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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Music on the Mountain
In the middle of July we spent a day on the mountain listening to music. Ryan wasn't able to come but Leslie and the kids came up and Abby brought her boyfriend, Jorge. Dean and I went up early with a cooler of food and drinks and staked out our spot on the ground. Once again we were in the minority since we don't have a cell phone and we don't own a fancy lawn chair with a cup holder but we still managed to have a great day.
And thanks to Jorge here's a clip of some music and dancing.
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And thanks to Jorge here's a clip of some music and dancing.
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Thursday, August 7, 2008
Who said you need a backseat?
It only took about 45 minutes of head-scratching, Googling (you'd be surprised how many people can't get their trunk open for one reason or another), manual-reading, and finally, seat removal, before we gained access to the trunk and retrieved the groceries. The trunk is now bungied down and the seats are stored in the garage until Dean finds the time to fix the trunk latch mechanism. It seems now it won't latch---with or without sand. It's just one more of life's small challenges.
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Monday, August 4, 2008
Do not attempt this at home (or in your own car)
I am trying to get photos ready for my next post but I had take a break from that because as I type Dean is outside trying to unstick the trunk. Here's the deal. He's been using our little Toyota Corolla to haul buckets full of sand and small pebbles that he's been using as a base in the side and front yard rocked area. Seems at some point a bucket (or maybe more as far as I know) tipped over and spilled said bits of pebbles and sand in the trunk. These small particles have become lodged in all the tiny spaces inside the trunk and on occasion get caught in the lock mechanism so when he tries to unlock the trunk the tiny bits of sand and pebbles prevent it from opening.
We just returned from the grocery store a bit ago and when he tried to unlock the trunk to bring in our items (half of which require refrigeration not to mention the two bags of ice) the trunk would not unlock. Apparently it's the third time this has happened. I stood around for a while as he pushed the car up and down, beat on the trunk to try and dislodge the pebbles and sand, got a crowbar out and tried to pry the lock open as he turned the key, then sighed and said, "I keep cleaning it out and they keep getting caught. I thought I had them all". I finally left hoping the sound of the front door opening and grocery bags being hauled in would follow shortly. So far...approximately 20 minutes later...I've only heard the banging on the car. I went out once to see how it was going and amazingly he was still smiling (sort of) and his only comment was, "I wish I knew how I got it unlocked before."
Honestly, I just feel like laughing. It's just so stupid it's funny. Wait...I hear footsteps....do I hear grocery bags? ... No..... It's just too, too funny. Poor guy. Maybe the melting ice will cause the pebbles and sand to relocate and the lock will open. I guess I'll get brave and see if I can help by offering well thought out, creative suggestions. :-) I didn't want to post photos anyway....◦
We just returned from the grocery store a bit ago and when he tried to unlock the trunk to bring in our items (half of which require refrigeration not to mention the two bags of ice) the trunk would not unlock. Apparently it's the third time this has happened. I stood around for a while as he pushed the car up and down, beat on the trunk to try and dislodge the pebbles and sand, got a crowbar out and tried to pry the lock open as he turned the key, then sighed and said, "I keep cleaning it out and they keep getting caught. I thought I had them all". I finally left hoping the sound of the front door opening and grocery bags being hauled in would follow shortly. So far...approximately 20 minutes later...I've only heard the banging on the car. I went out once to see how it was going and amazingly he was still smiling (sort of) and his only comment was, "I wish I knew how I got it unlocked before."
Honestly, I just feel like laughing. It's just so stupid it's funny. Wait...I hear footsteps....do I hear grocery bags? ... No..... It's just too, too funny. Poor guy. Maybe the melting ice will cause the pebbles and sand to relocate and the lock will open. I guess I'll get brave and see if I can help by offering well thought out, creative suggestions. :-) I didn't want to post photos anyway....◦
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Cow Poop
We had our first grandparent excursion in Casper when we took Emerson and Myra to the county fair. We arrived at their house shortly after 5:00 p.m. to find them dressed in blue jeans, and cowboy boots and rarin' to go. All they were missing were the cowboy hats. Dean and I didn't quite look the part in our tennis shoes but we were wearing blue jeans.
Once we arrived Dean pointed out to the girls that he smelled cow poop. Myra completely agreed with him and chanted all the way in as we bought tickets and found our way into the center of the fairgrounds "I smell cow poop", "I smell cow poop", "I smell cow poop."
Our first act as responsible grandparents was to buy cotton candy. Emerson managed to swallow large handfuls without any problem. Myra was able to plaster it to her nose and chin but had trouble getting it in her mouth. She walked around like a fish with her round mouth opening and closing and blue cotton candy hanging off her nose and chin.
The first mistake we made as out-of-practice parents and "new" grandparents was stopping at the carnival first. I foolishly thought we'd let the girls have a ride on the merry-go-round and then hit the barns. What I quickly learned was if you stop at the carnival first, nothing else is as exciting the rest of the night. Myra revised her chant from "I smell cow poop" to "I wanna ride the horse", "I wanna ride the horse"... We somehow managed to pry them from the rides and explored the animal barns. Dean and Emerson took their time as they slowly moved from pen to pen. They seemed to have intent conversations about each different animal. I'm can only guess that they must have been discussing the genetic differences between a black cow and a brown and white cow or the reason the daddy peacock is prettier than the mommy. Myra and I, on the other hand, flitted from pen to pen with the longest stop approximately 3 seconds. At one point I suggested to Myra she might want to watch carefully so she didn't step in cow poop. Consequently the chant changed to "I see cow poop", "I see cow poop", I see cow poop".
We made a quick tour through the exhibit hall, touched creepy lizard-like reptiles, played for a while in the science booth and then made our way to the rodeo. Dean bought us Indian Tacos, sodas, and warm, gooey cinnamon bread. We made a picnic on the floor of the stadium and waited for the rodeo to start. As we were eating, a guy dressed like a cowboy, walking on the tallest stilts I've ever seen, wandered through trying to get kids to walk between those really tall legs. Once the rodeo started he disappeared and we didn't see him again. It wasn't long before chant number four began which continued all the way through the rodeo and on the ride home, "where's the big guy?", "where's the big guy?", "where's the big guy?" Emerson and I finally told Myra the really big guy's really big mom told him he had to go home. Sadly, that wasn't satisfying and only resulted in "why?".
Rodeos aren't all that exciting for little girls but we made it through to the end with the help of ice cream and a break in the middle to go ride the merry-go-round, the boats and the cars. At about 9:45 p.m. we deposited them safely at home, dirty, sticky, tired, and as Leslie pointed out to me "you all stink like cow poop."◦
Once we arrived Dean pointed out to the girls that he smelled cow poop. Myra completely agreed with him and chanted all the way in as we bought tickets and found our way into the center of the fairgrounds "I smell cow poop", "I smell cow poop", "I smell cow poop."
Our first act as responsible grandparents was to buy cotton candy. Emerson managed to swallow large handfuls without any problem. Myra was able to plaster it to her nose and chin but had trouble getting it in her mouth. She walked around like a fish with her round mouth opening and closing and blue cotton candy hanging off her nose and chin.
The first mistake we made as out-of-practice parents and "new" grandparents was stopping at the carnival first. I foolishly thought we'd let the girls have a ride on the merry-go-round and then hit the barns. What I quickly learned was if you stop at the carnival first, nothing else is as exciting the rest of the night. Myra revised her chant from "I smell cow poop" to "I wanna ride the horse", "I wanna ride the horse"... We somehow managed to pry them from the rides and explored the animal barns. Dean and Emerson took their time as they slowly moved from pen to pen. They seemed to have intent conversations about each different animal. I'm can only guess that they must have been discussing the genetic differences between a black cow and a brown and white cow or the reason the daddy peacock is prettier than the mommy. Myra and I, on the other hand, flitted from pen to pen with the longest stop approximately 3 seconds. At one point I suggested to Myra she might want to watch carefully so she didn't step in cow poop. Consequently the chant changed to "I see cow poop", "I see cow poop", I see cow poop".
We made a quick tour through the exhibit hall, touched creepy lizard-like reptiles, played for a while in the science booth and then made our way to the rodeo. Dean bought us Indian Tacos, sodas, and warm, gooey cinnamon bread. We made a picnic on the floor of the stadium and waited for the rodeo to start. As we were eating, a guy dressed like a cowboy, walking on the tallest stilts I've ever seen, wandered through trying to get kids to walk between those really tall legs. Once the rodeo started he disappeared and we didn't see him again. It wasn't long before chant number four began which continued all the way through the rodeo and on the ride home, "where's the big guy?", "where's the big guy?", "where's the big guy?" Emerson and I finally told Myra the really big guy's really big mom told him he had to go home. Sadly, that wasn't satisfying and only resulted in "why?".
Rodeos aren't all that exciting for little girls but we made it through to the end with the help of ice cream and a break in the middle to go ride the merry-go-round, the boats and the cars. At about 9:45 p.m. we deposited them safely at home, dirty, sticky, tired, and as Leslie pointed out to me "you all stink like cow poop."◦
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Balloons
I actually got up at the same time as a work day this morning and went with Dean to see the hot air balloon festival. It was amazing how many people were up and at the field at 6:10 a.m. which is when we arrived. Two balloons were already in the air and when we left at 6:40 a.m. they were all up. It's a good thing I didn't make Dean stop for coffee or we would have missed the whole thing. He told me I whined every time I saw somebody walk by with a steaming cup of hot coffee but I think he was exaggerating. Just because I pointed out every cup of coffee that went by does not mean I was whining.
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Sunday, July 6, 2008
Rocks, Rolies and Rollin'
Our own home improvement projects are continuing broken up by a quick trip back to Lincoln for a wedding and a week in Delta.
The rock work is oh so close to being completed prolonged only by Dean's insistence on meticulously placing each rock in its appointed place one at at time. Sometimes I think he's really an engineer disguised as a geologist. And by the way...this photo was taken in June. Thankfully it has finally warmed up.
Leslie and Ryan have moved back to Casper. We spent a week helping them pack up the final boxes, finishing up small miscellaneous projects, cleaning the house and loading the truck. Once the last toy was packed Emerson and Myra discovered they could have as much fun collecting roly poly bugs and worms as they could playing with leggos and dolls. And having their Papa teach them the fine art of spitting on rocks to view their beauty was pretty cool too.
Of course digging for bugs and worms necessitates baths. One night as I was on duty while they played in the tub I figured I may as well clean the bathroom while I was in there. Leslie came in to see how we were all getting along and discovered somebody had somehow dumped a large amount of water on the floor. The only toy left was one plastic glass and the girls had stricken looks on their faces. When Leslie left to get something to wipe up the water I looked over and saw two small heads forehead to forehead whispering, "you did it, no you did it, you did it, no you did it..."
The truck was loaded with the help of a couple of their friends and we even had time to relax in the front yard. Of course the fact that that all the furniture was packed on Saturday and grass was softer than hard wood floors may have had something to do with it. Pierce spent his time eating plums or napping under the tree.
We rolled into Casper after an uneventful trip other than Dean and Ryan discovering the trailer towing their small pickup had a flat before they'd even made it out of Delta. We all rolled in to Casper safe and sound and now "all" that's left is the unpacking.◦
The rock work is oh so close to being completed prolonged only by Dean's insistence on meticulously placing each rock in its appointed place one at at time. Sometimes I think he's really an engineer disguised as a geologist. And by the way...this photo was taken in June. Thankfully it has finally warmed up.
Leslie and Ryan have moved back to Casper. We spent a week helping them pack up the final boxes, finishing up small miscellaneous projects, cleaning the house and loading the truck. Once the last toy was packed Emerson and Myra discovered they could have as much fun collecting roly poly bugs and worms as they could playing with leggos and dolls. And having their Papa teach them the fine art of spitting on rocks to view their beauty was pretty cool too.
Of course digging for bugs and worms necessitates baths. One night as I was on duty while they played in the tub I figured I may as well clean the bathroom while I was in there. Leslie came in to see how we were all getting along and discovered somebody had somehow dumped a large amount of water on the floor. The only toy left was one plastic glass and the girls had stricken looks on their faces. When Leslie left to get something to wipe up the water I looked over and saw two small heads forehead to forehead whispering, "you did it, no you did it, you did it, no you did it..."
The truck was loaded with the help of a couple of their friends and we even had time to relax in the front yard. Of course the fact that that all the furniture was packed on Saturday and grass was softer than hard wood floors may have had something to do with it. Pierce spent his time eating plums or napping under the tree.
We rolled into Casper after an uneventful trip other than Dean and Ryan discovering the trailer towing their small pickup had a flat before they'd even made it out of Delta. We all rolled in to Casper safe and sound and now "all" that's left is the unpacking.◦
Friday, June 6, 2008
Is it really spring?
Time flies when you're havin' fun, or when you're busy or when you're old. Time just flies and it definitely flew for me between my last post and this one. I'm just hopin' that the snow we were still getting in May is really over. I thought my days of turning on the furnace were over for the season....until yesterday.
Spring has been slow in coming this year but I'm holding out hope it'll actually arrive. At least the moisture we've gotten recently has been rain and not the white stuff. I'm looking out at a rainbow now as I type and the sun is peeking out. The countryside is bright green, flowers are beginning to bloom, garden is in and I saw two baby doves under the evergreen tree this morning. Maybe spring has arrived.
Here's a short recap of events since my last post:
1. Ryan was offered and accepted a teaching position in Casper so they are moving from Colorado back to Casper. They have found a house and plan to be moved in July 1. Soon we'll have all the grandbaby time ever wanted.
2. I finally recovered from my sinus infection just in time to get caught up in a big project at work which allowed me the pleasure of working 10-11 hour days for close to 3 weeks.
3. Once again I did not see the inside of the gym for close to a month. I finally managed to find my way back this week.
4. Our desktop computer bit the bullet and we crossed over to a laptop. Other than the fact that I keep hitting the "n" instead of the spacebar I absolutely love it. I even baked cupcakes today with my recipe pulled up on the laptop pointing toward the counter where I was working. How cool is that?
5. Abby has begun her summer field season in Scottsbluff. This year she is living in a dorm in town with wireless, cable, and real people nearby vs. last year when she lived in an old empty office building a few miles from town all alone surrounded by cornfields. I think she's enjoying this year's accommodations a bit more. We will see her most weekends this year since she will only be 3 hours away vs. 9 when she's in Lincoln. Maybe it's really the washer/dryer and cooler of food she takes home with her she really comes to see but we take what we can get.
6. The kitchen looks the same--no painting or staining yet and no modifications to the tile. We're living with it. The project of the moment is moving some sprinkler heads and filling in the dirt-work side of the house with rocks. I expect that project to be long-term. Dean brings home rocks bucketful by bucketful from big holes in the ground where house foundations are being built. Then he washes them and sorts them by size. I told him he was cheap and we should just buy the rocks and be done with it but he says picking up rocks is therapeutic. Who am I to intrude on therapy?
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Spring has been slow in coming this year but I'm holding out hope it'll actually arrive. At least the moisture we've gotten recently has been rain and not the white stuff. I'm looking out at a rainbow now as I type and the sun is peeking out. The countryside is bright green, flowers are beginning to bloom, garden is in and I saw two baby doves under the evergreen tree this morning. Maybe spring has arrived.
Here's a short recap of events since my last post:
1. Ryan was offered and accepted a teaching position in Casper so they are moving from Colorado back to Casper. They have found a house and plan to be moved in July 1. Soon we'll have all the grandbaby time ever wanted.
2. I finally recovered from my sinus infection just in time to get caught up in a big project at work which allowed me the pleasure of working 10-11 hour days for close to 3 weeks.
3. Once again I did not see the inside of the gym for close to a month. I finally managed to find my way back this week.
4. Our desktop computer bit the bullet and we crossed over to a laptop. Other than the fact that I keep hitting the "n" instead of the spacebar I absolutely love it. I even baked cupcakes today with my recipe pulled up on the laptop pointing toward the counter where I was working. How cool is that?
5. Abby has begun her summer field season in Scottsbluff. This year she is living in a dorm in town with wireless, cable, and real people nearby vs. last year when she lived in an old empty office building a few miles from town all alone surrounded by cornfields. I think she's enjoying this year's accommodations a bit more. We will see her most weekends this year since she will only be 3 hours away vs. 9 when she's in Lincoln. Maybe it's really the washer/dryer and cooler of food she takes home with her she really comes to see but we take what we can get.
6. The kitchen looks the same--no painting or staining yet and no modifications to the tile. We're living with it. The project of the moment is moving some sprinkler heads and filling in the dirt-work side of the house with rocks. I expect that project to be long-term. Dean brings home rocks bucketful by bucketful from big holes in the ground where house foundations are being built. Then he washes them and sorts them by size. I told him he was cheap and we should just buy the rocks and be done with it but he says picking up rocks is therapeutic. Who am I to intrude on therapy?
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Saturday, April 26, 2008
That's what I get for bragging
There's been a bug going around the office in the past month or two. Dean got a version of it earlier and like a fool I bragged that I never get sick (okay except for that bronchitis in November) and I was not going to get it. The mistake I made as I said that was forgetting to knock on wood. If I would have remembered that I would have been fine. But as it turned out, the bug bit me in the butt in no uncertain terms.
Here's how I know I was sick:
There is a big indentation in the shape of my body on the couch
I know there is nothing on daytime TV worth staying home to watch
My blood is now brown and smells like cinnamon or lemon tea
I have developed an aversion to chicken soup
I didn't have a cup of coffee or glass of wine for 14 days
I know how to cut pills in half so they are small enough for me to swallow
I know how to use a nose spray
The only exercise I've gotten in two weeks is the arm bend from kleenex box to nose
Dean kept a 3-foot distance from me at all times and slept in the basement guest room for 8 nights and he hates basements
Dean wanted to burn my sweatpants in a ceremonial fire
I didn't look at the pictures I'd taken of Leslie, Ryan and the grandkids when they were home (while I was getting and being sick) until 8 days after they'd gone home
Here's how I know I'm finally getting better:
After my first day back at work when Dean told me I "looked better" my response was, "even dead people look good with clean hair and makeup"
I had my first cup of coffee in two weeks
I had my first glass of wine in two weeks
I am sitting upright and not on the couch
I'm not wearing sweatpants.............................do I smell smoke?
I am blogging
I just realized most of the pictures I took while the kids were home are blurry
I hope none of you has gotten or will get the "bug". If you do, my sympathies are with you.
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Here's how I know I was sick:
There is a big indentation in the shape of my body on the couch
I know there is nothing on daytime TV worth staying home to watch
My blood is now brown and smells like cinnamon or lemon tea
I have developed an aversion to chicken soup
I didn't have a cup of coffee or glass of wine for 14 days
I know how to cut pills in half so they are small enough for me to swallow
I know how to use a nose spray
The only exercise I've gotten in two weeks is the arm bend from kleenex box to nose
Dean kept a 3-foot distance from me at all times and slept in the basement guest room for 8 nights and he hates basements
Dean wanted to burn my sweatpants in a ceremonial fire
I didn't look at the pictures I'd taken of Leslie, Ryan and the grandkids when they were home (while I was getting and being sick) until 8 days after they'd gone home
Here's how I know I'm finally getting better:
After my first day back at work when Dean told me I "looked better" my response was, "even dead people look good with clean hair and makeup"
I had my first cup of coffee in two weeks
I had my first glass of wine in two weeks
I am sitting upright and not on the couch
I'm not wearing sweatpants.............................do I smell smoke?
I am blogging
I just realized most of the pictures I took while the kids were home are blurry
I hope none of you has gotten or will get the "bug". If you do, my sympathies are with you.
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Tuesday, April 8, 2008
How Did That Happen?
The weirdest thing happened to me last Saturday morning. We reached the end of the poses in my yoga class and it was time for the Savasanah which is yoga speak for "lay down and make your mental list of what you need to do today." I laid back on the mat with my eyes closed and a bit later rolled to my side when the instructor told us all we might enjoy that. A bit after that I hear "Namaste" which is yoga speak for "No more stay. Go home". I opened my eyes, looked around and was shocked to see I was the only one still lying curled up on my side. Everybdy else was sitting up in their little yoga poses. Somehow I'd missed the suggestion that we might all like to sit up now. How could that have happened? Me ... relax so much I don't hear people uncurling and sitting up on their mat? Could it be possible? Did I actually enter the yoga zone?
Sunday I went snowshoeing with friends on the mountain near their cabin. Since Dean was taking a metal-working class at the college all weekend it was just Shadow and I. Dean happened to be home for a lunch break when we were getting ready to go. I called Shadow to me as I walked to the front door and she started to follow me and then went back and sat by Dean. I called again from the front door but no dog. Dean finally managed to separate her from his hip and convince her that it was safe to go with "that woman" so off we went. I think she had a pretty good day once she realized I wasn't evil and it was possible to have fun without Dean even if she did have to put up with a hyperactive white dog dressed in silly black boots and a dorky red sweater. The skies were bright blue, the air was warm, the sun was shining and there wasn't a breath of wind.
I was told the conditions were perfect for a first-timer. The snow was crusty so we didn't sink through very much which made the going much less work. I somehow managed to "fall" four times anyway although they were much softer falls than during skiing. It's more like a slow lean that just keeps going until your body is completely "leaning" on the ground. Twice I stepped on one of my own snowshoes with the other foot which seemed rather stupid. But it was fun, great exercise, stimulating conversation and the glass of wine in the cabin afterwards was pretty good too.
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Sunday I went snowshoeing with friends on the mountain near their cabin. Since Dean was taking a metal-working class at the college all weekend it was just Shadow and I. Dean happened to be home for a lunch break when we were getting ready to go. I called Shadow to me as I walked to the front door and she started to follow me and then went back and sat by Dean. I called again from the front door but no dog. Dean finally managed to separate her from his hip and convince her that it was safe to go with "that woman" so off we went. I think she had a pretty good day once she realized I wasn't evil and it was possible to have fun without Dean even if she did have to put up with a hyperactive white dog dressed in silly black boots and a dorky red sweater. The skies were bright blue, the air was warm, the sun was shining and there wasn't a breath of wind.
I was told the conditions were perfect for a first-timer. The snow was crusty so we didn't sink through very much which made the going much less work. I somehow managed to "fall" four times anyway although they were much softer falls than during skiing. It's more like a slow lean that just keeps going until your body is completely "leaning" on the ground. Twice I stepped on one of my own snowshoes with the other foot which seemed rather stupid. But it was fun, great exercise, stimulating conversation and the glass of wine in the cabin afterwards was pretty good too.
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