A tad overwhelmed...

I'm a bit numb. Not sure it's safe to emotionally respond to much of anything right now.

Totaled car in flood (yes, there are people missing and dead but still this happened to me and I can only directly react to what affected me)

Flooded basement (yes, it's dry and most things are okay but it took time and stress)

Mom's in the hospital (no, I don't know "how" she's doing...now they are doing a CT scan to check for a possible stroke or worse, mets)

It's still raining

My "brain" hurts. Not a headache, I just am wiped out.

So many books...

It's a Friday night and I'm house sitting. After the week I've had the house sitting has been the easy part and somewhat a source of relaxation. I'm in charge of two great dogs...Bridger and Mo in a house full of Montana art, bagels from the Bagel Company in Helena, MT, pictures of Glacier National Park, and a beautiful back yard green and full of produce. It's awesome!

So tonight I'm curled up with the dogs watching Dr G on Discovery Health and updating my book lists. I'm way behind in my journal I started to record what I've read this year, the books on my nightstand list, and my Non-Fiction Five Challenge. I'm done with my August selection, I just have to do my post. So to relax a bit and get in the mood I thought I would borrow this from my fellow book lover, Kelly.

What are you reading right now? Chocolate Legs: Sweet Mother, Savage Killer?

Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that? Infidel

What magazines do you have in your bathroom right now? Oprah, Glamour, Country Woman

What’s the worst thing you were ever forced to read? I’m not sure I’ve been forced to read anything, I usually will try to read anything at least once. I remember having to read Silas Marner by George Eliot as a Freshman in high school. I liked the book, I didn’t like the worksheets we had to do with it.

What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone? The Alienist by Caleb Carr

Admit it, the librarians at your library know you on a first name basis, don’t they? No, I rarely go to the library. I buy nearly all my books new. As I’m getting older I’m realizing the value of used books and the good ole library card. In college I only went to the library when we had group meetings for projects or to stop in and copy all the articles Father Harrington made us read for Physiology. It’s too darn quiet in a library!

Is there a book you absolutely love, but for some reason, people never think it sounds interesting, or maybe they read it and don’t like it at all? Stiff…People are usually disgusted by the topic so they don’t give it a chance but it’s a great book.

Do you read books while you eat? While you bathe? While you watch movies or TV? While you listen to music? While you’re on the computer? While you’re having sex? While you’re driving? I’ll read with soaking in the bath but that’s about it other than curled up in bed at night or on the couch on a rainy day. I’ve tried reading at the gym on the bike and such but that just doesn’t go well.

When you were little, did other children tease you about your reading habits? Yes, I devoured books. I would turn in three times as many book reports as my classmates, do the most elaborate “productions” for book reports, and I even broke into my own King Kong piggy bank to buy more books than I was allowed by mom and dad with the monthly book orders. Not only did the kids make fun of me, but my teacher tattled on me and my mom moved my piggy bank.

What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down? Double Bind by Christopher Bohjahlian

HNT..soaked

It's not my foot but my friend's foot. Paul was kind of enough to dry my clothes out for me after my car was flooded in his neighborhood. Five minutes after dropping me off I called him back because I found the above in my basement. He was kind enough to come back and help move all that stuff you see sitting in water. Notice his shoes...I'm tellin' ya, if you don't have a pair of Keen sandals you NEED to get yourself a pair!

So the long story short is this...basement damage is minimal, which is a good thing because the insurance won't cover it since the water came from outside the house. The car on the other hand is totaled. And as Rachel pointed out I just got that new radiator three weeks ago out in Montana. But that IS covered by my insurance minus the $500 deductible. I've found a new rig and will introduce it to you when it's mine. At least I'm not in the middle of all of this...say a prayer for these people. It could be worse.

Happy HNT!

It could be worse..

Like I said yesterday, there are people far worse off than I am. But at this point, I'm having a hard time focusing on that.

My mechanic just called. My car is totaled. The cost of repairs will exceed the value of the car. Insurance company says it is covered so that will help, but I'm basically sort of in a shocked haze right now. He's going to make a list of the costs and labor to review with the insurance company.

I'm not feeling so good.

It's everywhere

A death toll has been started. At least five people died last night, supposedly that count is to go up. My problems below are small compared to those in some surrounding communities. I just reviewed my inpatient list before going to bed for the night and I have one elderly gentleman in the hospital who broke his leg while the ambulance crew was trying to get him out of his flooding house during an evacuation. So much sadness...the tears I shed last night and today were for my own misfortunes but I'll get through mine. I have friends, family, and the help that I need. What about everyone else with worse flood damage?

My friend who helped all last night came by today with another dehumidifier for the basement and we took a little drive around town. I have lots of pictures but this one says a lot...this is a creek, not a river, behind the Rec Center. It normally runs a good 15-20 feet below the bottom of the bridge. The railing...that's the 4.5 foot railing between the bike path and the shore. I've biked it often.



A bridge collapse a few weeks ago with multiple casualties, flooding this weekend with a new death toll, if God wants to continue sending the rain he needs to get someone in southeastern MN to build us an Ark.

Pray for those who need it, my problems will dry themselves out.

It could be worse, right?

It is worse...this is just the house. I don't have my own pictures of my flooded car. It's in front of my friend Paul's house across town unable to be started after it was flooded in at least 2 feet of water as I came around a residential street curve in a downpour. Before I could back out or rush through it, my engine died and I was stuck. It's pushed out of the water, air filter is soaked, car won't start...mechanic is towing it tomorrow.

So much for the enjoyable girl's weekend I was having. State Farm has been called, basement is drying and all the damaged things have been pulled out. We had upwards of 10 inches of rain.

Enough said

One last adventure

The last leg of my two week vacation was spent at my parent's house in western South Dakota. I arrived late on Thursday night and stayed through Sunday. This particular weekend is the biggest weekend of the year for the little town of Isabel...it's time for the Isabel Celebration. Four days of barbeques, parades, rodeo, school reunions, etc. I missed Thursday's events but was able to attend all the rest beginning with the all-school reunion on Friday night.

My dad, my sister, and I all graduated from the same high school. While none of us were in an honored class since the overall class sizes are so small it's always an "all" school reunion and a good time is had by all. The reunion is held in a very nice Pavilion with finished floors, log interior, two bars and a concession stand area, and this year new tables and chairs. It all looks great but check out the chairs...

Do you think I should send this into Jay Leno?

This year there was a bit of a surprise. Mom and Dad "forgot" to tell me they had been chosen as the King and Queen of the parade. The Isabel parade is typically a lot of antique tractors, a few little kid floats, lots of horses but everyone shows up for it. I don't have any pictures but as we were lined up waiting to start we even had a run-away...two draft horses took off with a wagon and it's occupant. Poor Aaron held on for all he was worth but those horses weren't stopping. That cute little kid brushing his horses tail was in the middle of the road not even 5 minutes prior to the team roaring through...my poor mom was scared to death as were the rest of us sitting there.

I was proud to drive Mom and Dad down main street and got a kick out of them throwing out candy for the 5 blocks we had to go. Dad wouldn't wear hs crown but mom kept hers on for the route. These are a few of the kids who benefited along the route. The two on the left our sisters and the one on the right is a daughter of a classmate of my sisters. All close family friends.


The Isabel Celebration isn't complete without a bit of rodeo action. The youth rodeo was held on Thursday, a full day of timed event slack on Sunday, plus the two regular rodeo performances Saturday AND Sunday night. Roping, saddle bronc, bareback, barrel racing, goat tying (yes, that's my sister tying the goat to a stake...don't ask), and of course bull riding. A good time was had by all. Didn't know about my country side, did ya? ;)

HNT...Os had the camera

Does it surprise you Os had the camera? I was sitting there enjoying my mud pie and Os was snappin' pictures. Gotta love him!

Happy HNT

A Montana Last Supper

Even though Rachel and I had a long day coming back from Glacier Park I needed to head to the Brewhouse with Os for a pint or two. He had three quaffs and I stuck to one pint and a piece of carrot cake. It's a bit of a cheesy shot with my Glacier Moose hat and tee but I was tired, it was late, and they were clean. I think I even bought the old man his beer that night! What a nice date I am :)

The following night I wanted to hit my favorite restaurant for what was the SECOND time in one summer...an extra special treat. Heather and I made it here for burgers and Mud Pie in June and this particular night Os and I went for the Montana beef. I had my steak covered in mushrooms and blue cheese; his steak was still moo'ing.







































































And you can't eat at The Windbag without a piece of Mud Pie; Oreo cookie crust, three inch thick layer of coffee ice cream, a sticky fudge layer, and slivered almonds...pure sweetness. Good thing Megan showed up before we left or I would have eaten that whole piece by itself. Never mind the "half" carafe of wine I ordered. They might as well have brought me the whole damn bottle...it wasn't a half at all.

One Word

Stole this one from Kelly. Just something easy to post while I try to figure out what do post about my trip.

1. Where is your cell phone?
Table

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend?Husband/Wife?
Private

3. Your hair?
Red

4. Work?
Chaotic

5. Your father?
Grumpy

6. Your favorite thing?
Glacier

7. Your dream last night?
Strange

8. Your favorite drink?
Water

9. Your dream car?
Avalanche

10. The room you're in?
Family

11. Your pet?
Cats

12. Your fears?
Loneliness

13. What do you want to be in 10 years?
Mom

14. Where did you hang out last night?
Heidi's

15. What you're not good at?
Trusting

16. Eyebrow rings on the opposite sex?
NO

17. One of your wish list items?
Camera

18. Where you grew up?
Isabel

19. The last thing you did?
Breakfast

20. What are you wearing?
Suit

21. What aren't you wearing?
Bracelet

22. Sex?
Often

23. Your computer?
Custom

24. Your life?
Busy

25. Your mood?
Mellow

26. Missing?
Affection

27. What are you thinking about right now?
Stamping

28. Your car?
MOOSKIS

29. Your work?
Trauma

30. Your summer?
Short

31. Your relationship status?
Dating

32. Your favorite color?
Yellow

33. When is the last time you laughed?
Today

34. Last time you cried?
Today

35. School?
Done

HNT...A trip remembered

I've been home for three days and I'm all ready homesick. I sat this night above on the shores of Lake McDonald soaking in all the air and ambiance I could. Montana makes me feel better! Enjoy the view. Happy HNT

A Wedding Review

Here are the good majority of my pictures from the wedding. I will grab the boyfriend's later as well as purchasing some of the professional ones to share with you all as well. Until I have more time...enjoy the show!

Back in Minnesota

I rolled in late last night and have posts of pictures to share and stories to tell but they will have to wait a bit. I need some sleep. I worked about 5 hours today and now I'm going to take a snooze before I fall over. Too much driving yesterday! More Glacier, wedding, and rodeo pictures to come...

HNT...Hidden

Before I go any further I please ask for your prayers and thoughts for all those back home in Minneapolis. For those of you who haven't turned on the news I-35 in Minneapolis collapsed today killing at least 7 people. I have accounted for nearly all the friends I worry about but one guy didn't show for volleyball according to the team so I just sent off an email to check on him. For those families who don't know yet, for those mourning, and for those shaken, please pause a moment.





Rachel and I just got back from Glacier National Park. I snapped a quick shot of my view as I drifted off for a 40 minute nap on the banks of Hidden Lake with my legs in the cool glacial water. What a treat! Three days smoke free with views like this...I wish all could dip there toes in the water but for those who can't; please enjoy the view. Happy HNT!