Life on the High Plains

I get to extend my Christmas vacation by a couple days...sort of. I'm taking a two day online SharePoint class.  I'm kind of a SharePoint geek.  Love it!  I'm having a real hard time getting my co-workers to love it also.  I don't think they like to change to tools that are new and more efficient.  I'm going to keep working on them though. It runs from 7:00 to 3:00 today and tomorrow.  My brother, Bob, flew home this morning.  The Aussie boys, Adam and Lucas, went to Breckenridge for a couple days of skiing.  So I'm home with my Dad and Dana. You may think I'm playing hookie, but I am required to attend and participate in class, plus I need to have a certificate of completion to present to my boss. So I'm sitting in my office with my headphones on and two computers and iPad running being a good student.  I have time to blog while I wait for the few non-technical students to catch up with the rest of us.. (Ugh!)  There's at least ...

Another Christmas has come and gone. We were very lucky because Santa once again stopped at our place and left a present or two for everyone. Irv had to work, but the Command Center went on unclassified status for a few minutes so families could visit.  I learned that I should never complain about my small cublicle at work because Irv literally sits elbow-to-elbow with his co-workers.  Unfortunately, they don't allow cameras so I don't have pictures for the blog. We had a marathon gift unwrapping session followed by a wonderful dinner.  The girls pitched in and helped, but it was still an overwhelming amount of work.  I'm feeling exhausted today which is compounded because I'm coming down with a cold too.  Next year I'm going on a cruise so someone else can do all the work. I'm thankful to have a day off today to rest and go see War Horse (any movie that stars a horse has to be worth seeing!) I think a nap sounds really good too. As ...

My favorite grandson, Mr. Beans, and I are hanging out at the airport this afternoon. Waiting for Uncle Bob and Dana and Adam. Eating cheese curds and drinking Dr. Pepper. A perfect December afternoon!

Dana and Adam are vacationing in New York City before they come here for Christmas. Adam called to talk to Irv early Saturday morning.  I'm sure he thinks we are the nuttiest people ever because we were asleep when he called and I initially didn't recognize who he was before I handed the phone to Irv.  Irv was a little dumbfounded by what Adam called to ask him and his responses to Adam were a little incoherent. (Sorry Adam.  I wish we could replay that whole call.) Anyway, Adam called to ask for Dana's hand in marriage! Irv and I have been waiting and waiting for Dana to call and tell us--I couldn't tell anyone, not even Mary and Jillian (although I did tell a few co-workers).  I've been about to bust at the seams. Last night on top of Rockefeller Center Adam popped the question and Dana said YES!  Thank goodness. Adam, now known as Mr. Romantic, wins the prize for making a girl's dream come true.  Not only did he surprise Dana in a spectacular se...

Way back in July I started having pain in my right side that eventually resulted in having surgery to remove my gall bladder. I wish that were the end of the story.  Within a couple days of my surgery I knew I was still having the same pain, but I gave myself a couple months to mend. Unfortunately, the pain is still with me and is about 100 times worse that it was five months ago.  I'm still visiting doctors, being poked and scanned, but they can't find anything. The pain got so bad on Sunday afternoon that Irv dragged me to the ER.  The lab tech that came in to start my IV chuckled as she told me I was her first patient. I chuckled too thinking that she was just kidding.  I was distracted by the doctor while she was inserting a needle into my arm, but the whole while I was feeling like blood was dripping down my arm and tinges of pain in my forearm. When I finally looked over to see what she was doing, she apologized profusely and repeatedly kept sayi...

Irv and I went to a handgun safety class on Friday night. I did something I never thought I'd do...I joined the NRA. I couldn't resist, it was only $10 and I got this really cool hat. I don't know what will happen next...I may become a Republican (some of my favorite people are Republicans--my dad, my brothers, and most of my friends--so I don't mean that in a bad way). Hopefully they'll mail me a sticker that I can put on my truck.  Then I will be an official "redneck".

I know most people have done their holiday baking by now. I've been debating with myself whether or not to have a bunch of sweets around the house while everyone is here.  It seems like we're all a little more health conscious than we used to be, and quite often this stuff doesn't get eaten. Oh well, today I decided we needed to have a little bit of the "good stuff" around. I found this Hershey Kiss Peanut Butter Blossom recipe on Pintrest.  Very Yummy! In one of the ag magazines at work I found a recipe for Peppermint Bark and Fudge. Both were extremely easy to make. Tomorrow I plan to make some good old-fashioned chocolate chip cookies (everyone's favorite) and I'd like to also try the Salted Caramel Cookie recipe that my friend, Emily, has posted on her blog - Trailerhood Aristocrats.   These look like a really good combination of sweet and salty. I think that will be all we have this year.  There will be some candy aroun...