Saturday, September 5, 2009

Labor Day Weekend

Hello, hello,

Just writing a quick message this Labor Day weekend. As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I am at home (Nebraska) this weekend for the Steele Reunion (mom's side). Tonight is our annual cream can cookout. Not sure if an explanation is needed but here it is, just in case: we stuff home grown sweet corn (on the cob), potatoes, cabbage, carrots, onion, and brats in an old fashioned "cream can"/milk can. (stands about 3 feet tall) Then fill the cream can with Schlitz beer and set it on an open flame to steam the contents YUM!! and we watch the Husker's game. I know, I know, sounds pretty "hickish" but we love these times. I wouldn't change it for the world. We usually play horse shoes and of course several different card games before we head to the bonfire to roast some marshmallows and make smores.

Tomorrow we will all gather for a potluck lunch where my grandmother makes her famous mashed potatoes and homemade chicken and noodles along with many other goodies. We usually visit with everyone, shoot some skeet/(blue rock), play with the giant sling shot/water balloons, and just hang out playing "polish horse shoes," croquet, and other games. Scary stories, hot dogs, polish sausages, and of course more smores around the fire later in the evening.

On Monday we have a big outdoor breakfast with all the fix'ns, cooked on our family's collection of electric griddles. Then everyone begins taking down their tents, packing up their campers/RVs, and parting ways until next year. *8^( I will get to see most of them again around Thanksgiving and Christmas, because the holidays are always huge scheduled get togethers in my family. We try to get as many people back as possible.

We have had beautiful weather out here recently, not too hot......sitting right around the high 70's. To the point that I have to wear a sweatshirt in the evenings. Love this weather!!

I continue to occupy my time with work and looking at graduate courses/GRE studies. I stay in contact with my adopted soldiers, though I haven't heard back from them, (which is understandable). I am also a member of the Cards Plus and Letter Writing Team with "Soldier's Angels", so I send several letters/packages out each week for different individuals in the service. I volunteer in the Craig Hospital Rehab/Therapeutic Recreation Department, take Bex, (my mutt), to visit the kiddos at Children's Hospital or the folks at Golden Pond Assisted Living and otherwise just try to keep up with my day to day activities.

There is nothing really new and exciting to tell you all but I wanted to get a note off since I committed to updating this every so often. I hope you are all safe and well. Take care. Lindsay

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Nothing really new since the last time I wrote. I know it is hard to believe because I haven't been on here forever. My life isn't all that eventful really....(that is good in some ways right?), just out here living the simple life and enjoying every minute God grants me. Landed myself in the hospital in April with 20 lbs of excess fluid on me, they drained that pretty fast with IV Lasix....that is a drug that work almost immediately, YIKES! LOL! Feeling pretty good now, trying to get some more of the weight off, it is always such a process. I am in a weight loss challenge with my sister, roommate, and some of my cousins.....they better watch out, I have a lot to lose.

My summer camp and teambuilding activities/field day went really well in July. I was a little bummed that they wouldn't let me stay up there with everyone....the altitude ya know. I think I have visited every farmer's market in the Denver area this summer. They have such wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables, and for such a good price compared to the produce in most stores. It is something that I take advantage of every summer. Just went today and purchased my first purple potatoes......fun stuff! We will see what I can do with them. Maybe I will fix some purple mashed potatoes. *8^)

Bexley, my dog, is Therapy Dog Trained and has been able to come to my job with me and work with the kids a couple days a week. He worked with the school kiddos this week and loved every minute of it. He also gets to go to an assisted living home right around the corner from work. He enjoys it and they really appreciate it. We will continue these visits throughout the fall and winter. It is great, he is exhausted by the time we get home in the afternoon/evening and just conks out. Less work for me.

I adopted a soldier recently. Her name is Johanna and she is an FOB Warrior, possibly in Kirkuk, Iraq. (Kirkuk Airbase - formerly was a major Iraqi Air Force base with support facilities for at least two fighter squadrons, strategically located near the Kirkuk oil fields and the Kirkuk refinery and petrochemical plant.) Kind of neat to learn about her and what she does. I send letters every week and a care package once or twice a month. It is fun, I have enjoyed it and I hope she has as well. I am also in contact with another "Airman" in, I believe, Afghanistan.....he works in aircraft maintenance. Sounds like a pretty important job to me. I can't imagine how different our worlds are right now but it has been a neat experience.

I am in the process of putting a "going away"/"Hooray! You didn't get fired" party together for my friend and co-worker this Friday at Baker's Street Pub and then on Saturday we are taking a friend's sister who is turning 21 out on the town. (Man, do I feel old when we do that.) The next weekend, an actor friend from the Renaissance Festival, (we used to work together there), is having a "Old School Slumber Party." That will be a blast! And then, the following weekend, Labor Day weekend of course, we have our Steele (mom's side) Reunion, where the extended family goes camping has bonfires, roasts some marshmallows, shoots some skeet, hangs out, and of course draft their fantasy football teams .

I can't believe that summer is almost over here, labor day is right around the corner. It should still be nice and warm for a little bit longer but cold weather isn't far away. I am not sure that I am ready for it, but the Fall out here is beautiful I must say. It is really something to appreciate. I like being somewhere where I get to experience all the seasons. It definately feels like summer is wrapping up but we are always able to come up with fall and winter fun without too many issues - Pumpkin patches, gourd launches, paint ball, Halloween is thrown in there, (I love Halloween, it is one of my favorite Holidays), road trips, sledding (still need to learn to board or ski), and then comes Thanksgiving and Christmas. Wow, I can't believe it is getting to be that time of the year again.

Alrighty, signing out....love you all. I will try to update more often.....right, that has been working out as the plan huh?

Lindsay

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Wow, so I haven't been great at keeping this update huh? Someday I will have the time....someday. Well the move is over, thank goodness. I have a couple of pictures of the new house below. I now live closer to the city and as I stated in previous posts, there are pros and cons about this. I am glad to be at a lower elevation and "thank you" to the Heavens for holding back the snow until I was done moving. Much appreciated. Now it is all about unpacking and organizing things the way that I want them. The cat has come out of hiding and has taken over as king of the house. My dog continues to have trauma about the move......no longer does he have run of the mountain. He is "caged" in a yard, about 25 yards by 35 yards.....I think he will be fine. LOL *8^) The house is spacious and consistently warm, those of you who know what I have put up with over the 4 years in the mountains understand that one. I am looking forward to what the next year may bring now that I am down the hill. We will see.

As for the PH......it is still here. LOL Down the hill doesn't mean magic will happen but you can always hope right. The move has done a number on my body but I am slowly re-cooperating. I have been a bit more out of breath and more "puffy" than usual but am trying to take care of myself. Work has been great about letting me take time when I need it...that and I accrue PTO like no other now that I have been here for 5+ years. Crazy huh?! I have discovered that it is nice to be able to walk around the block with the mutt when I get home from work on level ground. Around the block in the mountains" was like over 3 hills and that just wasn't happening. Other than that, when I get home I hang out and watch some prime time shows (ER, Fringe, Grey's Anatomy, and of course every reality show I can find for some reason), shower, and go to bed. That is basically my routine, and even that is challenging some days.

Work is busy. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful that I am still able to work full time as others are not but I am ready for it all to get back to normal. The kiddos are still feeling the effects of the holidays. We see the cops everyother day or so......no, it is not because of me. LOL Our kids are fighting out some of their anger, hurt, and anxiety right now. It is busy to say the least. I had a little slip/swim in some milk, soda, and water that was tossed between a couple of kids as "weaponery" at the beginning of this week. That was fun...did the splits...reminded me of my gymnastic days but we all know that I am not as flexible as I used to be. It is amazing to me to see how much anger and rage actually turns out to be hurt, anxiety, and other overwhelming emotions and how many skills these kids lack in order to deal with these feelings. We are trying to teach them but as we all know.......it will only work if they are ready, willing, and able.

I have an echocardiogram scheduled for 3/15/09, TAX DAY (hope I get a refund)!! It is crazy to get in and see the PH specialist right now. Dr. Badesch already has people booked through July 2009. I can't imagine his schedule. I will let you all know the results though echoes don't give great stats/numbers/pressures...........that is the duty of the heart catheder. No heart cath this visit, YAY! I hate those things, talk about anxiety. Weird to think that people are actually touching your heart and you can feel it.

That is about all the time that I have for now. I will try to write again soon. I hope all is well with everyone. Take care and God bless.
Lindsay