More Fall Foliage

This pic was taken from kinda the same spot as the last two...kinda.

If you want to see all three together, just click on my flick thingamabob over there ---->

I have them all in a set.

I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing!

Yummy! Taco Potato from Space Aliens! Washed down with the Bahama Mama down below!

a'Stitchin' and a'Bitchin' and Stuff

Last night one of my peeps had the girls over for dinner and knitting. We had a great time. I got 8 more rows done on my scarf. (That's a total of 96 whole stitches) But, I was also trying a new pattern for a dishcloth that I screwed up and ended up frogging. Kt had about 18 inches of scarf that she screwed up, so I frogged that. Then I tried another new dishcloth pattern, but I was too busy bitchin' to concentrate on it, so did about 4 rows on that and frogged some more.

But my big accomplishment for the night was having the more daring and proficient knitters show me how to cable. Now, I know how and can make a cable scarf! Yeah!!

After the shindig, I went home and worked on a hat I have started 3 times now....this time it seems to be working. Whew!

In other news.....I actually went to water aerobics yesterday. I'm going again tomorrow. It felt good to be back in the pool.

I love the DVR. I've already recorded a bunch of movies from Starz. I will never run out of things to watch. Probably never. Maybe.

New shows I've watched: Life - it was okay, will probably get better after we get to know the characters. The Reaper - Liked it - but it is a Kevin Smith creation and I'm a Kevin Smith groupie. Back to You - caught the first episode and liked it, forgot to record it last night. The Big Bang Theory - I liked it, critics hate it. I've watched about 1/2 of Chuck, haven't decided if I care enough to finish watching. And I have Dirty Sexy Money recorded - Peter Krause is cute, does it matter if it's good? Tonight is Survivor - I always watch that.... And I'll probably watch ER, guess it's the last season.

I Need a New Shirt

I wonder if I got this shirt, if I could get a little more"action"?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20841428/

I'm Tired

My bro called last night at 7:30. He was in the Minneapolis airport. Flying into Bismarck about midnightish and wanted to crash on my couch. No problem. I removed the knitting and clean laundry no one had bothered to put away and grabbed some bedding. I had to work at 5:30 this morning at the crap-job, so normally would have been in bed by 10. Got to bed about 1. I hope I can nap today. I really suck at napping and don't know why. I used to be really good at it. Oh well, it was nice to see my bro for a couple minutes anyway. I'll get to actually talk to him in 3 weeks when I go visit him because it's HOSTFEST time!!

Updates, Upgrades and Down Grades

My Friday night standing date with Tb has been cancelled. But that's okay - because he was moved to treatment. About 100 miles from here. He didn't know about visitation schedule yet, so this weekend, he has no visit from Mom. He can have his own clothes though, so yesterday I boxed up some of them (including some new socks) and UPS'ed them to him. I have next weekend off from the crap job, so I'm hoping I can drive down there on Saturday.

I upgraded my cable yesterday. Our local cable company is running a promotion that I just had to have! Right now, I have broadband internet and basic cable with them and I pay about $80.00 per month. Starting Monday and for the next 6 months, I will have broadband internet, basic cable, digital cable, Starz & Encore, and DVR - for about $80.00 per month!!!! Way excited about the DVR!!!!! Now I won't have to take October 2nd off to watch the Eureka marathon on Sci-fi! Of the extra 45 stations I'll be getting, I'm really only excited about BBC America, Independent Film Channel, Sundance, and Fit TV. And the STarz and Encore channels of course. After the 6 month trial, to keep the extra channels and DVR, my bill will go up to $105.00, so if I like it and want to keep it, I will probably cancel my Netflix.

Although final grades haven't been posted, my GPA has plummeted from a 3.98 to 3.93. Good thing I'm changing schools and taking 3 months off. I need it to get over the shock.

Fall Foliage Watch

Last week (9/12)

This week (9/19)

Happy TLAP Day!

Well shiver me timbers, it's already Talk Like a Pirate Day! Wow, it just seems to come quicker every year.

Ya Landlubbers! Ya scurvy cur who ortin' t' be keel hauled!

Breaking It Down

I got a bit wordy with the last post (who me?) so as per Pink's pleasure, here is some clarification.

EATING RIGHT
I will be following the Weight Watcher's Core Plan. WW's is a great program, I've done it more times than I care to mention, but it works every time I do it. If I just do it. It never fails me, I fail it. I will be working dilegently to follow the 8 healthy guidelines and eat according to the Core Food list.


EXERCISE
I am a big ball of mush. I used to be an exercise fanatic. A large exercise fanatic, but I was at the gym 5 or 6 days a week. I'm starting out by doing some walking (have done that 3 times in the last week) and tomorrow, so help me gods, I will be at the Y in the pool at 5:35 am. On the few nice days we have left before we are attacked by cold Canadian air, I will get outside and walk. So far, today is not looking like a good day to do this. Hopefully after work it will have warmed up some.


MY COMFORT ZONE
This one will need a post all by itself. But just for the record, this will be the hardest one of all.

MORE FUN, LESS BOREDOM
I spend alot of my time being bored. No more. Whenever I think that...I WILL FIND SOMETHING TO DO! If I'm bored of what I'm working on at work and it isn't a deadline issue, guess what, there are always other things that can be done. If I'm home and zoning out in front of the television and whining because there is nothing on, I have books to read, a garage to clean, a spare room and a closet with enough crap to go through I could stay busy for a month. Go walking, call a friend....something. Quit sitting on my ass waiting for my life to happen. I'm gonna make it happen.

DATING
We'll talk about that one later too, because it will take some getting out of the comfort zone before this can happen.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes Revisted

Pink asks what I want to change about my life, so let's talk about it!

About 13 months ago, I posted about wanting to make some changes in my life. Guess what? Not much has changed since then.

A few weeks ago, I had a major "duh" moment. I realized at the ripe old age of 46 that I CAN be the person I want to be. But I am the only one that can do it and there is no reason why I can't be doing it right now!!!!!!!

So, now that school is done for 14 weeks. I am on a mission. Yesterday I started - albeit a bit slowly....but I started.

(And now, I get sidetracked.......

I did alot of knitting this weekend. But I was pooped. Last week was horrendous - Since last Sunday I composed a speech and prepared a power point to go with it. I wrote a 10 page paper on The Bank of North Dakota. I prepared a 7 page paper on stress in the workplace and prepared a power point to go with it. I worked 37 hours at the real job and 11 hours at the crap-job. Spent a couple hours visiting Tb. Kt and I spent Saturday together.We went to the street fair, went to Hobby Lobby, the liquor store and the grocery store. Then we sat on The Deck, grilled some dinner and watched a movie.

Yesterday, I didn't do much. I got up about 7 and read the paper. Ate some breakfast and then tidied up the bathroom. Watched the season finales of Monk & Psych that I had taped. Watched my new guilty pleasure, The Pick-up Artist (I know, really lame), watched Notes on a Scandal and The OH in Ohio. All the while I was glued to the tv, I was knitting and finished two dishrags this weekend! Squeezed some lunch in there along the way. Tried to take a nap. Got my dirty clothes sorted but not washed. Made some dinner, cleaned out the fridge, unloaded and re-loaded the dishwasher. Dinner was a chicken breast, some boiled potatoes, and green beans. Had to eat it on my good china, because I had no clean dishes. But I liked eating on the good china, it was a treat. Watched BB8 (snore), Cold Case and went to bed. The 4400 season finale had to be taped because of #%*$ football games running long. But that's okay, I'll watch it this week (and knit more) because I don't have to go ANYWHERE this week.

......sorry 'bout that)

Okay, that probably should have been it's very own post, but it's too late now....so back to the original purpose of this rambling...

Here's the changes I'm making:

Eating right
Exercising
Stepping outside of my comfort zone
Getting some of the clutter removed from my life
More fun, less boredom
And even though I don't look like a supermodel, somehow, someway, I am going to start dating again. This will be a humongus step outside of the comfort zone.

As far as the crap-job....once again, we are about to have a new manager and hopefully things will be getting better. But I do have to say, that since I now only work every other weekend (for the most part), it isn't quite as stressful. And, I like the extra money...I won't lie.

Missouri River

Yesterday I went to Chief Looking's Village and since it was such a beautiful day, I took some pictures. I'll share a few: This is the Grant Marsh Bridge aka Interstate 94. You can also see the Lewis and Clark Riverboat.
Looks so peaceful....

Railroad bridge.


Starting to see some yellow in the trees!
You can also see the stacks from the refinery in the background.

A yucca plant. These always remind me of my mom - she just loves them.

Milkweed

pretty weed

another pretty weed

The Only State-owned Bank

Another fun fact about North Dakota....we have the only State-owned bank in the country. And I have spent the better part of my free time since Sunday, writing a paper on it. I really, really put this off....uff da! But it's not due until 5:30 tonight and I finished it on my lunch break today, just in the nick of time! It wasn't the most exciting paper I've ever done, but I did learn a bit more about North Dakota history than I knew before. I had a couple of really good sources, but I think my favorite one was this website.

Now....I just have to get a presentation done for tomorrow night's class (who needs sleep?) and then I am kissing Aakers College GOOD-BYE!

The Reduced Shakespeare Company

I wish I was a movie reviewer so I could convey to you how good this movie is. Well, I should say this play that was filmed and put on dvd. I have never read Shakespeare, nor have I studied his works. I enjoyed Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, but that is about the extent of my knowledge. I cringe when Shakespeare is a category on Jeopardy! and get excited when I can answer any of the questions. Or should that be question the answers? Whatever.. Anyhoo - this movie is great. I laughed so hard I cried....

Just for Fun

Bismarck's the Place to Be

This weekend is a big weekend in Bismarck, not only will this guy be here...

http://www.unitedtribespowwow.com/kahurangi.asp

...but, it's also the biggest garage sale weekend of the year.

The United Tribes International Pow Wow is a huge event that is held here every year. Quite the experience! I love the Women's Jingle Dances. A girl I go to school with recently brought in her dress and the dress she is making for her daughter. They were just beautiful. It just amazes me how much there is to learn about the Indian culture and it's all so interesting - to me anyway!

(And here is a video clip of the Yellowface Singers from last year's Pow Wow)

I would love to get out there and at least see the Maori Dancers, but unfortunately, I have a speech and two papers that MUST GET DONE!! I may stop at a garage sale or two - not that I need anything....but sometimes it's fun to look.

More North Dakota Stuff

Theodore Roosevelt said something like this: Had it not been for my time in North Dakota, I would never have been President.

(I googled the quote - can't find it, but I've heard it enough times to know that it is real. Really.)

So what other famous people have come from North Dakota? Well, here are a few......

Lawrence Welk - And a one, and a two....strap on your accordion and start the bubble machine! (The clarinet player on the Lawrence Welk show, Henry Cuesta, was a major inspiration in my life.) Lawrence Welk was born and raised in Strasburg. His home is now a museum dedicated to his life.
Roger Maris- 61 in '61. Born in Fargo, played for the New York Yankees. Buried in the same cemetary as Sanchez's uncle.
Eric Sevaried - Journalist and author. Born in Velva, smoked cigarettes on the air at CBS.
Louis L'Amour - Born in Jamestown, wrote over 100 books. I've read zero of them - don't like westerns.
Angie Dickinson - Yep, Sgt. Pepper Anderson was born and raised in Kulm. My parents live pretty close to Kulm, I think of Angie every time I drive by....
Phil Jackson - Born in Deer Lodge, Montana, but raised in Williston, North Dakota - coached the Chicago Bulls to SIX NBA championships! Dude!
Warren Christopher - One of our country's Secretaries of State was born in my home state. Scranton to be exact. I've been to Scranton....Right Tug?
Bobby Vee - Had it not been for Buddy Holly's death, Bobby may never have been famous. "Devil or Angel"? You decide. Another native of Fargo. Playing in Branson, MO most of this month!


This will definitely be continued....

Glee

I just love this bus!! And if our public transportation system wasn't beyond fucked up, I'd ride the bus. Maybe I can buy this one when the public transportation system here fails because it is beyond fucked up. I'm sure it gets great gas mileage.

S.E.W.O.R.

Next week is State Employee Recognition Week or SERW for short. It is sponsored by the Council of State Employees or COSE for short.

I have been harrassing our COSE representative to get the name changed to State Employee Week of Recognition, or SEWOR for short. SEWOR is much easier to say than SERW. She won't propose it to the council. Some rep, huh?

Five Days Off

I took five whole days in a row off!! Should have been lots of fun. But, not so much. I'm still not feeling 100%. This cold thing has really kicked my ass. Had lots of stuff I wanted to get done, a few things that did get done, lots of sleeping, lots of tv, lots of communing with my recliner.

Things I got done:
Got Tb's clothes all washed. He thinks he will be moved to treatment in the next 2-3 weeks and he can have his street clothes. Think I'll leave the "partying" and Jim Morrison tees home.
Moved my bed, couch, chairs, etc and vaccuumed under them.
Threw out 2 dead houseplants.
Took some of the crap I despise off my walls. Now I need "new" stuff.
Made a lovely little pot roast in the crock pot. Just finished the leftovers for lunch. Yum.
Met with a rep from UND, she referred me to DSU. But she'll be waiting to sign me up for graduate school.
Finished a scarf I started over a year ago.
Frogged a bunch of projects I will never finish.
Made big plans for all my yarn.
Went to the Farmer's Market and got some corn, beets and onions. mmmm.
Moved the spare tv from Tb's room to my room. Not real sure why. I don't like watching tv in bed all that much. Oh well.

What I watched:
The final disc of Season One of Eureka. This is a great show. October 2nd, Sci-fi is having a marathon of Season Two. Think I'll need a day off.
Gray Matters. Cute. Ed----err, Tom, I mean Thomas Cavanaugh. Cute. I'm noticing a trend on Netflix.....They have an overall rating, and what they think I will rate it. On most movies, they think I will rate it lower than the overall rating. Except Gay and Lesbian movies, they think I will rate them higher. hmmmm.
Breach. Interesting, even though I knew how it ended.
Scoop. Pretty good. I gave it 3 stars. Hugh Jackman is always hot. Even when he may be a murderer. Is Scarlett Johansson our next Dianne Keaton?
Dead Like Me. Sci-fi had a marathon yesterday, in no particular order, but I enjoyed it.

Things I didn't get done:
List books for sale on Amazon
Clean the garage
Bake bread
Pay bills
Work on 2 papers that are due next week
Read
Blogging

Oh well....I'll get those things done eventually....