Sample 5: Hair Growing Skills

I grew out my hair a few summers for the Hill Cumorah Pageant. I figured that I'd rather deal with my own ball of fuzz, rather than with having a wig or an elaborate head wrap. The first summer, I chopped it off as soon as school started up again, and then started the growing process again. The second summer, I kept it long until November, and then decided that it was, indeed, time to part with it. I went to my trusty hair dresser, put it in a pony tail, and whacked it off. 11.5 inches went to Locks of Love! I haven't had the patience or desire to grow it out again... though I have applied to the pageant for next summer, so I suppose that I'd better get a move on. Good thing it grows back!


Looking at this pic, I can't believe it was ever that long! How did I deal with it? What did I do with it every day? Oh yeah... ponytails, buns, and braids! 'Do' my hair? I don't think so...

Sample 2: Wall Climbing Skills

Also in China and also with Joee...
Our day at the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China was actually 45 minutes!
And so we climbed the Great (Freaking!) Wall of China in 45 freaking minutes!
Joee kept me motivated. She'd been there the year before, and so knew the ups and downs of the wall and the crazy steps. She also kept me going to all 7 towers - those first few are quite the killers, and if you can get to them and past them, the last towers aren't so bad! She also told me the tale of the Great Wall, and kept my mind off how hot it was and how sticky and sweaty I was! We made it! I was a little disappointed, though, that there weren't any little China men at the top selling bottles of water for 100 yuan (about $12 when we were there - a regularly priced bottle of water would have sold for 5-10 yuan...).