Birthday Celebrations

It feels good to be away from Riverton for a couple of days. Paul and I are enjoying a weekend in Billings, MT...him for an R/C race...and me for the shopping. It's almost odd to be here...I've not visited this city since I first started working for the NWS in 2004 when I came here with my boss for a conference. Seems like some things have changed, but many elements I remember from past visits.

Happy Birthday to Paul! Today is his 31st birthday, and his request (aside from the standard Hot Dogs, Mac n Cheese, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake which we enjoyed Thursday) was to come to Billings for the race. The 19th Annual Magic City R/C race...or some derivative thereof. We left Friday morning after dropping the beagle off to "camp" (aka spend the weekend with our friends) and got here around 230pm. The hotel we're staying at couldn't let us check into the room until 3pm. So we went to lunch. Where you might ask? CRACKER BARREL!!! There was one right next door to the hotel. Man is that place just flippin' awesome. Makes my stomach growl just thinking about it (or maybe that's a result of the freshly delivered PaPa John's pizza sitting by my lap). Regardless, so good was that visit to Cracker Barrel, that I'm planning to head there tomorrow morning for breakfast........and maybe lunch. ;) Just kidding...just breakfast at most, and that's more likely to happy if both of us can get up early enough to get there before the church crowds. So lunch, check-in to the hotel, and then onto the R/C place. We were at the R/C track until 930ish or so Friday night so Paul could get in some work on his cars and take some practice laps. Meanwhile, I read. This morning, Paul was back at the track at 8a or so, but I came back to the hotel to relax for a bit. After watching a movie and getting ready, I went out shopping. I only hit up a couple stores today, but I'm in the process of aiding the Billings' economy. I was going to hit up a few more stores today...but by 1130 I'd spent enough money for the time being, and was ready to see Paul for a bit. Racing was supposed to be over by 7p, and we had plans to go to Olive Garden and a couple stores. But, somehow, that timeline got pushed back by 2 hours. So, for his official birthday dinner, Paul had PaPa Johns pizza. No complaints though...not like it's anything we can get back home! And now, here I sit, watching Happy Gilmore, and savoring a full tummy of good pizza...and oddly looking forward to enjoying a pineapple upside down cake since we brought the remainder with us to enjoy before they got stale.

Not too much else has been going on in the last week. Had a very good few days at work and enjoyed a busy Thursday off to get ready for the birthday celebrations that night. I am on evening shifts for the first half of next week, then another long weekend off. Works for me. I'm sure I'll be dealing with the normal post-evening-insomnia during the end of the week, but that's alright. I have a few things to look forward too, so I'm just going to focus on those things for now...and worry about the insomnia if it happens. Anyhow, time to enjoy the end of the movie and then head to bed...racing and shopping calls again for Sunday!

Take care!

Finding Motivation...

So I was sitting at work, reading a couple of old friends' blogs...and realizing maybe it would be good I at least attempted keeping up with my blog. It'll be a little more morphed into Paul and I's blog since his have fairly specific topics (RC and Programming).

Something is changing in me, don't know what. But my goals and desires in life are changing. One of my friends at work told me that it's a signal that I'm going through a "growth spurt." I asked if that meant I would be able to reach more shelves in our kitchen. No, I'm kidding...I didn't say anything like that (though it did fly into my head), I knew what he meant. Maybe he's right...it wouldn't be a bad thing...I could stand to go through some positive changes! Who couldn't?

Well, I'm not going to try to rehash times since my last post. I will say that since then we've been back to Ohio for a short weekend to throw my parents a surprise 40th anniversary party, hosted Thanksgiving for my parents, hosted Christmas for Paul's sister and her family, and have made a few trips to the metropolis of Casper (both for work and fun). So, we'll just kind of start with this month, and go from there.

Paul and I went over to a coworker's (mine, not his) house for a Superbowl Party. Hooray for the Steelers win...that made my grandparents cheer in heaven. No doubt my Dad's mom was stomping like crazy and enjoying some heavenly brew with my grandpa whom I never got a chance to meet. :) The party we went to was a fantastic time. There was very little "shop-talk" and everyone was in good spirits. I suppose that was probably aided by the overflowing beer and wine. Anyhow...everyone there except Paul and I were cheering for the Cardinals, so I had some fun there. I made a couple calls home too to talk to my Dad during the game. What a fun night. Of course, within a week Paul and I were sick as dogs. Some bug was introduced at the party, and about half of us got a nasty cold-type thing. Paul was still hell-bent to do his Winter Carnival RC race even though he was probably feverish and (obviously) didn't seem to be feeling all that well. My downfall was the following day when I actually had to call in sick to work, and had a fever of at least 100 degrees. Joy and a half. At least I got to watch some movies with him that day! Oh well, it's over, and Paul and I are now back to normal (though I still have a touch of a lingering cough).

Paul and I went to Salt Lake City on the 9th and 10th. I'd never been there before...what a beautiful place! We didn't take any pictures...we had plans to take them the next day. Of course, the snowfall that night left some low clouds over the mountains for that next day...so pics didn't make sense. Maybe next time, it certainly will not be the last time we'll be there. We were able to do some shopping and eat at chain restaurants...ahhh the luxury! We found out while we were there that Paul's grandfather was having additional health problems, which really concerned us. We were happy to learn that he did not have a stroke, though his heart problems remain in our thoughts.

Valentine's day was very relaxed. I worked a half-day, and after getting home Paul and I ran out to get a couple more things. We just cooked in. My parents got us an Omaha Steak gift package for Christmas...so we ate a ton of food from that. My husband is a pro at grilling steaks, and those tenderloins were certainly no exception. Couple that with twice baked potatoes, garlic bread,
and chocolate cake...and we were full and happy.

Times have been fairly relaxed since then. I've been working off and on (have had an odd stretch of shifts) and am now in my string of 6 day shifts again. When I finish these on Wednesday afternoon, I will have worked 8 out of 9 days. Yippee! Nah, it's good...in general, I've been working with some of my favorite coworkers, so it's been a nice stretch (so far!). Paul of course works a normal person's schedule...so he's at home living up his weekend. His weekend will be spent working on his R/C cars all day, and then going Mini-Z racing tonight. Me? I'm on day shifts...that means I'll be asleep by 930. Man, I'm getting old! Not sure what his plans are for tomorrow...not sure he knows either.

Well, that was certainly long winded enough for today. I'll get some pics up sometime soon. Take care!