One Up, Two Down....

Rock em' Sock em' Josh!

Today is my 13 year old, Josh's, first game of the season...(one up!), he just made a tackle... (one down!), and I'm  at home reading it by text because my middle son got hit in the temple while walking at school and has a concussion (one down!). Poor guy. I feel so bad for him!

Who knew walking was dangerous?

 I wish I were omnipresent (able to be all places at once). Reminds me of last year's superbowl when I had to leave for work during the last 5 minutes of the game. Can't wait to see the game video....

Another Sunday - Another gorgeous lake!

How could this gorgeous lake be named after a rat?

After helping teach the kiddos at church, we let the dishes sit, the messes be messy, the shaggy lawn grow another inch, the homework and haircuts wait for one more day and took off  with our boxer, Ruby, for a hike to Rat Lake. I keep saying it's our last time out for the season, but the weather went from rainy back to gorgeous with long, fall shadows and crisp breezes. It was an interesting hike - a steep rocky trail that was supposedly 1 mile round trip (no way, 2 miles for sure) led up to this quiet lake. We only saw three groups of people the entire time. We cast our lines, but the fish eluded us. It was funny seeing Josh somehow get his fishing lure stuck about 13 feet straight up in a tree.  After that crazy week it was just what we needed!

Breaking news: Cashier Becomes Personal Therapist Overnight!

I love people. For years I had a bookkeeping job in an office basically in a room alone, but when I returned to the workforce I went in search for a job where I could interract with a multitude of adults and chose to cashier at a local grocery store. Since then I've been offered two bookkeeping jobs at that store and turned them down. Even though I absolutely HATE leaving my family to go earn a living, I really do love working with people.  I love people even on 5 hours sleep at 11pm. I laugh with them, ask if they are on vacation, comment on their fantastic taste in muffins, etc. I've had customer comments like, "You are WAY too perky for 11:30 at night!", or "Go in this lady's line - she always acts like she WANTS you to be there!" So what in the world went wrong last night?  - I'd like to know! 

 At precisely 11pm, I saw this average-looking lady customer an aisle away about to go to the other cashier, but that cashier was engaged in a conversation. I made eye contact with the lady and smiled while she was still an aisle away. I asked her if she found everything ok. I did the "beep, beep","clickety-click", "count, count, count", receipt routine as I rang up her three items, and as I fixed her bags so their handles were pulled up and set it by her I said in a VERY perky voice (mind you I've had 5 hrs sleep, and it's 11pm), "Thank you, have a nice evening!", smiled and stood basically at attention looking at her stuff and watching her put her things in her purse, looking around, just in case she needed anything else.

Her response just blew me away! She boomed, "I feel RUSHED!". Then she pointed at the self-check machines and my check printer and said, "All this technology, it's just TOO efficient, there's no one in line behind me and I feel RUSHED! No, how are you, what's going on with YOU?" I replied, "I did ask you if you found everything okay." I thought surely she must be JOKING? Nope, she was serious. She went on ranting at me about how I went too fast and it's a small town and with no one in line , how I should have asked her what was going on in her life - gesturing wildly at herself meanwhile. She stomped off continuing her rant and making rude comments at me. I checked myself - even I don't appreciate casheirs that don't even make eye contact, but this was not the case. Okay, so I get lots of weirdo's at night -drunks, people who need to throw up and want to find the bathroom asap, people who don't actually make it there, people who enlighten me on conspiracy theories, people that cross-dress, people who complain that my line is too slow, but being chewed out for being too fast???SERIOUSLY?????

US101 - part 2 Big News!

Finally got my book signed!

For those of you that aren't familiar with Kevin Michael Connolly, I have something great to share with you!  Kevin's book Double Take is currently featured as the "One Book Bozeman"  selection. It's a way for our whole community to be in one big book club and is featured in the local paper to give us a common month to discuss the selection. Kevin is a Montana State University graduate who became a successful photographer  who has received international acclaim. through his project named The Rolling Exhibition. While travelling around the world, he created this art project out of candid photos he took behind his back when people would pass by then do a "double-take" because of his appearance. 

What makes him catch peoples' eyes is that he was born without legs and rather than use a wheelchair to get around, he whizzes by on a skateboard .  In addition to his photo exhibit, he has written a memoir named, Double-Take  Not only does he talk about the project in his memoir, he also shares what life is like when you have to overcome adversity every single day. Not only did he overcome, he took the X-Games by storm, and his mono-skiing experiences will have you holding your breath! He was selected to give an inspirational speech at our Freshman Convocation this week.
  What does that have to do with my blog?  Here's the big news....

I was chosen to attend the Master Class where he did a Q&A with about 50 students. My role was to take notes, try to get our class question answered, and share what I learned with the class the following day. He's such a fun and open guy - he said we could ask him anything. I had a list a mile long I wanted to ask, but since I was the first one to ask a question I asked, "Now that you are back in Bozeman, how do people respond to you?"  His reply was, "It's more like, 'Hey, you're that guy!' and eventually it will peak." He referred to other famous writers like Greg Mortenson of Bozeman who is currently building schools in Afganistan off the pennies of local students and how people like Greg are more worthy of the attention. Here he is, a day before giving our convocation speech and he's completely humble! 

He was such a character, telling jokes and even shared an edgy comment he once was told not to use on TV (again). He's the kind of guy you'd love to hang out with - entertaining and full of stories.  It was a blast and I was thrilled to have him sign my book after convocation. I look forward to bumping into him on the streets of Bozeman and saying, "Hey, remember me - your old stalker pal from MSU!" and hope he doesn't hit warp speed on his longboard heading the opposite direction!

Scott, Foresman and Company - move over!

Looks like my 7 year old son, Wyatt, is revamping the standard textbook worksheets (created by Scott, Foresman and Co) in his class to a more "modern" level! Go Wyatt! 

University Studies 101 Part 1 - peers

Okay, so I got through day one without too much trouble except having to push-add my University Studies class so that my schedule will remain on target. I won't even go into what it takes for a mom of 4/football-mom/night-shift worker/volunteer/every-other-day kindergartener parent to work a schedule out at school!

What, no drama? Oh, you know me better than to think nothing happened that was worth blogging about!  My US class is a reading/discussing/critical thinking/writing class that is mostly about the students leading class in discussions together and writing college level papers individually. These kids are all fresh out of high school with college prep classes and lots of recent practice - a little intimidating but not enough to keep me from sitting side by side with them. Our "icebreaker" for the class was, "Tell a little about yourself and ask a question about the person that went before you." Each student tried to tell something unique and the following student would ask them something like, "What's your favorite restaurant?" or "team".  My turn comes and I mention the obvious just to get it out there. "I'm a non-traditional student with four kids and today is a big day because my youngest went to kindergarten and my oldest started 7th grade and today is my first day, too". The guy after me asks plainly, "So, did you cry?" ..."What?".... "When you dropped him off did you cry?" 

Right for the jugular!  What, don't wonder if I like Pita-pit? Don't wonder if I love the Packers? Did I CRY?

The funny thing is, on my way to class today I decided I loved the question!  Serious ice-breaker, right to the point - what kind of parent am I and how did letting go effect me - is basically what that means.  What I didn't think about is that all the students in the room had just faced that at home on the other end of the spectrum. Ah, I see  - we have more in common than it appeared!

And my reply was, "No, I didn't cry - my kindergartener basically ditched me and was happy to be there."

Come back for part 2 - it's BIG news!

Here's to 20 years!

 Our first anniversary..........

                          

Our 20th anniversary.......

 

Here's to the next 20!

Wish we were here.......

Here's to all the great stuff in-between. Thanks for 20 wonderful, adventure-filled years. I love you!