Cassie seeking...

Thievery.

2012-01-03T19:46:00.004-06:00

So apparently there is a rash of thievery occurring. People have been breaking into storage units over the past couple of nights between here and Salina. I read about the Salina break-ins here: Salina Storage Unit Break-ins, but was completely unaware that it had spread to Abilene until Rod, who hangs out with farmers, cops, retirees and outlaws, let me know that one of the Sheriffs told him that 3 storage facilities had been broken into in Abilene. Have I heard anything from our local news outlet? No. I'm not sure it even printed in our local newspaper and definitely won't be shared online until it is common knowledge.

Good news - all of our units and locks are intact and appear to be unharmed. (According to Rod - this is because we live on a bad side of town... thieves are scared. I say - it's because we live on the South side of the tracks, everyone knows there's nothing worth stealing down here. Regardless.)

Other possible good news... I would think it would be really fairly easy to get a online Abilene news site going... wheels are turning. Probably won't go anywhere, but spinning nonetheless.

Thievery.

2012-01-03T19:46:00.003-06:00

Other possible good news... I would think it would be really fairly easy to get a online Abilene news site going... wheels are turning. Probably won't go anywhere, but spinning nonetheless.

Back again? Re-back?

2012-01-02T20:20:00.002-06:00

So, I bet I know what you are thinking... time for the quarterly update. Time for the check-in along with the promise to blog more. But really - here I am... for the update...and I promise to blog more.

Promise.

Let's start by looking back - this year has been pretty good really. I can't complain too much. I've gotten to visit with Mike and Tara, Erikka and the girls, I've gotten to spend a lot of great time with Cari, Nate and Skylar, Todd's parents, got to meet Todd's sister Stacy and his nephews, even Aunt Cin, Uncle Kirk and my cousins. Family time has been abundant. Todd and I didn't burn anything that isn't meant to be burned. Dogs, bunnies and kitty are happy and healthy. We did lose one cat - Potsy - but I like to think he was just picked up by someone who thought he was a stray and loves cats. I haven't seen any evidence to the contrary. Jobs (both mine and Todd's) are on the upswing (maybe... I mean - they aren't ideal yet, but hey! I'm not the receptionist!) I bought a gun! I know, right... but while I have shot it several times, I haven't actual killed anything with it (although there is a bird out there with strong feelings of hate towards me.) I got to spend a lot of time outside... between fishing, 'hunting' and hanging laundry, I mean, I was a regular Paul Bunyan. You can bet that guy had to hang a lot of laundry.

Now 2012... I have really big plans. I mean, huge. I am really hopeful that they all come true and that they are a wise choice. I know my intentions are in the right place. And I know what they say about intentions, but I hope that they are wrong. Things to look for: My 'flock' to grow (hopefully in several ways), me coming to a city near you, and hopefully more corporate ladder climbing. Stay tuned...

here we are

2011-08-21T17:14:00.002-05:00

Months later...

And soon little baby girl (or possibly boy) Skylar Jade will be here! It's amazing at the things that are changing, between the new niece and Mom and Dad's complete lifestyle change as Dad starts his new job, things feel a little crazy.

I am enjoying my new hobby and pretty much every week I am canning something. This winter, Todd and I will have fresh summer salsa, pickled beets (YUMMMM), dill pickles, zucchini relish and strawberry jam to enjoy. (I wonder if winter is easier to get through if you get to eat delicious summer vegetables?) And I'm not done yet. I am patiently waiting for Rod's pears to be ready for picking and then hold on to your hats, we'll have pear crunch, pear butter, pear sauce, pear jam... we'll probably have pear coming out of our pores.

The reasons I like this hobby is pretty basic really, but I think it's intrinsic to my personality to try new things to see if I can do it. (Can we say "idiot boots"?) I also think that, although there is money involved, I am creating something completely practical and useful. Plus the adoration! Oh, my goodness! You give someone a jar of homemade strawberry jam and you would think you gave them your first born!

Love and strawberry jam to you all!

My two faces

2011-03-25T11:40:00.002-06:00

So I think (I hope) we all have at least 2 faces. I definitely do. I don't have secrets (well, I do... but they won't be revealed on the interwebs anytime soon, I hope.) But I do have facets I keep hidden. Mostly out of fear and societal pressures. I have a stong fear of judgement - from potential in-laws (not you Tara - but Todd's parents). After the debacle with Hricko's parents, I feel like it's too easy to hate me if you don't agree or appreciate my facets. Or fear of judgement from people who barely know me but are Facebook 'friends'. I shouldn't care. But I don't want people to think they have a full picture of me based on one status or silly statement. It wouldn't be the first time it happened. Anyway - here are some of my hidden 'things' facets or things I want to share but don't.

Sometimes, when I sit down on 'strange' toilets I feel like they are too short, and then I think I'm a giant. And I so gradually became a giant, that even I didn't notice. And then I think don't ever tell anyone this.

Sometimes, when I see someone with a cast I want to punch them or push them over, just to see if it would hurt. And sometimes I want to do it to cast an air of intimidation.

Sometimes I hear a song lyric and I want to spread the word about the great song. Even if it doesn't really represent my mood or even the music that I typically like.

Sometimes, I have very childish urges - like the great idea to pull the fire alarm. I would never act on them, but then I think - what if I thought about it so much I accidentally did it.

I also have the tendency to have day-mares. It's like daydreams, but I will think of something bad and then I will think of all the outcomes and when I find the worst, then I will imagine my response, then the next bad thing will happen, then my reaction and so on. I can spend hours playing this game.

When I try to do something, and I fail or am in the process of failing or look back and think I failed, I want to give up. I don't think I quit easily but I think I get frustrated easily.

I have trust issues.

I think that's all I want to share for now. Feel free to respond with some of your craziness.

life and death

2011-03-04T23:46:00.002-06:00

So that's a heavy title.

The good of this week has been really good. Mom and Dad are home. Everything seems to make more sense when they are around. My bunny Loco had 6 healthy babies and is taking great care of them. I had a real fear that some babies would be born unhealthy and the humane thing to do is to .... I'm trying to think of the right word...I guess euthanize is the right word if they are born malformed. You see, the ones that are not formed correctly will still drink mama's milk, but they are not going to live. So then the others would not be as strong. Anyway - the good news is I didn't need to even worry about that. She made some great babies and she is doing a great job as a mom. Todd got a job this week. A huge great thing. It stinks a little because for the first time in our relationship, our time is constrained by scheduling, but we have to make it work until something changes.

The death part of this blog is both sad and scary. Two weeks ago, LJ's grandpa died. He was old and not well - had suffered with Alzheimer's since we were in college. So it wasn't a shock, but is still sad. This week Kate's (another friend from high school that I stay in touch with) dad died. Suddenly. He was born in 1949. Makes him 61 right? Yes. (I'm bad at 'years' math.) I feel so sad for Kate and LJ. LJ's grandpa dying reminded me of when Grandpa Jerry died. The sickness was sudden .. or seemed sudden to me, so it's not alike in that way, but I ... just can really put myself back in that time. Then Kate's dad. Well, I can't understand that. I just know that it is scary that one of my friends, someone I have spent probably literally thousands of hours with had to bury her parent. I know that moms and dads die all the time. I understand that car accidents happen and planes crash and people get sick. But to die suddenly? A mom or dad of someone my age? I just re-read that and I sound rediculous. I know that people of my parent's age die all the time. I guess it just really made me consider my own family's mortality and my age in a more unflattering light. I don't like to think about these things.

Love you all.

What a week!

2011-02-19T11:17:00.002-06:00

I've been so busy! Day job - check, campground on Friday - check, My taxes - check, Cari's taxes - check, working on a friend's computer - check(well, this one is still in progress - but it counts!) And FISHING! No catching, but happy to be out there in the sun, pretending all this winter ugliness is over. I do sometimes wonder if something is wrong with me... I mean, more than the obvious. I feel so much better when it's sunny and warm, I'm more easy-going and agreeable, more patient, more understanding. So I turn to my old friend Google:

According to Mayo Clinic:

Fall and winter seasonal affective disorder (winter depression)
Winter-onset seasonal affective disorder symptoms include:

Depression
Hopelessness
Anxiety
Loss of energy
Social withdrawal
Oversleeping
Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
Weight gain
Difficulty concentrating and processing information

Hmm. I don't think I am actually 'depressed' when it's winter... all I am 'hoping' for is Spring. I'm 'anxious' for warmer weather. I lack the 'energy' to do anything but dream. All the cool 'social' activities require better weather. Might as well go back to 'sleep' until spring. How could you 'enjoy the spring activities' in this frigid weather? I always 'crave carbohydrates'. Look...aren't we all 'gaining a little weight'?...What were we talking about, I can't 'concentrate'.

Crap.

Going once, going twice... SOLD!

2011-02-12T15:29:00.002-06:00

I went to a "Storage Wars"-style auction today with Rod... it was cold, cold, cold, but interesting and fun. If you haven't seen the show, it's about people who own storage units are auctioning off units that are in default. I find the show interesting for several reasons:

1) I think other people's stuff is interesting - I love going through storage units that are in default. Even though it's usually junk that gets trashed or donated, it's still interesting to see what people thought was worth saving - and paying to save (which is usually the most mind-boggling part).

2) I like reality TV - I know that that's not 'cool', but I really think it's more about other people's thought processes and dramas. It's nice to watch it, laugh about it and, yes, even think about it. And yet... not to be involved with it or have any impact on my life from it. Very tempting to me.

3) Ah, the old gold prospector. If you've followed this blog or ever seen me (ever) you know I am poor. The idea that these people can pay $600 or $700 for a unit and literally turn it around into $10,000 plus ... amazing. Just makes me dream that someday I will fall into money without any real effort.

4) Education - being involved in these storage units, it doesn't hurt to see some of the things that other people are able to sell for big money (but our storage units are usually whammies).

Anyway, today's trip to Salina's storage auctions really wasn't all that exciting. They open the door and you are allowed to look, but you can't go in or touch - then the auction begins. The most exciting things were a wheelbarrow (I didn't realize how much I want a wheelbarrow until this morning...) and a tankless water heater. Rod bid it up to $300 but without being able to look at it, couldn't tell if it was wort anything. That unit went for $370. I was actually a little disappointed by the auction because the show has me spoiled for seeing the full story from bid to new-found treasure to a sale and I have no idea if those people were buying to turn a profit or because they just wanted the stuff they could see. There was a large turn-out and most of the people were having side conversations about the show. It's kind of amazing the impact that TV can have on a ... well, I can't think of the right word.... situation. In the past, I would bet at 9:00 Saturday morning at 27 degrees... well, I would bet the turnout would've been small. But... today, under those circumstances, there was probably 40 people.... hoping to find gold in an old box.

Tata.

It all started with a spark...

2010-11-13T15:41:00.001-06:00

Or at least I assume it did. Almost a week ago, the house caught on fire. Here is my account of the situation:

I woke up to Todd making quite a ruckus with the blankets. I saw him and said "What's going on?" He replied, not calmly, that there was a fire and I needed to get water. That's when I noticed the fire at the end of the bed. I really honestly believe that I never saw it, heard it or smelled it before that. So I flew to the bathroom (I am assuming flight, because I have no memory of feet touching the ground.) I grabbed the trashcan, dumped the trashcan on the floor and tried to fill it up - I had a little bit of difficulty because I was still sleeping, technically and my shower includes a home built mechanism. When I finally did get it working, the water seemed pitifully slow. I ran the trashcan and threw the water on the fire. By now the fire is about the width of the bed and twice as high I would guess. I looked at Todd and he was dripping sweat. He has been trying to smother the fire with blankets from the beginning so I don't know why this comes as such a surprise to me. I yelled at him to call 911 and ran back for more water. When I came back I realized we really are not making progress. I more insistently told him to call 911 - we are giving up. I then went downstairs where the dogs are sleeping and get them outside and start to gather the cats. By the time I get the cats out, the dogs are back in and on the couch looking at me like I am an absolute nutjob. I get them locked out in the fenced area and follow Todd outside who is by that time on the phone with 911. I then realize I was sleeping in a short t-shirt and run back into the house to the laundry room to grab pants (I was soon wishing I had also grabbed shoes and socks for both of us. It was very chilly - hence the electric blanket.) Soon the firemen were there and they were doing that voodoo that they do so well.

Lessons learned:
Insurance is a pain in the neck... but when you need it, it sure does make things feel less desperate. We didn't have content insurance, but knowing that in a couple of weeks we will be back in the house, with a new floor and dry walls and ceiling... it is all gonna be ok. The stuff inside was either able to be washed and repaired, was extra stuff anyway or will be replaced with a little time.

I should always know where my purse is - I should always put it in the exact same spot... and maybe my laptop should also be put away in a carrier bag? But definitely know where your purse/wallet/cell phone is in the case of emergencies.

Also know where your pants are... and maybe keep them close to your bed.

Backup your hard drive. One of the things lost was Todd's laptop... the pictures will be replaced because most of them were emailed to him by his family in the first place anyways... but a back up would be nice.

When you are throwing water on a fire, don't panic so much that you don't aim. Apparently Todd wasn't sweating that bad - the 1st bucket of water went straight into his face.

Be able to laugh. The jokes about our bedroom being a hot place, him/me being so hot the bed catches on fire, friction jokes, my inability to aim and stay calm.... all of these things have definitely helped keep me sane (or relatively less crazy than a psychopath.)

Help from your friends and family can't be taken for granted. If I have to go through this - this is how I want it to happen. Mom and Dad have done so much for us - I can't even begin to list. Todd's mom and dad and family has been a huge help too - having you guys out there to care... just knowing that when I publish this blog or when I shared the pictures - there would be so many people concerned about us. I can't tell you how important that is. So grab the pictures? Grab your laptop? Maybe - those things are important AND hard to replace. But way more important that that - know who you can call that can help you by listening, negotiating the insurance path and smelling all your clothes. And grab your pants and aim the water, doofus.

Love you all - happy to be here to post a blog. seriously - I love you.

Last year at around Christmas time...

2010-10-08T14:02:00.001-05:00

So last year, at Sarah's birthday visit in Gainesville, Steve made us some amazing prime rib...and broccoli... and just all around an amazing dinner. I crave just that dinner right now actually thinking of this. After I am done writing this insanely late blog, I am going to try (and fail) to comfort myself with a lunchmeat sandwich.

Dear Steve,

Once you made prime rib that has since ruined me for nearly any other food. I eat only to survive now. Occasionally, I eat something that I have cooked and try to pretend that it's as good as your prime rib. Only if I am drunk do I succeed.

Thanks for the blessing and the curse you gave us last Christmas.
Cassie

Potential progress

2010-08-21T10:52:00.003-05:00

Time for a progress report:

Health
• Physical activity every day: So-so. I have been walking 2 miles at work every work day - and then usually doing something every day, but there has been a few days that I have been pretty lazy. But I think overall- B+.
• More Salads, less breads. C-. I have the stuff for salad - today I will be eating salad. Yesterday I ate half a loaf of bread.
• Cut out coke- 1 a week. A. :)
Overall Health goals met: B

Money
• Take back control starting next bank statement: Restarted my check book with a clean slate today with the arrival of the bank statement. A
• start a travel account: In my defense I literally have no extra money. I got paid on Tuesday and before that deposit I had $2.77 in my account. F
• I need to focus on my student loans: Well... not paying any extra... and haven't done some paperwork I need to do. C-
Overall Finances: D. yuck.

Career
• Get back in the game: I have applied for about 5 jobs in the past 2 weeks. I feel like I'm doing almost all I can in that department. A-
Overall: A

House issues:
• I need to finish my projects: Haven't continued any of the projects I've started. F
• I also need to be better about chores: I think I'm actually doing pretty good on this one. B+
Overall House: C-

ADVENTURE section (This is my second favorite!)
• I want to be a ‘Yes’-girl: I think I'm pretty much game for anything I can afford :) B+
• Start doing things from that bucket list! Skydive? Bungee? Eskimo kiss?: I did do some eskimo kissing... C
Adventure overall: B-.

Personal and family goals
• I want to blog, email, call and basically communicate more in general: I feel like I am doing better - 3 blogs, 0 emails, 1 call to Molly, 1 call to Mike. Attending family night, visiting Grandma in the hospital. I'm gonna say.. A-
• I want to rekindle my hobbies. I have had a very busy week, but I've managed to do some hobbies: walking, reading, cupcakes, and I put my bunnies together today for several hours (babies?!) I give myself an A.
Overall: A

So some areas need a little more attention, but I am proud of the efforts :)

Love to all!

cuppy cakes!

2010-08-14T12:00:00.001-05:00

So we have family night every Friday night (most of you know this because you are there!). Anyway this weekend Todd and I made adorable bowling alley cupcakes. To me they weren't delicious - too sweet! But the again I had to eat my ridiculously frosted one so maybe the others were better. Anyway - pictures to follow. In other news, progress made - the house is clean and I'm keeping it that way. That makes Baby happy - she hasn't has to wear the muzzle in a couple days now because there is nothing to chew up.

Still failing in the bread and money departments.

These are fish bowl cupcakes that we make for one of Todd's best friend's mom.

The front one is my ridiculous pin.

These were inspired by Hello, Cupcake and Laura Judy. There are bound to be more - hopefully improved cupcakes in the future because that book is absolutely adorable!

Goals and shit.

2010-08-10T23:59:00.002-05:00

Ok so I’m sitting at work – and I’m blogging. Not really. What I’m really doing is just typing – later I will put it on the blog, but I can’t log into the blog here. Not unless I want the bosses to potentially read it. This wouldn’t necessarily be terribly bad, except that later I talk about quiting my job. That’s right; I already know where this blog is going. I’ve had it planned for weeks, and my lazy bum has just now figured out a way to fit this into my oh-so-busy schedule. I definitely hope you can see the sarcasm there. In reality, I’ve been working, hanging out with Todd and doing the bare minimum of anything else.

(Why do they make the plastic and aluminum covering on yogurt and fruit cups adhere sooo tightly that you squirt the juice on yourself when you open it? For convenience food, it’s definitely not very convenient. I’m gonna send that Dyson guy a letter and see if he’s done with the vacuum cleaner and fan and can help the Dole with this problem.)

So I said I’ve been planning this blog weeks in advance and I have… in fact, I wrote up an outline! (Cassie is so OCD… how OCD is she, you ask? Well, this morning – she hung her laundry on the line… so far so good…. and tried to group similar colors together! OCD.) So here it is … my last blog promised goals or choices or a bucket list tone. I think I’ve accomplished all these.

First, now that I’m 30(!) I have to take better care of my health.
• Physical activity every day. Even fishing counts or doing chores (Ah! 2 birds, meet my 1 stone!) It doesn’t have to be P90X, although… I did buy all those DVDs…
• More Salads, less breads. Ouch, that hurts to even say. This morning I had toast, bread at lunch and you can be guaranteed that this girl is gonna eat bread when she gets off work. This may be the hardest goal. I need to learn how to make truly delicious salads, like Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion!
• Cut out coke- 1 a week. I’ve already pretty much accomplished this – I’ve been drinking lots of tea, since caffeine isn’t the problem, it’s the sugar. I love you almost as much as bread, Coke.

Second goal is equally serious – my finances.
• Yuck. First I have to admit that I have lost control. I don’t do paperwork, I don’t balance my checkbook, I don’t write anything done. The truth is I don’t want to know. I have to get over that….starting next bank statement.
• One great idea I got when I was thinking about my finances was a travel account. I want to save and save – and probably use my tax refunds to start a travel account and I want to spend it all every year. (See ADVENTURE section)
• I need to focus on my student loans. I say that when I am in a job with little to no discretionary income and I still want to have some fun.

This brings us to 3rd goal: career.
• Is it time to get back in the game? I say this with a question mark. I have been working, but they have been jobs that I could get with a high school diploma. And I’m not trying to sound the least bit snobbish…but… (toot, toot) I have a lot more education to use (and pay off). If I don’t get back in the game, what will I do? I guess (toot, toot, toot) I think I’m pretty smart and personable and probably need to find a job that is more – more than just a job? Maybe. Definitely more that what I have now. I’ve applied for a couple of jobs in Manhattan, KS. I am hopeful.
• If I’m not going to go corporate, I need to figure something out. All I’m doing right now, both financial and professionally, is slowly drowning. I make it month to month barely. Ugh. This is unpleasant to think about and even more unpleasant to admit. Don’t judge me too harshly.

Goals pertaining to the home:
• I need to finish my projects. Do you know that the bathroom floor is only 90% scraped because it got hard? Well, I’m not going to finish it right now because it’s too hot. But I really should someday.
• I also need to be better about chores. If I do just one chore a day, or part of a chore even, then there wouldn’t be a Hell day after two weeks of avoiding anything even resembling a chore. (Mom, I know you’ve been telling me that for years, but please don’t rub it in!)

ADVENTURE section (This is my second favorite!)
• I want to be a ‘Yes’-girl… to a degree. I want to do almost anything I can do. I wish I could’ve been a Warrior Dasher.
• Start doing things from that bucket list! Skydive? Bungee? Eskimo kiss?
Almost anything is possible (if I get off the couch, eat more salads and start that travel fund.) I know one thing for sure – both hammocks have been lost to poor maintenance and weather. I need to replace my hammock. (Although… then that’s one more thing I have to get off of before the ADVENTURE begins!)

Personal and family goals are, by far, my most important.
• I want to blog, email, call and basically communicate more in general. I hardly ever actually speak to you guys in Georgia or any friends in Colorado. Everything has been boiled down to Facebook. That’s one reason why I wanted to get back to blogging. Even though it’s one extra step to tell a story – I can tell the full story, not just “What’s on my mind?”
• I want to rekindle my hobbies. I want to practice guitar. I know I will never be
great, but it’s cool and relaxing. Making cards, walking my dogs, camping, going to the lake. Make my bunnies make babies, dammit! I really enjoy all these things and I get bogged down, or stuck on the couch and I don’t do them. I don’t have to do them all everyday or even every week. But wouldn’t it be nice to get a homemade card from me?  Everyone loves mail!

I guess that’s it. Ha. I feel like I’m 30, I should have my life in more order. I don’t have a lousy boyfriend or husband holding me back. I have a great support structure right now… I have to be brave. So now you’ve seen my goals. Help hold me to them. Haven’t heard from me in awhile? Drop me a real live email. Have an adventure? Ask me and see if I don’t join ya. Want to pay off my student loans? Feel free.

Love.

PS. Just reread this blog. More overwhelmed than ever. Should’ve left it in outline form. Can’t wait to go home, eat bread and lay on the couch.

20's Retrospective

2010-07-25T00:14:00.001-05:00

So I'm officially 30. Can't beat around that anymore - but here's the thing - I'm actually kind of excited. I wasn't looking forward to the actual turning of the calendar page and considering I'm dating someone now 8 years younger than me I had to take a little shit today. But my thirties! It's almost like moving to a new city! I can ignore all those silly things I did in my 20's (wedding? South Korea? poor choices in general?) and say "Ah, I was sooo young!" And smile at how cute my poor choices were. And pretend to myself that I am obviously making much wiser decisions. Obviously.

So that being said - I am going to make some goals. Nothing crazy. Nothing toooo "New-Year's-Resolution-y" but something to keep from being that 60-year-old woman that clearly learned nothing from her silly 20s. Hopefully I will not only have the guts to tell you at least some of the goals, but also to keep you up to date with the carrying out of said goals.

um... hi... miss me?

2010-07-17T17:19:00.002-05:00

So today I was reading old entries. Wow. I really missed 'talking' to you. All of you readers are on Facebook, so you kinda know what's going on with me. But it's just not as conversational. I'm thinking I will try to get back into this - maybe it will just last a month (but what a month it will be!) or maybe I will get back into the swing of it and it will last longer. I don't have the campground to rely on - so there will probably be less adventures and the adventures I do share will probably be a lot more mundane.

I'm going to be egotistical for a minute here - when I used to re-read my blogs immediately after writing them, I didn't really see the appeal. I did them mainly for you guys to keep up with me and thought they really weren't that entertaining. I only re-read 7 or 8 of them, but I was laughing. I really am a pretty entertaining writer if I do say so myself.

Anyway, this month is a good month to share stories because I am turning 30 in 7 days. Good time to be a little introspective.

Please to enjoy.

Did the Mud Run today!

2009-08-22T20:33:00.006-05:00

What is a mud run you ask?

Well - basically all the rednecks in the county that have the guts drive their redneckmobiles up to Abilene and drive it through a giant muddy hole as fast and as loudly as they can. I think it's all very fun - but don't really want to do it in front of people. So, this redneck waited until the competitive fun was over and then talked her mom into driving the redneckmobile to the hole and playing.... the pictures and videos show the rest.

This was actually really disappointing - I should've taken another picture because after the second run, there was a lot more mud!

And one more?

2009-08-10T21:08:00.010-05:00

We had another really good storm today. We were unfortunately very lucky. Literally about two miles away, the winds and rain were way worse. We had some limbs down, but none that could benefit us. (Hence the "unfortunately very lucky".) I got pictures... pretty amazing - all of this damage is straight winds.. no tornado today.

We drove over this in the Xterra - cuz I'm a bad ass.

The wind pushed the top of this electrical pole off.. and then the wires caught on the stub. Cool, huh?

Roof taken straight off.

Big bad trees. Big dead trees as of today.

Several poles were taken down.

I know this picture just looks like grass to most of you. But it's actually a field of soybeans. Or Alfalfa... I can't remember which and the leaves have all been ripped off by the wind.

This one still has most of it's leaves, but if you look at it bigger you can see how the wind has pushed it all over.

Again... very cool.

In other news... I quit that one job.. and now I have a new, new one. I'm a receptionist at a car dealer. Lots and lots better. Even if I do have to wear pants.

well, I'm out of training

2009-07-21T15:06:00.001-05:00

... and sorta working today...

Oh, and we got 3 inches of rain last night! I got a rain gauge from a friend. I love it!

As the storm blows around me...

2009-07-20T21:08:00.003-05:00

I actually AM in a thunderstorm right now. Nothing massive but I heard it's hailing out a friend's house. I've gathered up the dog leashes and a couple bottles of water just in case. I'm sure it will just be rain, but you never know.

My brother and Tara did get engaged! I'm so excited and happy for both of them... and can't wait to see them in person to tell them. And give them both huge, teary hugs.

The campground is really struggling. We can't decide what to do or know what we can do. Last night, I had a brilliant idea. Well, brilliant for me. Start a pig farm! Start small - 2 mamas, which would likely = at least 14 babies eventually. I did a ton of internet research and picked the brains (ok, I think thats hail) of some experts and rain the numbers in a spreadsheet last night. That's right, I've got my master's, ya know. Well, I am guessing that we could make about $260 + 1/2 pig worth of pork in the 1st year. Not great numbers. The next year, if we kept 1 girl pig out of the litters, we could probably make about $1000 + 1/2 pig meat. Now we're starting to talk. 3rd year, we'd probably lose again, because now we need more space = more land, bigger fence. Anyway, basically I decided as much fun as it would be to be a pig farmer (and there is absolutely no sarcasm in that) it wouldn't save the campground (farm), so not this year.... but stay in touch.. there's no telling. I leave you with this photo:

From Gracie's point of view: Snack Time!
From Ashes point of view: Oh, shit!

SO much time has passed.

2009-07-01T13:46:00.001-05:00

I'm sorry

When a certain amount of time has passed (or a certain number of stories to tell have accumulated) I feel overwhelmed with all I need to say and so... I say nothing.

I've closed the daycare. There were a lot of reasons, but the two biggest were collecting $$ from people who don't think they have to pay for daycare and have a partner who shows up late 3 days a week, I couldn't do it anymore. I was getting up at 5:30 everyday and for the most part dealing with fantastic kids and lousy adults. I've felt that way most of my life, but this re-affirmed it. Kids are cool, grown-ups are not.

I start a new job today at Alpine Access - - just over the computer/phone customer service, so I still get to be a hermit. Mom is back until November-ish, to run the campground, since (I guess b/c of the economy) the campground can't afford to pay me, and I can't afford to not get paid. Sucks.

Been swimming (actually just got out about an hour ago) and mowing and doing stuff.

I really am going to try to get back into the habit of blogging, even if for no other reason than I like to re-read them. I have time, it's just a matter of doing it.

Anyway... love to all, sorry for the hiatus, and in theory, we shall blog again in a few days!

What a difference a week makes

2009-04-19T17:05:00.001-05:00

So this time last week, I still had 3 jobs and only one helper. Now I am down to 2 and 2 helpers! I feel almost like I am normal! Jenny and I run the daycare together and Mom came into town this weekend to help with the campground (mostly outside help - she wants to work on her tan tooo) until July! I have gotten more done in my personal jobs in the last 4 days than I have in the past 4 months! Thank God for April 16th!

Pig Varietals

2009-04-07T21:32:00.004-05:00

Kyler got his pig for the 4-H show that happens in August. He has to get one more - because apparently pigs are like me...and if they don't have a peer to distract them, they may just run away. He got a York. Polands are my favorite because they have socks.

Pig Tutorship to follow.

York:

Hamp:

Poland:

Duroc:

Guinea:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Dessert:

Om Na Mah Shi Va Ya.

2009-03-25T18:37:00.002-06:00

Om Namah Shivaya.

I haven't blogged in over a month. And even then, it was one of dad's updates from Philly. So much to say.

In the past month, I have:

Worked... but not as much as I should have.

Visited Atlanta. I loved it - I got to see almost everyone, including a visit with Elton John and Billy Joel. Elton and Billy were looking and sounding great as usual. I was a little surprised when I learned that Elton had given up caffeine, but they both seemed like they were doing very well.

Read... a lot. Right now I am reading Eat, Pray, Love. We can credit that book with the title of this particular entry which is one of the author's mantras. It means "I honor the divinity that resides within me." I know it's touchy-feely and new-age-y, but I like it. And I like the idea that everything good and divine is here... I am "Cassie seeking... " but maybe I am looking in the wrong places? I am really being cheesy and too sensitive today. I should've (or should I ?) read this book immediately after my divorce. I see the things she thinks about herself and is going through and think...she is me. But she should be writing this blog. You guys were all great before, during and after the divorce and break-down... but I did feel pretty alone in my understanding that I was the cause - I failed at something. To hear (read) this amazing woman in Eat, Pray, Love blamed herself... and to see her forgive herself and really stop blaming herself (not just saying she doesn't blame herself)... well, it sounds good to me. :) I've been reading so much because as a bonus, the tax shop gave me a Kindle 2, which I've named BOB. The kindle is an amazing, amazing invention. I bought a bigger purse to carry Bob with me everywhere I go. This past weekend, I literally pulled Bob out in a bar and read. This trip to Atlanta was even more fantastic thanks to Bob. I carried him on ... and was never bored. My flight from Atlanta to Wichita was delayed... I didn't care.

Missed watching Kyler in Rodeo School. That's right - rodeo school. I was working. He rode a bull for about 7 seconds with no hands. I have a video... I have to get it on Youtube.

Gotten the daycare into full swing. We still only have 2 kids, but I had to battle the city a little. I spoke at a city council meeting... twice. We are now approved and licensed and actually - getting the 1st daycarte paychecks this weekend. They are paltry... but ... getting a paycheck feels pretty durn good.

Made an offer on a house... sort of. We called a realtor because with the stimulus package.. it seems like this is a good year to buy. But the realtor has not called us back in the past week... so annoying. We are going to get a new realtor. It's a little outside of town - but not far - like 1/2 a mile and has 3 acres. Plenty of room for horses, pigs, goats, dogs, humans, chickens...

Seen baby chickens born (or hatched as they say in the city). At least 20 chicks came all at the same time and I helped with the hatching...which mostly involved just picking up broken shells...I am very important.

Bought eyeliner. Someday I should grow up and be an adult. I think eyeliner is required in the inventory. I have used it once. Maybe next month I will be an adult.

Have not blogged. And I'm really sorry about that. I am having this internal struggle. I am busy - and I work a lot. But I find time to go out too. And that makes me feel guilty. And blogging feels like something extra. I have always been very good about completely immersing myself when I am reading. I am in the book (or Bob in this case). But most anything else I do for relaxing... I am usually in the back of my head "...Cassie... get to work..." so...if I blog and show and admit how much I've been just thinking about working, instead of actually doing it... well, I will be even harder on myself tomorrow. Which brings me to our closing mantra, also from Eat, Pray, Love: bar far niente. This isn't actually a mantra, just Italian, but it means, "the beauty of doing nothing". I need to learn to experience bar far niente. I do nothing all the time, but the whole time I'm doing it, I'm beating myself up. I need to experience the beauty of it... and deal with all the crap tomorrow. :)

Dad's last words (really just an email from Mom)

2009-02-22T22:14:00.003-06:00

This is probably my last guest blog for awhile...at least until 1 of you travels! I just got a summary email from Mom that I think is very clever and wraps up dad's trip very nicely...

His plane left Manilla 2 minutes early at 9:58PM Manilla time. That is 6:58AM Arizona which is the same time as Colorado right now. He'll land in Los Angeles around 6:30PM tonight CA time. Which will be 7:30PM AZ time. He has a 4 hour layover in LA which will get him into AZ around 1AM tomorrow morning after a 95 minute flight. Now you know why I sound confused all the time. Allowing three hours to check in and get thru security and immigration was overkill... he said, "Been awake nearly 24 hours now. Immigration and security was super fast. Been sitting here for 2 hours. Seat will not be as nice. I will be in 16A." Not sure what it finally cost him to leave the Phillipines, but he had heard that he would have to pay 650 pesos to get thru immigration. The pix is the upper deck of the plane - I crudely marked his seat with the red arrow. Sorry to those of you who are colorblind. Just look for the squiggley funny colored line on the right hand side of the picture. Sorry to those who are directionally impaired - I just hope you are not colorblind too. If you are then maybe this will help - he's up there on that side of the plane by the window. If that doesn't help then nevermind. And that folks is the end of the presentation at this time.
Love, Caron

So jealous that he got to be on the upper deck!

Ok - this is not an update -

2009-02-19T21:55:00.003-06:00

This should've been blogged about long ago - I think two weekends ago. I was hard, hard at work on strangers' taxes and Tommy and the boys were making me jealous. Not only was it a balmy 70 degrees outside, but they were going bullriding. I KNOW! A guy here in town raises buckin' bulls for the rodeos and Kyler is bound and determined that he is going to join the circuit (circus?) one day. So the guy who raises them invited Tommy, the boys and a bunch of other people to exercise some of the bulls after a long winter. The bull the young kids were riding is actually a pet and doesn't buck, but I'm pretty sure it made Kyler's week (he's wearing the chaps). Slayde was pretty excited about it too... I just wish I could've been there instead of just looking at the pictures. I'da been up there - you can bet on that. They say Tommy was riding... but oddly no pictures of evidence... suspicious, indeed.

Enjoy!
xBullriders extrordanaire

Daycare open for business - half run by very tired lady.

2009-02-16T18:54:00.001-06:00

Well the daycare opened today - at 5:30! Do you know how much I wish I was kidding?? I took a sleeping pill last night around 8:30 ish so I could fall asleep and get enough sleep to get up at that time - thinking well the kid will sleep when he is dropped off. Not so much - got some sleep the kid was dropped off at 5:30 - and refused to sleep. We did watch Spongebob Squarepants and I admit I dozed, but every commercial, he would lose interest and look to me (OF all people!) for entertainment. Luckily Jenny came at 9:30 and relieved me - and I didn't have to work at taxes until 12, so I ran home and closed my eyes for a couple of hours. So I did ok - but I will sleep good tonight. Tomorrow no kids are being dropped off, I have to do taxes at 9, but I will sleep until 8:00. Soundly.

We still have some hoops to jump through for the city, including a hearing (!), but for at least the next 60 days the daycare is licensed and permitted. Right now we have 3 kids signed up - plus Jenny's baby. So things are a little slow, but we expect to things will fill up as the word spreads that we are open.

Sarah's movie -

2009-02-10T12:36:00.004-06:00

Usually I think that being a baby again would be pretty awesome... but this would be one point when I'd want to kick someone in the nuts! And if you notice Sarah does smile for a moment and then instantly furrows her eyebrows.

Sarah's intestinal bypass surgery

2009-02-10T08:21:00.002-06:00

Well Sarah has come out on the other side of her bypass surgery and now that she can digest, she's sure to start putting ON some weight!

#3 - the fruit bowl

2009-02-09T21:34:00.003-06:00

YES! good for all of you Chimera is a female - she is from the Philippines. For those of you who id not know, the Philippines were run by the Spanish in the 1500s, the British for a while in the interim and the Spanish again in the 1800s. They gained independence in 1898. But most of the surnames and a lot of the first names are of Spanish origin.

Eating: Mostly, I have been eating a lot of fruit. I find Mango to be delicious - even had mango juice and mango fruit as part of one meal - YUMMY!

One day, I ate Eggs Florentine, the next Eggs Benedict - I prefer florentine :-)

I ate a breakfast roll that had some sort of fruit in the middle - it was gross! Now I have to watch out for it :-)

Security here is amazing - every building has an armed guard. The Mall entrance has armed guards, metal detectors and metal detecting wands. Some entrances even have male/female entrances separated. Every street corner has police. There are at least 10 armed guards around the hotel and at least 3 dogs around the entrance as well. If you bring a bag in, there is a guard at the door with a stick to poke around in your bag (including purses).

The people are all very cheerful and nice. But, I think they only know how to say Good Morning, Good Day, Good afternoon. And "table for one?". Everyone in the hotel smiles and greets you as you exit the building and as you enter the building. There is always someone at the elevators to hold the door and even sometimes push the floor button for you.

McDonalds for lunch today - Big Mac and Fries are the same her as in the US.

Everyday, I get fresh fruit. There have been bananas, oranges, and apples.

Guest blog #2

2009-02-08T17:37:00.006-06:00

My second day in the Philippines:

So, I slept during the US night - I went to bed at about 3:30 in the afternoon and set a wakeup for 9:00 PM and again at 9:30 just in case. As part of setting a wake up call, they also block incoming calls - so - if anyone over there is thinking of
calling me in the middle of the night - think again!

Even though I was ready by 10, I gave my co-worker til 10:20 to contact me. After not having heard from him, I called him and he said he would be downstairs in 20 minutes. At 11:00, we finally met and caught a taxi.

From the pictures, you can see the office is only about 6 blocks away - but, it is not completely safe to be walking the streets at night - even with someone else - so, the taxi ride with tip is 100 pesos - wow again big spenders - but then again sure would be nice to work in a safe location and save the 5.00 a
day...

so work was interesting - I met my team for the first time after having worked with them for 6 months. The team is fun. I will do a name today and the quiz will be to
decide Sex and Nationality:

Chimera Eriqbuagas

They all had pitched in and provide a basket of gifts:

A walking stick
(cane to us simpler people)
A bag of adult diapers
several packages of health aids for the aged - I left them in the office today for fun - but will bring it to the Hotel Monday for pictures

All knew of Sarah
and her plight and were anxious to hear of the progress of my
granddaughter. I showed them the pictures in my wallet which include me
and Caron young and old - they called Caron an "iron head" or "Helmet
head". This concerned me at first - but then they explained it is a slang
term they use when a beautiful woman "hooks up" with a plain guy. So, I am
not a bit offended - it says what I have always believed :-)

The pictures - more will follow (no bathroom picture and No Bidet for Tara!) - there is no bidet.

I show the room entrance (wet bar to the side). the king sized bed on the rounded
wall.

There are only a few out the window pictures. The traffic will make everyone believe it is quiet here - but remember, Makati is a tourist place and this is Saturday - so traffic was very light!

Anyway - that is all for today - this old man is tired and must get some sleep now. I will do more waling around tomorrow. I have new battery in the camera - so,
definitely more pictures to follow - maybe some night pictures of some of the
buildings too...

Love
Dad

Guest blog !

2009-02-06T07:43:00.004-06:00

Hi All - Dad is safely in the Philipines and here is a delightful message from him! All I know is that this is great to read and didn't give me any nightmares. From now on - Dad will travel for me and just tell me how he slept and what he ate:

Landed safe and sound at around 6am Friday Philippines time. After getting
thru immigration/customs/baggage he heard some saying "are you Sir Lewis?"
My ride to the hotel. The car was stopped on the way for security
inspection - dog to sniff luggage too. The driver had 5 kids - oldest is 17.
I told him "I had four and the youngest was 21" -- he laughed and said I did
not look old enough. He looked at me at least twice tomake sure I wasn't
joking. I guess I don't look so old when I wear a ball cap :-)

The pix is the seating chart of the plane. He was in Seat 4A - which
completely lays flat into a bed. Personal TV and noise-cancelling earphones.
In-flight movie "Eagle Eye". He willingly ate Phil cuisine and survived
(they offered western cuisine but he felt adventurous.) You too can have all
that luxury for only $3500 USD rt. "...took off my shoes, pulled the blanket
up, loosened the seatbelt and slept on one side or the other..."

(He had a double decker plane!!)

The hotel (www.Shangri-la.com) Makati is luxurious. He is on the 16th floor
in a nice room (Bed, Couch, Desk, Flat Screen TV, 2 showers - standard
toilet. 4 bathrobes - 2 heavy-weight and 2 light-weight). room is cold -
what is the celcius conversion? Humidity is very high. Raining.
He tipped the Bellman 100 pesos. Hey Hey Big Spender (ok so it was only
about $2.50 us)
He goes to work tonight about 10pm his time and gets off work about 9am. He
is charging the camera to take some pictures out his window to send.

Food Digested so far on this adventure:
Snack in Business Class lounge at LA Airport: smoked salmon sandwich
Dinner in-flight: some sort of beef tips on green beans
Snack in-flight: some sort of rice porridge with chicken in it
Breakfast in-flight: cheese and tomato omelet

All of the above are things he would never eat in normal life. But since he
is doing this trip for all of us - he has to try new things!

spring fever!

2009-02-05T15:50:00.000-06:00

It's 70 degrees here and I got the day off work - woohooo!!! I have to work from 7-9, but by then the sun will be down, and it will be cold again!

Daddy does Philly.

2009-02-04T08:33:00.001-06:00

The Phillipines that is - dad is heading out today for the Islands for 16 glorious days... Hopefully we can get some good stories when he gets back.

Sarah is back in the ol' hospital. She's got a twist or a crimp in her intestines and her surgery to fix the situation is supposed to be this week. So hopefully the poor kid can eat. Oh, and while they are in there they are going to take out her appendix. One less thing she has to worry about exploding!

I'm back !

2009-01-26T22:08:00.001-06:00

And so is my computer - thank goodness threats of class actions suits can still spur corporate America occasionally!

Sooo... Obama is our President, officially! YAY! We can drop that wordy 'President-elect' and get back to the watching and waiting. What I love (love, love! I'm in a good mood to have my computer back!) is that we (being Rachel Maddow) are still critical of him. Truthfully, I think I will usually stand behind him - but I have seen a little bit of politi-crap ... it's interesting ... i like that we can be critical and still like him. For the past 8 years, i have to admit that I was critical AND didn't like the president. I dunno... i think just having my computer back has made me extremely optimistic. Ah, materialisticness.

Anyway - news around here - mostly I've been working. At taxes... last week was insane...they say the peak should be over by mid-February... so I'm kinda just in survival mode. Eat, sleep, taxes, eat, sleep, campground work, taxes, eat... well, you get the basic outline. In between, my friend Jenny and I have gotten the Daycare ball rolling....we've signed up a total of 4 kids right now - I'm going to take the early morning shift until I have to go work taxes. Then hopefully when that office slows down I will be taking more hours - then when tax season is over, I will be doing the daycare and the campground at the same time - and we will have 12 kids total (in theory).....I am crazy.

Love to your corner!

Computer going to get fixed!

2009-01-14T20:29:00.001-06:00

I may not be blogging for awhile - like that's any different, huh? but i have to ship my laptop off to HP to get fixed!! So ... see ya when I see ya!

And you were there, and you were there, and you too!

2009-01-14T10:36:00.001-06:00

So it's been sooo long since I was in Korea. But last night I dreamt I had to go either to Korea or India - I chose India because they spoke English there (at least they do in the movies)... and for some reason my brother was there. I had a job - but it wasn't teaching English. I ran into my brother and all of his friends at a restaurant and I was panicked because I had Beppo - what if my roommates were allergic. Mike helped me find my apartment, but then I couldn't find him anywhere. I woke up completely panic-stricken. I may never travel again.

Jeez...

2009-01-13T10:04:00.004-06:00

This past week has just flown by... updates:

Moving: Tommy, the boys and I moved to the other house on the campground this weekend. It's about the same size, maybe a little smaller, but with a better layout and without all the campground stuff taking up two rooms (by campground stuff, I mean 1 computer and alllll my craft Sh-tuff) it feels like we are more spread out... not living right on top of one another. I think that I get very selfish about my space when I am living with someone, even my sisters. I'm hoping that this makes life a little less tense for everyone. It's not fair expecting a 10 and 12 year old to be quiet and leave me alone. :) I remember feeling very entitled to go into their (my sisters', not the boys') rooms and get whatever I wanted (usually fingernail polish believe it or not) but do not want people touching my stuff!!! :)

<---BRAT!

Work at the Campground: really the same - pretty durn slow - the only difference is now that I am moved (one house north of the campground) I have to 'go' to work. That's ok - because it gives me some separation between home/work. Ya see - it's nice to work from home.. as long as once you are home - work ends. During the winter, this isn't as big a deal, but in the summer time - even if the office is closed, people will come just to say hi or to ask about something going on in town and as much as I hate to sound negative, when the office has been open from 10-7 at 7:01 PM I am usually running out the door because I don't want to be bugged. The last 2 summers I would walk all over town (mainly because I didn't have any friends) starting at 7:01 to just be away from the campground. I'm hoping to avoid that desperate feeling. Plus - living with Tommy and the boys - this will give them some room to be without bugging me at work. The final benefit is the daycare... which brings me to the next update.

Daycare Center: My friend Jenny and I have been working towards opening a daycare and it looks like within the next couple of weeks we will be there! I'm pretty excited about this. We will be using the now empty (and soon to be clean) living areas of the campground house/office building. The benefit of this is that when I am at the campground, I am also at the daycare. I can be doing both at once with out having to shirk too many responsibilities. I certainly won't be able to mow and stuff during the day, but that to me is ok - I will happily mow on the weekends and evenings. Things are falling into place - we have to have a parent meeting (reminds me: call the paper and place and ad) and have an orientation training given by the state, but then we are on like Donkey Kong. Obviously, I will be working at it only when I'm not at the tax joint. Which brings us...

Working at the Tax Joint: (You may have noticed I am vague about the place and I won't be naming names - mostly this has to do with the fact that I may say some un-nice things - and I don't want the folks there googling me and finding this blog. Do I have an ego? Yes.) Mostly good stuff- right now pretty boring - haven't actually done any tax returns - although people are starting to get their W-2s, so be watching your mail. I have watched a couple and have placed a ton of sticky labels on paperwork. Berry Berry Boring. I'm anxious to do my first client interview and tax return because I learn best by doing - and all the examples they gave us in tax class were 'best case scenarios'... and if you are like me and learn by doing you understand that watching is boring and doesn't sink it in.

Anyway - this past week, I've been really busy. I'm hoping to do updates more often - sorry so quiet from this end!

I work, and I work...

2009-01-06T18:15:00.001-06:00

and I go back tomorrow. I started my taxes job this week - and I am tired. It's hard waking up at a specific (and far earlier) time than you are used to! For the past two days, we've mostly just been getting the company line (I've forgotten how annoying it is to hear about how someone at corporate thinks you're important. I think I'm going to print up a new T-shirt in the style of "someone who loves me went to Cleveland and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"; mine will say "Someone is Corporate thinks I'm important and all I got was this lousy job".) No really, the job is not bad... at least so far, come April 14th, I might think differently. Tomorrow, we are done with training and the real stress happens. I do feel stretched a little thin though- the campground doesn't require much attention, but does need a little, working a 'real' job and we are trying to clean the clubhouse and get moved into it. Then we are going to open a daycare in the campground office. In a month, I should be doing taxes, daycare AND running the campground. If you think I don't blog much now....

Weirdest job interview ever....

2008-12-29T22:08:00.001-06:00

So technically it wasn't an interview - but I had a 'meeting' today with the tax people to get me ready for working there during tax season - and it had to be one of the most bizarre 'work' meetings ever. I'm sitting in a tiny room with 3 people - 2 are the owners of the franchise and 1 the teacher of the tax class I was in. 1 of the people was talking about how she burped until she threw up yesterday. Throughout the meeting, she was burping. Frightening! Either way... job starts next Monday.... $$$$$.

Too Cute not to share

2008-12-24T16:12:00.001-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Whew...

2008-12-16T10:00:00.003-06:00

After several days of 'what ifs' and 'I'm sure it will be ok' Sarah is finally home safely. Saturday night she went to the ER because her spit up was basically projectile and neon green. We were much afeared that she may have to have surgery but after many tests and hours of 'wait and see' the doctors concluded it was just a virus and she has conquered it. She may not have the strongest immune system right now, but I imagine getting that sick this early has put her on a path to heatlh greatness. We are relieved to have her home and are celebrating every digestive victory as they come!

Here is a healthy Sarah:

Along with a couple of befores that I hadn't gotten around to uploading yet:

My foot for perspective:

She's here!!!

2008-12-08T14:35:00.005-06:00

Baby Sarah Katherine finally got here today... 8 pounds, 9 ounces! Big Sister Molly is still not sure about sharing... and was a little weirded out by having to leave mom and dad at the hospital, but really took everything in stride. Erikka is doing great and smiling and laughing... but that may be the morphine talking. We've decided Sarah's nickname may be Birdy - she was definitely hungry and when she wasn't crying was opening her mouth in the hopes that some food would fall in. She had a little bit of her fluid in her lungs and had to be bugged a lot to get a big cry out of her - maybe that's a sign that she just won't be a very fussy baby at all! Anyway - pictures. I'm sure there will be much more to follow!

Before:

After:

Sarah (Little Bird):

Best Friends?:

In Georgia!

2008-12-07T15:34:00.001-06:00

I'm in Georgia - eagerly awaiting niece #2, pre-named Sarah Katherine. We're very excited - she is expected tomorrow afternoon! We've been soaking up Molly and trying to get Molly prepared for being a big sister. I really think this is going to be a big shock for her system. She has decided that there is only supposed to be 'one girl at a time'. Hmmm... but she is really excited about the idea of Sarah coming out to play with her. As soon as I have pictures - tomorrow afternoon - they will be here!

Obsessed with measurement?

2008-12-04T11:49:00.001-06:00

I think I know why I love (hate!) to weigh myself everyday. It's what I would now call the Mary Poppins effect. Measuring yourself won't just tell you your height or your weight... it will also tell you if you are perfectly delightful in every way! bummer!

Babies, babies, babies!

2008-11-30T21:23:00.005-06:00

This weekend I got to do a really cool thing. I got to see twins born - a boy and then a girl. Live, in person. I was only 1 of three people in the room, which was really an honor. And I did get to hold a brand new baby. I've always wanted to be a mama and involved in babies, so I can't even begin to tell you how much this upped the "I want one" factor. The noises new babies make....it's kinda a cry, kinda a mewl. The boy was definitely the more difficult birthing- but the mom did both patiently and without drugs. A better goat than me, that's for sure. :) Did i trick you at all? Baby goats are one of the most cute things in the world. I wish I'd had my camera with me, but when I left the house I didn't predict I would be seeing a goat 'kid'. That's what it's called when a goat gives birth - kidding. A cow giving birth is called calving. When I get some land outside of town I will definitely have goats. Definitely.

I found this picture of a baby online - my goats were brown and white (which I named Tire Tracks and Santa Claus - I don't know if the owner will use those names... we'll see).

Now a real life picture. We were messing with the camera this weekend and Kyler took a picture while I was walking. And with no doctoring, this is how this particular photo turned out. Creepy, huh? I look like the freaking Grim Reaper. I tried to downplay it a little - because Kyler (only 10) kept saying maybe a ghost was standing in front of me when he took the picture and I didn't want him to get scared - but it really did creep me out!

But who will I moon?

2008-11-24T21:27:00.001-06:00

And who will moon me?

Construction is finally done on I-70 between here and Salina. I'm pretty sure they've been working on it since Mom and Dad bought the joint. Sooo... I really can't anything about any other interstates...but if you want to come visit and are heading east to me. Enjoy the new road! I didn't have anything to do with it, but Mom did!

What a day for Chapman... and for Cassie!

2008-11-19T21:24:00.003-06:00

Setting: Yesterday, Abilene, KS area

Well I got up early to get over to Chapman to get to yell Move That Bus. Originally it was supposed to be at 2:00pm but I heard from my sources at 11:00am that they'd moved it to 11:30. So I hurried off...and proceeded to wish I had a chair and stand around for 2 hours. I did get to cheer and scream and yell Move That Bus...for about a half an hour in 35 degree temperatures. That was enough for me. I left before they moved the actual bus. I had heard that Gavin Rossdale - a singer that I think is adorable and had a huge thing for in high school and is married to Gwen Stefani - was in town because the mom is a big fan, but was just going to meet with the family, not do a concert or anything in the new community center, complete with stage. I didn't really believe it. But I accepted it.
Then on the 5 o'clock news I heard that there was going to be a concert- it was supposed to start at 4, but they were running late. Luckily gas is cheap ($1.75!), I scurried back. Sure enough around 6:30, there was finally a concert! It was freezing and there was a cranky old man there who kinda put a damper on things, but to see Gavin... from 30 ft away? Pretty impressive. Actually, a lot of fun. And 10 minutes away from home and for free!!!
Then to top it off - I bowled the best game of my life - 168! I think it earns me a patch. I hope, I hope, I hope! Now, if it does... where to sew it?

Extreme Home Makeover

2008-11-15T12:24:00.006-06:00

Well, while I don't think anyone in Chapman would say that the June 11th tornado was a good thing - there is a silver lining. Extreme Home Makeover, complete with Ty, Paige and all the man-tears you can stand, came to Chapman to help rebuild last week. It's actually pretty amazing. I took some pictures yesterday and I'll post them at the end. From what I understand the family chosen for the big house is pretty needy - a family of six, plus a nephew. The dad was injured in Iraq - I've heard different ways, shot in the neck or brain or back injury - either way sounds pretty extreme. Extreme enough to make Ty cry, I'm sure. They've been living on base at Fort Riley since the tornado - while the kids are still in school in Chapman - probably about 20-30 minutes away. Sounds like a family that will definitely have a much improved and much deserved life. Right now I think the family is in the Bahamas and that too me - that's a huge benefit too as the cold season has started. To me the crews working (most of which are local volunteers- -3000 volunteers) look like ants on an ant hill that I just kicked over. Seriously though - it really does make me think of an old-timey barn raising. The community has definitely shown support - if not for the family and Chapman, then the support for the desire to maybe be on TV!
But like I said - they are helping with the rebuilding of Chapman - not just one family. They are also rebuilding the community center - complete with huuuuge storm shelter, the city park, a smaller renovation for another family, and yesterday I even over heard someone saying that there was a bunch of volunteers down at the high school - an extra project. Now there are two ways to look at all this - depending on the level of cynicism I am feeling. It's amazing that 3000+ people and companies can come together and do this for each other. It kinda makes me sad that it takes 6 months and small screen celebrities to make it happen. And when it does happen - they build one huge home - rather than 5 smaller homes. Part of it is the appeal - the oooooh, ahhhh. But I think that I wish the appeal was just as great if they rebuilt for more people. The other side of me - the cynical aspect of me - is greatly pleased to be proved correct as some of the people of Chapman are getting jealous and snipe-y. Lots of people are whispering "They don't deserve it." Don't get me wrong - I think the family that they chose and the projects that the teams are working on are valid and needy - I stopped watching that show a long time ago because I got tired of crying both happy and sad tears, so... Sad. Happy. Sad? Happy? You tell me. Pictures galore.

This one is a little outside of town - but I think it's cool.

I have a president

2008-11-04T23:48:00.001-06:00

For the first time, the person I voted for ... and believed in for the past 2+ years won. I have a president.

I spent several (2+) hours at a local bar defending Barack and listening to ... AHEM... different opinions. Some from people that I love and think are great. But loving those people.. and listening to their.. AHEM... different opinions, makes me even more proud. What a great place I live in.

Go OBAMA!

2008-11-04T18:13:00.001-06:00

I voted today...and I hope you did too... now it's just a waiting game! I'm excited and hopeful!

You gotta get back on ... right?

2008-10-26T11:23:00.004-06:00

Plenty to update you on!

A couple of weeks ago, we went camping - probably for the last time this year. We go to a pond at a friend's house and have a big bonfire, but it's really getting to chilly to be sleeping in a tent. We all went - Tommy, me, Kyler and Slayde, and the dogs. The boys decided to walk back up to the house to get a flashlight and the dogs followed them up there... we tried to call them back, and the boys tried to send them back but the dogs didn't listen. I wasn't too worried about it - it's way out in the country and I knew the dogs were just adventuring and would stay right with the boys. Well, our friends' 3-year old daughter had a brand new kitten. White with a black end on her tail. She was named Dipstick. Isn't that cute? Well, my dogs, who don't chase rabbits or squirrels and live with a cat, Potsy, apparently nosed Dipstick to death, broke her little back. :( Talk about feeling guilty!!! I felt awful. Luckily she'd only had it a couple of weeks, and this week we were able to find her a non-replacement replacement kitten and all seems to be fixed... I hope my dogs haven't traumatized her too much. Needless to say, I'm kinda glad camping season is over - by this time next year, maybe all will be forgotten.

A side story to the dogs nosing a kitten - the cat was a carrier for ring worm. So great. My dogs' muzzles are covered with the ring worm wounds... which we have them on a treatment regimen, but is still no fun. And I'm on look out for any wounds on humans! YUCK!!!

In other news... last night I fell off a horse. Literally. For several weeks I've been convincing this horse Wrangler that I'm a good person and he shouldn't hurt me. Feeding him apples and marshmallows, nuzzling and loving on him. All good - well yesterday I put one leg over his back to see how he reacted. He kinda looked at me sideways like... What do you think you're doing? I did that three or four times and then decided screw it - I'm insured. I went ahead and sat on him - here's the stupidity - no saddle, no reins, no bridle. So I'm holding his mane and he starts running. I figured better to fall here on this mud then on who knows what. I pushed off backwards and landed pretty much on my left side. Mostly just bruised, but my ankle pretty much instantly swelled to the size of a Grade A USDA approved Extra Large free range egg.

On to the hospital where I learn it is not broken - just a bad sprain and I'm equipped with crutches, a splint and some drugs!

I'm going to try again in a few weeks... gotta get back on that horse. But next time, I should probably have at least a few peices of equipment. We'll see if I've learned anything :)

different free food

2008-10-06T16:30:00.004-05:00

Ya know... with the economy and such... well.

I went crawfish fishing (hunting? We didn't use poles.) yesterday with the boys in Mud Creek. We caught about 20-25 of the little suckers and saved them overnight. I was afraid they'd die..and then at that point you can't cook them. Well you can but I won't. Anyway here are the pictures from this part of the adventure. We are going to try to rig a net to be more efficient hunters. This apocolyptic economic mess isn't going to get me down. I think some sort of apple-crawfish quiche is in order. Now it's not a yard full of meats and cheeses....but it's close. As usual ignore the mess of the house!

Kyler (Tommy's 10-year old and the 2 biggest crawfish)

Bathtime (pre-cook)

Spa treatment

Dinner is served

APPLES!!!

2008-10-01T11:31:00.002-05:00

Ah, living in the country.

We are driving along and see some beautiful red apples in a yard. The owner apparently doesn't care and doesn't pick them so we pick our fill ... 6 grocery bags full. So this morning has been spent peeling, coring, slicing and preparing. I've dehyrdrated about 6, prepared pie filling for 2 pies, started an apple tart. I'm gonna make applesauce, apple dumplings, apples are...well....the fruit of the orchard.

Promised photos

2008-09-25T15:50:00.004-05:00

Hey all !

Here is a link to some promised photos - most are from the 4-wheeling competition this past weekend - we came in 3rd by the way, despite the broken axle. In the competition rules dictate that you wear helmets - hence the astronaut helmet borrowed from a local demo derby champion. My Jeep is fine. The bulls: Tommy has a friend who raises buckin' bulls. When they are young they train the bulls to buck using innocent children and mildly adventurous 20-somethings on their backs. The owner bailed on us last weekend, but I'm hopeful a chance will come again. If so, pictures will follow for certain.

Sept 2008

And here are links to the 4-wheeling videos on YouTube:

Forwards:

Backwards:

It's been a long time comin'

2008-09-23T13:01:00.004-05:00

Do you remember a few years ago when that guy in North Georgia was supposed to cremate a lot of bodies, but got overwhelmed when a part broke or something... and didn't cremate any of them? That's kind of like me and this blog. Everyday would go by and I would think ... I should've blogged! Then I would think.. I'll catch everyone up tomorrow. And so on and so on. Until today. I'm blogging.

Because so much has happened, I'm just going to cover the high points. Or low points.

Lowest Point: I had to put Vixie down. :( She was blind, diabetic, arthritic and had lost control of her bladder. I was mopping every day and she was still spending most days in a baby crib. It seemed to be getting beyond the point of fair. She was a very good dog. The house seems very quiet now (Baby and Beppo only bark when there is a real reason...Vix would bark just to say hi. Fourteen times.) And I haven't had a dog hug in too long. She would put a paw on either shoulder and just relax on your neck. Greatest dog hug ever. I just put her down last week. It was incredibly hard and I still get sad thinking about it. This morning Baby was sniffing under the kitchen table (where Vix usually hid). I think she can't quite figure out where the old lady is.

High Point and Low point: I now am down to just one job - running the campground. Just in time for winter when I can really afford to have to jobs. All summer I struggled a little bit through two jobs, but the company wasn't making enough money to afford me, so... that was the end of that. They might bring me back...but we'll see. This is good on one hand because that job was very boring, but also annoying because I was saving my money to afford 2 trips this fall - one to CO to visit my friends out there in October and one to GA in December to meet Erikka's new addition and help out however I can. But with only one income.... I have to save my pennies and I think it would be best to just plan a trip to GA and hope for CO next year. That is if Erikka and Steve (and Mo) don't mind the help and company.

Medium point: I started taking Tax Classes to learn how to prepare tax returns for H&R Block. I'm thinking that this will be a good time taker for a couple of months just when I have the extra time to give.

Medium-Low (scary) point: Starting tomorrow the motorcycle group is coming in - we are expecting 30-40 motorcycles. This is great for the campground- nice way to end the busy season, but our park has about 45 spots - and is about 1/3 full right now. Luckily most of them can double up... but this place is going to be incredible busy this weekend. I just keep thinking - survive to Sunday afternoon, survive, survive, survive.

Highest point: Last weekend was a 4-wheeling competition and we had lots of fun - I went with Jeff and his kids, and Tommy - the guy I've been seeing - and his kids. I have a couple of videos and pictures and I will youtube them... today... or tomorrow. I promise.

I'm sure there is more... but I can't think of what else has happened. I will try to get back into bloggin.

duck movies

2008-08-27T15:55:00.001-05:00

Please ignore my annoying laugh!

My favorite Ducks ever!

2008-08-27T15:32:00.007-05:00

Patty and Alan are free in the front yard and they are happier than ever. I put the dogs out and then let the ducks into the dog yard to play in the pool. They are adorable. A special prize to whoever can figure out the brand of ducks they are though. I can't find a picture that has that little tuft. Here are the pictures

Duck, Duck, Duck...

2008-08-26T19:28:00.001-05:00

I have ducks! i haven't updated you, because I hadn't seen them in a while and thought perhaps there was a chance they were 'sleeping with the fishes'. I don't really know for how long they will stay with me, but I have em!! the gypsies came up today and said they couldn't catch their ducks and they were pulling out of the campground... so I caught them. Well, technically, it took 3 people about an hour to catch them. They are not biters. Right now Patty and Alan are relaxing in a dog crate with water, grass and bread. I know it's not right to keep them in there for long. But technically I'm not supposed to have them in the city limits at all. If we take them to Brown's Park, they may be run off. If we take them to a farm pond, they may not eat, because they seem a little domesticated. Even though it took a little while to catch them, they didn't fly or bite. Could they protect themselves from coyotes... or bigger ducks?

2008-08-22T23:17:00.001-05:00

Ducks, Gypsies and rotting bread products?

2008-08-20T15:36:00.007-05:00

So I've had gypsies in the park for several weeks now - most of them have pulled out, but a couple remain. Yesterday afternoon I was mowing near the gypsies and noticed a box of garbage near their site and thought "ugh! so annoying." When I was ready to take a load of other crap of theirs to the dumpster, I rode past to pick up the box... that was full of hay. That's when I noticed the livestock tied to the site fence. A full site away from any gypsies there are 2 ducks tied to a sign post. Half of me was delighted by finding some free ducks (DUCKS!) and the other half was disappointed in the treatment of these animals (oddly, my third half just felt sleepy).

Assuming this livestock belongs to the gypsies that used to be parked near - but not in this spot, I knocked on a couple of trailer doors. They weren't answered and I wasn't surprised - for one, gypsies rarely answer the door, because they assume you want to collect rent. Also, only three cars were parked in the area. For them to be home, there would have to be three cars AND two trucks. A local lady who parks in the campground saw me and I waved her over and asked her if she knew anything about ducks. Conversation ensues:

Setting:
Site 64, Covered Wagon RV Park, Abilene, KS, USA

Players:
Cassie, an awkward girl
Mrs. K, nice lady with good intentions where animals are concerned
Mr. K, nice man with similar good intentions
Gypsy Man (no description necessary)
Gypsy Woman (no description necessary)
Patty and Alan Orange, ducks at large

Cassie: Do you know anything about ducks? (Nervous and slightly giddy laugh)
Mrs. K: Ducks?
Cassie: There are ducks here! I think they may be abandoned. I've knocked on doors, but no one's home to claim them. And no one asked me if they could tie their ducks up here.
Mrs. K: Oh, they look hungry! Do you have a cracker?
Cassie: Not on me.
Mrs. K: I hope they don't eat them!
Cassie: I wouldn't put it past them... (shrugs)

(Mr. K enters, Campground west)

Cassie: I think somebody left me some ducks?
Mr. K: Whose are they?
Cassie: I'm not sure... no one is home to claim them.
Patty and Alan: Quack.
Mr. K: Well - if there are still here tomorrow, let me know and I will take them to my friends' pond, but I don't want anyone to shoot me while I'm taking these ducks.
Cassie: Ok... sounds like a plan. (Her heart is breaking a little, because she already luvs Alan and Patty.)

Intermission - during this time, Cassie calls her mother (who also laughs hysterically about the ducks), gathers her camera and old hot dog buns.

Later in the same setting with Gypsy Man:
Cassie: Do you know anything about these ducks?
Gypsy Man: Hey, Gypsy Woman, she wants to know about those ducks!
Gyspy Woman: Oh, those are the boy's ducks!
Cassie to herself: The same boy that can't be expected to be the least bit responsible for his inanimate possessions. Genius.
Gypsy Man: Why, do you want them?
Cassie: (YESYESYES! Do you have any goats?!) Well, I can find them a good home.
Gypsy Man: Well, we might just leave them with you.
Cassie: Well let me know if that's what you decide to do - either way can you move them next to your camper so people will know they were not just abandoned?
Gypsy Man: Sure!
Cassie: Thanks. Well, can I give 'em some bread?
Gypsy Man: You are so sweet honey, anytime!

Now I don't yet have possession of Patty or Alan, but if and when that happens I'll let you know!

Tons of pictures

2008-08-20T15:05:00.006-05:00

I have a ton of pictures to share... that's what this will be about - the next blog will be a funny story involving ducks, Gypsies and rotted hot dog buns!

Lately I've been sick, but before I got ill, I was able to get out and take some pictures... and here they are.

One of these cows is not like the others. More than anything I wanted all 4 of them to look at me at once but they refused. Bitches.

Beppo tree-d me... isn't this a cool tree? This is an old, hollow tree where we take the dogs swimming... it was a little scary climbing up there because it really IS hollow and also a little scary because there are giant raccoon...remnants.... yeah, remnants.

Speaking of swimming, we went back to the pond... Baby went a little deeper, but is still unsure of actually swimming. Beppo, on the other hand, was full tilt. I heard that King just learned how to swim - I see a play date, Mike and Tara! (Happy birthday, by the way!)

This is what it looks like when the entire state of Kansas turns it's back on you

Nothing clever to say about this

This art piece is titled "Return to Sender"

And lastly... before the ducks and such, at least, is the kittens. The black mama cat came back to the garage and had some mo' babies. Slut. All of the kittens (5) are adorable and mostly black or totally black, but one is siamese looking. I have named him Mozzarella. If it's a boy - Motts. If it's a girl - Ella. Purrrfect.

2008-08-20T05:55:00.001-05:00

I was finally a cowboy!!

2008-08-02T16:16:00.008-05:00

Well, I have once again falling behind on my blogging. The good news (or bad?) is that I'm falling a little behind on other things too, so don't feel like you are being neglected alone.

A couple of weekends ago, Old Abilene Town celebrated National Cowboy Appreciation Day. And I DO so appreciate a good cowboy. Basically what it was was a little showcase for Old Abilene Town, and we had a few little things like a stage coach ride and stuff. Here's a few fun pictures.

These pictures are of the same day - but not the Cowboy thing - one of them is of a real horse's ass, tho...

I didn't actually wear a cowboy hat... but I have recently shopped for chaps! I'm not actually going to buy any because I don't have a horse. And I'm not quite that flashy. The fair was in town (not the circus - no elephants), but the rodeo and derby and stuff. We had the big parade on Thursday which I did not ride in, but did participate in the drinking and watching aspects of parading. Some would say those are the most important parts of parading. I mean, if we didn't have people watching, all those people in the parading would just be really annoying drivers who litter.

Prior to this line, this blog was just waiting on pictures...I was too lazy. But then today we (Me, Tommy, and his kids, Kyler and Slayde) took Beppo and Baby to a pond and Beppo surprisingly swam! At first we were just going to take Baby, but I was talked into draggin Beppo along and she actually played in the water more than Baby! I forgot my camera but had my new phone (which reminds me if you want me to have your number, text or call me - I can't even get to the contacts on my old phone). so here are the best pictures I was able to get:

Beppo shaking off :)

It definitely made my day!

I'm not a streetwalker.

2008-07-24T09:52:00.002-05:00

While I am not a streetwalker, I do often walk the streets...with my dogs, not trolling for Johns. This past weekend, I was a street dancer (although I didn't dance). Solomon (small town next door) had a band and several streets for something cleverly named the Solomon Street Dance. :) Drunken debauchery and revelry ensues. I forgot my big camera, but I tried to take a picture of the crowd with my phone... probably difficult to see.

Oh, in other news, today I have gained a year. Catching up to you Mike!

How is this possible?

2008-07-16T13:07:00.001-05:00

There is nearly 6 feet of DNA crammed into every cell of the human body. Can anyone explain... 6 feet is 6 feet?

Me weakness is beans

2008-07-16T12:31:00.001-05:00

I do love beans. Green beans, or bean beans. I LOVE black beans. Last week I realized there was none of this black gold in the house and I whined about it daily. Chili has to have beans in my opinion. Most of you know, I've lost a little weight this year. Nothing terribly drastic, but still... until.... Mom and dad recently bought fritos and bean dip. Now for the past 6 months, I've been avoiding almost everything sweet - rarely eating cookies, chocolate, delicious birthday cake. I've turned down samples of free homemade fudge. Twice. Today however I ate nearly half a can of bean dip. I'm disgusting. I blame Mom. She thinks my weight loss is bordering on drastic... and knew that given the time she could find my weakness. She is a brilliant opponent.

Speaking of opponent - we've sawed down tens of trees in the war against birds. Originally I was standing up for the trees, but then my dad noted what a blow this would be against my enemies. I was then less passionate about saving the trees and realized that it really was the circle of life for these particular trees to make it to a burn pile.

Birds

2008-07-09T12:04:00.001-05:00

Several of you know - birds and I - we're just not compatible. I've killed a couple - mostly vehicular birdslaughter. They've stolen my food. Mostly chicken, but I was also verbally threatened over french fries. Well, yesterday, one stepped over the line and pooped on me.

THIS MEANS WAR!

Float trip!

2008-07-08T13:27:00.002-05:00

This is a ridiculously fun way to spend a weekend: Start by camping. I really love tent camping, I sleep better (which is strange), I wake up earlier and excited to do something out of the ordinary and fire is literally hypnotizing. Once the tent is up and the fire is built all I want to do is stare. And maybe roast a marshmallow. Step 2, rent a canoe and float lazily down a river. We (I was in a boat with Leon's daughter, Carley) got stuck on gravel a couple times and were floating backwards a couple of times, but mostly we faced the right direction and only had to get out and push the boat a couple of times. :) People were standing on the bank with huge water guns spraying us as we floated by and everyone was so nice. We floated about 8 miles. We passed a cover band playing awesome music, and we saw this huge boulder. And people were jumping off of it. Now I'm afraid of heights, but I really try to push it, because so many fun things are taller than me! And when's the next time I'll be floating down the Elk River... in a year if things go according to my plan! So I jumped. Over and over again. It was really great! I don't know if a picture was taken of this or not - most of the pictures of the weekend were taken using disposable cameras, because I didn't want to drop my good camera in the drink. So as soon as I get those developed, I will scan and upload. Anyway, the floating continues. As we get to the end, Carley and I realized we were a little disappointed that we didn't tip... so.... we tipped purposely. It was so funny, but the canoe was so full of water we just had to hold on to it and float the rest of the way, because we'da sunk it if we could've even gotten in. All in all, the 8 miles took about 3 hours. Leon's kids and I were still pretty amped, so we got Leon to drive us back to the Boulder and we jumped off it and a bridge and just free floated back down. That was to me... definitely, a highlight. I'm covered in bruises, because some of the river is a little shallow and moves too quickly for you to avoid the bigger rocks, but it was awesome. I'm sorry I don't have pictures now... or even better words to describe how great the weekend was. All I know is I came back exhausted and happy and wishing I could do it again. If I ever get a boat, I will name it "Float Trip". When I get a boat.

In other news, Vixie is now completely blind. It's really sad...but it's also kinda funny sometimes. This morning she couldn't figure out where the door was from the dog yard. She was about a foot north of it barking at a brick wall and picking up her front paws begging for me to open the door. Which was open about a foot south. I really do feel sorry for her - 1st diabetes, now completely blind. But she will adapt...and I guess the rest of us will too.

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T11:01:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm leaving here in about an hour and already it's been a great day! I saw Mr. Potsworthy chasing something and looking deeper, I found a giant frog. I saved the frog from an untimely death and Potsy from what I would guess to be some gross breakfast. See below (foot for perspective only - I am not a foot model).

Have a great 4th and talk to ya on Sunday!

Tomorrow!

2008-07-03T17:51:00.001-05:00

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. I used to get so excited about the fireworks I would throw up. Literally. This year, I'm going on a float trip! Leon and I are going to pick up his kids from their mom's house to spend the rest of the summer with him, and then we are going camping and then Saturday, we are going to float down a river in Missouri! I'm so jazzed. I'm not going to bring my digital camera, but I'm gonna get one of those waterproof disposables and then scan the pictures in and post them here!!!

Homemade Jelly

2008-07-02T13:57:00.001-05:00

I tried to make homemade Mulberry Jelly yesterday. We have mulberry trees in the park and when the birds eat them and then drop their bombs, they are a very offensive purple. So I tried to pick the berries (succeeded here) and boil them (also success) and make jelly (failure). I think I failed for a couple of reasons, but the main one is that the recipe called for 4 pounds of Mulberries. I had a little less that a pound. The result: some sort of disgusting mulberry jelly candy thing. Gross.

the great thing about having iGoogle -

2008-06-26T16:26:00.001-05:00

And really only Tara's taking advantage of this - but each time I update the blog I will update the gadget that I update the blog - think of the time saved not having to go to the blog just to be disappointed.

Just sayin'.

I drove...

2008-06-26T16:03:00.003-05:00

... a backhoe today. By far my biggest piece of equipment yet. You see, today has been crazy hectic. It all started when a camper got a little tiny zap from an outlet. Then my mom got mad and said you're moving with your Auntie and Uncle to Belair. No, but we dug a little and realized the power cables were pretty rotted and shocking people through the ground and potentially wasting a lot of money for the campground. So we decided that this morning we would trench. During the trenching (which I supervised and ran a little- even though the backhoe is larger, the trencher is by far the biggest pain-in-the-neck piece of equipment ever), we hit and broke a *ta-da* sewer pipe. The worst aspect of campground management. so we dug and dug and dug some more. Anyway - as of 4:00 pm this afternoon we (we being mostly Rod, Dad and Mom cuz I had to work job#2, but I did dig until noon and I made sandwiches...) had fixed the sewer pipe, worked job#2, and received a shipment of nearly 800 lbs of picnic tables (not the usual method of quantity measurement, but more impressive than saying '8'). And returned said trencher and backhoe. The job is nowhere near done- but at least we can use the shower to wash this dirt and sweat off. It was nearly 100 degrees here today. Anyway. Maybe some of you don't know what a backhoe is. Well, then, maybe some of you should look at this picture.

I once was sick.... but now I am well. (take 2)

2008-06-25T16:13:00.006-05:00

First off - let me say that I had started to blog this, and then the page refreshed and deleted my entry. Which sucks. And it was brilliant - and now it's going to have lost all it's spontaneity. And won't be as funny. I remember the really high points... but well... I'll let you know when I'm done with this post how much you are missing out on.

I am finally not sick. Wow... that sentence was way better in the 1st blog. Somehow this weekend (I don't know how, ok?!) I caught strep throat. Or maybe I had it for awhile and it finally came to head Monday and Tuesday. At it's high, my temperature was 103 degrees. My eyeballs were melting. I don't remember the last time I was that hot. Not since high school. Bah-dum-bump. But, seriously folks, thank goodness my parents are here because I just slept the last 2 days away. Another sincere shout-out goes to Alexander Fleming, the discover-er of pencillan (the use of it as a medicine props go to Howard Walter Florey) and to Dr. Biggs, the prescriber-er. I'm feeling much better. Shoot. I know this paragraph was better in take 1.

In other news - a couple of days ago I teased you with the idea of me being a cowboy and my parents being a pirate. I didn't get to be a cowboy- although maybe someday I will so I won't reveal too much about it here (mainly because then when I tell it in the blog it will be the 3rd iteration. Which would be that much less funny. ) But my parents did get to be pirates. They went on a poker run - which is a cool thing that I had never heard of before I came to Kansas but I hope they go on forever and ever. For those of you who have also not heard of them - you go from bar to bar (on a motorcyle, wearing bandanas - hence the pirate below)

You drive to the bar with the other motorcylists...like a gang. My mom is either a pirate or a member of the crips. Or bloods. I can never keep my gangs straight. At each bar (or restaurant I guess) you get get a poker card and at the end of five bars whoever has the best poker hand wins a pot. Not a cooking pot, but a gambling pot. The remainder of the entry fees goes to charity. There are several reasons why this is good:
1)Gambling for charity is the kind of sinning God likes.
2)Motorcyclers who drink too much and then drive in a gang....well, call it thinning the herd.
3)Bandannas aren't just for pirates and bassett hounds anymore - they are also for your mom!
4)When a gang of motorcyclers comes into a bar that on a good day makes 100, 200 bucks, it must be a great day when there's a poker run. I'd bet it's pretty lucrative.
Mom and dad didn't have the best poker hand at the end of the ride - but they had a good time. This was mom's first and she said she'd do it again, so that's pretty telling. The told me some tales (probably tall) so that I could blog about it and give you guys something interesting to read:
* A lady (large lady) was driving a Harley and it fell over on her. Mom and dad helped to pick it up - she promptly left them holding it to go get her husband. I told mom and dad they should have driven off - some Harley owner would've given us at least $45 for the spare parts, or scrap metal is expensive these days, ya know.
* There was probably about 100 riders. Can you imagine being a bartender at one of these places?
* This is note-worthy, but should it be? I don't know. There was one man who was riding on the 'Bitch' seat (not my label), while the motorcycle was driven by his woman. I can only imagine the jokes he had to endure.
* There was one extremely large Harley driver who decided to risk road-rash and sunburn and take his shirt off. And his pants were slung low. This is one point I wish my mom had snapped a photo to offer Dan Judy his required proof. They could hear the other riders yelling "Just say no!" and "Dude, put your shirt on!" Like a train wreck, I don't really want to see it...but this would be funnier with the shock of a visual aid. Wow, I don't think I've used the word visual aid since high school.

Speaking of shock, we turn now to George Carlin. I think George Carlin is hilarious and he is probably one of the first celebrities that I was actually saddened by his death. Although, maybe not. I was never a huge fan of Meet the Press. I liked it, but it was always a little too intellectual for me... too much critical thinking makes me sleepy. But after reading and hearing about Tim Russert I thought to myself, it's actually too bad - not just 'cause he was young and 'cause he had a family, but shell-fishly because he sounded like the kinda guy I would've liked to have known.

Anyway - Carlin - great in a completely different way - in what was possibly his last interview, the interviewer asked him for the funniest joke George had ever heard. Stop now if you are easily (or not so much) offended. Well, stop, comment and then come back in 2 or 3 days for the next blog. This is the joke (taken from this blog)he told:

Father and son, little son are out on the back porch, passing the day, father says to son, “Do you have perhaps any questions for me about sex?” And he says, “Well, yeah Dad, what is that hairy area on Mommy?” And the father says, “Well, that’s her vulva.” And the boy says, “Well then what’s a cunt?” And the father says, “That’s rest of Mommy.”

According to George - humor is in the surprise. I agree. He was (is) hilarious. And I'm no stand-up comedian (and I can't tell that joke out loud but I will let you read it) but I hope that I am 1/10 as surprising and funny (and offending) as George Carlin. So this blog was not much of a shock or surprise to me... seeing as how I had to type it twice. But if take 1 was a 10 (which it wasn't, it was probably an 8), this is only a 6.

I hope you chuckled!

1st day of summer

2008-06-21T11:19:00.001-05:00

OH wow... yesterday was the 1st day of summer! And I celebrated by eating 'ice cream' from Dairy Queen!

This new blog is soooo easy!

Testing something out...

2008-06-21T09:12:00.002-05:00

I don't know if anyone else uses iGoogle.com.... but I do. And you can add little gadgets that let you do various things. I just added a gadget that lets me blog without having to go through many steps... not that blogging is THAT labor intensive, but I'm hoping if I can make it a little more convenient I will do it more.. So this is my test of that gadget. If you do use iGoogle, I made a little gadget that has a link to my blog, so you don't have to bookmark or type in my page. If you want to add the gadget, let me know and I will send it to you! I'm a huge dork! Happy Saturday to all!

Ingrid!

2008-06-21T08:30:00.004-05:00

YAY! Ingrid's back! She broke right before Memorial Day Weekend - threw a fit and some bearings. Nearly a month later she is completely repaired and back to work! I've been using Jeff's mower, which is nice, but not really good for our park because it's so big, and it's 'throw-guard' is on the side, where Ingrid's is on the back, so you don't have to worry too much about throwing rocks and breaking windows and shtuff.

This week has been a big week in the world of the park - we had 35 rigs on Thursday night and probably about that on Wednesday. We have 2 clubs in and the past few days do feel like I've been running around with a chicken with it's head cut off (not like a chicken with it's head cut off but still running. Running like a chicken with it's head cut off means running in circles, panicky. Running with a similar chicken means running in many different directions, panicky, covered in blood.) Anyway, it's great for the park, but I have to admit I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning (when most of the rigs will be pulling out).

Mom got a birthday card from someone in Atlanta this week - which makes a lot of sense, because it was her birthday. But she didn't know who's handwriting it was - and the lack of a return address made her concerned about Anthrax. But I recognized the handwriting as definitely feminine. Mom thought it may belong to a certain extremist in Atlanta who is male. The photo of the handwriting is posted below (without my foot for perspective)...mom would never make it in the Anthrax department at the NSA. She could however make it in the conspiracy theorist department of the local sanitarium.

Happy Birthday, MOM!

Foreshadowing... mom and dad are going to be pirates today, and I'm going to be a cowboy. Also, Dan Judy is in the Northwest getting ready to hike another hugemongous mountain, so soon we will have a truly interesting blog to read! Have a great Saturday!

Tornado jokes...

2008-06-14T16:22:00.002-05:00

Not really jokes... as much as just things that made me laugh. And now we're clearly out of danger and enough time has passed that you should not judge me for these laughs.

1st - on the radio in the storm shelter, the DJs (Deejays, not Dan Judys) kept saying Water Well Road. Which is fun to say. Try it. Water Well Woad would be way easier. Or, my personal favorite, Whatta Railroad! They said it about every 20 secs, because a tornado touched down there...and they were acting as if this was a very famous road. Water Well Road. Ahem. Yesterday Mom, Dad and I tried to head to Salina using our usual backroads, unfortunately, one was closed. So we had to venture off the beaten path (quite literally) and drive to Salina using mainly my bloodhound skillz. We had to drive on Water Well Road! And it is a dirt road that is delightfully bumpy. Felt like we were going 4-wheeling! I jiggled and giggled.

The second joke also came from the storm shelter radio. Those guys just set us up right and left for comedy gold. One of the 'spotters' was describing the aftermath of some dangerous winds - possibly a tornado. And he said "I don't know what it was, but something strong came through here." Unable to stop myself, I said "Like a BEAR!" My dad said "Sasquatch was here!" I wish I had been clever enough to remember Cassquatch.

Can I offer you a Nice Clean (R) Towelette?

2008-06-13T11:56:00.002-05:00

So you may have heard about the tornadoes that touched down here Wednesday night. Or may be you didn't. But either way they touched the ground in the towns west of us and east of us, but skipped Abilene. Abilene really is a pretty blessed town. Mom, Dad and I spent about 30 minutes in the courthouse storm shelter, because believe it or not, my house doesn't have a storm shelter or basement. The town east of us, Chapman, got his pretty hard. It's about 12 miles from here and they are estimating that about 75-80% of the town was demolished by a 1/2-mile wide tornado.

Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures - but here's the link to the Abilene Newspaper.

Amazingly - we didn't even have any major limbs down. Our wireless antenna did appear to be struck by lightning... but that's getting off pretty easy considering.

But you can't make me blog...

2008-06-06T11:24:00.010-05:00

if I don't
You cant make my hand type something it wont
Here in the park, in these summer hours
I will turn on my 'puter and I'll feel the power
And you will, oh you will
But you cant make blog, if I don't

Ah Bonnie... so versatile.

So, I have been away for far too long. Although the tree scaling post was awesome, it will not be my final blog. My final blog will probably be able something excessively lame, like how much I like gold sandals, because I will be an 80-year old woman living in Texas. So no fears. But you can't make me blog. I blog what I want, when I want! Cuz I am SASSIE!

The truth is, there is a ton to blog about! So much has happened: my ninja gear has come in...we had a heck of a storm last night... Summer bowling league has started...I rode a tractor... we had a Lewis family reunion that was awesome (the only way it could have been improved? a little less rain!) So this will mostly be a blog of catch up and pictures of the happenings... this blog is going to take me at least 30 minutes to complete.

The Ninja gear.
It's freaking awesome. Well, most of it - the ninja grappling hook is so much fun. I am not strong enough to use it completely as designed, but I have a lot of plans for altering the methods. The toe spikes are a little out of touch - they tie onto your shoes or boots with wimpy shoelaces- so when climbing vertically, your shoes slides backwards and the spikes stay in the tree. I have some alterations for this - I think I also have to accept that until I am stronger, I will need to use the ladder to get up the tree, then the ninja gear to scale it higher. Here are several photos of the first and only (to date) attempt with the gear.

Preparing to climb, installing Cyborg Ninja Monkey gear.

Proving I am not a ninja by requiring help from my brother in law, Steve, and niece, Molly. I love the cigarette, I hate the facial expression. You could've at least tried to make it look easy.

Showing my technique. Questionable at best.

I would like to say for the record - I did get up the tree eventually....and like I said - alterations will be made and there will be success.

Riding a tractor
I have done this on several occasions, but I've never had anyone around to take a picture.... I look just right on a tractor!

Summer bowling
It's 9-pin no-tap, so it should in theory be much easier. But the few weeks off have made me lose what little skills I have... so my first night, I set a very low average...I would bet around 95. So that leaves plenty of room for huge handicaps!! :)

Stormy weather
So it's tornado season here.. and yesterday the conditions were just perfect...luckily nothing really bad here happened except some downed limbs...which I have yet to clean up! Sorry all of these are so fuzzy - the wind was still really blowing when I went to take pictures. We got (I would guess) about 2 inches in about 10 minutes. Somebody's mesh sun shade (like a tent) blew away - so put on my rain coat and dragged it back and secured it, but when I finally got inside, I looked like a humongous drowned rat.

This is the limb that fell on my parents motorhome...

My foot for perspective.

Family Reunion
It was awesome. It was great to see Mom, Dad (who will be back in a few days), Mike, Tara, Erikka, Steve, Molly, Cari and Grandma. At the last minute, Grandma Rae was able to make it out. We literally took hundreds of pictures. I will try to share a few of the best ones here. Mike/Tara, Steve/Erikka, Cari... CDs with all the pictures are on the way to you. And for $10, I will send copies to anyone else :)

Me, Dad, Erikka:

For Mike:

Without Ninja gear, Cari was by far a better climber than me. Monkey.

Erikka, Baby Wareham (hiding), Steve, and Molly.

I tried to teach Molly to say that Kansas was paradise. Step one of that is relaxing in the hammock. You can't do that with shoes on... even if they're crocs.

Mike and Tara. Adorable.

Paradise. I think this was probably actually taken at Tara's at Thanksgiving, but I couldn't resist.

She really is incredibly strong...when we were trying to get her in her raft in the pool the first day... well, let's just say it didn't happen. But she's clearly one of the coolest people I know... one of her favorite songs is "hello, goodbye". I have some recordings of her singing... maybe I'll make something and YouTube it.

The pool was the best of times and the worst of times. Molly would put her feet in, despite the all day clouds, declare it 'just right!' and then fight viciously when we tried to put her in the raft. And when Zach and Brooke would go home, she would ask, "Where's Booke?"

And here's the main event, the coup de grace, the gravy, the icing. The family:

Now- a bit of seriousness... I love my space... and I have to admit, I was happy to get my bed back and a little bit of my routine is falling back into place. But I see that picture...and I tear up. I love all of you guys (all my people - not just the pictured ones) and wish we could all be in the same place forever. Well...maybe not the same house, but the same county would be cool.

Love.

Tree scaling.

2008-05-15T11:22:00.008-05:00

I wonder what's more difficult - scaling mountains or trees? Trees are sometimes straight up and mountains at least occasionally have a slope. But mountains are (usually) much taller.

Anyway - the reason why this question comes up is simple. A couple of weeks ago, a tree guy came out and trimmed a tree that was badly broken from the ice storm. He was very reasonably priced and responded to phone calls quickly. Great customer service. But he didn't use a bucket truck - he just shimmied up the tree using ropes and special shoes. This instigated a thought - I could do that with the right shoes. I'm an eternal optimist. Anyway, I bid on some shoes and a harness on Ebay - but lost. and they went for really expensive. I decided to spring for the harness but build the shoes. "Idiot Boots" as my dad calls them. See below.

A few looooong days later, UPS delivered my harness... and up the tree I tried to go. This is a picture story.

You may not be able to tell - but the boots are duct taped on - because they were my dad's old cowboy boots and I had to cut them open to get the screws in.

Also please note the ladder.

Anyway this was only attempt #1. I am building a second pair of idiot boots. Plus I'm thinking - tie the rope to a car and pull forward slowly, it would make my job a little easier.

Cable saga is complete!

2008-05-13T21:49:00.002-05:00

SO! The cable saga began... well, I don't know when. Maybe a month ago? When I blogged about turning off the cable was the start of the cable saga. Basically we have an 'old' section of the campground and a 'new' section. The 'old' section, appropriately, has old cable. That was, inappropriately, run illegally by the prior owner by splitting the signal and running it through boosters. We got legal pretty quickly, but the cable was never replaced and we were still running through boosters. Right about the time I cancelled cable, a customer complained that a cable plug was sparking and melting his cable. BIG problem. So obviously - I called the cable company and through a long drawn out fight through customer service, we finally just accepted their first offer. They really had (have?) us over a barrel. Basically they would provide us with the cable and we would trench and dig and bury and hook it up. So we did just that. I have to say - a trencher - probably the hardest machine to maneuver so far. It wasn't actually hard to do, but difficult to turn because I am so used to how a car turns and handles. There was definitely a bit of a learning curve. Anyway, today we got it completely completely finished. Check. Oh - and we got a good tidbit of conversation out of it:

Setting: Campground, Cassie's hands are in an electrical box.
Mom: We should probably turn the power off before we do this.
Cassie: (grunt)
Several minutes of silent effort pass.
Cassie: (jumping back) Ah! I just got shocked.
Mom: Did you pee your pants?

Good to know that my mom's first concern is "Do we have to do laundry on top of cable work today?"

Oh! And a little benefit...we had to have cable turned back on it the house. Have you seen that show The Alaska Adventure? What a delightful waste of an hour! I almost don't know what to do with myself having the TV on right now...

I broke Stella.

2008-05-08T10:23:00.002-05:00

(Most of this blog is tongue-in-cheek- I'm mostly joking.)

Who's Stella you ask? Well, a couple of days ago my mom found a robin's egg on the ground un-broken. It was a chilly morning and odds were if it was kicked out of the nest, the mama bird knew that it was a sick egg or unfertilized or something was wrong. But I, on the off-chance that the baby was viable, wrapped it gently in one on Vixie's T-shirts and placed it on a space heater.

Well today, my monkey toes did their thing... and unconsciously gripped the t-shirt on the space heater and pulled. Stella was broken.

Stella was going to be a beautiful song bird if she lived. And I was going to teach her English - because I read that baby birds learn to sing just like baby humans learn to talk - by cooing. I was going to feed her a mixture of smashed peas and bananas, because I thought that would look close to chewed worms. Stella would sit on my shoulder and greet campers and mow! :( All my dreams of Stella are gone. Damn you monkey toes!

Good quote!

2008-05-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

So I came across this quote today and realized how much it fits me:

When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not.
- Mark Twain

For those of you who don't know - I have memories that aren't mine. I'm so good at internalizing the stories of others that I remember riding in the back of a pick-up truck under a tarp holding a baby during a thunderstorm. My mom insists this never happened to me... and bears a striking resemblance to an actual memory she has.

The world may never know...

Strangers in the night...

2008-05-02T13:04:00.005-05:00

It probably does feel like I'm a bit of a stranger to you... it's been forever (figuritively speaking) since I've blogged to you - a couple of decent excuses come to mind - I'll let you pick the most likely:

1) An old acquaintance found me and exacted revenge for an imagined offense by cutting off all of my fingers, and I've just now learned how to accurately control the prosthetic digits. Luckily I apologized and we worked everything out and are going to get together for a movie or coffee next week.

2) I got wrapped up in a drama involving the Dalai Lama, China, and oddly, Colin Farrell. China is overdramatic and sometime the Dalai Lama refuses to speak. Colin was just upset because he felt like the theatrics of the other two were overshadowing his beauty. I convinced him this could never be true.

3) I was hired by several Off-Off-Broadway theatre houses to improve their current schedule. This required flights to NY and Turkey City, Ohio. I've just now gotten over the terrible jetlag of traveling across two time zones.

4) I am a lazy sack.

Sadly, I've had plenty to blog about. Mom and dad got into town last week - it's been nice to have company and fun watching Beppo and Baby (their puppy) play. Here's a picture of the bookends being princesses.

And just Baby:

We've started working on the pool - there will be many many more hours of scraping before we paint. Hopefully the pool will be painted and ready to fill by mid-May.

We had a tree guy come out and trim a tree. He shimmied right up the tree thanks to some handy spike-shoes and a rope. I'm looking on eBay to buy myself these tools, because he made it look really easy. I wanna try. Plus I can add that to my resume, save the campground some moola and maybe start doing that in the spare time.

Cable finally was trenched and replaced yesterday evening. That was a big stress, but it seems like it's all going to work out. I got to play in some big boy toys- a skid loader and a trenching machine and was thoroughly dirty. I love my job some days. Seriously!

I've gotten to mow and spray for weeds a couple of times this year, which is delightful. I feel like my routine from last summer is coming back and I'm glad. Weather is turning, I'm walking and life is good here.

I hope life is good in your corner.

Random thoughts that are making me giggle

2008-04-12T20:02:00.002-05:00

Ok - I know - no blog for days and now 4 in one? But my mom and I talk a lot on Instant Messenger, keeping the umbilical attached as much as I can, thank ya very much, and we had some real doozies that I'm still giggling about and feel the need to share ...so my blog is the target on this Saturday evening at home, alone.

Me: I would never eat a quilt.
Mom: Unless it were made of beef.

Mom: You have a clock in your tummy like your grandpa Jerry.
Me: I like that genetically I have a clock in my tummy like my grandpa... or that crocodile. Maybe my great-great grandpa was a crocodile.
Mom: And your great-great grandma was Tinkerbell?
Me: uh...A fairy would NEVER mate with a crocodile.

My mom may possibly be one of the funniest people I know. I'm honored by her greatness and her lateness. That she would even show up for this fake S@!t.

Debt part dos

2008-04-12T18:10:00.003-05:00

Wow... a little more research and this chart is what I find

So the debt was lowest (although probably not low) during Carter's 'reign'. But people hate Carter and say that he was a terrible President. I don't know if he was I'm not smart enough for this discussion I started!

I just realized I really need lotion!

National debt and thoughts.....

2008-04-12T16:53:00.003-05:00

I'm bad at math... but I was reading an article today about campaign fundraising - the three remaining candidates, not counting anyone who doesn't have a shot in hell, Obama, Clinton and McCain have raised a total of $508 million dollars. That to me is a number so far beyond what I understand it's not even funny. (Once on Penn and Teller's show Bullshit, they were discussing numbers and how they're *AHEM* bullshit. Penn said that at a certain point numbers so big just start being classified as shitload, assload, etc, etc... Hilarity ensued.) Anyway (focus, Cassie, focus), I thought to myself it's pathetic that without even knowing (or understanding) the actual numbers, if Americans were to donate that to the National Debt, rather than candidates (and make the candidates figure out a cheaper way to convince us... I'm thinking candy bribes. Rolos are pretty cheap.) it would not even be a drop in the bucket. I was really curious about what it actually would do. So I did a tiny bit of research - Google is a miracle machine - and found the Debt Calculator. This one is even more of a nightmare, when you can watch the debt adding on. So anyway - about $9 trillion. I think the next bigger step is quadtrillion? (A shitty assload.) Something like that. Anyway - if Americans had contributed $508 million dollars to pay toward that deficit, it would only decrease .005%. I don't really know how to feel about it, because the numbers feel so theoretical and bullshit-y. And I don't think there's one person or government decision to blame. I could be wrong here... and there are people who are much smarter reading this blog than the one writing. So feel free, point out the one person, or the one decision, or just check my math. I look forward to reading your input.

I don't have a conclusion here for you. Come up with your own, I've got to go balance my checkbook.

interesting blog

2008-04-12T12:43:00.000-05:00

I wouldn't normally do this ... but this blog is really interesting - way more interesting than mine!

Inside Iraq

My dog is a nudist

2008-04-09T12:37:00.003-05:00

Well, I guess technically not a nudist, but she definitely likes it shorter. It's not really quite warm enough for her to have gotten her first haircut of the summer, but it was so long it was really getting tangle-y. So she got her haircut. Or HAIRCUTE! She acts like a puppy when her hair is first cut and she looks like a stuffed animal. Very very cute, for an old lady and her homemade up-do.

Before:

After:

In other news, I learned that I make a mean Taco Salad. YEAH!

The challenge was met.

2008-03-31T13:57:00.004-06:00

So recently mom and I challenged each other - her to start a website selling her digitized embroidery designs and me to start to re-learn the guitar. Her website is up (GammasCorner.com and I learned a song on the guitar - there's no way to prove it to her, because she can't play music on her computer... but here is a movie - made up of pictures that she took of desert plants and new puppies (and a couple of old pictures because the song is longer than I thought) but the song in the background - that's me.

Cardinal?

2008-03-30T09:43:00.003-06:00

Ok so this morning...well, it's been ok. I've been feeling a little down - focusing on some negative aspects of my life that I can have the tendency to focus on - I try not to type about these aspects here for a couple of reasons. I like to try to keep this blog light and entertaining while maintaining a strong sincerity. I want this to be something I can read back over and smile - not go, oh, yeah - that day was pretty shitty. Also, I'm protecting you, Dear Reader. The negative aspects of my life are also notoriously boring. Like ridiculously. So anyway, that's what I've been doing - I slept really late (still recovering from pretending to be young on Friday night!), on the couch no less and made plans for lunch, but other than that, just analyzing and thinking - which I've learned is not a productive way for me to act. So anyway, I'm looking out the window and a male cardinal comes and sits on a cable wire less than a foot away from the window and just stares back.

This strikes me for a couple of reasons:
• Last night when I couldn’t sleep because I was *ahem* thinking too much (see a pattern?) I cruised Netflix’s instant videos and found a boring documentary on birds – it worked. I feel asleep.
• Bright red? What does that mean? Blood? Stop?
• He stared back – seriously. Then flew away.
Then guess what landed on the wire – a female cardinal, she didn’t stay as long – she was clearly chasing. She flew the same direction as her man. A girl chasing a boy.

Anyway – this blog clearly demonstrates that I am a little superstitious as well as over-analytical. To the sender of the cardinal: you don’t have to hit me with a 2x4 to show me something. And I’m trying.

Now – I’m not dumb – I know that the cardinal probably means nothing except that it’s spring and time for birds to lay eggs in the carport. But …. What if?

What would the cardinal have meant to you this morning if he (and then she) had landed in front of you window?

Lonestar!

2008-03-26T17:04:00.003-06:00

So, I'm really excited - prepare yourself for wayyyyy too many exclamation points!

I just got off the phone with a local Country radio station - where on 1 call to the number that I wasn't even sure was right - I won tickets to see Lonestar on Friday night! I actually really like this band - I have 2 of their CDs and LJ and I went to see them in College! Ironically in college we saw them for free too - I have to pay more $30 to this band. :) But it's cool - Leon luckily had no plans because my pickings are slim for a take-along - 2 friends and only one likes country...

YAY! What a good day this turned out to be...

DUDE! I forgot - Jamie Foxx is going to be there too - he does a duet with them that I saw on Oprah! It made me cry!!! :):):)

DUDE! actually - I was wrong - it was Jamie Foxx and rascal flatts that made me cry. I like them too.

AH! My greatest creation ... ever!

2008-03-22T16:16:00.004-06:00

OK - so I couldn't decide if Dan was saying that a forest didn't throw up or I didn't get a hair cut because I didn't have a picture of either. This got my feeling creative and this is what I spent an hour doing this afternoon.

Forests DO throw up. And when it happens, I look on in disgust. With slightly shorter hair.

Today I played with my font.

GA bulldogs in the NCAA tourney!

2008-03-20T11:11:00.002-06:00

I'm half working, half watching the game on ESPN.com right now, but this is also fairly exciting. I hear the AJC has a pretty big readership:

Dan Judy's Newspaper Debut

Do forests throw up?

2008-03-19T11:58:00.003-06:00

If they do, this is what it looks like:

In other news - got my hair cut yesterday - don't worry, Mom - not too much shorter, just getting rid of the split ends.

Rock and a hard place

2008-03-17T14:32:00.002-06:00

Well we've all been in such a spot. I was put there today by two competing forces - business rules and desire to please. So we occasionally have local people park in the campground because they are moving, or can't afford a house, or other circumstances. Last month a lady came in with her son- a nice older lady (maybe 60s?) and said she was have a rough year and needed to park in the campground and rents and pays for a spot for a month - $375. Now her rent was due this Sunday and she came in asking for me to barter for the spot. We do barter for things occasionally, but the campground is literally making no money - we can't afford to have people using our utilities and we pay cash for those and the campers pay with labor. Sucky, but true. If there was a way I could send her down to the electric company to work off our bill, I might have taken her up on it. Also, she came in about a week ago asking if I had any work for her to do for gas money. I felt bad - but I told her no - both because we really didn't and because I don't want people assuming we have enough money to have employees - because we definitely don't. So. When she asked if she could trade labor, she offered cleaning the bathrooms, lifeguarding the pool and mowing. Well - the pool and mowing are moot points at least for another month, but I love mowing and there's no way I'm giving that chore away. Selfish, I know - but that chore really is my sanity in the summer. And the pool is 5-feet deep at the deepest (so we can get away just posting 'no lifeguard' signs) and insurance-wise, there's no way we can pay a 60-year old to lifeguard it. So we're down to cleaning the bathrooms - Do you realize how much time she would have to spend in there scrubbing to work off her $375 in rent? The electricity to have the lights on so she could see what she was doing would cost us more. Ugh. Rock meet hard spot. Mind if I stand between you two? So today when she came down - I basically had to kick an old lady out. I'm like that mean guy from Rent. (Which was a terrible movie - but we've already discussed this.) I'm pretty sure she was crying - even though I gave her 2 free nights. I hate internal debates - I hate recognizing that it's selfish to a degree - I could pay myself a little less - and then she could stay a little longer, but I'm not willing to do that. I wonder, at what point is it determined that you're going to special landlord hell? Hey - one good thing - I'm a people pleaser - but not if it's gonna cost me money. Great.

Guess what word I regularly mess up in this blog. Occasionally. I want to spell it Occassionally. Which is just nuts.

dad...this place sound familiar?

2008-03-16T16:50:00.000-06:00

Comment responses

2008-03-13T10:03:00.002-06:00

LJ- You have to come to KS soon... Simply have to!

Gma and Dan - As usual glad to entertain, although, I re-read my blog and here's the breakdown of amusement I displayed.
Smiles- 1
Chuckles- 2
Guffaws- 0
You guys might need higher standards in the 'entertainment' realm.

Tara- now this is entertainment! I am white (I think - Gma you may want to expand upon this if you can) and I have TV - kinda - through the Internet - but I'm so glad you brought it up so I can continue to talk about how I don't have TV. :) But one thing - could you refrain from posting comments that link to blogs that are clearly clever-er and more laughter inducing? It's a real blow to my self-esteem and may cost me readers.

My quilt is on hold - I'm on the stinking last step and my sewing machine (which was the cheapest one I could buy probably 4 years ago) isn't strong enough to quilt through the layers... so...

Spring is taking a vacation starting tomorrow - so I'm hoping to finish the gardens and raking this afternoon. I've started my skin cancer for the summer. Skin cancer in reality is no laughing matter - and so I put sunblock on my face, because I don't want cancer there. I'm a role model for rebels and other TV hating white people. Go , Dan Judy. Cancel that cable and then we can talk about how awesome we are even if one of is right-wing and one of us is left-wing.

I both adore and detest....

2008-03-10T19:49:00.002-06:00

...Daylight savings time. I hate that this morning I felt exhausted at 8:30 am. I love that I took a walk with Beppo after 5:00 pm. I'm thinking that tomorrow (when it's supposed to be 71!!!) my clock will be way better and I will just adore DST.

...hammocks. Well - permanently affixed hammocks. The ice storm this year fell down on top of my hammock and made it a little knotted. So this afternoon I untangled it. And it's all prepared for tomorrow's 71 degrees.

...flowering gardens. Our gardens today got a thorough cleaning - emptying out the leaves and dead growth and I've started taking pictures - there's one bloomin' bunch that I've taken several pictures of and I'm gonna keep going until it blooms - then I will have a neat movie.

...learning to quilt. I think it's really cool that I'm learning to quilt. And I know I'm gonna make another one when this one's done. But I wish I'd learned this when I lived with my mom - cuz it is sometimes difficult to understand the instructions for the next step.