I'm IT!

Ten Years Ago:
I had just graduated from High School (yep, my 10-year is next month). I had just started my TopLine Federal Credit Union job this month, where I would stay for the next 3 years through community college.

My To-Do List Today:
1. Go to Costco
2. Go to Cub
3. Make potato salad
4. Pack for the holiday weekend up north
5. Get to bed by a decent time with all of the above completed

Snack that I Enjoy:
Chips and dip, popcorn, apples and peanut butter

Things I Would Do if I was a Millionaire:
Quit work, build new house on a lake in the middle of some woods, buy cars, donate to my favorite charities, vacation

Places I've Lived:
Brooklyn Park, MN (years 0-21, house)
Shakopee, MN (3 months, townhouse)
St. Cloud, MN (years 21-23, big old house with 7 other ladies)
Brooklyn Park, MN (years 23-25, townhouse, in sin)
Zimmerman, MN (years 25-current, my very own house!)

Tag! You're It!
Court
Ad
Babbe
Amanda

Fair Day

I feel like I've really been slacking on my blog duty. Not sure where the time is going, just disappearing along with summer.

And along with the end of summer always comes the state fair. We're heading out today, I can hardly wait! I didn't go last year since the Bird had just graced us with his presence, so I'm hard up for some greasy, fatty, wonderful fair food. A few things we plan to have: Fried pickles with cream cheese, pork chop on a stick, Pickle Dog (pickle wrapped in cream cheese and pastrami or something), Sweet Martha's cookies. I actually did a bit of planning outside of the food arena as well - I'd like to check out a couple real exhibits. Crazy, I know.

The Bird will be with us so I'm sure to bring the camera to get a few '1st State Fair' pics. Hopefully the weather cooperates... I'm okay - to quite okay - with clouds, but rain, not so much.

Dear Grandma,

I can't believe it's been 12 years today. In a sense it feels much longer than that since I've seen you, and yet I have so many clear memories that make it seem a shorter time.

One of my most vivid remembrances was the last time I stayed with you before you moved on. We had gotten you to bed and eventually turned in ourselves. As I laid in the living room, I stared at the ceiling and starting bawling. My mom and I talked and happened upon the picture you cross stitched that hung above your kitchen table. I always admired the art and what it stood for, and made sure you knew it.



My mom suggested I look at the back, and sure enough, there it was:



I couldn't believe it. I cried that much harder.

As I cried, my throat tightened up, a burning sensation welling in the back of it. I learned the next day that the awful feeling wasn't at all from the crying; it was tonsillitis. I don't think I have had a sore throat that bad again... until today. Is this you talking to me? Letting me know you're here? Because I could think of way better fashions for you to do it. However, this is one that would not be missed.

You are loved and missed, always.

Blast from the Past

Tonight I learned a few things. Firstly, that the neighbor across the way is a CPHS alumni along with BigCat and myself. I decided to dig up my old yearbook; I was a sophomore the year the neighb graduated. We looked up our sweater vested fellow man and ourselves before I proceeded to read through some of the year-end good-bye's:

"had a blast"
"so glad we met"
"call me this summer so we can get together"
"good luck in softball"
"glad we're still friends"
"congrats on the big K"
"good game last night, especially that at bat that you K'ed"
"see ya K queen"
"Strikeout queen"
"good strike out yesterday"
"I hear you struck out last night, good job"

In short, I also learned that I struck out the night before yearbooks were distributed. Thanks boys (yes, the last 6 were boy-voyages) for the reminder. I would have never kept that as a part of my teenage-year recollection, but I sure will now.

Happy BIRDday!

I can not believe that my baby is one already. Everyday he is more and more a little boy. No one told me it was going to go this fast!!!

All of his wonderful grandparents came over on Saturday to celebrate. He was in all his glory. I never knew you could really tell when a one-year-old is having the time of his life, but it was so apparent he was. It was such a fun and special day for all of us.

Wonderful Wedding Weekend

We returned from WI Sunday evening tired from a weekend filled with fun. BigCat's sister, AKA SIL, has tied the knot! BIL is officially a part of the family, and we couldn't be happier. They had a beautiful wedding and we enjoyed every moment!

Not so fast

One of the most exciting moments of my desktop purchase was ripping apart the dinosaur and putting it where it belonged... downstairs, cables unplugged, never to be used again. That is until I realized that many of my most used files were maintained in there. Some were awaiting on a 3.5 inch floppy (what's that you say? people don't use those anymore???) and the rest were in the belly of the beast. So, one entire day later I am at dino's feet digging for information. Now, it has taken a life on in the basement. At least after all these years, it was there for me when I needed it.