The Adventures of Mot and Nej

Our Day in Pictures: 06/26/11

2011-07-08T15:00:00.001-05:00

In case you haven't seen it on the news.....our region is experiencing something it's really never seen....to this scale...since 1952. The Missouri River is threatening (and has, in some cases, come through on it's threats). Sections of interstates are under water and closed. Entire towns are either under water, or WILL be under water soon. I've never seen so many sandbags in my life!!!!

My original home town is practically empty. A town of 300, reduced to just a few families sticking around...holding down the fort, so to speak. Waiting for levees to fail and the water to arrive. The levees are going one by one. Hundreds...thousands of people have been forced to evacuate. Their homes under water until December....if not longer.

My grandma still lives in my hometown. We emptied her house a few weeks ago, and she's staying with my sister and family. The somewhat larger town I moved to in second grade is also at risk. My parents still live there. They, fortunately, live on a hill. Unfortunately, all the routes in and out of town are slowly being eliminated and covered in water. I've never seen anything like it.

The Missouri has a chain of 6 (?) major dams along it's route. The flooding we're experiencing is from rainfall upstream. Snow melt hasn't even become a factor yet. It's nuts!!!!!!

Anyway, the last, and closest dam is about 3 hours north of Omaha...so the boys, Mot and I decided to road trip up to see it. They are pumping 164,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) through it's spillways right now.....and, from the sounds of it, could be increased again before this is all said and done.

(Side note: To help wrap your head around the amount of water flowing from the dam right now.......Gavins Point is releasing at a rate of 160,000 cfs. The flow rate of Niagara Falls during the daylight hours of tourist season is 100,000 cfs...and 50,000 the rest of the year.)

We stopped to eat breakfast at our favorite breakfast greasy spoon...then were on our way.

A stop at Starbucks once we reached Yankton, SD was necessary!! :-)

(The Starbucks was in HyVee. I really enjoy watching Curtis Stone on TV....but those HyVee commercials have GOT to go!!)

After we got our caffeine fix, we headed out of town to the dam.

The amount of people traveling to see it was amazing. License plates from everywhere were lined up along the roads.

The road over the top of the dam is open on the weekends, so we headed to the Nebraska side first.

We parked the car, walked around a little, took some pictures, then headed back across the dam to the South Dakota side. (I may or may not have had my arm well out of the car window, taking video of the water flowing below us as we drove back across. And Mot may or may not have had to yell "pole" every time a light pole would have taken my arm off.)

Once on the South Dakota side again, we had to park quite a ways away. On our way up to the viewing area, we walked along the banks of the river.

(whoops)

(Danny hangin' back, watching the show. It was quite a sight to see!!!)

(Mot and I wasted no time getting up the front. He was taking pics on his phone, while I was alternating between my camera and my video camera.)

(We were pretty well soaked through by the time we left. That water was COLD!!!)

Here is a video taken right in the splash zone of the spillway. It was impossible to get a video showing the power of what you see when you're there in person!!

Just watching the water rush by was making us all (well, not Mot...but the rest of us) a little seasick. And, the sun sparkling against the white foam on the water made it look like a river of diamonds.

And here is the last one taken while driving along the downtown street of my hometown of Missouri Valley. (The interstate is under water and detours from Omaha to the dam took us right near town.) Seeing the sandbags in front of all the stores, waiting to be placed, was a little creepy. The best part is McDonalds (about 2 min in).

So....after we left the dam, we went for lunch.

It wasn't so good. Buffet, blah...oh well.

But, while we were waiting for our table, I spied this flyer on the wall.

Your typical small town summer extravaganza.

Main attractions and activities.....beer pong and flippy cup. Niiiiiice!

After lunch, and on our way home, we hit the visitor center.

Danny spotted some Lewis and Clark dolls on a shelf.

Very lifelike and realistic....right down to the missing tooth???

Our Day in Pictures: 06/24/11

2011-06-26T20:35:00.009-05:00

Hello blogosphere.....long time no see!! :-)

I've made two new goals....
1) post about what we do....SOON after we do it...not six months later
2) get caught up on the days I've missed...you know, Jan - June :-)

I'll, in most cases (especially for those updates from MONTHS ago)....use very little wordage. Pictures, pictures, and more pictures. Eventually, the goal is to get into the habit of posting more often....and I'll work my way up to words again. (giggle)

As you can see from this first post....I'm failing at the "less words" thing already.

You can take the girl from the words, but you can't take the words from this girl.

(I have no idea what that means.)

OK, so these first few posts are actually things that happened this weekend. Words are OK. :-)

So, without further ado.....I give you Friday night golf league.

I changed into my golf clothes at work. On the way out the door, my boss asked where I was headed. I told him I was taking my clubs out for their yearly game.

(Last time I'd taken them out was Memorial Day weekend.....2010.)

:-)

The girls (Val and Dee) have standing tee times at a local country club. After weeks of inviting us, and schedules not matching up....we finally made it!!

I was on a "team" with Frankie and Steve. Mot was on a "team" with Val and Dee.

Friday was the first sunny, gorgeous day, in quite some time. The weather was perfect!!! No wind, not too hot. And the bugs stayed away until the sun went down on us. It was awesome!!!!!

Elmwood is a gorgeous course in mid-town Omaha. Shakespeare on the Green was in progress on the UNO campus grounds that border the course.

People kept walking across our fairways on the way to the show.

At one point a dude walks onto the course in front of me, just as I was getting ready to take a shot. He was on his cell phone...walking in circles, in the midst of a very heated conversation. I waited for him to look up and realize where he was....but he never did.

"DUDE ON THE CELL PHONE!!!!!!!"

(he looked up at me)

"FOUR!!!!"

(he ran quickly)

Frank in his cart.

Steve taking a shot.

Val, Dee and Mot on the green ahead of us.

(they are actually little dots in front of all those trees on the left...trust me, they're there)

The sprinklers came on as we were finishing the 11th hole. We played 11 and 12 before calling it a night.

Or was it 12 and 13?

I forget. :-)

Steve playing "speed putt before you get soaked" on the last hole.

Val's zoo of club covers.

We may or may not have agreed to collect the pins for the country club on the way in to the clubhouse. And we may or may not have been jousting with them on the way back.

Val and Mot

After we finished up, we headed to a pub just down the street to get dinner. It was about 9:45, and we were all pretty hungry.

(Side Note: If you want an AWESOME black and bleu burger....Clancy's on 72nd and Pacific is a rockin' place to go!!!!!)

We watched the last million or so innings of the South Carolina/Virginia CWS game.

It ended badly. I was hoping the pretty orange jerseys would win.

(kidding)

(kinda)

(I mean, I would never pick a favorite based on jersey color. That's such a girlie thing to do.)

:-)

After that we said our goodbyes and headed home.

Awwwwwww!!!!!

2011-06-14T08:39:00.001-05:00

Mot's birthday is today.

I can always remember what day Flag Day is because of him.

(giggle)

As I'm picking up flotsam and jetsam from the coffee table this morning, I find this.

"To my amazing wife. I love you! Just thought you should know. Your hubby, Mot"

Happy birthday babe!!!!!
Nej

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Tornado Alley

2011-04-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

On 03/22 (or thereabouts), a spring tornado or two hit the area.

With the tornadoes, came large hail.

On our way to a movie later in the evening, I notice up ahead of us, a car that had something odd going on.

Mot sped up to investigate.

I could see that the back window was smashed and missing. Shards of glass sparkled on the trunk.

As we got closer, I noticed the front window was completely shattered, but still in place.

Once we got closer, I started noticing dirt and corn stalks, and debris stuck to the sides. (this picture didn't do it justice)

The passenger in the car spotted us taking pictures, so they sped up and pulled away.

:-)

Happy Anniversary Babe!!!!

2011-04-20T08:00:00.002-05:00

Love you Mot!!!

04/20/2000

Oct 2010

The Weekend of Food...or....Why I Run (in pictures)

2011-04-15T10:31:00.009-05:00

Welcome folks, to the weekend of.....um......holy smoke, February 18-20th.

Ah, I remember it like it was yesterday.

OK, not really...but luckily I always have a camera or two (literally) with me at all times. :-)

First up, Friday night the 18th

The college hockey team we have season tickets for (the UNO Mavericks) were out of town....but Steve scored us some rockin' awesome, first row on the ice, seats to the local USHL hockey team, the Omaha Lancers.

I didn't have much trouble talking mom into coming along. She even wore orange special for the night. :-)

Mmmmm....crunch. (please see title of this post)

It was train safety night. Everyone got wooden train whistles.

Including the birthday party of 5 little 6 year old girls sitting immediately behind us. Ugh!

But have no fear, I stole one of their foam rubber hockey pucks.

Just kidding.

Or not.

Sadly, the Lancers lost.

But never fear...we headed to O Dining for dinner.

Steve got himself a very (VERY) sweet drink.

Mom didn't seem to mind the tart.

I was the DD...so no drinking for me. :-)

The two of them tried some sushi dishes....while I may or may not have feasted on an entire order of crab rangoon by myself. (please see title of this post)

After dinner, we split a dessert. (please see title of this post)

02/19

Saturday was a run around day. Mot and I headed to Mo. Valley for a stop at our vet's office. Then back to Omaha for lunch. We had a coupon for a Greek place we'd never been to, and wanted to try it out.

They weren't open yet.

We decided to go to a new pub we'd seen a few weeks before and wanted to try out. A good greasy pub burger sounded great!! (please see title of this post)

They weren't open yet.

We thought we'd just stop at Jason's Deli for a light sandwich.

The line was out the door.

We remembered there was a Panera (snicker) across the street.

They were so busy there weren't any open tables to be seen.

B&G's is across the street. A loose meat sandwich sounded yummy.

Again, no where to sit they were so busy.

For the love of Pete!!!!

By then, we'd worked our way down Dodge Street, and were really close to one of our favorites...an old haunt we used to visit every weekend.

Finally...food!!!! (please see title of this post)

If I remember correctly...we each had a bowl of cereal for dinner. Corn flakes...skim milk. Totally didn't fit in with the theme of the weekend, but oh well. :-)

02/20
Sunday was Danny's birthday....and he wanted to meet at his new favorite breakfast place.

Pancakes, hashbrowns, eggs, sausage.....

(please see title of this post)

After that, we went our separate ways....but ended up meeting for lunch.

I'm full just looking at this picture!!

(please see title of this post)

From there we went back to our place for cards.

Instead, we decided to try out a new board game.

We weren't so sure if we'd like it when we started....but have played it a number of times sense.

And, from there the birthday boy wanted to hit The Worm for an early evening birthday drink.

I may have had one drink.

One bad thing (if you can call it that) about getting in shape and loosing all this weight. My alcohol tolerance is next to nothing.

N.O.T.H.I.N.G.

"I have to get up in the morning and run. I have to get up in the morning and run. I have to get up in the morning......."

You see, we'd once mentioned to Natalie that we really liked a couple bottles of tequila on her shelves. Yes, the bottles. Not necessarily the tequila inside. They are clear bottles...one with a red glass tiki man in it, and the other with blue.

Anyway, we decided a lonnnnggggg ago that we were going to find a night when none of us had to work the next day, we'd bring cab money for the rides home, and have ourselves a Tiki Tequila Sunday night.

I really wanted those bottles to go on my tequila bottle shelf at home. The little tiki men are so cute. And evil. All at the same time.

Well...Danny, and Natalie, and Tom, and Steve, decided it would be a good night to do it.

Granted, two of us had to work, one of us wasn't drinking tequila that night, and one of us wasn't drinking at all.

Somehow (we may or may not have been buying shots for others in the bar to help with our progress) we ended up finishing off both bottles, and they now sit on my shelf at home.

Voodoo Tiki Tequila

01/21/11 - 01/23/11: Games, cards and snow.

2011-03-24T08:00:00.004-05:00

01/21/11 - Friday

We had the boys over Friday night for a little game night action. I'd found a number of board games on a garage sale a year or so ago.....but we'd never had the opportunity to try them out. It was colder than crap outside (which, I guess, really isn't that cold, if you think about it)...and hanging out inside sounded good.

First up - Pazaz!!

Based on the cheese-factor of the cover art, we were in for a treat.

Steve read the rules.

We assembled the playing surface (along with snacks).

I shuffled the cards. (Kinda looks like I'm "up" to something here...hmmmmmm.)

Pizaz was actually really fun! I'd say it was 50 cents well spent.

We played a couple games....the moved on.

Parcheesi!

I've, of course, heard of it but have never played it.

After a couple games of Parcheesi, we decided to call it a night.

Now....please pay close attention. In this picture you will see Danny is talking to Mot (not pictured). I'm not sure what he was saying (as it was two months ago).....but whatever it was, it must have been good. Steve is trying to contain himself....and it ended up like this......

Notice snowball in Mot's hand. Notice Danny trying to hold the door closed. (Notice Sam just wanting to go outside with Danny.)

Notice Danny cowering in the corner of our front porch. Notice Mot putting snowball down Danny's shirt. (Notice Sam staring out the door, waiting for someone to let her out.)

Notice Danny running back through the house, into the bathroom......with the four of us (Sam included) not far behind. His shirt was FULL of snow!

01/22/11 - Saturday

We, again, had the boys over to our house. You see, it was card night at Val and Dee's (the girls) place, and I needed a refresher on how to play Euchre. I haven't played it since high school...and couldn't for the life of me remember how.

After a quick lesson, we decided to drive around town, wasting time and running errands.

One of our stops was Canfields - an outdoor, sporting goods, military surplus store.

When it got a little later into the evening, we headed to the girls' place for tamales and cards. While in Canfields, the forecasted blizzard had finally begun.

Roads were getting slick, and the snow was starting to accumulate on the streets slightly. But a little weather won't keep us from tamales!!

I mean, won't keep us from cards with friends! (giggle)

When we got to the party, there wasn't much snow on the ground.

When we left the party, it looked like this.....

01/23/11 - Sunday

Not only do Mot and I love the snow....but our dogs absolutely adore it!!!

It was so deep, we needed to walk through the yard and make a path for Isaac and his short old man legs.

Sam hiding behind our snow fence.

Mmmmm....frozen dog slobber.

Now, compare this picture of January 2011...to a picture I took in December 2009. She's grown up a little in the last year, hasn't she?

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Redroom

2011-03-23T08:00:00.002-05:00

Redrum, redrum!!!!!

Restroom at one of the local movie theaters.

I had the place to myself, so took the opportunity to snap a pic. I'm nearly blinded every time I walk in the door.

Christmas 2010

2011-03-22T10:17:00.024-05:00

12/24/2010 - Christmas Eve

My sister hosted Christmas Eve at her place this year.

Actually, she hosted it last year as well.....and we had a blizzard....and her garage door didn't get shut.....and they woke up to a garage completely full of snow.

This year there was less snow....but more cold. Frigid is more like it. Brrrrr!!!

But you won't find any weather that stops us from getting together. :-)

Mom and dad brought dinner....the rest of us brought snacks.

It was a fun day!

Apparently hosting the festivities was more than she could handle. :-)

Mot's gift from the kids was "Duck Hunter."

Doug teaches at the high school right down the block from their house....so we went to the only wide open space (without below zero temps) we could think of.

We were completely and totally surprised by this toy!!! It flies high, it flies for a long time.....heck, we were impressed it was flying at all. It takes 10 seconds to charge it up on the "gun", then you turn it on and let it go.

You have to "shoot" it three times before it comes down. Each time you shoot it, the wings pause, and it drops a little...then starts flying again.

And when you've hit it for the third time....it stops flying and GENTLY comes down for a landing.

We were all blown away!!!!

I took quite a few videos on my phone....but until I can figure out how to get them off my phone and onto my blog...you'll just have to use your imagination.

The "hunters" on their way back to the house.

When we got back, Mot and I packed up our loot, and headed to his parent's house for Christmas Eve dinner.

Yummy!!!!!!

We gave their dogs, Bo and Jake, the same chew toys we gave our dogs, and my sister's dogs. All of the animals seemed to enjoy their holiday ducks and geese.

Mot's brother in Portland, OR gave grandma a call on Skype that evening. It was nice getting to see them on the holiday!!!

12/25/2010 - Christmas Day

The boys invited us to their place xmas day morning for breakfast.

The fireplace was roaring when we arrived. :-)

French toast....yum!

Mimosas before breakfast.

Chocolate milk and board games after.

13 Dead End Drive - Danny found this one at a garage sale, and we just had to get it out to play.

Box o' chips. to snack on while we played.

Pretty sure, once we'd finished the games, Mot and I went home....we watched tv, movies and slept the day away. Felt great!

12/26/10 - Day after Christmas

Breakfast at Amatos with the boys.

Now, this is where not posting for months and months is annoying. I can't for the life of me remember what we did between breakfast.....

...and the Worm.

Empanadas to try out before being placed on the menu permanently.

That mustache is a corkscrew!

Cheers! Happy Holidays!

Our designated driver...drinking Starbucks double shots. :-)

Thanksgiving 2010 (part 2)

2011-02-22T08:00:00.004-06:00

After our 5K, Mot and I went back to the hotel, and Kent, Linda and Amanda went back to their place. We were all in need of a shower. :-)

After we were all squeaky clean, Mot and I went back to their house to enjoy the rest of our day inside. Where it was warm and dry.

You see, Mot and I had arrived in Chesterfield (just outside St Louis proper) on Wednesday. Over the course of the day it rained and rained and rained. And then that night, there were tornado warnings.

On the day before Thanksgiving.

Anyway.....on Thanksgiving it rained (lightly)...then sleeted....then snowed.

When we left that night to go to the hotel, we couldn't get the car doors open. They were frozen shut. :-)

Anyway.....after our showers, it was only sleeting....but getting inside the warm house was comforting.

Not long after, my sister and her family arrived on the scene, and the cooking began.

(Well, what was left that is. Quite allot of the cooking had been done by Amanda the night before!!!!)

Brandon and Amanda discussing gravy and sweet potatoes.

Linda checking a recipe online.

Lauren and Amanda getting the fresh green beans ready for cooking.

Brandon taking a second look at the recipe.....

...before adding EXACTLY enough vanilla.

The meal getting laid out and ready for eating!!

Dishing up the chow. :-)

Sitting at the table.

Mot checking out the dessert table.

Mot trying out some of the mulled wine on the end of the dessert table.
(nice photo bomb Inny!!!)

Once dinner was over, and the kitchen was clean...we all hung out in the living room for a while.

Checking holiday ads online.

Snuggling up to watch TV.

Shooing away the paparazzi.

Checking the sale ads.

This was going to be the first year in quite some time that Inny and I didn't participate in Black Friday.

Or so we thought. :-)

You know when you go to a person's house, there is always something strange sitting around.

Linda cut her finger while cooking the day before.....and she just happened to have these in her medicine cabinet.

Talk about healing powers!! :-)

The kids also took some time to get out the train set.

While the adults played Rummy-O at the dining room table.

What to play, what to play....

Mot, posing for the camera. As usual.

Deep in thought.

So......as I mentioned earlier.....we THOUGHT this was going to be a non Black Friday year. But Kent and Linda found a washer and dryer in one of the ads with a price they couldn't ignore.

So, the four gals got up horribly early the next morning to stand in line. :-)

Inny, Amanda, and Linda in line.

The Red Bull car arrived on the scene...handing out Red Bull shots to those waiting in line. Sweet!!!!

Now, in our past Black Friday shopping excursions we've come across pushing, shoving, fighting, yelling, cussing......the works.

In Chesterfield, it was quite the opposite. Everyone stood in line, and when the doors opened, everyone single filed into the building. At snail speed.

Inny and I thought a little "Omaha" needed brought to the mix....so we went cutting through the store....at a mild run.....while others just watched.

Hello folks...it's Black Friday...let's get into the spirit of things!!!!

Larry, the sales guy (wasn't that his name? Inny? Linda?) didn't know what to do when Inny draped herself across the target, while I took pictures. :-)

While we were waiting for the financial transaction to be made...Inny and I jumped on the some fitness equipment to pass the time.

From Sears, we headed next door to Macy's.

On the way in the store, we got behind these people. Apparently pajama pants tucked into Uggs, and a fanny pack worn as messenger bag were the hottest of style trends...in the 90's...in St. Louis.

I had the three gals pose like I was taking their pic (that's Inny's arm on the right)....when I was really taking a picture of the style offender.

After our stop at Macy's, we headed out for breakfast.

Where the waitress spilled my chocolate milk all over the table. Then, instead of cleaning it up...she literally THREW a pile of napkins at me, and walked away.

Hmmmmm....she must have been upset about having to work on Black Friday. I bet there was a smokin' deal somewhere that she was missing. :-)

After breakfast we all went back to our hotels and beds for a couple hours, before reconvening at Kent and Linda's.

My sis and family were staying a couple more days, while we were going to be heading home. Before we left, everyone loaded up in their vehicles and we went to Fleet Feet to look around. I was in heaven. A running store, with an awesome selection of gear. What is there not to love??????

From there, Mot and I set the GPS for home and we left.

It was a great holiday!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving 2010 (part 1)

2011-02-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

(reprint from my running blog)

Mot and I drove down to St. Louis over Thanksgiving to spend the holiday with family.

Thursday morning, the 5 of us got up and participated in the local 5K race. Chesterfield, MO Turkey Trot 2010

Linda, Amanda and Kent before the race. It was rainy, misty and chilly...awesome running weather!!!!

We signed Mot up at the last minute, since everyone else was going to be running. Not sure how excited he was about it....but he had fun.

Whether he admits it or not! :-)

All 5 of us before the start.

Not sure on the exact number of people that showed up...but it was over 2000.

The two boys stuck together......while we three ladies split up.

The run was fun. It wasn't a flat course, but it wasn't mountain climbing either. I took off at the start, like I always do. Too fast.

My Nike sportband says I ran the first mile in just over 5 minutes....pretty sure it was delusional. I don't think I could run that fast.....on roller skates...with a jet pack. :-)

I did end up taking a couple of walk breaks, at the top of a couple of hills....but ran for nearly all of it.

Still trying to figure out how to dress for cooler weather running. I was stripping layers as I ran, and was still pretty warm. I'll get it figured out...in time for summer to come around again. :-)

OK...I know this shot is blurry, but I was taking pictures on the run, give me a break. See the two in the middle (she's wearing shorts)? She lives about a mile from me. They happened to be talking about Omaha weather when they ran by, and I chimed in.

How funny to be 7 hours away from home, and then end up running with someone who lives almost in your backyard!!! :-)

There were quite a few dogs on the route. This black lab reminded me quite a bit of Sam. I can't wait for Sam to be old enough to run with me!!!!!!!

After the race....still all smiles!!!!!

(3.1 miles, 10:00 pace)

(to be cont)

Halloween Shopping Day

2011-02-18T08:00:00.003-06:00

In my post yesterday, I mentioned the shopping trip Danny and I went on to get our Halloween costumes. Well, in looking through my pictures, I found some shots from the day. :-)

He called the night before wanting to make sure that I took my hockey jersey with me the next day. He had a "surprise" for me.

With Danny, you never know what to expect.

And I love that!!!!

He picked me up that next morning, and we were off.

It turns out that the University of Nebraska at Omaha was having their homecoming weekend that day. The first 100 fans that arrived to the after parade party showing their team spirit rec'd a free hot dog, drink and chips.

Sweet! Free food, homecoming parade, on a gorgeous day. Can't complain about that!!!!!

License plate in the parking lot of the university. School mascot is the Maverick...a cow/bull.

I believe it said somewhere in the paper that this was only the 2nd or 3rd year of the parade.

What did it look like?

Well...it was a college parade, thrown by college students.

Marching Band.

Football mascot.

And then maybe a dozen floats decorated and driven by the misc fraternities and sororities.

Half dressed men and women, throwing 5 or 6 pieces (total) of candy....on floats decorated to represent the "Las Vegas" theme of the homecoming season.

Pretty lame...but fun at the same time. :-)

From there we went to get lunch, then start our Halloween costume shopping.

I didn't take many pics while shopping, surprisingly. We were having a good time, and it never really occurred to me. Getting the pieces we needed was important business.

That is...until Danny started trying on wedding dresses as possible dresses for Nell (Steve) to wear. :-)

After we'd gotten all the pieces we thought we'd need....we stopped by the fire station to show Mot what we'd found....went to our houses to unload our crap....then headed downtown for the first hockey game of the season!!!!

After the game we went to the Worm.

Then we left the Worm and headed in the direction of home.

With a stop at T's tavern for another drink and my very first Keno game.....

...then Village Inn for an early (really early) morning breakfast.

We sat and ate....while watching all the high school homecoming kids all dressed up, making fools of themselves like only high schoolers can do.

Eventually the kids left, so we finished breakfast and he dropped me off at home.

A great day!!!!!

Halloween at the Girls': 2010

2011-02-17T10:10:00.012-06:00

Val and Dee throw a big Halloween party at their place every year....they've been doing it for quite a while.

Mot and I have been lucky enough to be invited the last couple of years! He's had to work both years, and hasn't been able to go....but the boys have taken me along as a third wheel....and boy am I glad they have!!!!!

Last year's theme was Dead Celebrities....and I went as Amelia Earhart (sadly, I've not been able to find a picture of me at the party).

I drank a full bottle of pre-mixed margaritas (with half a bottle of good tequila added to it)....and remember very little of the evening. (whoops)

This year's theme was cartoon characters.

The three of us decided to go as Dudley Do-Right, Nell and Snidely Whiplash.

Danny and I went shopping for the pieces of our costumes a few weekends before, and because Steve wasn't along.....we voted (it was unanimous) that he'd be Nell. :-)

He took the information in stride!!!

So, the day of the party had finally arrived!!!! I had everything I needed, but the spirit gum to keep my mustache firmly on my face.

Yep, I was going to be Snidely!!!

Danny and I found the MOST AWESOME knee length black "fur" coat at Goodwill......it was perfect!!

Mot finds this picture of me horribly disturbing!! :-)

The party was full of friends we've made during our bowling league....and was as fun as ever!!!

Popeye and Olive Oyl

Scooby and Shaggy

Batman and Robin

Scooby and the Cat in the Hat

Carl and Ellie from UP

The Swedish Chef

And many, many, many other misc characters!!!!

We all spent the night dancing away on their back deck.....laughing, talking.....and making quite a lot of noise. :-)

The next morning, Mot met the three of us for donuts and a recap of the previous nights adventures.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Wrong Way

2011-01-26T08:17:00.004-06:00

We walked into the church across the street to vote last night.

We'd never been in this church, and didn't know where they set up for voting.

There weren't any signs....at least, no signs we saw right away.

This one was LITERALLY 3 feet in front of us.

Apparently they didn't have any signs with the arrow pointing the right way....so they put it upside down.

What?

I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt here. :-)

New Orleans in October - part 4

2011-01-19T08:00:00.001-06:00

10/24/10

We got up the next morning (not so early) and headed to the cemetery not too far from the hotel.

This was one of the places I was really looking forward to walking around. We didn't stay as long as we would have liked, but the weather wasn't going to cooperate with us, and I didn't want to get soaked while carrying my DLSR.

The alleged grave of Marie Laveau, the "Voodoo Queen."

Not sure who this one belonged to.

From the cemetery, we walked to the House of Blues for a Sunday gospel brunch.

I didn't get any pictures inside. There were signs everywhere prohibiting photography.

Although a somewhat annoying British dude sat across the table from us, and took pictures and video throughout the entire show. :-)

The clouds opened up on us for a while.....and made the city extremely muggy when it stopped. Up until then we had been really lucky with the weather, so I'm not complaining!!!!

We didn't have any more plans for the day, so did some more walking. Checking out shops, stopping to watch the street performers....

And Steve and I stopped to get our cards read.

What? We were in New Orleans. It's a requirement!!!! :-)

From there we went to Pat O'Briens for the authentic New Orleans Hurricane.

It went straight to Mot's head!! :-)

We walked over to Jackson square (the park itself had been closed the day before for a wedding, but the gates were open this afternoon).

From there we walked BACK to Pat O'Briens for more hurricanes.

By then, they had started going to my head as well.

Yummo!!!!!!

I totally fell in love with the corn stalk fence.

What? I'm an Iowa girl!! :-)

We stopped at a couple favorite hangouts of the boys...and from the balcony of Good Friends, I saw this......

Oh yeah.....we had to go in. The food was really good!!!

Then we.....(all together now)...wandered around the Quarter some more. :-)

Steve wanted to go into a Christmas store to look around.

And......about two hours later, we stopped here for lunch.

Yes, we had just eaten....for the 14th time that day.....but we had Groupons, and wanted to check the place out.

The four of us almost wish we hadn't. The service was horrible, the food was horrible.....but they had a really cool chandelier hanging inside!

Yep, the cool chandelier and Steve's french fries were the highlights of the place.

And then the waiter messed up our bill....couldn't figure out how to cancel it. Had to call his boss...couldn't find his boss....ran down to the bar around the corner that his boss owned. Still couldn't find him.....eventually did something that may or may not have fixed his error....and we left. :-)

From there we headed to the hotel.

We got up the next morning, and got a cab to the airport.

New Orleans in October - part 3

2011-01-18T08:00:00.003-06:00

10/23/10

We got up the next morning and headed to Cafe Du Monde for breakfast. They serve coffee and beignets.

Great coffee and even greater beignets!!!!!

Serenaded while we ate.

Not a diet food.

I call this picture....Bliss.

From there we walked to the Saturday morning flea market area.

Then wandered around the French Quarter (are you seeing a theme to this trip yet) to find lunch.

We wanted to go here. Verti Marte. Apparently they'd had a fire and weren't open yet.

The boys say they have the best sandwiches...ever.

Now we HAVE to go back! :-)

We eventually ended up at the Magnolia Grill for lunch.

Tom found his newest beer love there.

After lunch, we walked around Jackson Square....and nearly bought quite a bit of art. :-)

From there we walked down Royal Street, stopping at the art galleries and stores.

The French Quarter always has street performers. Some horrible (I swear one gentleman had purchased his trombone at a thrift store earlier in the week, took some time to learn...kinda learn....the theme song from Sanford and Sons...and then proceeded to serenade us with it the entire trip).....

And some are wonderful!!!!

Tanya and Dorise.

We sat on the curb and listened to them for over an hour.

Between the four of us, I think we bought all but one of their CD's.

I want to hire them to play during our next backyard summer party.

Wow!

On our way back to the hotel, we FINALLY we able to go into the hat store next door to our hotel. (It was usually well past closing time when we passed by.)

The place was awesome!!!

(this picture was taken one night, after it had closed....it wasn't dark when we stopped in)

Floor to ceiling (literally) hats.

We were probably in there at least 45 minutes or an hour, trying on different styles, colors, etc. Eventually I had Danny take Mot back to the hotel....and when they left, I bought Mot his Christmas gift. :-)

After checking out (and having them ship the gift hat to my work place)....Steve and I joined the other two at the hotel. Steve crashed on the pull out, I fell face first into bed.......while the two of us snored away, Danny went down to Fedex to ship some artwork he'd purchased...and Mot took advantage of the hotel hot tub.

After Mot returned from the hot tub...and Danny returned from his "experience" at Fedex....the four of us headed out for dinner.

We took a streetcar down through the garden district, on our way to the.....uh.....college district.

We ended up at Doors Pub.

All of the tables, the bar and the paneling on the interior were old doors.

We ordered a carnivores dream pizza.....including alligator.

Then we jumped on another cable car to head back to the Quarter.

No, we didn't go "straight" to the clover grill. We had walked around for quite a while.

It was late, and smell of grease was too much to ignore.

The chefs name was Andrew. A polite and quite college kid, stuck working 11 hour shifts. He only had an hour left that night, and we tried to keep him as entertained as possible.

On the way back to the hotel, I took a picture of touchdown Jesus.

Sorry, made me giggle every time I saw it. :-)

Good night New Orleans.

(to be cont)

New Orleans in October - part 2

2011-01-17T08:00:00.013-06:00

10/22/10

We woke up nice and early and headed out to find breakfast.

There was an awesome little diner right around the corner, and the food was magnificent!!!!!

After breakfast we walked to pick up our rental car. We'd decided to spend our second day in New Orleans driving around the area....checking out the old plantations and such.

On our way out of town, we drove by a few fun places.

St. Elizabeth's is a small (47,000 sq feet) house on Napoleon Street...owned my Ann Rice. It takes up an entire city block...and used to house an orphanage.

It's recently been sold, and is undergoing modifications....I think they are making it into condos. (sigh)

We also drove past the places the Boys resided while they lived in New Orleans.

Actually....New Orleans is where they met. How fun, huh???

After a little driving, we arrived at the San Francisco Plantation.

It was surrounded by a HUGE ugly chain link fence....and had signs about photography being prohibited everywhere outside. (We walked around the grounds until a lady came out "politely" told us to pay or else...then we left.)

From there we headed to the other side of the river....where the plantations were more remote, and not surrounded by chain link.

But first...we had to drive over this bridge.

Steve was driving.

He HATES bridges.

:-)

We drove past a few plantations, until I yelled "stop" in front of this one.....

Oak Alley

We got out of our car (on the other side of the highway)...climbed the river berm...and took a few minutes to stare in awe.

I've seen this place in books, on TV and in movies...but they just don't do it justice!!!

It was unanimous...we were going to pay the money to get the full tour. No way we could pass it up!!

"Quick!! Pretend like you're having a casual conversation out on the veranda"

"OK! I got it, you can stop!"

"OK! look grown up and smile for the camera!"

well...they tried!!!!

One of the famous oaks was struck by lightning...it had finally fallen three months earlier.

When my hard drive crashed...the video that explains what Danny is doing in this picture was lost forever. A little "Gone with the Wind" reenactment . Classic!!!!

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the house....but we could take some upstairs on the balcony.

This was our tour guide Thomas. He didn't seem like the most cheerful guy at first. But once the tour was done and I asked if I could take his picture, he INSISTED that I be in it. Then he spent the next hour answering all of our questions, and telling us MUCH more of the house's history. The fun stuff that wasn't on the tour. #1 best tour guide ever!!!!!

After we left Oak Alley, we had to stop at this tiny little brick building along side the road. Linda - how would you like to be transferred here????

After we left the small church....we had to stop again another mile or so down the road.

There are miles and miles and fields and fields of sugar cane wherever you look. I was looking for the perfect row...just like this...and we finally found one!!! I wanted our picture in the middle of the row.

Nice photo bomb, Steve!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!

I had no idea the plan was to become a totem pole.

The filled me in, and I joined the fun.

You should have seen the spider bites I got my taking this picture. My arm itches just thinking about it!!!!!

Our little off road trip was a little dusty. :-)

A little further down the road was a church. This church was the church the owners of Oak Alley attended. They insisted their slaves become part of the church, so they could be buried with them, and not in the slave mass graves.

Once we finally got back into the city, we turned our car back in.....and headed into the French Quarter for dinner.

Awesome, insane, wonderful Italian food. My mouth still waters at the thought of it!!

Mot apparently doesn't enjoy Cannoli.

After we left the restaurant, we wandered the Quarter a little more......

This is where the boys met.

......then headed back to the hotel for bed.

Good night New Orleans.

(to be cont)

New Orleans In October - part 1

2011-01-14T15:00:00.005-06:00

OK...I couldn't wait until Monday...I'm posting the first part of our New Orleans trip today!!!!!!

10/20/10

So far, October had been a busy month. Springbook, the Des Moines Half Marathon.....and the third weekend was NEW ORLEANS!!!!!!!!!!

We left Thursday morning.....but started our vacation Wednesday night.

Where?

The Worm of course!!!!

Natalie was hosting a mezcal tasting. None of us are really mezcal fans, but we were still game to give it a try.

The food was marvelous.

But none of us have changed our minds about mezcal. :-)

10/21/10

Thursday morning the boys stopped to pick us up, and we headed to the airport.

Getting through security took a little longer than usual.

I was standing there, waiting for my camera bag to come through the xray machine.

Waiting...and waiting...and waiting.

Finally, the grouchy looking TSA lady came over and asked me "Is this your bag?"

I smiled, "Yep."

She frowned.

Uh oh.

"Is THIS yours too?"

I started laughing at what she held up and yelled over at Mot, who was coming through the metal detector "Honey!!! They found it!!!!!!"

Now that I think back, what I said probably didn't sound the best.

What I meant was "Honey, you know that pocket knife I lost two years ago...that we looked and looked and looked for? It was in my camera bag and they found it!!!!"

It was about then I realized that as quickly as they had found it, they were going to take it away.

NNNNooooooo!!!!!!

I asked the nice looking TSA man if we could have it, he said no (I had to ask).

So Mot took it, and was led back through security, ran up to the bookstore, found the most inappropriate greeting card he could, and mailed it home....then came running back down to security.

We all waited patiently.

:-)

The flight was late.....delayed for some sort of mechanical issue. But we eventually (with a layover in St. Louis) made it to New Orleans.

My first ever taxi ride. :-)

Our hotel was within walking distance of the French Quarter. Not a short walk, but a nice walk.

We arrived at the front desk, told them our names and got "the look" from the front desk attendant.

Uh oh.

It seems there was a problem with our reserved two-bedroom suite.

British Petroleum (BP) was still in town cleaning up a little mess they'd made earlier in the year (sigh)...and our hotel had over booked the suite.

We were told we had rooms at another hotel waiting for us.

Back into the taxi.

The second taxi guy was only driving a car, not a mini van...and his trunk was FULL of flats of soda, a guitar case, lots of garbage, and misc papers.

4 of us, all of our luggage, and every personal possession this guy owns had to fit.

(sigh)

Once we reached our second hotel (this one directly across the street from the French Quarter), we were handed our second round of bad news.

Apparently they had one room for us....not two.

A king size bed, and a pull out couch.

For the 4 of us.

For 4 days.

Every hotel in the city was booked (overbooked actually), and that was all there was.

Hmmmmm........

We unloaded our luggage in our ONE room, and immediately left. :-)

All four of us were starving so we stopped at the Gumbo Shop for a late lunch/early dinner.

From there we walked up and down Bourbon Street for a while....

...headed over to check out the river.....

...walked down some other misc streets in the Quarter.....

...stopped for a Hurricane dacquiri.....

....checked in at a few blues bars.....did a little window shopping.......and ultimately ended up at Fritzels European Jazz Club.

What a riot!!!!

I took a video that night, but am having technical difficulties and am unable to upload. But after doing some looking on YouTube, I found this video filmed the NIGHT WE WERE THERE!!!! I knew it existed...I watched the lady film it. It's of the piano player.....crazy good. Plus, the piano they were using had 4 or 5 keys that weren't operational, so I can only imagine what it would have sounded like on a fully functional instrument.

Every single person in the ensemble was insane!!! The piano player was a younger guy in a goofy hat...huge grin.....mad piano playing skills....and a great (and unique) voice.

The clarinet player was a typical clarinet player. Awesome skills....and an eccentric personality. Definitely the leader of the group.

The drum player didn't look like he went with the rest of the group....but boy could he play...and sing!!!!

The upright bass player was a cutey patutey.....who not only was a great musician...but a great performer.

This was taken just before Mot leaned back and knocked over the drink of the lady sitting there behind him. :-)

In his defense....they had 10 of us sitting around a table for 6. The place was more than packed.

After the show, we wandered around the Quarter some more.......

...then headed back to the hotel for bed.

I got very little sleep. All three of the boys are snorers. :-)

Good night New Orleans!!

(to be cont)

Bless Me Bloggers......For I Have Sinned.....

2011-01-14T12:44:00.005-06:00

....it's been over one month since my last post.

And that one really doesn't even count.

My hard drive crashed. It crashed hard.

All pictures taken since I'd last backed it up......

....gone.

When was that, you ask??

October.

No wait...that's not the worst part.

October 2009.

(sigh)

So....pictures for one full year are gone.

Unless I want to pay this data retrieval company $600 to get them back for me.

Yeah, that's allot of money.

I think I'll pass.

Until I win the lottery, that is.

(or unless any of you out there are master data retrievers....or have one on retainer)

So......the good news is that I DO have pics from October 2010 to current on a flash drive.

So...starting Monday......I'm going to get you all up to date on what Mot and Nej have been up to for the last 4 months.

Hotel bed jumping, New Orleans, super heroes, turkey trots, snow storms.......

Stay tuned!!!

Houston, We Have a Problem

2010-12-02T13:22:00.006-06:00

So...I've been a slacker the last month (OK, two months). I have a Halloween post to do, I have a Thanksgiving post to do, and I also have a trip to New Orleans to write about. Plus assorted other misc weekends thrown in there in between.

Now that I'm finally able to find the time to do compose....my computer has died.

My home computer is currently in surgery, in the trusty and skilled hands of my work IT hero, Paul.

He's a skilled surgeon....but the prognosis is not good.

"But Nej, you're obviously able to post from another computer, what's the hold up?"

All of my pictures are on my laptop. ALL. OF. MY. PICTURES.

And you all know how many pictures I take.

"Don't you back up your pictures? When's the last time you've done it. There can't be that many missing, right??"

(mumbling) I last backed it up this summer sometime...or maybe it was this spring.

Crap, I don't even remember when it was. :-)

Yes, yes...I know. How stupid could I be??? I've just been busy, and haven't thought about doing it. And now....well....I'm screwed.

I do, although, have a handy little flash drive at home, that MAY just have some of those missing pictures on it. (please keep your fingers crossed for me)

So....until I can get home and find out....I'm in mourning.

Actually, I'll still be in mourning if the pics ARE on a little flash drive....because there are many pictures I've taken between this summer and October.

(sigh)

Paul tells me to stop being so negative, and that not all hope is lost....but I'm asking all of my readers to please light a candle - heck, light a whole box of 'em if you can. (birthday candles in the junk drawer totally count!!)

As of the last report, the hard drive fixer upper program he's running will be complete in 3633 hours and 14 minutes.

(shaking my head)

Epic Fail

2010-11-22T14:19:00.003-06:00

Did you know that if you roll a lime (while putting pressure on it) along your table or counter, you break up the insides and make it juicier?

My hands smelled fruity, and I had almost a cup of lime juice.

"Had" being the key word there.

One minute, I'm picking up the container holding the freshly squeezed juice...and the next second.....it's gone.

Well...not gone, exactly. I knew exactly where it had gone.

It covered the front of the oven, the front of the fridge, the front of the dishwasher.....it was dripping off the cabinet doors under the sink and the floor was a limey river.

Sam, our black lab puppy was sliding across the floor....paws covered with the green juice.

I'm not sure what happened. I don't know how it went from the counter to where it ended up. It all happened so fast.

I spent 30 minutes slopping it all up, wiping down every open surface.....but the kitchen still smelled of limes.

I got 3 more limes from the bowl and started over. (sigh)

This time, the juice made it to the pot on the stove.

I cooked the eggs and sugar and other ingredients until they were pudding like. I added the mixture to the room temperature 8 oz of cream cheese in the mixer bowl.

Oh crap!!!! 8 ounces??? I'm supposed to use 16 ounces.

I grabbed another 8 oz package from the fridge and added it to the contents of the bowl.

Oh crap!!! That second package wasn't room temperature.

It curdles slightly.

F%#&&@%$^&(*$

I took the contents out of the mixer and put them in the food processor to smooth back out. All is not lost.

Once all is mixed, I put it in the fridge to chill and I started making the crust.

No matter what I did, I couldn't make a graham cracker crust. How hard could it be? I'd done it a million times. But nothing I did worked. It was either too dry, or way too moist. I ended up with a sticky cement like mess.

What was my problem?????

It was about then I decided to go for a run. I needed a little stress relief, and I needed it stat!!!!

When I got back from my run, I put egg whites in the mixer and turned it on. Once the whites were forming stiff peaks, I dumped them into the chilled bowl of lime "pudding".

I stuck the spatula in the bowl and started folding in the whites.

Oh crap!!!! What the h&$@???? Half of the whites were still "snotty". Really, really snotty...and I'd just started mixing them in.

The whole process is toast.

I stood there, with my head on the cold granite counter top....fighting back tears of frustration.

I heard a noise, raised my head, and looked to my left.

Sam had her paws on the counter, and half of the crust was gone.

I quit.

Taming of the Shoes: In the Nude

2010-11-20T08:00:00.001-06:00

Haven't done a taming of the shoes post in quite a while.

Guess I haven't gone shoe shopping in quite a while.

I must fix this...stat! :-)

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Amuck, amuck, amuck!

2010-11-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

"Amuck, amuck, amuck"

Name that movie! :-)

OK...here's a hint.......

IMT Des Moines Half Marathon, October 2010

2010-10-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

(Here is a post I put on my other blog a week or so ago....I try to keep my running life separate in the blogosphere...but sometimes I'll let the two meet...this is one of those times.)

I lost 30 lbs, I lost 3 or more dress sizes...but I gained so much more than that.

And here it was, October, I was standing in the middle of the street, just outside my hotel.....surrounded my other runners....packed in like sardines, using each other for heat to stay warm until the started gun (bell, whistle?) went off.

Wow, I'm getting ahead of myself again.

Let's back up one day.

Saturday, October 16th.

Mot got home from work at 7 am, and we immediately got into my car and headed towards Des Moines.

We arrived at the hotel my aunt and uncle were staying in two hours later.

We chatted for a bit, then the four of us walked downtown to the convention center. Linda (my aunt) and I had signed up to go to one of Jeff Galloway's 3 hour seminars.

It was great! Jeff is a truly wonderful person. Kind, open, honest, full of information, down to earth. His joy of running is apparent in everything he does. And his joy of helping others do what he loves to do is even stronger.

(side note: why is there always one of "those" people in a seminar? You know the one. The one that won't shut up. The one who sits in the front row and comments on everything the speaker says. The one who has done it all bigger, better, and faster than everyone else there. Why, why???? Why are they even there, if they know it all? I sent Mot a text message two hours into the class "bring bail money"...I was ready to take her out!)

:-)

After the class was over, we met up with the husbands...and also met up with Linda's close friend and hubby...in the lobby. The six of us walked to lunch (via the most roundabout way possible) to a place called the Court Avenue Brewery (or something like that).

People of Des Moines...you have steps leading into your river. Don't you think this is a little strange?

Thank you Sheila for helping us out, or we might still be wandering around downtown Des Moines. :-)

After lunch, we all headed back to the convention center to check out the fitness expo. I'm not sure how long we were there...an hour or so at the least. Mot got himself a tshirt "Save the Ta-Ta's"...Kent and I got ourselves new coats...and I drooled over a couple of GPS running watches.

From there we went back to their hotel (Mot and I were staying at a different location, but also downtown) to take a peek at our race packets. Mot picked them up for us while we were in the class. Rumor was it, there were so many late entries into the marathon and half marathon that there was going to be a shortage of tech shirts.

And why do we all run in these things?

The medals and the tshirts...of course! :-)

We got to their room, and dug through our loot....then met again back down in the lobby.

Dinner wasn't for an hour or so, so we sat there, talking and laughing, for quite some time. What a fun group to hang out with! We all had a blasts!!!

(Mot helping us set our new run/walk timers.)

After that we split up. Linda and Kent had purchased tickets to the pasta dinner held at the convention center....while Rob, Stacy, Mot and I went downtown to find something to eat.

After a wonderful dinner, we all headed back to our hotels to get ready for the next day. I was in bed by 8:00. I fell asleep about midnight. :-)

The six of had had planned to meet in the lobby of our hotel (it was less than 1/2 a block from the start of the race). We took that time to talk some more, laugh some more, get some pre-race photos...and act like we weren't nervous. :-)

(pace tattoos...on upside down....awesome!!!!) :-)

At 7:45, we left the hotel, and stepped out into the street.

It was chilly, low 40's...and it was crowded.

Earlier in the morning, Mot had gone down to the car...when he came up he said "Oh my gosh Nej, it's completely different out there than it was last night."

He was right.

I volunteer at allot of triathlons, so I've been around pre-race areas.....but nothing seems the same when you're the one getting ready to run.

(See that person on the far right side of this picture....blue-ish green shirt....hair not in ponytail...face cut off? That's me!!!)

(check out the beard)

We didn't stand there long, before the crowd of runners started moving. They'd started the race, but from where we were, we didn't hear it happen. All of a sudden, we were moving, and that was that.

I ran across the start line, and there was no turning back.

(Linda and Stacy, right in the middle of the picture, looking at the camera!)

I did what ever runner does...I took off like a shot. I knew darned good and well that I needed to watch my pace and start slow.....but as I've heard others say time and time again "you get caught up in the moment".

The route took us around down town, then around Gray's Lake and back. It was beautiful!

At about mile 7, I knew I was in trouble.

My 3:1 run/walk ratio started to turn into 2:30/1....then 2:1.

Eventually I switched to what Jeff Galloway called (the day before) my "Nej's run/walk method".

It's much less scientific than his method. And, I'm sure, quite a bit less productive!!! (giggle)

At mile 10 or 11 (they were all running together by then), the first elite marathoner passed me by.

He was a blur.

I know what their times are, I understand how fast they are going in relation to me, I get all that.....but you just don't understand it for real until they go flying by you. You're at mile 10, they're at mile 22 or 23. And they make you feel as though you're running backwards.

Amazing. There's no other word for it.

I saw one of the people that was on the Glacier backpacking trip along the way. I was nearly passing him when I saw him and called out his name. Pretty sure he didn't know who I was at the time.....I waved, said hi, and continued running. But it was AWESOME to see a face I knew along the way!!!!! :-) Small world!

At mile 11 I was done...spent...kaput. If I was a navy seal, and there were a bell to ring, I'd have rung it.

I knew that my fast pace in the beginning was going to kill me...and it did. But that's ok...the finish was soooo close!

After making the last turn of the race....with the finish line in sight.....I picked up the pace. I didn't look at the people along the route. I heard a familiar voice at one time, but didn't look over to confirm it's owner.

I was going to get across that line, and I was going to do it now!!!!!

Getting my picture taken after crossing the finish.

I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!

After I was done running, I met up with Mot and we rushed over to the hotel. We had an hour for me to recover (somewhat), shower, and get checked out.

As soon as we entered our room, and laid down on the floor....and I'd still be laying there were it not for Mot helping me out.

After I'd showered, packed, and gotten us checked out...we walked back over to the race finish to get a print out of my official time.

2:30:23

I'd been telling everyone my goal was 2:30...and I did it.

It was everything I had in me to not cry right there on the spot. :-)

Everything that I'd done.....and it had finished exactly how I'd hoped.

Now, just imagine what I can do when I actually take it easy at the beginning...when I actually add speedwork into my training.

Mot asked me, on our way to the hotel after running, if I was going to do another one...and my answer was "hell to the no."

On the way home he asked again. My answer was a little more positive that time around.

"Another half in the spring, and then maybe....just maybe...a full in the fall."

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: You've got something....

2010-10-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

"Dad, you've got something on you face, dad. It's right there, sticking out of your mouth."

"No seriously...it's right there. I can see it!"

"Dad, it's a rawhide strip....let me get it for you."

"Awwww...come on, let me have it."

Springbrook 2010 (a sidenote)

2010-10-26T08:00:00.002-05:00

While sitting around Saturday afternoon, our dogs were starting to get a little restless. The boys and I ran into town to get some chew toys for them.

Every year, for some reason or another, we end up at the farm supply store in town. It's always an adventure...and we always come away with more than we intended to purchase.

This year, besides the necessary chew toys, our group walked away with clothing, cow bells (for our hockey games - since the city of Denver stole mine!!), and a jar of pickles.

Yep, a jar of pickles.

Now, this jar of pickles sat on the picnic table in our site all afternoon.

At some point, it comes up that Danny needs to eat the entire jar, by himself.

I said it had to be done by midnight, Danny thought three hours, and my mom said 1 hour.

There was $20 on the line.

Step 1: Get the jar open.

(Yes, that's a hammer)

Success! Pickle #1!!

Apparently the first pickle was "horrible" because it wasn't cold. So we stuck the jar in the nearest cooler.

Pickle #2

He said it wasn't much colder.

And, through the rest of the day, he only ate those two total.

Epic fail. :-)

Springbrook 2010 (part 3)

2010-10-25T08:00:00.003-05:00

Sunday am.

The weather just kept getting nicer and nicer as the weekend progressed. There was a slight chill to the air, but it wasn't freezing. Perfect weather to sit around the fire, waiting for the coffee to brew.

Nice socks babe! :-)

That is a giant marshmallow in Doug's hand. It was crazy!!!

We had waffles and bacon for breakfast. Lots and lots and lots of bacon. :-)

Bacon over the campfire. And the repair job for the tongs that broke. :-)

After breakfast, some of us started getting our gear packed up.

Our campsite was still in the shade, so I started moving our stuff across the street into the sun.

Before we left, we made one last drive around the park, up to the picnic and shelter area. It's my favorite little stretch of road.

Finally - after three days - Sam was tired!!!!!

(you can see all of my Springbrook pictures on my webshots page here)

Springbrook 2010 (part 2)

2010-10-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Day 2, Saturday am.

Danny ~~demanded~~ volunteered to do breakfast for everyone. And boy are we glad he did!!

Biscuits and gravy, eggs, 3 or 4 different types of jams and jellies, sausage, milk, chocolate milk, OJ, coffee.....the works!

Because they forgot a key component to their camp stove, breakfast making was moved to mom and dad's camper kitchen.

While he cooked, we all waited...anticipation thick in the air.

Mostly. :-)

The spread.

After breakfast, we cleaned up our mess, and a bunch of us headed up the dam to check out the lake.

Sam needed another swim...her energy is non stop!!!

Isaac's little legs had quite a time getting up the hill!

The view back down towards the campground. The place was packed!! 80 degree weather in October...on a weekend....with no rain forecasted. Doesn't happen often!

The trees were just starting to get some good fall color to them.

Brandon was busy building away with some old tinker toys Jim and Joyce brought with them.

Isaac watched, waiting for pieces to fall on the ground. :-)

Danny soaking up some sun.

Steve catching some z's.

Later in the afternoon, we were talking about Sam not wanting to jump off the docks while playing fetch. We all dared Mot to jump off the dock, with the hopes that she'd follow.

Sam ended up going by herself...but we did finally convince Mot that he still needed to jump....for entertainment sake if nothing else. I took some video of it...so there aren't any stills (at least on MY camera).

Putting his shoes back on after the swim.

Lauren playing in the creek that runs along side our campsites.

Steve and I took a walk at one point in the afternoon. It was just way too nice not to!

Our cousin Tony arrived on the scene just as lunch was being served. Amazing timing! :-)

Hot dogs over a fire....is there anything better?

We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out around the campsite talking, joking, and having a great time!!!!

Kevin and Kerri made chili for everyone for dinner that night. It was marvelous!!

Before Tony, Jim, Joyce and Scott left, we wrangled up a friend in the campground to take a group picture.

What are they doing?

Ah yes...'tis football season. :-)

We all played some cards for a while, then mom, Inny, Steve and I took a walk around the lake.

In the dark.

It's tradition, don't you know.

When we returned, Danny and Mot had already gone to bed....so we followed suit.

(to be cont)

Springbrook 2010 (part 1)

2010-10-21T08:00:00.004-05:00

On the second weekend of October, every year, the family (and lots of friends) gather together at Springbrook state park for a camping family reunion.

It's been going on for years, and years, and years. (I think we were calling last year the 40th anniversary)

This year we decided to be adventurous and take the hounds along. We knew Isaac was going to be OK. He's a really well behaved old man.

Sam, on the other hand, well she was going to be the chore. Her puppy energy is too much to handle in our house....let alone in a tent camping! :-)

You can tell they were both excited to go!!!

After we got our tent (and the boys tents) set up....Mot, myself, and the dogs went over to mom and dads site for lunch.

Then, we changed clothes and headed to the lake.

It wasn't until Mot got IN the boy's tent that he realized without the rain fly, it wasn't much of a private changing room. :-)

Sam, of course, LOVED having the lake so close.

Isaac could have taken or left it. Emmy seemed thrilled....but Houston...poor guy just wasn't too sure about that whole water thing.

Play time in the lake was too much for Emmy and Houston.

And Isaac!!!!

Sam probably dreamt about it all night! :-)

We all pretty much hid from the heat the rest of the afternoon.

For those of you that weren't reading this blog last year.....on the second weekend of October in 2009, we had to cut the weekend short due to snow. Crazy eh????

The boys arrived later that night.

What is this, you might ask? It's the newest addiction. Danny brought a HUGE container of candy corn and peanuts mix. The perfect combination was 3 peanuts, 2 candy corn. Heaven! :-)

After the boys got all of their gear unloaded, the 4 of us sat down to play a hand or two of cards.

Only they would bring an actual table lamp and table cloth. We had our own little bug-free world in that screen tent all weekend! :-)

(to be cont)

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Well....alrighty then.

2010-10-20T08:00:00.005-05:00

I took this picture of two random blocks sitting on a picnic table.

Wonder what my boss would say if I made it my computer wallpaper?? :-)

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Tell us how you really feel

2010-10-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

As the vehicle made a left turn, I noticed huge, yellow stickers in the shape of lemons all along the side.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Boredom

2010-10-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

Mot discovered, while hunting in western NE with his brother and niece, that people in that part of the state have taken on a new....um....hobby?

Hay bale art. :-)

Little Drummer Bear?

(click on the picture to make it bigger)

Hey lady, I'm sleeping here!

2010-10-05T08:00:00.002-05:00

Doesn't she know I'm sleeping?

I'm not going to open my eyes and look at her. I'm NOT going to open my eyes and look at her.

Come on lady, really???

Fine, I'm going back to sleep. You just take as many pictures as you want, I don't care!

Weekend Update: Sept 24-25

2010-10-04T08:00:00.004-05:00

Last Friday at work, I was antsy. I mean REALLY antsy. It was gorgeous, and I was stuck inside the office....staring out my window....nearly drooling at the idea of being outside. Right then I decided we were going to be out enjoying it, the minute I got home. And, the rest of the weekend would be more of the same.

It won't be long before it's dark when I'm driving home from work, and darn it, I want to take advantage of the perfect weather and daylight while I could!!!

Actually, I wanted to go camping that weekend, as both Mot and I had it off (which never happens)...but the weather forecast didn't sound appealing to him.

"rain, wet black lab, small tent....let's not"

So, instead, the two of us put on our walking shoes and headed to the Lewis and Clark Monument close to where we live.

It's up in the Loess Hills...and has a great hiking trail along the top.

Trail closed? But that's why we came!

Oh well...let's go on anyway. Sign? What sign?

(my favorite tree...I have a picture I once took of it hanging on the wall at home)

The further we went, the less "trail-like" the trail became. :-)

Hmmmmm....maybe this huge sinkhole is the reason they closed the trail? Oh well, we'll just step over it and continue on!!!!

We didn't continue on for long though. The mosquitoes were out in full force, and I was a walking buffet. :-(~

So we turned around and headed back.

.

From there we went to the Old Market, and ate dinner at 'O'. If you live in Omaha, or are planning a visit....you have to go here. The food is amazing...and the people are great as well!!!!***

We went home stuffed completely full, and ready for bed!!! :-)

On Saturday, my "sit on my rump as little as possible this weekend" mission continued. It was pouring rain, so we got up and hit the bookstore.

We grabbed the necessities. 1) Bug spray, boy do I wish we'd had that the night beforet!!! 2) Dramamine, I can't read in a moving vehicle without it! :-)

We grabbed lunch at Subway really quick, then Mot picked a direction (North - there weren't any rain clouds up there) and we drove down the highway. Without a plan.

We stopped at a small fruit stand. Mot saw "plums" on the sign....but they didn't have any. Instead he got a bag of apples and a jug of raspberry juice cider stuff. Yummy!!!

Eventually we ended up in a small NE town, where Mot spent a number of years teaching high school. Dodge, Nebraska

While driving around the country outside of town (looking for the house he rented and lived in while he was there - unsuccessfully), we passed this little church and cemetery.

I wanted to go inside the building. Mot vetoed it. :-)

Only in a small town do you see a sign like this!

I love older building like this. I always sit and think about what they looked like....in the prime of their existence.

All the small little architectural touches make them so cool!!!

While in town, we drove past a Jeep dealership. The town is maybe three or four blocks square, but they still have an auto dealership. We stopped really quick to check out the new Jeep Wrangler. The salesperson came out to greet us.

"Mr. Weaver?"

Yep, she was in his high school class when he taught in town...however many years ago it was. :-)

We stood and talked to her for a little while, but had to leave after a little while.

Dave Bertelsen, my sister's father in law, was in a horrible accident. He fell from his deck, while putting up the railing. He suffered some pretty sever injuries.

The family and church he belongs to hosted a fundraising event for him that afternoon, so we drove to my hometown to check it out.

We ate dinner, were able to talk to Dave a little, and met a ton of people in town we hadn't seen in ages!!!!!!

Lauren took advantage of the face-painting booth! :-)

It was a pretty full day!!!!
_______

*** I was not, in any way, paid to say that. The place rocks!!! Don't believe me, go try it out yourself. :-)

Glacier National Park (6)

2010-10-01T08:00:00.003-05:00

This was it, our last day in Montana. :-(

The group was slower about getting up that day. We had stuff planned, but were pretty open as far as times we had to be anywhere.

After everyone was fed, we loaded up the vehicles and left for the day. Jared had mentioned wanting to go to Whitefish Mountain Resort to do some mountain biking. There were quite a few other things to do in the area, so we were all game to go along!!!

Ashley decided to take a stab at some mountain biking as well. :-)

The rest of us took a ski lift down to the main lodge for lunch.

Mmmmmm....muffuletta.

From there, three of us bought tickets to do a 3 hour zip line tour down the mountain.

In the orientation room waiting for the trip to start.

On our way to the first zip.

The first line was very short. It was more there for practice on the different forms, and stopping.

After the first zip, we headed up the mountain to start the good stuff!!!!

The outfit had water stops along the way - for being as cold and wet as we'd been all week...it was darned hot up there that day!! :-)

I can't remember which zip this was....but you can't see the end in this picture. :-)

If you look close, you can see the "guides" giving directions to the "zippers" on what form they should be in.

I've got a camera hanging on one side of me, and a video camera on the other. Such a geek!!!

I put this pic up for a specific reason. Do you remember how not days before this, I was hiking in the mountains....and not days before that I was completely unable to walk at all, because of a knee injury??

Well, look close at this picture. This is how you had to stop at the end of the ziplines. Impact directly to the knees. (some of the lines, they say we were going 45-50 mph)

I loved every second of the rides....right up until impact at the end. :-)

This is what my left leg looked like the next morning. My lower leg and ankle are puffed up like marshmallows....and half again bigger than the normal leg. My socks were actually cutting off circulation to my feet, that's how swollen my leg was. As much fun as I was having on this trip, that's about as much pain as I was in during 99% of it.

But it was worth it!!!!!

We returned to the campsite later that evening, after stopping at some public showers on our way. The evening was nice. Dinner and relaxing mostly.

I watched a couple pick up their tent, put it on top of their car, get into their car, and drive away. You can see them on the road in this picture. :-)

For the last time.....Goodnight Montana!!!!!!

We got up early the next am, packed up our gear, and headed home. Saturday night we arrived at a campsite in the Black Hills...but it was dark when we got there, and dark when we left for the last leg of our trip home.

Mot picked me up at a gas station just before the turn off from I29, to I80. The Des Moines group still had another 2 hours before they were to arrive home.

I went home to shower, then the two of us went to the Worm to meet up with the boys.

After the third or fourth drink....and second or third shot, I remember nothing.

Literally!

I wanted to still be in the mountains, but boy was it good to be home!!!!
___________________________________________________________

** If you want to see all the pictures I took on the trip, they are posted on my Webshots page.

(and, until I can finally find the time to do it, if anyone on the trip wants a copy of any of them, just let me know....I can either email, or set up an account on a site you can download from)
___________________________________________________________

Glacier National Park (5)

2010-09-30T08:00:00.003-05:00

So, after our night of dorm room sleeping (and Blackfoot Indian bar adventures), I got up early and snuck out of the room so as not to wake the whole group.

I found the coffee lady downstairs, bought a mocha, and walked around the grounds of the lodge.

What a beautiful place!!!

(you have to tilt your head a little to the left on this one...picture is a might bit crooked) :-)

When I returned, most of the people in our group were in various stages of "up." Some had already packed, some were packing, and some were still laying in bed trying to catch those last few z's before finally rising. :-)

We loaded up the vehicles and headed back to Luna's (Mmmmm....Luuunnnaaaaaa's) for breakfast.

Brady made a new friend outside before leaving! Awwwww!!!!

Mmmmmmmm......LLLLLuuunnnnnnnnaaaaaaa's!

After breakfast, we headed towards the Going to the Sun road. It takes park visitors from the east side of the park, over to the west.

We hadn't been driving for more than 10 minutes, when we started making our first (of many) stops along the way.

Parts of the road were under construction, so there were short waits. But, no one seemed to mind.....it gave everyone an opportunity to stretch their legs, and take more pictures.

When we were nearly to the other side, we all stopped for a lunch break along the way.

And a little polar bear plunging, for those with suits and guts! :-)

There are Red Buses everywhere, full of tourists.

Once we arrived on the west side of the park, we found a campground, found a couple of sites next to each other, and set up for the night.

Cell phone towers in Glacier. :-)

I want to jump into this picture, sit back down on my chair, and breathe in that fresh air. I love (and miss) the mountains!!!!!

After dinner, the group sat down to play some cards, then everyone split up to do their own things.

It was a great day!!!

Glacier National Park (4)

2010-09-24T08:30:00.002-05:00

No beautiful sunrise picture today. It rained...scratch that...POURED on us all night long.

Half of the group started on the trail before the rest of us. From what I understand, they took on quite a bit of water that night, and wanted to get a head start back to civilization.

Those of us that were left, ate breakfast in the rain, packed up, and headed down the trail.

Sorry about the blurry shot. The trail looked just like this the whole way back. Puddle, after puddle.

Actually, the trail was more of a flowing stream or river most of the time.

We splashed and sloshed our way for 4 miles.

Eventually, the sun came out, the fog and mist cleared....and we got a view of what we'd been hiking through for the last couple of hours.

And boy, when the sun came out, it got warm quick. We stopped in the middle of a mountain meadow to strip out of our soaking wet rain gear (to expose the soaking wet layers under them). :-)

The information we were given about the park shuttle service on the east side of the park was...well....less than helpful actually.

We arrived at the Cut Bank trail head thinking there would be a shuttle stop....signs...something.

No luck there.

We stopped a passing vehicle, and it's occupants told us that the rest of our group had been through not long before....and had headed to the ranger station up the road.

So....off we went.

The ranger station was abandoned...but the rest of our group was there waiting for us when we arrived.

One member had found a ride back to our vehicles...she would bring one back...pick up more people, and go get the other.

After she left, the rest of the group successfully obtained a ride for the rest of us from a local who was in the area checking on his cattle.

A ride where, you might ask?

Well....the shuttle stop was "just up the road."

5 more miles up the road.

(sigh)

We all loaded into the back of his truck...and off we went.

The shuttle was rumored to pick up people where the road met the highway. So, we all unloaded from the truck, and waited.

We ate bacon, we spread our gear out in the sun....

...and some of us took a nap. :-)

Just as Ashley arrived with her vehicle, ready to pick up others, the shuttle also made an appearance.

He was less than helpful.

Nej "So, is there a schedule for the shuttle service on this side of the park?"

Driver "Yep"

(crickets)

Nej "So....is it like every half hour, every hour.....?"

Driver "Nope"

(crickets)

Nej "Will there be another shuttle today?"

(you see, just before going to bed the night before, a group from.....oh heck, where were they from....Norway, Finland, something like that.....anyway, they arrived to take the last camp spot. That morning, due to the rain, they had decided to also hike out to the trail head and grab the shuttle. They were going to be about an hour behind us, and I was curious if they'd be able to catch a ride)

Driver "no, this is my last trip going north....I have one more going south and that's it"

Nej "are there any other drivers also making this route"

Driver (sigh) "so, do you guys need a ride, because I can only take 6 (or was it 8?)...I can't take all of you" (he said all of this with a disgusted look on his face, like he'd never seen hikers coming from the park, needing showers, before)

Nej "no, we're good....thanks"

Once all of the vehicles had arrived to pick us all up, the group voted to head back to East Glacier and stay at the lodge.

We were able to score a 4 bed dorm-like room for a very, very cheap price....and we jumped on the opportunity.

For the first few hours, we all took turns in the TINY bathroom, while others starting hanging all the wet gear from sprinkler system piping...bed posts.....radiators.....anywhere we could find really.

The rest of the evening, we kept the door open (man was it muggy in that room!)....guests of the lodge would come upstairs and take pictures of the strange room. :-)

After showers were taken, and gear was hung....everyone started looking for food. The plan was for everyone to meet up at the one cafe in town, Luna's.

To pass the time, some of us headed down to the lounge in the lodge....for some drinks and appetizers.

If you are EVER in East Glacier, go to Luna's cafe. The food was great.....and the desserts.....yumm! We were told it was the best Huckleberry pie in the area.....and I think everyone that had it agreed.

Huckleberry ice cream.

Everything in this town is made from huckleberries. Syrup, jam, lip balm, bath soap, soda, honey, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.......

This sign was in the lodge.

It was the "and more" that caught our attention. :-)

I know I posted this as a wordless Wednesday picture...but I had to post it again. First off, why not make a sign that says "All rooms ----->".

And.....Room 355 (our room) was actually the other direction. I mean, the sign was right beside it....pointing in the opposite direction!!!!! :-)

After dinner, most headed to bed....while some of us went against the advice of the people in the lodge lounge. They said that the one bar in town was great....except Wednesday nights.

We're not exactly sure why they tried to keep us from going. It was a normal place...music, pool, people hanging out and talking.

After we left there, we headed back to the lodge to bed.

Good night Montana!

Glacier National Park (3)

2010-09-23T08:00:00.010-05:00

Good morning Montana!!!

I could really get used to waking up to this, I swear!!!!!

We woke up to a wet campground. So far, it had been a somewhat "soggy" trip....but that was nothing compared to what we encountered later in the hike! :-)

Hanging out in the tent, waiting for everyone to get up.

Making breakfast before heading out.

From the Red Eagle Lake campground, we set off for the Triple Divide Pass.

(called the triple divide because water from this location flows to not two, but three oceans....the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic)

Our elevation gain and distance traveled was going to be MUCH higher and longer than the day before!!!!! :-)

The group set out in three smaller groups...but we all met up and passed each other multiple times over the day.

I elected not to bring my DSLR...but Brady brought his. Every time I saw it, I was peeved that I didn't go ahead and bring mine. With the unknown status of my knee, I just didn't want one more thing to worry about. (sigh)

Cairns to show us where to make our first actual river (small river) crossing. Quite a few of us decided to balance our way across a downed log. Some took off shoes and went walking.

We stayed somewhat dry, until just after stopping for lunch. That's when the rain started, and really didn't leave again....well....for the rest of the hike.

Ashely and her home made gaiters....made from the rain pants she started the trip wearing! :-)

The higher we got, the rain started changing to sleet and snow. I didn't get many pictures while it was really coming down...mainly because I was trying to keep my hat on my head, and my fingers from freezing. The wind started to pick up just as we hit the monster switchbacks that led up to the pass.

We found ourselves planting our hiking poles in and bracing against the wind quite a bit....and it made for slow going up the mountain.....but boy was it worth it!!!!!!!!!!

See that sun on that distant mountain? We spent quite a bit of time wishing it was shining down on us! :-)

Looking back along the trail.

Getting closer!! The sleet and snow was coming down pretty good...but you can't see it in the picture.

The top!!!!

Now, we have to go back down.

Pot of gold at the end of that rainbow?? No. But our campsite was!!!!! :-)

We arrived at the Atlantic Falls campground as it was starting to get dark. We made dinner and all went to bed. It was still pouring rain, and everyone was pretty tuckered out.

Drying wet socks and boots over the fire. It rained on us all through the night...and into the next morning.

Good night Montana!!!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Breathtaking

2010-09-22T08:00:00.002-05:00

Glacier National Park (2)

2010-09-21T08:00:00.010-05:00

Good morning Montana!

Now THIS is what I like to see when I get up in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm in love!

We made breakfast....

Packed up our gear.....

And headed out!!! Day 1 of backpacking.....I couldn't wait to get on the trail!!!!!!

(oh, and I wanted to note, we met up with two other members the day before...taking our group total to 10!!!)

We left the town of St. Mary's and were headed for our first night at the back country campgrounds at Red Eagle Lake. It was going to be an easy hiking day, with not much elevation gain.

(blister repair stop)

(bear tracks along the way)

Our permits led us through prime Glacier bear territory. You couldn't take too many steps without stepping around the largest piles of poo I've ever seen.

Berry filled piles of poo. :-)

We saw sunshine when we headed out.....but it didn't last long.

The first of a couple bridges along the trail.

Jared got the most AWESOME video of this little ferret, mink, weasel thing under the bridge. Cutest damn thing ever!! He lived in the logs on the other side....but once we all started arriving, he stopped showing his fury little face to anyone. Bummer!

Over the course of the week, Brady showed us his "mad" balancing skills. :-)

Just before we hit our first campground (for the second time) we passed a moose and calf in the lake!

I say our first campsite, for the second time, because there was a bit of a permit snafu. Apparently there are sites at the foot and the mouth of the lake....and we initially set up in the wrong set. All tents up, and dinners starting to cook....(sigh). But being the troopers that we are....we packed up and moved.

Dinner...take 2! :-)

Jared found himself in some poisonous plant life. And boy did it itch!! :-)

Hanging the first of the groups bear bags before bed.

Good night Montana!!!!

(to be cont)

Glacier National Park (1)

2010-09-20T08:00:00.003-05:00

On the 28th of August....8 of us from the Midwest set out on a journey. We were going on a week long backpacking trip to Glacier National Park.

I knew one person going....everyone else were strangers. Strangers with one big common interest....the outdoors!!

Since everyone, but me, was from Des Moines, their journey started a little earlier than mine. A couple hours earlier to be exact. The car I was to be riding in arrived at my house at 6:00 am, and we were off.

We drove, and drove, and drove, and drove, and drove, and....well, you get the point. 15 hours later, we arrived in Great Falls, MT...at the house of Jared's grandmother.

What an awesome lady!!! She let the 8 of us crash in her comfy basement!!!

There she is in the middle!!
(picture courtesy of Jared)

We set off the next morning, with the park only being 3 hours away. None of us could wait to get there!!!!!!!!!!

It started raining on us the night before, and was still overcast that morning. Along the drive, we started to see the mountains peeking out from behind the cloud cover here and there.

There's just something about driving along a boring, flat, uninteresting road....and seeing mountains in the distance. Every time it happens I get goosebumps.

We stopped just inside the park to smell the mountain air, and take a few pictures. The mountains were hiding behind some clouds at the time. :-)

This woman was from Australia. She was traveling the country with her parrot, Echo.

The first car arrived a little ahead of us (we stopped at Jared's aunt's house to say hi along the way)....and they had our tents all set up.

Because we were hiking with such a large group, we had to bring bigger tents to hold more people. (one tent had 4, and two tents had 3) It was close quarters...but, as inconvenient as it may have been, it just lent to the spice of the trip!

After setting up camp, the other group of four took to some hiking trails. We went into town to get bear spray for one member, and then headed out onto a trail ourselves.

The trail was pretty short, but knowing we'd be doing day hikes the next day...we decided to take it easy and enjoy the short hike.

Running Eagle Falls. When the water level is higher, the falls flow over the top, and down through the bottom. It was only flowing through the bottom when we were there.

Train bridge in East Glacier, MT.

We'd seen this fellow on the road earlier....and he ended up camping in a site near ours. "RV? check! Kayaks? check! Helicopter? check!!"

Once back, we started a campfire, talked about the bears who wandered past our campsite earlier, and then made dinner when the other group got back.

Our site was along a creek.

This creek ended up being a route for two grizzlies. They were walking along in the water, and eating berries from the bushes on the other side. Hello Montana!!!!

Nachos and margaritas, and smores!!!!! Yum!!!

After quite a bit of giggling from my tent (the three of us gals were trying to figure out how to sit, lay, move, anything! in the tight tent...it ended up being quite entertaining!).....we finally settled down into our first night of camping under the stars!

(well, in our case, under the clouds)

(to be cont)

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Huh??

2010-09-15T05:00:00.001-05:00

08/28/10 (post-klutz report)

2010-08-28T04:44:00.003-05:00

Alrighty....well, it's been two days since my wipeout (you can read about it here)....since my knee (and elbow) were intimately introduced to a certain stretch of very un-forgiving pavement. I literally expected some baseball umpire to come out of the darkness and yell "safe!" Well, no....in this case, he'd be yelling "out!" :-)

I had a little mini breakdown last night....stressing about this backpacking trip to Glacier National Park I'm supposed to leave for at 6:00 this morning.

I had a hard time hobbling around Walgreens yesterday, when I went to go get my pain med prescription filled.....so the idea of backpacking, with 30 extra pounds on my back....really terrified me.

Hubby called his brother, the doc, and they talked about it. I'd been icing it...elevating it....and taking anti-inflamatories...but he wanted me to wrap it up as well.

After wrapping it, I was walking without a limp, and going up and down stairs. Crazy amazing thing....the ace bandage.

So....I'm going on the trip. I have two days in a car to rest it some more, ice it some more, and work on getting that swelling reduced even more.

Wish me luck!!!!!

Weekend Update: Wine Barrel Smoke-Off

2010-08-26T08:00:00.002-05:00

A month or so ago, Mot came home from North Platte, NE....visiting his brother and family.

In the back of the Jeep was his luggage, Sam (our black lab), and an empty wine barrel.

Since then, the barrel has been converted into a device of smoking meaty goodness.

There's a winery in North Platte, that decided it would be fun to put the retired barrels to good use. They asked that interested parties take one home, and make a smoker from it. And in return, they were to come back in August to compete in a BBQ smoker contest. Only wine barrel smokers were allowed.

The idea intrigued Mot....and his barrel turned out gorgeous! We've hosted a get together or two, and used it to cook the food.

Two weekends ago, Mot loaded the Jeep back up......our luggage, our dog, the smoker, and me (sorry Sam, the front seat is mine this time!!)...and headed west.

Feather River is a gorgeous winery, on the outskirts of town. There are nothing but hills of grape vines to be seen.

We spent the whole day prepping the food, cooking the food, and then serving the food.

Each smoker was paired up with a wine from the winery. We were to give samples of the smoked goods AND the wine to go along with it.

Ours was called Redneck Revenge. A sweeter blend of three different grapes....with a note of apple and a citrus finish.

(boy, that sounds like I know what I'm talking about, doesn't it? fooled you!!!!)

Along with serving the wine, we were also given vines from the wines we were serving, and used those to smoke the meats with. Very cool idea!!!!!

So, without further ado...I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking!!!!

Bob, Mot's brother, doing a radio interview for the event!

Jeff, owner of the winery announcing the winners.

The secret judges!!

The event was a great success (if you ask me). Can't wait to do it again next year!!!!!

If you want to see more of the pics I took, check them out here.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: A girl and her dog.

2010-08-25T08:00:00.002-05:00

Wednesday

2010-08-20T13:11:00.001-05:00

Earlier this week, Wednesday to be exact...I get up at my usual 5:00 am. Clumsily dress into my running gear, take my normal 3 seconds to stretch, and head out the door.

There's a mailbox I walk to, just to get things loosened up a little. It's exactly one-tenth of a mile to that mailbox.

It's a Nebraska Cornhusker mailbox. The FIRST of many I pass on my morning runs.

(sigh)

It's foggy, and the streetlights cast an eerie light on the ground. I have barely reached the half mile point in my run, when I notice a white mini van coming down the street towards me. I rarely, if ever, come across traffic that early in the morning, so it caught my attention.

There are a few vehicles I see every once or twice a week....a large silver truck pulling a fishing boat, a 2 door blue car with a loud exhaust....but this mini van was new.

What ultimately catches my eye, is the fact that it's comes to a stop in the middle of the road...headlights in my eyes....motor still running.

I slow my run to a fast walk. I want to stop, I want to turn around and run the other direction, but for some reason I don't want them to think I'm paying attention. I want them to assume I'm just another crazy person, running themselves into exhaustion, paying more attention to putting one foot in front of the other than to what they are doing.

I'm less than half a block away now. Do I cross the road and run on the other side, do I turn at the next block and head west? Why does this one unassuming vehicle have all the hair on my arms standing at attention?

I finally make up my mind. I'm going to keep my head down, I'm going to cross the street and continue on my way, as nonchalantly as I can.

Before I can take my first step across the road, I see something fly out of the passenger side window....and the mini van leaps to life, tires squealing.

If I had tried to cross just then, they would have hit me.

I jumped into the grass along the street, trampling some poor lady's flower bed....and the van flies by.

I scan the side of the road for whatever they threw out the window. It's dark. I don't see a newspaper in a plastic bag....no trace of a smoking cigarette butt, or discarded McDonalds breakfast bag.

I see nothing.

Just then, the house I'm standing in front of explodes.

Smoke billows out a hole in the side of the house, flames lick the siding, glass showers down around me. My face feels as though I've been in the sun for hours without sunblock. I stumble backwards into the road.

Should I go to the house to see if someone needs help? I don't have a phone, I can't call for help. Surely the neighbors are awake? Lights come on at the houses next door and across the street. Dogs, after having been stunned by the sudden noise, start barking.

A white mini van comes around the corner. Oh my gawd, I'm still here. Are they going to come after me? Do they think I can identify them, or their vehicle? Why did I stick around? What do I do?

I run to a house with it's lights on. I'm pounding on the door....urgently, frantically. If they can't hear me knocking, surely they can hear my heart thudding in my chest?

No one is answering. I know they're awake!! I know they're in there!! Why won't they answer?

A car door closes behind me, I know they're coming for me.

I take off my ID bracelet, but can't throw it down yet. They'll see me do it. I have to wait until they grab me....that's when I'll throw it by the door of this house.

Why don't I hear sirens...where are the police or fire department? Only seconds have passed, but it feels like minutes. Hours.

I hear footsteps running up the sidewalk. I have nothing in my hands to use as a weapon. There are no flowerpots to throw, or rocks to wield.

I try to scream, but nothing comes out.
__________________________________________

Who needs to run with an iPod when I have my imagination??

Everything up to the explosion actually happened. The white mini van, something being thrown out the window, the van squealing away suddenly nearly hitting me.

When I ran by the house yesterday, it was still standing, untouched. Did the passenger throw their newspaper into a bush? Was it a jealous boyfriend stalking an ex's house? Who knows??? But if I see another white mini van driving around the neighborhood at 5 in the morning, I'm going to run the other direction. :-)

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: So there!

2010-08-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

I had a camera in my hand. He's a loyal blog reader...he should know that some of them will get posted. (giggle)

Love you Steve!!! So there!!!

Weekend Update: Modale Fun Days

2010-08-16T08:01:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, my hometown (until second grade) held it's annual Fun Day at the city park.

Last year, we were forced (twisted arms and everything!) to participate in the Bocce tournament.

We lost horribly.

This year, we had to come back and defend our title.

We did. :-)

Local elections are coming up, and some of the local politicians had a little "match" of their own.

Mom getting some shots of the action.

The park was full of stuff for people to do. Bouncy houses, horse rides, water fights, craft projects for the kids, etc.

The fire department set up a barrel on a cable. Two teams, each with a firehouse, try to move the barrel across a line on the other team's side. Tug-a-war, with a twist.

We had to halt play a number of times to remove toads from the playing field. They were everywhere!!!!!! :-)

Our team name is "renegades."

Basically because we were the only team last year of people who'd never played bocce before. We didn't know the rules, and didn't have matching league tshirts.

This year, we all had knee high socks. No one had the same sock, and we each had non-matching ones on each leg.

My second hometown (2nd grade to three years ago) sent a reporter from the paper to come cover the event. He took quite a few pics of my sister and I, in our socks, and said they were going to be in the paper.

I debated giving him a fake name when he asked....but didn't. (sigh) Everyone there knows me anyway. :-)

It was a million degrees out, with two million % humidity. Emmy was the smart one. She hung out in the shade all afternoon. :-)

Lauren was asked to fill the 4th spot on another team.

After her team beat us, horribly, she played in the finals. They lost.....but I might have some "disagreements" with it. At one point they were ahead by 7 or 8 points.

After the tournament was over, we all packed up and left.

The girls (Inny, Lauren, mom and I) were camping in mom's camper that night.

We spent the evening playing games and watching movies.

Sleeping beauty the next morning.

We made a quick breakfast, then I headed home.

Laughter is the best medicine.

2010-08-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

So....Steve and Danny come over for dinner Tuesday night. Mot was smoking yet another tri-tip for the upcoming wine barrel smoke-off this weekend in North Platte.

Steve brings us aprons to wear.

He and Mot put them on to model, and I grab my camera.

They pose. Steve with his hands on Mot's shoulder and his leg bent up behind him, and Mot with a pair of tongs like they are the torch and he's the Statue of Liberty.

Neither of them could keep a straight face for the three seconds I needed to turn my camera on. :-)

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Not what people think they'll see in Nebraska

2010-08-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

Weekend Update: Omaha Triathlon 2010

2010-08-10T08:00:00.005-05:00

Sunday morning I got up at 4:00 am...and was out the door by 4:15.

Why in the world would I do that?

I was signed up to help at the Omaha Triathlon, and the meeting was at 5:00.

I arrived at the volunteer, was handed my shirt and told where to go....but not what to do.

Being this was the inaugural event, there were bound to be little hang ups here and there. The one that was glaring to me, was the number of volunteers.

There were allot.

Allot of them standing around doing nothing, because no one told them what to do, even when asked. "Go over there and see if anyone needs help" was the primary answer. Funny enough, those of us they were asking didn't know either. I mean, if you want me to stand there and look official, I can do that. If you want me to stand there and answer questions from athletes, I'm your gal. If you want me to point people in the right direction, make sure they stay out of certain areas...again, just ask, and I'll obey. But most volunteers I talked to had NO CLUE what was expected of them. None whatsoever.

Usually when I volunteer at these events, I'm in a kayak out in the water. Keep people on track, make sure they don't drown. I've got it down....but the land volunteers at this event were a bit lost.

I was one of the lost.

I understand how tri's work....what goes on...and the basics of what is needed. But there were 7-8 of us hanging out in the swim start area (where we were told to report) unsure of what to do. We helped people out as needed....but I felt a little silly just standing there all morning.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'd much rather see too many volunteers, than not enough...that's for darned sure! :-)

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right...here I am...stuck in the middle with you....."

Racers were on the right, spectators on the left...and the staging area was in the middle.

Elite swimmers getting ready to go.

The transition area. I spent allot of time (once the swim portion was completed, standing along this fence watching the athletes do a quick change and run out with a bike, or running shoes in tow.

I find myself, every time I work one of these events, being very jealous that I'm not out there with them.

I'm terrified of water.

Yes, the kayaker is afraid of water....I know, I know...it's silly.

I spent some time helping the athlete food tent get set up. These are the chairs outside the tent, waiting for competitors to sit on them with a banana, yogurt, or baked good.

I eventually headed down the road, and found a patch of shade (thank goodness!) provided by a parked mini van.

It always amazes me how good of spirits the riders usually are as they come by. Happy, talking to the crowd....it's such a positive environment.

After the last of the bikers had passed, I jumped in my car and got out of the park while I could. I spent the rest of the day lounging on the couch with Sam and Isaac. Eating popcorn, watching movies, and taking it easy.