TravelingMel

I'm sure you remember the awesome video H and I made as an application for "The Best Job in the World". You may also remember that I sent it in 30 seconds too late and was disqualified.

H's good friend, Tollini, recently sent him this piece of news. The dude who got the job got stung by a tiny jellyfish and almost died. Not sure they can call it "The Best Job in the World" now.

The man who landed what was dubbed "the best job in the world" as the caretaker on a tropical island off Australia has been stung by a lethal jellyfish.

Briton Ben Southall, who beat 34,000 applicants to secure the position, was stung during his last week in the job.

The culprit was the peanut-sized Irukandji jellyfish, whose venomous sting can be lethal.

In his blog, which he keeps as part of his job, he describes the incident as "a little sting on the beach".

But it was his progressive symptoms of fever, headache, lower back pain, chest tightness and high blood pressure that led doctors to diagnose the sting.

"I thought I'd done particularly well at avoiding any contact with any of the dangerous critters that consider this part of the world their home," Mr Southall writes in the latest update to his online diary.

"I've avoided being boxed by a kangaroo, nibbled by a shark and bitten by a spider or a snake - but then in my final few days on Hamilton Island I fell foul of a miniscule little creature known as an Irukandji," his blog continues.

The jellyfish - which struck as he descended from a jet-ski - is virtually invisible to the naked eye and can be deadly - in 2002 two tourists died after being stung.

It is so small it can pass through the nets that protect popular swimming spots in Queensland from larger jellyfish.

But Mr Southall - who has fully recovered after a dose of antibiotics and rest - admitted that he had been inadequately dressed for the excursion.

"It's not something to be messed around with. I really should have been wearing a full stinger suit, as is recommended at all beaches here this time of year," he said.

Mr Southall, 34, a charity fundraiser from Hampshire had to undergo a gruelling selection process to get the A$150,000 ($134,000) role - including swimming, snorkelling and one-to-one interviews.

Trees and branches litter the entire town of Livingston after Monday's storm. Up and down every street the parkways are filled with brush. After most of the snow had melted, Anders and I took a little walk around the block to survey the damage.

Some of the branches from our tree. Note the trees across the street.

Eighth Street.

The sidewalk on Lewis.

Heading up Ninth Street.

A little break to play in the snow.

Mogie: Anders, will you please teach Finn to talk? I'd like to have a conversation with him.

Anders: You say "ba ba ba ba".

Today is a big day in our household. There are two special occurrences and I've been going back and forth as to which to mention first. Do you list the most important thing first, since it is, well, first? Or do you list the most important thing last since it will stick in reader's memories the longest?

An anniversary

Today is Henry and my third anniversary. Happy Anniversary H!

I am super lucky to be married to a man who is thoughtful, caring, funny, crazy smart, kind, an awesome dad, a great dog friend and devastatingly handsome. He makes me laugh, makes me think and has given our kids super cuteness. He treats Rigby as if he was his own. How did I get so lucky?

In three years we have been to Turkey, Argentina, Chile, Virginia, Maryland, D.C., California, Wyoming, Idaho and lots of spots in Montana. We've had two kids, loved two dogs and had too much fun. (It hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows, but with Henry around it seems like it has.)

I love you, Henry!

On top of the world in Bariloche, Argentina.

Honeymoon and babymoon in the Capadocia region of Turkey.

Close to home in Yellowstone.

I just realized that I am pregnant in each of these pictures. I've got to figure out what's causing that...

A birthday

Today is also sweet Rigby's 8th birthday. Rigby Idaho Coble came into my life when he was just 9 weeks old. As you may have guessed, he was born in Rigby, Idaho. We have been through a lot together and hopefully will have many years of friendship ahead of us. Even though the vet says he is a senior, I know he is, and will always be, my puppy.

So adorable you just want to kiss him right on his dog nose.

Rigby and I share a kiss...

Rigby stayed here for almost 10 minutes. That's record tolerance for sharing the bed.

Ever wondered what words you can make out of your name? You could think really hard, or check out this website that will do it for you. I chose the latter.

Melynda Coble Harrison becomes BOARISHLY CLEAN MODERN. Wow! Do they know me or what?
Henry Huntington Harrison = TRUTH 'N' NINNYISH GONORRHEA (oh boy, that's a tough one)
Anders Coble Harrison = CENSOR DIARRHEAL SNOB (Not much better than H's)
Finn Coble Harrison = FLINCHES OR ON BRAIN (what?)
Rigby Idaho Coble = BOOBILY AGED RICH
Diesel Rudyard Harrison = DREAD SLUSHIER ORDINARY

Try your name here. Then come back and tell me what you found in the comments.