Conversation between Todd and me yesterday:
Todd: What are you doing?
Me: I'm unloading the dishwasher.
Todd: I always unload the dishwasher when I'm home.
Me: Well you'll have plenty of dishes to unload when you get home.
Todd:You can't make me being gone an excuse to make me do dishes.
Me: You an't make you being gone an excuse to NOT do the dishes.
Todd: Sometimes I may need a break...from the stress.
Me: I'm fully aware that you are flying in combat but you are in no way living in a stressful environment.
Todd: Sometimes they close the pool for a whole day. I can't deal with it.
Ladies and gentlemen, your tax dollars at work :)
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Somewhere Out There
Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
Tomorrow is 7 days since I've gotten to actually talk to Todd. It's a struggle.
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
Tomorrow is 7 days since I've gotten to actually talk to Todd. It's a struggle.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
March Madness
So here we are in April already. I'd love to say that time is just flying by...but I'm not sure I feel like it is. We're not even to the half way point in deployment and that thought is sort of depressing. I'm still staying positive and keeping busy but the end of July just sill seems so far away :( I fortunately have at least a small trip to look forward too each month until Todd gets home so I have something to look forward too.
March started, as usual with my birthday. 26. Not the exciting. I celebrated the actual day with a couple of friends at Buffalo Wild Wings (YUM!) Then had another little get together with 4 friends that Saturday at Beaujo's-the amazing gluten free pizza place in Colorado that recently opened in Rapid City. Todd did a wonderful job with birthday gifts from the other side of the world! He sent me beautiful flowers to my work, managed to plan for a card to arrive on my actual birthday and got me a "wine of the month" club membership to one of our local wine shops! All in all it was a good day and I couldn't have asked for more.
Other than the usual work keeping me busy I was able to make another trip to Texas, this time for a wedding. It was a whirlwind trip that was mostly spent in a plane or a car but it was worth it. I got to spend time with my parents in Austin and I traveled to Houston for the wedding of an OT school classmate so we got to have sort of a mini reunion and I stayed the night with my best friend since childhood, Liz. It was wonderful time spent with all. Liz is pregnant with her second child and it was great seeing her, her husband and their toddler Will-he's so adorable!
As for updates on my house "to-do" list the paint is FINISHED and looks sooooo good! No more white out walls! The garage is finished and is so much warmer and looks great. When they get the spring cleaning storage stuff on sale I'd like to add more shelves in the garage and get it a little more organized but it'll do for now. I put knobs on all the cabinets in the house and they look great. And the grand finale, the carpet, gets installed next week!! I'm super excited about the carpet because we've had nice new carpet in the basement since we moved in but the upstairs has been the same old, flat, dingy, builder's grade carpet that was originally put in the house. It's going to look wonderful!
Now that its trying to get to be spring I'm looking ahead at my yard work. We wanted to plant trees in the back yard last year but never got around to it before the weather changed so I'm hoping to do that pretty soon. I've also been figuring out my vegetable garden. My tomatoes did really well last year so I'm going to do plant those again and I'm thinking some bell peppers, beans and peas. One of my patients is an expert gardener and has been giving me some tips. I'd also like to add some bushes to our front flower bed so that it doesn't look so sad in the winter. But we'll just have to see once we start getting the consistently nice weather what I get done! It snowed yesterday and it snowed the last week of April last year so I'm not getting too hopeful for the big change anytime soon. The few really nice days that we have had has just been a tease and gotten my hopes up for being outdoors again!
Coming up in April...Todd turns 27 and I'll visit Chicago with 2 of my sister in laws!!
March started, as usual with my birthday. 26. Not the exciting. I celebrated the actual day with a couple of friends at Buffalo Wild Wings (YUM!) Then had another little get together with 4 friends that Saturday at Beaujo's-the amazing gluten free pizza place in Colorado that recently opened in Rapid City. Todd did a wonderful job with birthday gifts from the other side of the world! He sent me beautiful flowers to my work, managed to plan for a card to arrive on my actual birthday and got me a "wine of the month" club membership to one of our local wine shops! All in all it was a good day and I couldn't have asked for more.
Other than the usual work keeping me busy I was able to make another trip to Texas, this time for a wedding. It was a whirlwind trip that was mostly spent in a plane or a car but it was worth it. I got to spend time with my parents in Austin and I traveled to Houston for the wedding of an OT school classmate so we got to have sort of a mini reunion and I stayed the night with my best friend since childhood, Liz. It was wonderful time spent with all. Liz is pregnant with her second child and it was great seeing her, her husband and their toddler Will-he's so adorable!
As for updates on my house "to-do" list the paint is FINISHED and looks sooooo good! No more white out walls! The garage is finished and is so much warmer and looks great. When they get the spring cleaning storage stuff on sale I'd like to add more shelves in the garage and get it a little more organized but it'll do for now. I put knobs on all the cabinets in the house and they look great. And the grand finale, the carpet, gets installed next week!! I'm super excited about the carpet because we've had nice new carpet in the basement since we moved in but the upstairs has been the same old, flat, dingy, builder's grade carpet that was originally put in the house. It's going to look wonderful!
Now that its trying to get to be spring I'm looking ahead at my yard work. We wanted to plant trees in the back yard last year but never got around to it before the weather changed so I'm hoping to do that pretty soon. I've also been figuring out my vegetable garden. My tomatoes did really well last year so I'm going to do plant those again and I'm thinking some bell peppers, beans and peas. One of my patients is an expert gardener and has been giving me some tips. I'd also like to add some bushes to our front flower bed so that it doesn't look so sad in the winter. But we'll just have to see once we start getting the consistently nice weather what I get done! It snowed yesterday and it snowed the last week of April last year so I'm not getting too hopeful for the big change anytime soon. The few really nice days that we have had has just been a tease and gotten my hopes up for being outdoors again!
Coming up in April...Todd turns 27 and I'll visit Chicago with 2 of my sister in laws!!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
February Update
Three blogs in about 2 weeks..oh my! Don't get too excited though, this one will be short. February was not all that exciting. With the exception of working, the only thing out of the ordinary that I did was fly to Texas the weekend of Valentine's Day and run the Austin Marathon and see family. It was a great weekend and the race was great. Other than that-it's still cold in South Dakota and work still keeps me busy :)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
10 Things to Love about South Dakota
Its no surprise that I hate winter in South Dakota and I do find myself complaining about it. A lot. But I have to remind myself that there really is a lot to love about this state too. Here is my top 10 list, in no particular order:
1. Mt Rushmore. It really is an impressive masterpiece.
2. Crazy Horse. Will be avery impressive masterpiece once it's finished but is also very cool to see while in the process of being completed.
3. The Badlands. Awe inspiring and breathtakingly beautiful. God did good when he made them.
4. Spearfish Canyon. It's like another world all of its own nestled within the Black Hills. Hiking to the various waterfalls is quite enjoyable.
5. Custer State Park. The Cathedral Spires, Needles, Scenic Needles highway and, of course, the free roaming buffalo are spectacular.
6. Harney Peak. You feel on top of the world. Or at least on top of the Black Hills.
7. The Corn Palace. Come on, it's made of CORN. 12 different colors!
8. Wind Cave National Park. One of the oldest National Parks and largest natural caves.
9. The Black Hills. (In general). There is a beautiful scenic drive along interstate 385 from Custer all the way to Spearfish that is winding roads, gorgeous lakes and rich evergreen trees. And they're almost majestic looking from the foothills in Rapid City.
10. Wall Drug. Need I say more?
1. Mt Rushmore. It really is an impressive masterpiece.
2. Crazy Horse. Will be avery impressive masterpiece once it's finished but is also very cool to see while in the process of being completed.
3. The Badlands. Awe inspiring and breathtakingly beautiful. God did good when he made them.
4. Spearfish Canyon. It's like another world all of its own nestled within the Black Hills. Hiking to the various waterfalls is quite enjoyable.
5. Custer State Park. The Cathedral Spires, Needles, Scenic Needles highway and, of course, the free roaming buffalo are spectacular.
6. Harney Peak. You feel on top of the world. Or at least on top of the Black Hills.
7. The Corn Palace. Come on, it's made of CORN. 12 different colors!
8. Wind Cave National Park. One of the oldest National Parks and largest natural caves.
9. The Black Hills. (In general). There is a beautiful scenic drive along interstate 385 from Custer all the way to Spearfish that is winding roads, gorgeous lakes and rich evergreen trees. And they're almost majestic looking from the foothills in Rapid City.
10. Wall Drug. Need I say more?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
An Idiots Guide to Living in South Dakota
Just a few things I've learned in the past 10 months...
1. There are only 2 seasons: Mild and Bitterly Cold. Please dress appropriately.
2. On a typical day the wind blows 30mph. During the winter (6 months out of the year) the wind blows 60+mph. Out of the north.
3. No need to buy a gym membership when you can shovel your driveway/sidewalks an hour a day 3-5 days a week.
4. It is perfectly acceptable to put "yet" or "then" at the end of a sentence. Any sentence.
5. Hockey is the only recognized religion.
6. Don't talk to the drunk Indians.
7. In case you didn't see it on the driver's licenses, licenses plates, quarter, street signs, 500 billboards, etc Mt Rushmore is in South Dakota!!
8. Winterize your sprinkler system BEFORE October 1st. (For you Southerners you have to blow the water out of your sprinkler systems and completely shut them down before winter so the pipes don't burst)
9. If it's January and 40 degrees, that's called a heat wave.
10. If you don't own a Harley or a Snowmobile you better start looking. Or find a friend that does.
11. During the winter months don't bother filling your fridge with drinks, just keep 'em out on the deck. They'll stay cold.
12. Snow Day=Blizzard. No exception.
13. Space heaters can be your best friend.
14. A "Wind Chill Warning" means that you can get frostbite if outside for more than 20 minutes.
15. MMMM...Buffalo...the other red meat
I'm sure I can add more to this one later (then).
1. There are only 2 seasons: Mild and Bitterly Cold. Please dress appropriately.
2. On a typical day the wind blows 30mph. During the winter (6 months out of the year) the wind blows 60+mph. Out of the north.
3. No need to buy a gym membership when you can shovel your driveway/sidewalks an hour a day 3-5 days a week.
4. It is perfectly acceptable to put "yet" or "then" at the end of a sentence. Any sentence.
5. Hockey is the only recognized religion.
6. Don't talk to the drunk Indians.
7. In case you didn't see it on the driver's licenses, licenses plates, quarter, street signs, 500 billboards, etc Mt Rushmore is in South Dakota!!
8. Winterize your sprinkler system BEFORE October 1st. (For you Southerners you have to blow the water out of your sprinkler systems and completely shut them down before winter so the pipes don't burst)
9. If it's January and 40 degrees, that's called a heat wave.
10. If you don't own a Harley or a Snowmobile you better start looking. Or find a friend that does.
11. During the winter months don't bother filling your fridge with drinks, just keep 'em out on the deck. They'll stay cold.
12. Snow Day=Blizzard. No exception.
13. Space heaters can be your best friend.
14. A "Wind Chill Warning" means that you can get frostbite if outside for more than 20 minutes.
15. MMMM...Buffalo...the other red meat
I'm sure I can add more to this one later (then).
Friday, February 5, 2010
January Update...only 5 days late
I'm not doing too bad at my New Years resolution to update the blog at least on a monthly basis. I'm only 5 days late :)
January was a whirl wind month! We spent New Years here in Rapid City with friends, both returned back to work and before we knew it January 17 or Deployment Day was upon us. The week of deployment was pretty stressful. Lots to do, pack and make sure we had done. Todd traveled from South Dakota to Maine to Germany to Kuait to their final destination in "Southwest Asia". It's been just about 3 weeks since he left and it's definitely taken some getting used to but I'm managing. Work keeps me busy as does marathon training, the dogs and the frequent social 'events' that the squadron organizes. Other than deployment, not a whole lot happened in January.
February brings the Austin marathon February 14 where I'll travel to Texas for 4 days to see family, hopefully a few friends and run another marathon. This one will be quite different since Todd wont be there and I've never run one completely by myself.
I'm also having 2 of my major projects that I'd like to get done while Todd is gone completed starting next week- finishing our garage and painting the inside of our house. The garage will be insulated, sheet rocked and painted which will be HUGE for the frigid winters up here! I know it's a cop-out that I'm not doing the interior painting by myself but painting is just really not something that I want to do. I have no motivation to tape, move furniture, drag out all the stuff and paint over 2,000 square feet of house from top to bottom. And I figure I work hard, we're getting some nice bonuses for deployment and tax return is headed our way so we can afford it. I'm REALLy looking forward to the non-white out looking walls we have now. The other big project that I'd like to get done is re-carpeting the upstairs but we'll see when that gets done. I'd also like to do some little things like add knobs to cabinets and change the door hardware. I think it would be nice to get our punch list of home repairs done before Todd gets home so that we can just enjoy life when he gets back.
The weather up here continues to be depressing- cold and snowy often. I've found that shoveling snow has come to be one of my least favorite chores to do and I find myself being being very jealous of my neighbors with their spiffy gas snow blowers. I think I'll write a book entitled "101 things they should tell you before moving to South Dakota". There might not be 101 things but maybe I'll blog about a few of them sometime.
Well that's all I have for January!
January was a whirl wind month! We spent New Years here in Rapid City with friends, both returned back to work and before we knew it January 17 or Deployment Day was upon us. The week of deployment was pretty stressful. Lots to do, pack and make sure we had done. Todd traveled from South Dakota to Maine to Germany to Kuait to their final destination in "Southwest Asia". It's been just about 3 weeks since he left and it's definitely taken some getting used to but I'm managing. Work keeps me busy as does marathon training, the dogs and the frequent social 'events' that the squadron organizes. Other than deployment, not a whole lot happened in January.
February brings the Austin marathon February 14 where I'll travel to Texas for 4 days to see family, hopefully a few friends and run another marathon. This one will be quite different since Todd wont be there and I've never run one completely by myself.
I'm also having 2 of my major projects that I'd like to get done while Todd is gone completed starting next week- finishing our garage and painting the inside of our house. The garage will be insulated, sheet rocked and painted which will be HUGE for the frigid winters up here! I know it's a cop-out that I'm not doing the interior painting by myself but painting is just really not something that I want to do. I have no motivation to tape, move furniture, drag out all the stuff and paint over 2,000 square feet of house from top to bottom. And I figure I work hard, we're getting some nice bonuses for deployment and tax return is headed our way so we can afford it. I'm REALLy looking forward to the non-white out looking walls we have now. The other big project that I'd like to get done is re-carpeting the upstairs but we'll see when that gets done. I'd also like to do some little things like add knobs to cabinets and change the door hardware. I think it would be nice to get our punch list of home repairs done before Todd gets home so that we can just enjoy life when he gets back.
The weather up here continues to be depressing- cold and snowy often. I've found that shoveling snow has come to be one of my least favorite chores to do and I find myself being being very jealous of my neighbors with their spiffy gas snow blowers. I think I'll write a book entitled "101 things they should tell you before moving to South Dakota". There might not be 101 things but maybe I'll blog about a few of them sometime.
Well that's all I have for January!
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