Rolling

What a roller coaster of a day! Beautiful weather. I quite enjoy seeing butterflies flying around in November. House is cleaned and starting to decide how I'd like to decorate. Thor had a fun play date for over an hour! Laundry done. Didn't get paid like we were suppose to today--I am furious. AT&T isn't allowing me to use a $200 device I purchased on Wednesday, so I am able to have service in my apartment.... currently working on this right now (thanks to mom and Bob's help!)

America

I don't want to get all political on here but all I am going to say is... Remember who we are America, what we stand for.

Mississp-ay-yay!

As we finally got our internet hooked up; I decided I would start keeping track of the differences I am finding down here. But to start: we have an absolutely awesome apartment! Our master bathroom is as big as our master bedroom (I cannot wait to take a bath--huge tub!). Thor is absolutely loving it too and is adjusting incredibly well! He already has a puppy bff--Rio, who is just a few weeks older than him. Thor enjoys sitting by the window and letting me know when he is outside. We have unpacked for the most part now--just waiting to put up some decor and start my craft making to make this place homey! To start my list: - Milk is $5 a gallon here.. no longer in the midwest! - You absolutely cannot take your eyes off the road ever--the drivers are crazy but easy to deal with. - The people are very nice; I have to admit I love being called "hunny, ma'am, and baby" (by the women down here). - I feel incredibly fit down here (I should probably still go to the gym though..) - People make fun of northerners accents as much as we make fun of southern accents-- we all go around on our 'boot'. - Had the most amazing BBQ of my life. I cannot wait to go back--it's called Leetha's BBQ. It's an old barn and nothing special when it comes to decor-- in fact all of the money is put into the food. It is truly down home cooking--you can even see the crock pots with the sides simmering and waiting to be eaten. - I am happy to report that the Target is as nice as they are up north--don't have to resort to Walmart--even though we've made too many trips over there already. - Began members of Sams Club--but they don't accept Visa..really? - Had my first Waffle House experience--I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. - I do not appreciate fast food calorie counts--if I go to fast food I would like to enjoy it...I don't go often. - Thor starts puppy classes on the 15th--I am really excited! - I am thoroughly enjoying the weather--this weekend is suppose to be in the 70's and sunny--I hope we can get some fun adventures in together (if Nate doesn't work). Apparently there is a National Park around here that is just ginormous; I cannot wait to explore it! I want to thank all of our family and friends for all of your love and support. None of this would be going as smoothly as it is without all of you. Please keep checking up on our blog and I will try and keep it as updated as possible. I am also hoping to flood some pictures of our adventures and of our new home here soon!

Three Months

Three months ago Nate and I made our adventure official! I just watched the rough draft of our wedding and I was laughing, smiling, crying, and overall just feeling joyful. It has been nice being back in the cities and I feel that I am super busy all the time. I have hardly just sat down and relaxed... don't get me wrong, it's really nice.. but it's also quite tiring! My sister in law got married yesterday. We had some rain, but it held off for the outdoor ceremony. It was a very sweet and intimate ceremony followed by a fun and loving reception. People kept asking me if I wanted to change anything about our wedding, and every time my answer was "No". I loved every moment. Plus the thing that matters the most to me was that my favorite people were there while I married my best friend... what is more important than that? The one thing I would change about yesterday's wedding was that I wore more comfortable shoes.. due to the heat my feet started to swell on already slightly too tight heals... oh man did that hurt--almost took them off mid ceremony but decided that would be slightly inappropriate. (I was a bridesmaid). Hopefully this week I will be able to: go to the MN State Fair, fishing, pack for my trip!

Tis The Day

Today is my last day helping out at my new job. I cannot wait to be back in Rosemount and sleep in my own bed! I had quite the week! Nate has come down with something, I have contemplated wearing a hazmat suite to avoid catching what he has--but I'm being a realist and it's inevitable that I will get it anyway. Tuesday night my coworkers had a dinner for my departure. It was very sweet. Ironically though it was my old staff. I realized how hard it has been being a young boss of many people my own age; however, I feel quite accomplished to see that I truly can separate work from personal and also carry the respect while at work even if we may be friends. It was a tough one to ignite but *pats self on back* I did it. I redid/updated my resume and received my recommendation letters from my director and the executive director. I almost cried. It's so hard to remind yourself on rough days that all your hard work will pay off... reading my resume and these letters I can't help but smile and say "damn girl you did it". Ok, I suppose I can be done bragging for now. But overall, working your butt off 24/7 really does pay off in the long run. Last night, Michaela and I had a last "roomie" adventure which consisted of walking to the BWW patio and enjoyed a few cocktails while soaking in the beautiful August evening. We had a chance to reflect over our lives and just have some good deep conversation. Then afterwards we had Popsicle and watched "The Muppets"/fell asleep during our 'sleepover' on the couches. So now my car is packed and ready to go. My work is complete. Just need to finish a few loose ends. Wow, what an ending to such a hard chapter in my life; I honestly would not have changed my experiences for anything.

Watered Down Kool-Aid

I had a fabulous three day weekend! Thursday night: My parents came to town and we went out to this fabulous restaurant. I ordered crab stuffed shrimp which were wrapped in bacon and topped with a jalapeno cream sauce...yummmmmmy! We then watched some of the Packer Game and me and my mom went to the new Meriyl Strep and Tommy Lee Jones movie. Mom loved it..it was ok. I love both Strep and Jones but the movie just wasn't something I'd watch again. Friday: Got up early and met up with my parents. We bought some fun gifts for my nieces and then had a beautiful walk by the Missippi. After lunch they left to go see my brother and his family. I then got ready for Relay for Life in Winona. I was a part of a team with two cancer survivors one of whom I am friends with. It was a lot of fun! Around 3am we ended up leaving. We all walked a total of 17 miles around what we called the nascar loop. Saturday: After just a few hours of sleep we all got up and enjoyed the gorgeous day by watching a Cystic Fibrosis softball tournament our friend was in. The day couldn't have been more beautiful. We then headed to cook out and just spent the nice outside which turned into a bonfire. I had a pineapple brat for the first time and have to admit I was skeptical trying it because I don't like cooked pineapple but oh my goodness I don't know if I want a regular brat after that ever again. Around midnight my wonderful husband came and picked me up!! It was so great to see him, gosh I missed him so much! Sunday: We relaxed most of the day watching this new HBO series called "Newsroom" it was interesting! Then we went back to LaCrosse and had a lovely dinner with my parents on their way back to Milwaukee. It was fabulous. Then Nate got us a hotel room! WITH A JACUZZI! Man that was nice!!! It was nice to have some alone time too. Looks like it'll be another week until we get us time again seeing as I go back to the cities on Thursday and he leaves Friday-late Sunday for yet another training. I am excited for our week together next week. Today in between work projects I've been updating my resume; I have to admit I can't help but pat myself on the back and smile. I am proud with how much I have done and the experience I have gained. It's a God send that I have been this fortunate. Well back to my watered down Kool-Aid, carrot sticks, and work.

Underpants Go On The Inside

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahlWufJqcSQ This video was my daily dose of "let's think about this for a moment". I am not saying this video does or doesn't affiliate with my viewpoints. I don't care to get political on here. But I think everyone should watch it. ok I apparently don't know how to post a video in my blog..help?