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!