! Really! But the view was okay (I still found better view later that day but still!) and we still got some nice pictures and I got my Junior Ranger badge (my fourth this trip).

Sock Monkey at Mesa Arch

Sock Monkey at Buck Canyon

Sock Monkey at yet another canyon (forgot the name)

Afterwards, we went to Dead Horse Point State Park and I am sad to say this, but the state park was much much better. The visitor center was much larger and had flushing toilets and even had a cafe! Take that, Canyonlands! A state park outranked you now! But I digress. For people who are going to Utah, I highly suggest Dead Horse Point.  Really nice views and probably some good mochas had we gotten there before 5 pm (that's when the coffee shop closes). Still! It's nice and it's a whole lot better than Canyonlands (sorry, National Park Service, but it's true! Give Canyonlands a cafe and flushing toilets and we'll think about it).

The view from Dead Horse Point

Some other nice views from the nature trail

Our hotel was pretty cool, because you don't usually have a water slide leading into the pool and three beds in a room in your regular hotel, eh? Nice juice, too. Passion Orange Guava tastes pretty good! I am nearing the end of my post so, the standard "questions/comments/etc, check the comment board" stuff. But if you like it or think there are too many "so"s in my post, feel free to tell me! But, other than that, I'm mostly done so thanks for reading! 

The Adventures of Sock Monkey, Odus, and everyone else who comes along Volume #4

   Gah! I'm so behind on posts! This is for, umm, the day before yesterday,  maybe? Yah. Tuesday's post. So, let's quit dawdling and get to work! (Man, I sound like my dad...) Okay. Anyway, we started hiking in the morning at Arches in this really nice hiking spot called the Fiery Furnace (it's not as hot as it sounds). You have to get a permit,  but it is epic as long as you get a private tour. Much better that way. Again, we took a Moab Adventure Center tour and it was so worth it. There were cracks so tight that the adults had to push with their shoulders and knees and propel themselves up and through while skinny kids like me and another girl who was on the tour basically walked through. I have a new standard for when someplace is too tight. When my ears touch the walls of a crack in the rock, it's too small. I ran into one of those...

People call it.. the Lemon Squeeze..

Maybe Sock Monkey is related to gophers. Always popping up everywhere...

But that's beside the point. We walked under an arch called Walk-Through Arch because you, duh, walk through and then climbed up to another arch that I nicknamed Toothpaste Arch because you have to squeeze through. Get it? It was just the right size for me, which meant it was too small for most other people.

It's kinda dark but Sock Monkey's on the left side

All in all, it was a great hike. I highly suggest it but get a private tour. The ranger-led walk doesn't show you all the stuff and is way too short. Afterwards, we hiked Delicate Arch, which is that arch you associate with Utah. Yah. The one that is standing all alone. We hiked it and it is so so hot (not hot.. what's the right word... there we go!) burning hot! My mom says that she told one of the couples leaving to tell me and my dad to not come but I was almost there and didn't get the message anyway. But I made it.

Welcome to Utah, people of earth and intergalactic space! 

Also, what the pictures don't tell you was that number 1, the arch is tilted (the left side is higher) and number 2, there is a football field sized pit to the right of the arch. Also, while I was waiting for my dad to come, I made some rock piles that looked suspiciously like Delicate Arch, so I guess they were arches with arrows saying either "It's this way!" or "Hurry up, Dad! I'm waiting! Don't be a slow coach!". Either, or. As for hot, it felt like walking on the sun but, hey, if you're from the Southwest, it's like every single summer day. Totally normal. Turns out my dad didn't get to my little rock sign majigys so I kind of made them for nothing. Nothing, save the pictures. See below.

Think the hiking stick is just a tad bit big, huh?

So, I should be done so questions or comments or whatever, check out the comment board. Thanks for reading, folks!

The Adventures of Sock Monkey, Odus, and everyone else who comes along Volume #3

   Sorry for all the late posts! I've been ... let's just say "busy". Ok. Adventures of Sock monkey, coming right up! We left the hotel in Cortez, Colorado and headed out of Colorado and into Utah and Arches Ntl Park. Mostly red rocks but we got some pictures of an arch and some rocks. Now with the never ending photo load problem...... Anyway, as we drove, the clouds were low and there was a mountain in the background so the mountain looked like it was on a cloud and floating... epic, huh? Here. Let's see if this works.

Who said that mountains can't fly?

Yes! It worked! We went to a river rafting trip and started rafting on the Colorado River but got this picture first :).

This is the company that we went rafting with

 

Do sock monkeys and rivers go together?

It was totally epic and kind of wet. I highly suggest this company, as you will find out tomorrow. Afterwards, we went to the hotel. It's called Red Cliffs Lodge and it would have been cool but there was a rat in the room and the sleeping sofa was super dirty so we switched rooms and now we're just staying 2 nights instead of 3. Also, something I didn't mention up above. We stopped for lunch at Red Cliffs and the food was good and that's where this picture came from. Yes, those are mushrooms and yes, that is grass. Don't ask. Please. 

See? Everyone can be a fungi (fungi, fun guy, get it? Hahaha!)

Anyway, I must draw to an end (I know. It's disappointing to me, too) so, questions, comments,  etc, just check out the comment section of the blog and feel free to chat and ask and whatever. Thanks for reading!

The Adventures of Sock Monkey, Odus, and every one else who comes along Volume #2

   This post is for yesterday, just saying people!  So, after we left our hotel, we went to Mesa Verde in Colorado, which is a Native American cliff dwelling place with a bunch of (*gasp*) cliff dwellings. Just a note, it is cold and high in elevation. I mean, seriously, our car drove through a cloud to get to one of the museums. For all you people who think clouds are soft and fluffy, here's a word to the wise. Clouds are damp and super cold!! But we went walking (not really hiking...) and the cliff dwellings are cool and dusty and old at the same time. We went into cliff dwellings and saw pit houses (they are what they say: houses in pits, more or less). (See below for pictures)

My Sock Monkey at Cliff Palace

Afterwards, I got my Junior Ranger badge. It's a really fun program but often times has an age limit so you should ask about age if your around 12+. But that's beside the point. I went to the visitor center to get the program and finished it in the Chapin Mesa Archeology Museum (it's a museum) where I got pledged in. See picture below.

The first Junior Monkey Ranger

I have to admit, the gift shop is kind of nice. My mom thought this hat would look nice. Let's see if I can load the picture.... oh. It's the never ending photo load problem. Don't expect pictures for a little bit. 'Kay! Any questions, comments, etc, just check out the comment wall. Thanks!

The Adventures of Sock Monkey, Odus, and every one else who comes along Volume #1

   First, the introduction. So who's Odus, you ask? Well, he's this little pink pigeon that is a squishy toy (kind of small, 2 cm tall) and apparently has a death warrant hanging over his little puny head from my dad. My dad doesn't like pigeons a lot. I mean a lot. As in buy-an-Airsoft-gun-and-shoot-them-off-the-telephone-wire a lot. Yeah. So Odus isn't a pigeon. He's a very...stout....hawk. Not too convincing, eh? Ok. Enough of this flowery junk. Let's get into awesomeness. Oh, and here's a picture of him (see below).

He kind of looks like a Clone Trooper. Come to the pink side....

So! We started our vacation thing yesterday (sorry for the late post, faithful readers!) After our 6 hr bored-to-death drive and a few stops along the way (thank you, McDonalds!), we ended up at Monument Valley and took a Jeep tour in the afternoon.  So, it was fast and cold, but epic. But here's the weirdest part. We drove past the rock called Cube Rock that looked like a, shock, cube (that's not the weird part). Let's give a big hand to the people who named these things. I mean, Cube Rock?! So creative. But I digress. We drove past the world's most creatively named rock and there was a broken, wait for it, Porta-Potty right next to it. Wow. If any of you are missing a bright turquoise Porta-Potty, go to Monument Valley.  You might find it. After the brilliant (ish) sunset, it got colder. But at night, my gosh. So many stars... My mom reckons that she saw a shooting star. Travel tips done for now. Let me upload some pics now... never mind. Next time. Again, questions, comments, anything, just put it on the comment board.  Thank you, readers! 



Quick Update: I finally got the pics. Here are the Mittens, but I kind of photo-shopped it (is that even a word?). Now, they're snails. Oops (not really).

Haha haha. Snail!

If "owlicious" Was a Word.....

   For everyone who knows me, I am also a huge fan of owls, which are right at the top of the list next to sock monkeys. So when my mom came home with an owl coffe mug, naturally, I went crazy (just a little bit more than normal). Then my mom got Sock Monkey and insisted that I take pictures and put this on my blog. Which now I just did. (See below)

See? Monkeys and owls totally go together!

And then I had one of those lightbulb moments (without the cartoon lightbulb, of course). Why not have a bunch of owls? (Wait, what's a group of owls called?!) Oh yes. Correction. A parliament of owls. Suprise. Anyway, I grabbed some of my toy owls and got this photo. (See below yet again!)

Birds of a feather flock together (usually)

Yes. Lots of owls. If there was room, I might of added even more owls, but there was no room (*gasp*). Ok. If you have questions/comments/etc. please comment and feel free to ask and chat! Other then that, I'm mostly done so... yeah. Thanks for reading!



Quick Update: Here are these pictures that I promised! Also, I have an owl picture from the Japanese Tea Garden gift shop so here you go! 

Tea time! With owls...

Whooooo's socks are those?

OWLS!!!!!!!

Here's another owl picture from Sabino Canyon. 

An owl and a sock monkey sitting in a tree. Hmmm...

Season 2 Update: And even more owls!!!

Somebody's going to party all night...

Bath time!

 

Cleaning time!

   When things get dirty, wash them. These rules apply to everyone, including sock monkeys and baby brothers (sorry to break it to you, but the bath is a good idea once in a while). This isn't a recent photo, but it seems like something to put on this blog. 

Pool Safety Rules (by Sock Monkey)

1. Always have adult supervision (not like the picture above).

2. Get permission to swim before you go.

3. Ask adults for the rest. You decide.

If you fail the rules above, you're never seeing Sock Monkey again. Remember that, people of earth and intergalactic space! 

And the Journey Begins!

Off to the circus/symphony!

We're here!

   Today I had a busy schedule, so I decided to bring Sock Monkey and took a bunch of pictures on the way. I went to the Phoenix Symphony Hall and watched the Cirque de la Symphonie. All I have to say is that it was awesome!  Kind of hard to explain, though. It was super cool because they had acrobats and other really cool things with the symphony playing in the background. (oops! Sorry if I spoiled it!) Afterwards, we went to Golden Corral(its a restaurant, for everyone who doesn't know) and while my family and I ate, my sock monkey stayed squished into my mom's purse. So much for a relaxing evening (for Sock Monkey, at least).

My squished sock monkey

Oops! Sorry! 

In the beginning.....

   So! I'm new to blogging so my dad's here to help but let's get started! So, if you're wondering why the sock monkey, I'll start there. I've recently had an obsession with my pink sock monkey and started taking pictures with my sock monkey every time my family went on vacation. That kind of led up to now. Also, my mom wanted me to start writing and "practice" my skills. And now I'm here, posting something on my blog. What a way I've come, since the writing thing started this morning! So, I guess this blog is for thoughts and miscellaneous items that I find on the Internet and in life in general. And, this might be for travel tips, since I have a vacation soon. I'll post pictures and other tidbits of information on the way like "Go to this national park!" or "This hiking place is beautiful! You should go!" or something a little more meaningful, but in the same format (maybe). I guess I'm off to an okay-ish start. Have fun and go bananas!

My Sock Monkey in the Grand Canyon