Wow, time flies when life gets busy! I didn't realize that my last post was from September 2009. I guess I'll hit the highlights:
School is going well. I will graduate in December 2010 with my MSN-FNP and be able to take the certification exam to practice as a nurse practitioner in my office. It is no longer a "secret" as I have seen several of my patients at Dr. McGill's office while there during clinical hours. Thus far, all of the feedback has been positive, so I'm even more excited to hold a dual license. Classes start up again on Monday and this semester I have Pediatrics (with clinical), Ethics, and one hour of my Capstone (replaces a Master's Thesis) class. Should be an interesting semester.
The practice continues to grow, albeit slowly during this time of year. However, we did move our location to 546 Avenue A in Plattsmouth. We decided to purchase a rather large building to move into so that I can expand my clinic slowly during the upcoming year. That was an adventure, but we have MUCH more room, MUCH better parking, and MUCH better temperature control!! With these negative highs outside, its nice to not have to wear a coat while sitting in the office.
Since I don't have enough on my plate, I joined the USPSA and am hoping to do more shooting this year as well. We'll see hour adventurous I am in 2 weeks in this cold! I do have some layers to wear to keep warm, so we'll see!
That's it for now!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A lesson in awareness ....
This is a post that I wrote after I arrived in Florida for a seminar. I wrote it a few hours after the incident, so here goes:
It’s been a long time since I’ve had an interview of any kind, but I experienced one today on my trip to Florida. My flight from Atlanta to Tampa started okay, but my day had been long, and I was tired. When I boarded the plane in Atlanta, I had a ticket for an aisle seat, but an older lady had already perched herself in it and asked me to take the middle seat instead. I said that I would take the middle seat so that she could be comfortable. A guy was sitting at the window, and he was talking to a guy in the middle seat in the row in front of us. I offered to change seats with the guy so that they could travel together and they declined saying that they were “sick of each other” by then. I didn’t think anything of that since both guys were well dressed and polite. So, the plane takes off, we fly through the air, and we get ready to land in Tampa.
I was looking across the guy in my row to see the ocean and he asked me if I’d been to Florida before. I told him that I had years ago, but not to Tampa. He asked why I was coming to Florida and I simply said that I was coming in on business. I asked him what he did for a living and there was a very long pause. “I’m in the tobacco business” is all he says. I smile and simply say “that’s nice.” He then asks me what I do and I tell him that I’m a chiropractor. He chuckles and tells me about how a chiropractor helped him with his neck pain and headaches. I laugh along and tell him that chiropractic works for lots of things but especially with health and wellness and that I spend many hours a day telling people to stay out of his business. He chuckles at that and tells me that his purpose is to give medical people business. The plane is getting ready to land, and he asks me where I’m staying. I tell him that I’m staying in a different town than I am because by now I’m getting the feeling that I’m being interviewed. I had noticed some looks going back & forth between the two guys, so I decide to be vague. Oh, I forgot to mention that the second guy got moved across the aisle so that a couple could sit together. So these two guys could pass looks to each other easier.
It was also about this time, while he’s asking me about my plans in the area and how long I’ll be there, etc. that I notice the guys hands. His nails are all very clean and closely trimmed, except his little fingers. The little finger nails are both long and filed sharp. Now I KNOW that I’m being interviewed and that this could get interesting before the day ends. I’m not scared because we’re in a very public place, but I wanted to be sure to be gone before they followed me out of the airport. Once the plane landed and taxied into the terminal, I had decided that if I get flanked by them and they try something in the terminal, I’ll fight my best, scream and yell and make as much of a display as possible. I had already decided that if their plan is violence, I will force them to do it in public and I will not go anywhere with them.
As our row stands up to get off the plane, I try to get into the overhead bin and can’t reach my cane that I had stored in there. The guy sitting next to me asks if he can help me, so I ask him to hand me my cane. He does, and he shares another look with his partner. I think I just let them peg me as an easy target. I walk off the plane, and I’m limping a bit because my leg is sore from sitting so long. I find the signs that lead me to the baggage claim and realize that I have to take a tram. I hate the things, but I don’t have a choice, so I get on. The two guys did flank me there. One went in the same door that I did, the other another door farther down the tram. I watch where they are in the glass of the tram, and hold on until we get through the ride.
I'll note that I carry a cane when I fly for a couple of reasons. 1) I'm still healing up a lumbar disc herniation that flares up when I sit in a cramped space for extended periods of time, and 2) nobody sees a cane as a self-defense weapon.
We approach the baggage claim area and I don’t see any signs for the rental car company that I’ve booked a car through. Also, our baggage claim area is secluded from other airlines. I am again flanked by the two guys, and I keep an eye where they are. I keep my cane in my hand, and go through a plan in my head. I will not leave with them, no matter what. I will not let them know that I am feeling hunted so that they don’t feel the need to escalate anything. I just follow the people to the baggage claim area. I just now realize (while writing this) that I had identified exit points and security guards before I even got the carousel. The guys again flank me at the baggage area. Now the one I wasn’t sitting with is standing next to me, the other guy is on the other side of the belt.
The second guy tries to strike up a conversation with me. He asks me where I’m from, what I’m doing in town, etc. I remain pleasant and polite, but vague about my plans. I let him know that I’m in town on business, that I am a chiropractor in Nebraska, and that is about it. By this time, his bag arrives, but he stays with me. The other guy’s bag hasn’t arrived yet, so I am hoping that mine arrives first or things have a potential to escalate. My bag arrives, and the guy next to me asks if he can grab it for me. I politely tell him “no” and quickly wrap my name tag around the handle into my hand so that my name isn’t in view.
I then notice the two guys eyeing each other. They begin a conversation across the carousel about their second bag, and the guy next to me asks me if I have a second bag. I tell him no, and thank him for the offer of grabbing my bag, and I turn to find the car rental place. I still don’t see any signs, but I do see a very large security officer, so I approach him and ask him about the car rental place. The security guy had apparently been paying attention to what was happening, because he raised an eyebrow to me when I asked for directions and nodded to the guy who was standing next to me. I smiled to him, hoping that he would understand what I was trying to do. The security guy was quick, and instead of just pointing me to the shuttle, he escorted me outside to the shuttle area. I knew I was safe now, so I was able to allow myself a sign of relief and just get on the shuttle to the car place and get on with my day.
This was an interesting situation for me to be in, because I have honestly felt that I am no longer in the demographic for a target for most people. I’m not young, I’m not small and frail, and I don’t resonate with innocence anymore. But, this taught me a lesson to be even more on guard than I already am. I didn’t really experience fear, because everything was done in public and I knew that I would fight literally to my death if need be before I went anywhere with them. I was thankful to have had my cane with me, because it is a good weapon to have when traveling. People don’t see a cane as a weapon, especially if the person who carries it limps.
I am very thankful that I have the training that I have, and that I was able to recognize an interview in progress. Had I not understood what was going on, I may have been more forthcoming with my destination, plans, etc. and if they had determined that I was a good target, they may have tried to come after me even after leaving the airport. I have no idea if that would have happened, but I’m glad that I have some awareness training and paid attention to the situation. No harm done, but a good reminder to be vigilant and aware of my environment.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had an interview of any kind, but I experienced one today on my trip to Florida. My flight from Atlanta to Tampa started okay, but my day had been long, and I was tired. When I boarded the plane in Atlanta, I had a ticket for an aisle seat, but an older lady had already perched herself in it and asked me to take the middle seat instead. I said that I would take the middle seat so that she could be comfortable. A guy was sitting at the window, and he was talking to a guy in the middle seat in the row in front of us. I offered to change seats with the guy so that they could travel together and they declined saying that they were “sick of each other” by then. I didn’t think anything of that since both guys were well dressed and polite. So, the plane takes off, we fly through the air, and we get ready to land in Tampa.
I was looking across the guy in my row to see the ocean and he asked me if I’d been to Florida before. I told him that I had years ago, but not to Tampa. He asked why I was coming to Florida and I simply said that I was coming in on business. I asked him what he did for a living and there was a very long pause. “I’m in the tobacco business” is all he says. I smile and simply say “that’s nice.” He then asks me what I do and I tell him that I’m a chiropractor. He chuckles and tells me about how a chiropractor helped him with his neck pain and headaches. I laugh along and tell him that chiropractic works for lots of things but especially with health and wellness and that I spend many hours a day telling people to stay out of his business. He chuckles at that and tells me that his purpose is to give medical people business. The plane is getting ready to land, and he asks me where I’m staying. I tell him that I’m staying in a different town than I am because by now I’m getting the feeling that I’m being interviewed. I had noticed some looks going back & forth between the two guys, so I decide to be vague. Oh, I forgot to mention that the second guy got moved across the aisle so that a couple could sit together. So these two guys could pass looks to each other easier.
It was also about this time, while he’s asking me about my plans in the area and how long I’ll be there, etc. that I notice the guys hands. His nails are all very clean and closely trimmed, except his little fingers. The little finger nails are both long and filed sharp. Now I KNOW that I’m being interviewed and that this could get interesting before the day ends. I’m not scared because we’re in a very public place, but I wanted to be sure to be gone before they followed me out of the airport. Once the plane landed and taxied into the terminal, I had decided that if I get flanked by them and they try something in the terminal, I’ll fight my best, scream and yell and make as much of a display as possible. I had already decided that if their plan is violence, I will force them to do it in public and I will not go anywhere with them.
As our row stands up to get off the plane, I try to get into the overhead bin and can’t reach my cane that I had stored in there. The guy sitting next to me asks if he can help me, so I ask him to hand me my cane. He does, and he shares another look with his partner. I think I just let them peg me as an easy target. I walk off the plane, and I’m limping a bit because my leg is sore from sitting so long. I find the signs that lead me to the baggage claim and realize that I have to take a tram. I hate the things, but I don’t have a choice, so I get on. The two guys did flank me there. One went in the same door that I did, the other another door farther down the tram. I watch where they are in the glass of the tram, and hold on until we get through the ride.
I'll note that I carry a cane when I fly for a couple of reasons. 1) I'm still healing up a lumbar disc herniation that flares up when I sit in a cramped space for extended periods of time, and 2) nobody sees a cane as a self-defense weapon.
We approach the baggage claim area and I don’t see any signs for the rental car company that I’ve booked a car through. Also, our baggage claim area is secluded from other airlines. I am again flanked by the two guys, and I keep an eye where they are. I keep my cane in my hand, and go through a plan in my head. I will not leave with them, no matter what. I will not let them know that I am feeling hunted so that they don’t feel the need to escalate anything. I just follow the people to the baggage claim area. I just now realize (while writing this) that I had identified exit points and security guards before I even got the carousel. The guys again flank me at the baggage area. Now the one I wasn’t sitting with is standing next to me, the other guy is on the other side of the belt.
The second guy tries to strike up a conversation with me. He asks me where I’m from, what I’m doing in town, etc. I remain pleasant and polite, but vague about my plans. I let him know that I’m in town on business, that I am a chiropractor in Nebraska, and that is about it. By this time, his bag arrives, but he stays with me. The other guy’s bag hasn’t arrived yet, so I am hoping that mine arrives first or things have a potential to escalate. My bag arrives, and the guy next to me asks if he can grab it for me. I politely tell him “no” and quickly wrap my name tag around the handle into my hand so that my name isn’t in view.
I then notice the two guys eyeing each other. They begin a conversation across the carousel about their second bag, and the guy next to me asks me if I have a second bag. I tell him no, and thank him for the offer of grabbing my bag, and I turn to find the car rental place. I still don’t see any signs, but I do see a very large security officer, so I approach him and ask him about the car rental place. The security guy had apparently been paying attention to what was happening, because he raised an eyebrow to me when I asked for directions and nodded to the guy who was standing next to me. I smiled to him, hoping that he would understand what I was trying to do. The security guy was quick, and instead of just pointing me to the shuttle, he escorted me outside to the shuttle area. I knew I was safe now, so I was able to allow myself a sign of relief and just get on the shuttle to the car place and get on with my day.
This was an interesting situation for me to be in, because I have honestly felt that I am no longer in the demographic for a target for most people. I’m not young, I’m not small and frail, and I don’t resonate with innocence anymore. But, this taught me a lesson to be even more on guard than I already am. I didn’t really experience fear, because everything was done in public and I knew that I would fight literally to my death if need be before I went anywhere with them. I was thankful to have had my cane with me, because it is a good weapon to have when traveling. People don’t see a cane as a weapon, especially if the person who carries it limps.
I am very thankful that I have the training that I have, and that I was able to recognize an interview in progress. Had I not understood what was going on, I may have been more forthcoming with my destination, plans, etc. and if they had determined that I was a good target, they may have tried to come after me even after leaving the airport. I have no idea if that would have happened, but I’m glad that I have some awareness training and paid attention to the situation. No harm done, but a good reminder to be vigilant and aware of my environment.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
House painting progress -- almost done! :)
Okay, I started this project in March, and now it is September and I am saying that it is "almost" done. There is one wall left in the living room that is not painted because there is a very heavy upright piano along that wall. We need to figure out how to move the piano out enough to paint behind. The laundry room and small bathroom off the laundry room are not done either - those will be done later. I'm sick of painting!
However, the house is looking wonderful! Our friends helped us pick out fabulous colors and my mother-in-law sacrificed a lot of time to help me with the project. It definitely feels more like a home now. :)
Here are some pictures.
.JPG)
Kitchen
.JPG)
Kitchen
.JPG)
Dining room
.JPG)
Dining room
TV room
TV room
My office
My office
Spare bedroom
Spare bedroom
Master bathroom
Main bathroom
Hallway off kitchen
Master bedroom
As you can see by the photos, I'm not quite done cleaning and organizing things yet, but it is definitely getting closer!
However, the house is looking wonderful! Our friends helped us pick out fabulous colors and my mother-in-law sacrificed a lot of time to help me with the project. It definitely feels more like a home now. :)
Here are some pictures.
.JPG)
Kitchen.JPG)
Kitchen.JPG)
Dining room.JPG)
Dining room
TV room
TV room
My office
My office 
Spare bedroom
Spare bedroom
Master bathroom
Main bathroom
Hallway off kitchen
Master bedroomAs you can see by the photos, I'm not quite done cleaning and organizing things yet, but it is definitely getting closer!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
2009 Norfolk Triathlon!
Last June (2008), I participated in the Norfolk, NE triathlon. It was the first triathlon I did, and I LOVE IT! (see old posts). Anyway, this year, I wanted to participate again, but I am sidelined from running due to a lumbar disc herniation. :( I was (am) bummed about that. However, I also want to heal completely and not have further problems down the road, so I decided to stop running, cycling, and Hapkido. Those who know me know how difficult this is for me.
Anyway, I really wanted to do the Norfolk tri again this year, so I decided that I can still swim, so I just needed a cyclist and a runner! Thomas' grandfather (Harold) is an avid cyclist, usually cycling 100's if not 1000's of mile per year on his trusty bicycle. So, I decided to ask Nancy, my fabulous mother-in-law, what she thought about my asking Harold to bike for me. She was excited about the idea and volunteered to run for us! I asked Harold, and without skipping a beat, he said "sure", then he asked "how far" and "where". TEAM HOWARD WAS BORN!
Not being able to do things only half-way, we decided that we needed team shirts for our multigenerational, all in-law, triathlon team. I found a place online to do them, so we all had TEAM HOWARD shirts to wear.
The first Saturday in June, Harold, Nancy and myself made it to the YMCA in Norfolk, NE. We arrived around 6:45am to get ready. It was a very cool and drizzly morning. I was lucky, the swim is in the indoor pool. I felt terrible for Harold & Nancy having to cycle and then run outside. All in all though, we had a lot of fun, we each finished our leg of the race, and we all enjoyed the day. Harold has already mentioned that he's looking forward to at least the next two years. Says he wants to compete in the triathlon when he's 90! So, I'll keep swimming, and Nancy will keep running! :)
Pictures below...will add video once its done!
First the 500 yard swim.
TAG - Harold takes over for the 10 mile bike ride.
Harold on the ride -- notice how rainy it is? His sweatshirt had to weight 20 pounds when he got done!
TAG - Nancy takes over for the run leg of the triathlon -- 2.5 miles in cold rain!
Half way done with the run!
The end of the race. TEAM HOWARD finished 4th in the long race teams! We each enjoyed the day..... to be continued in 2010!
Anyway, I really wanted to do the Norfolk tri again this year, so I decided that I can still swim, so I just needed a cyclist and a runner! Thomas' grandfather (Harold) is an avid cyclist, usually cycling 100's if not 1000's of mile per year on his trusty bicycle. So, I decided to ask Nancy, my fabulous mother-in-law, what she thought about my asking Harold to bike for me. She was excited about the idea and volunteered to run for us! I asked Harold, and without skipping a beat, he said "sure", then he asked "how far" and "where". TEAM HOWARD WAS BORN!
Not being able to do things only half-way, we decided that we needed team shirts for our multigenerational, all in-law, triathlon team. I found a place online to do them, so we all had TEAM HOWARD shirts to wear.
The first Saturday in June, Harold, Nancy and myself made it to the YMCA in Norfolk, NE. We arrived around 6:45am to get ready. It was a very cool and drizzly morning. I was lucky, the swim is in the indoor pool. I felt terrible for Harold & Nancy having to cycle and then run outside. All in all though, we had a lot of fun, we each finished our leg of the race, and we all enjoyed the day. Harold has already mentioned that he's looking forward to at least the next two years. Says he wants to compete in the triathlon when he's 90! So, I'll keep swimming, and Nancy will keep running! :)
Pictures below...will add video once its done!
First the 500 yard swim.
TAG - Harold takes over for the 10 mile bike ride.
Harold on the ride -- notice how rainy it is? His sweatshirt had to weight 20 pounds when he got done!
TAG - Nancy takes over for the run leg of the triathlon -- 2.5 miles in cold rain!
Half way done with the run!
The end of the race. TEAM HOWARD finished 4th in the long race teams! We each enjoyed the day..... to be continued in 2010!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
July 01, 2009
Okay, so I've neglected my blog - badly! Darn Facebook anyway!
I am officially "on vacation" from work this week. I NEEDED to take some time off and get out of the office, so I'm off until the 9th! YEA! So, today my wonderful mother-in-law, Nancy, came over & we got the living room, TV room, & hallway painted. Not a relaxing day, but a productive one, none-the-less. The house is a huge mess right now, but it will be much better when its NOT WHITE on the inside! I'll post pics when its done - promise.
Other new things -- I haven't been able to run or cycle recently due to an injury. :( So, I'm in the pool much more often. I'm enjoying the water & getting better at swimming. I ordered a DVD from Total Immersion to help with breathing while stroking, so that should help the efficiency of the thing -- I hope! I also ordered a Swimp3 underwater mp3 player! Swimming laps is BORING, so I'm going to add some music to my training. It uses bone conduction technology, so I'm excited to see how it works, it should be here tomorrow.
Friday I am going to spend the day at a spa! Body wrap, facial, mani & pedi...I can't wait! 5 hours of someone else taking care of me! Ahhhhh...vacation!
Life is busy for us, but I am going to enjoy some time away from the office. I LOVE what I do for a living, but everyone needs down-time. This holiday couldn't have come at a better time, I was dangerously close to becoming "Dr. House" with some of my patients. :)
So, there's the update....life is work, painting & swimming right now - oh, and the spa day!
I am officially "on vacation" from work this week. I NEEDED to take some time off and get out of the office, so I'm off until the 9th! YEA! So, today my wonderful mother-in-law, Nancy, came over & we got the living room, TV room, & hallway painted. Not a relaxing day, but a productive one, none-the-less. The house is a huge mess right now, but it will be much better when its NOT WHITE on the inside! I'll post pics when its done - promise.
Other new things -- I haven't been able to run or cycle recently due to an injury. :( So, I'm in the pool much more often. I'm enjoying the water & getting better at swimming. I ordered a DVD from Total Immersion to help with breathing while stroking, so that should help the efficiency of the thing -- I hope! I also ordered a Swimp3 underwater mp3 player! Swimming laps is BORING, so I'm going to add some music to my training. It uses bone conduction technology, so I'm excited to see how it works, it should be here tomorrow.
Friday I am going to spend the day at a spa! Body wrap, facial, mani & pedi...I can't wait! 5 hours of someone else taking care of me! Ahhhhh...vacation!
Life is busy for us, but I am going to enjoy some time away from the office. I LOVE what I do for a living, but everyone needs down-time. This holiday couldn't have come at a better time, I was dangerously close to becoming "Dr. House" with some of my patients. :)
So, there's the update....life is work, painting & swimming right now - oh, and the spa day!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
House paiting has started...
well, at least the prep work has started. Today I finished taking down wallpaper in the kitchen & dining room & getting the adhesive off the walls from the cow border. I also did a layer of drywall mud on the walls that the paper covered. Apparently, when they built the house, they chose not to mud under the drywall. Good thing I had so much experience with my office! Sheesh. Anyway, its done. Its drying and I'll sand on Wednesday & start painting the color! YAY! I'll post pics as I go!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Wow - almost 3 months later....
I can't believe how I've neglected my blog! Obviously, I've been busy!
New things:
I started working on getting my master's degree in nursing. I am going to get certified as a family nurse practitioner. I have no intention of leaving chiropractic, but plan to incorporate the medical side of health care into my practice. It will be awesome to help people titrate OFF some of their medicine!
I am repainting the upstairs of my home. We have had all white walls & different borders in several rooms since we bought the house. I distinctly remember that the first thing I said was "the cows in the kitchen have got to go!" It is now almost 5 years later and the cows are finally gone! I have taken down some of the border and am working on the rest of the wallpaper in the kitchen. They didn't mud under the wallpaper, so I'll have to do that before I paint. I bought the paint today and am getting very excited. I'll post pictures as I go!
Work is awesome! My main receptionist is THE BEST! She is organized, detailed, and is great with the patients. She is learning the patient & insurance financial side of things as well. Much less stress for me! YAY!
Thomas continues to shoot all the time! He is doing more competitions this year than last (I think!) Unfortunately, I won't be able to go to many of them this year since I'm busier.
I am doing a triathlon in North Platte in April. It will be fun, but I don't expect a good time. I haven't been able to train as much as I'd like. I am not going to bow out, but I will be SLOW!
The Norfolk triathlon will be awesome this year. I am going to be part of a team this year! I am doing the swim portion of the tri. My mother-in-law is going to do the run & my GRANDFATHER-IN-LAW is going to do the 10 mile bike ride! I am SO excited! I am getting tri-shirts made for us!
Okay, that's an update for now. Check back for pictures periodically of the new look of the house!
New things:
I started working on getting my master's degree in nursing. I am going to get certified as a family nurse practitioner. I have no intention of leaving chiropractic, but plan to incorporate the medical side of health care into my practice. It will be awesome to help people titrate OFF some of their medicine!
I am repainting the upstairs of my home. We have had all white walls & different borders in several rooms since we bought the house. I distinctly remember that the first thing I said was "the cows in the kitchen have got to go!" It is now almost 5 years later and the cows are finally gone! I have taken down some of the border and am working on the rest of the wallpaper in the kitchen. They didn't mud under the wallpaper, so I'll have to do that before I paint. I bought the paint today and am getting very excited. I'll post pictures as I go!
Work is awesome! My main receptionist is THE BEST! She is organized, detailed, and is great with the patients. She is learning the patient & insurance financial side of things as well. Much less stress for me! YAY!
Thomas continues to shoot all the time! He is doing more competitions this year than last (I think!) Unfortunately, I won't be able to go to many of them this year since I'm busier.
I am doing a triathlon in North Platte in April. It will be fun, but I don't expect a good time. I haven't been able to train as much as I'd like. I am not going to bow out, but I will be SLOW!
The Norfolk triathlon will be awesome this year. I am going to be part of a team this year! I am doing the swim portion of the tri. My mother-in-law is going to do the run & my GRANDFATHER-IN-LAW is going to do the 10 mile bike ride! I am SO excited! I am getting tri-shirts made for us!
Okay, that's an update for now. Check back for pictures periodically of the new look of the house!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas 2008 --- again
Today is Christmas, and Thomas and I got to sleep in (mostly, the cats wanted us up early for some stupid reason). However, after sleeping in and leisurely having brunch, we started opening some presents. I did get to open a couple last night and Thomas had given me some very warm sweatshirts and a Mah Jong game for my PC. I LOVE Mah Jong! Today we opened other presents throughout the day and I got a couple of games for the Wii (Party Play and Kung Fu Panda), a great flashlight, and a stuffed black & white kitty (skunk)! I gave Thomas some fun little toys from ThinkGeek.com. I love that site and decided to get him fun presents this year!
It was a great day at home relaxing and getting great stuff! We are enjoying the days off and will head into Bellevue tomorrow to get Thomas' new car detailed and my car washed as well.
It was a great day at home relaxing and getting great stuff! We are enjoying the days off and will head into Bellevue tomorrow to get Thomas' new car detailed and my car washed as well.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas 2008 -- so far....
Well, this year Thomas & I decided not to buy each other "big" gifts because we each needed something that was rather pricey already. My home PC was threatening the "blue screen of death" so I bought myself a new computer. (Vista, ug, but so far its okay -- the monitor is HUGE!) Thomas needed some re-loading equipment for his rather expensive shooting hobby, so he purchased that as well. So, we were just going to do "little" things for each other this year. We are also staying home and relaxing over the holidays. We decided not to go anywhere this year as we are both very tired and needed some "downtime."
So, last week, Thomas' car decided to burn a ton of oil in the garage and the proceeded to dump about 2 quarts on the garage floor. I took it to the shop and was told (after many days) that the head gasket cracked. It was going to be a very costly fix---much more than the car was worth. We had been talking about getting him a new car this next year anyway, but of course, the gods had other ideas.
So today, we went and bought him a 2009 Toyota Yaris! Its a fun car, and gets great gas mileage! Check out his blog for his thoughts about it. It is a "bug" car similar to mine, it new, and it has a big warranty. Hopefully this one will last quite a while as well. Oh, and when we jumped in it for the test drive - it had 5 miles on it! Fun Fun!!
Here's a pic of his car!
So, last week, Thomas' car decided to burn a ton of oil in the garage and the proceeded to dump about 2 quarts on the garage floor. I took it to the shop and was told (after many days) that the head gasket cracked. It was going to be a very costly fix---much more than the car was worth. We had been talking about getting him a new car this next year anyway, but of course, the gods had other ideas.
So today, we went and bought him a 2009 Toyota Yaris! Its a fun car, and gets great gas mileage! Check out his blog for his thoughts about it. It is a "bug" car similar to mine, it new, and it has a big warranty. Hopefully this one will last quite a while as well. Oh, and when we jumped in it for the test drive - it had 5 miles on it! Fun Fun!!
Here's a pic of his car!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Deer season 2008
Thomas and I went up to my parents' again for deer season this year. We were hoping that we would be able to get each of our deer early on Saturday morning so that we could relax the rest of the weekend. We went out to the area on my Uncle's land where we hunt about 6:30 am on Saturday and set up our hunting stools to wait for sunrise. We are not in it for the sport, just the food, so we had warm clothes, stools to sit on, shooting sticks for to support the rifles to shoot from and radios to talk to each other on. :) Yep, we are not the mighty woodland hunters.
About 5 minutes after sunrise, I started my deer call. I sit there and quietly whisper "Here deer, deer, deer, deer" over and over a few times. Shortly after that, Thomas clicked on the radio telling me that he sees two deer directly in front of him. Of course, that is to MY right, through the trees, but that's okay. He tells me that they are stopped so I tell him to take the shot.
He does, and the larger of the deer lopes about 2 steps and disappears. There were a few other smaller deer with it that bolted, but one deer just stood there. So, I shot it. :) I didn't think I hit it, but when we went to go get his deer, there it was. So, we were done shooting by by 7:35...sunrise was at 7:24. We were pleased. However, we had to drag them up a fairly hefty ravine. UG! We got the first one (mine, much smaller) up the ravine and went down for the bigger one (Thomas'). They were also dropped in a swampy area...my boots are not waterproof! We are getting hip waders for next year!
It took us quite a while to get the second one up the raving. A friend of my dad's came out and helped us drag it to the truck. We were quite thankful for that! We got back to the house around 10 and promptly took a nap!
Dad couldn't go with us on Saturday, but he got his in the same field on Sunday morning. So, we will all have good food for this next year!
Here's the pics.
I like that my deer has his tongue hanging out!
About 5 minutes after sunrise, I started my deer call. I sit there and quietly whisper "Here deer, deer, deer, deer" over and over a few times. Shortly after that, Thomas clicked on the radio telling me that he sees two deer directly in front of him. Of course, that is to MY right, through the trees, but that's okay. He tells me that they are stopped so I tell him to take the shot.
He does, and the larger of the deer lopes about 2 steps and disappears. There were a few other smaller deer with it that bolted, but one deer just stood there. So, I shot it. :) I didn't think I hit it, but when we went to go get his deer, there it was. So, we were done shooting by by 7:35...sunrise was at 7:24. We were pleased. However, we had to drag them up a fairly hefty ravine. UG! We got the first one (mine, much smaller) up the ravine and went down for the bigger one (Thomas'). They were also dropped in a swampy area...my boots are not waterproof! We are getting hip waders for next year!
It took us quite a while to get the second one up the raving. A friend of my dad's came out and helped us drag it to the truck. We were quite thankful for that! We got back to the house around 10 and promptly took a nap!
Dad couldn't go with us on Saturday, but he got his in the same field on Sunday morning. So, we will all have good food for this next year!
Here's the pics.
I like that my deer has his tongue hanging out!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)