I really hope not. But we do have a chance of snow overnight tonight with a "Winter Weather Advisory" in the hills. It snowed the weekend we moved here April 24, 2009 and on May 2, 2008 Rapid City did get a blizzard. I hate to say that winter is not over yet :( Like a co-worker told me last week, "we have 4 seasons: June, July, August and Winter" SO TRUE!!
April had some good positives:
1. We reached the halfway point of deployment on April 20!!
2. I went to Chicago with two of my sister in laws for a weekend!
3. Todd turned 27
4. We "celebrated" our one year anniversary in South Dakota :)
While the weather is currently cold and windy with snow in the area we have had some great days thrown in there for a tease. One Sunday it was 70 degrees and I ran and biked and took the dogs to the park and literally did everything outside I could think of, it was so great!! It was funny this week mowing the yard for the first time and then driving to work with snow flurries the next morning. Needless to say, I'm VERY anxious for the weather to be consistently nice so that I can enjoy all my outdoor activities :)
Work is still great. I can't believe I've almost been an OT for a year! Once I reach my "year of experience" I can have students under me which is something I'm really looking forward too because I'd love to teach in an OT department at some point in life. I have to really interesting patients right now that are really challenging my skills.... and I like it :)
Todd is still busy busy flying and dropping bombs on the bad guys ;) We've been on pretty opposite schedules lately so talking has been really inconsistent and spread out which gets hard. It's also been one of those weeks where everything seems to go wrong, specifically things that I don't or can't fix. Lucky for me the guy that painted our house and finished our garage markets himself as a handyman and conveniently lives around the corner from me so he has graciously been helping me out with random things.
Yard work- specifically trees and my vegetable garden is still at the top of my "to-do" list but the weather doesn't want to cooperate with me on the weekends to get anything done. Otherwise, not doing much to the house right now. I think I need a hobby other than running and biking. Any suggestions??
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Stressful Life
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 :)
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 :)
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).
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