Road Trip, Olympics, Movies, TV, and Other Stuff

Road Trip

The weather finally cooperated with us and we were able to go on a short road trip through the Bridger Mountains and into the valley on the other side.  It was nice to get out of "dodge" for a few hours. It was nice to see some different scenery.  It was really nice that, even though there is still A LOT of snow on the ground, there was no snow on the roads.  We had a great time and we saw some really cool things, and I was even able to take a few pictures.  Here are a couple of my favorite ones. I will be posting the rest on my Photography Blog, make sure you check it out. 

Aren't they beautiful?

Yes, those are Bald Eagles!  Majestic!

An old building (school house?) being restored.

It really was an awesome feeling just being able to get out of the house, away from this town for a few hours and see some other sites.   I really can't wait for Spring!

Olympics

Like you, I have been keeping my eye on the Olympics.  I really enjoy the Winter Olympics a great deal.  I lived in Salt Lake City during the 2002 Olympics and it was awesome.  The Olympics bring so much energy to the City, State, or Country they are held in. 

My favorite, by far, is the short track speed skating, in particular, Apolo Ohno.  I loved watching him skate in Salt Lake, in Torino, and absolutely now in Vancouver.  He is just amazing! 

But I have also been keeping an eye on some other olympians.  Particularly, Olympians from Montana and from my home state of Utah. 

Heather McPhie who grew up right here in Bozeman, MT, now lives in Park City, Utah, is on the US Ski Team.  She placed 18th in the Moguls after she fell on the Moguls final run.  That was such a bummer to watch because she was a medal contender and was running in 3rd place when she fell.  Maybe next time Heather!

Bryon Wilson from Butte, Montana is the Bronze Medalist in mens moguls at the Vancouver Olympics.  Woot!  He is also an artist in Wood Carvings.  You can visit his website here.   What a talented young man. 

Noelle Pikus-Pace from Orem, Utah.  She has become one of the best skeleton sliders in the world since beginning the sport in 2001. She placed 4th in the Skeleton at the Olympics this year.  Not too bad!

Steven Holcomb from Park City, Utah.  Placed 6th in the two man Bobsled.  I believe he also races in the four man bobsled which is coming up sometime this week.  I'll be watching. An interesting fact about Steven is that he has served over 7 years in the Utah National Guard.

Zach Lund from Salt Lake City, Utah.  Placed 5th in Skeleton. Not bad!   He is attending college and is majoring in Aviation.  He hopes to fly forest fire sludge bombers when he retires from sliding. 

Valerie Flemming from Park City, Utah & Shauna Rohbock from Orem, Utah are teamates in Bobsled.  They won the silver medal in Torino and are waiting to compete in Vancouver sometime this week.  I can't wait!  Hoping for GOLD!!!!

Of course, I am cheering on all the US OLYMPIC ATHLETES.  GO USA!!!

So now that you know that I have been watching the Olympics and who I have been following, that brings us to.....

Other Stuff

Today is the first day in several weeks where there is a cloudless sky, the sun is shining, the sky is blue-blue, and it is just gorgeous.  I wouldn't say that its warm because I don't consider 36 degrees warm by any means.  But it seems warmer.  In fact we are starting to see some of our lawn that has been covered by several inches/feet of snow since early November.  Is this a sign that spring may be just around the corner? 

I am still in search of a job.  In fact I just spent the last 5 hours applying for several jobs that have become available.  REI is building a new store in town and I applied for 3 positions there.  I also applied for a position with Delta Airlines. *I would love to get this job.  It's close to home and I would have flying benefits.  And I also applied for a couple office type jobs, as well as one for driver/pick up.  Yes, I am applying for EVERYTHING.  This is how my days seem to go these days.  Something has got to come up soon right?  Well thats what I keep telling myself.   It's so depressing!  I've never had trouble securing employment before.  The unemployment market is really crazy!

Other than watching the Olympics this is what provides my entertainment during these cold days of winter.

On TV -

• American Idol - Love It!  The competition is really tough this year. Will be hard to vote on my favorite when I like the majority of them.  Voting begins tonight!  Yeehaw!
• Human Target - We are really enjoying this new series this season.  Its full of action and comedy. 
• Past Life - Another new series that we started watching.  And so far its pretty good. 
• Ghost Whisperer - Still our FAVORITE.  Love Jennifer Love Hewitt and Cameron Manheim. 
• Medium - Just started watching it this season.  We like it so much that we are DVR'ing all the past episodes. 
• Man vs. Wild - We really enjoy watching this program and learning survival techniques. I could do without learning how to eat some of the stuff Bear Grylls eats.  OMG it can be so disgusting!

Recent Movies -

• Edge of Darkness -  As homicide detective Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) investigates the death of his activist daughter, he uncovers not only her secret life, but a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence. -  I love dramatatic thriller type movies and I really liked this movie. It was intense and I felt Mel Gibson did a great job with his character.  However, it is Rated R for bloody violence. 
• The Final Destination  (2009) -  After a teen's premonition of a deadly race-car crash helps saves the lives of his peers, Death sets out to collect those who evaded their end. - I love all the Final Destination movies and this one is no different.  Always a very intense, on the edge of your seat Thriller. 

What I'm Reading -

• I am currently reading the first book in the Left Behind series.  A novel of the Earth's Last Days.  Written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.  I have seen and enjoyed all the movies and now I am really enjoying the novel.  If you haven't seen the movies or read the books, you should.  It is a fictional story that discusses the last days.  How millions of people who are believers just vanished of the face of the Earth, and what those left behind had to learn and do and deal with.  I really like to think that those of us who are believers of Christ will "vanish in the tw inkling of an eye" or through the rapture or by transfiguration, or whatever you want to call it and be able to live with God once more.  To be saved from the fire and brimstone that is going to come to the wicked here on Earth. 

I think that just about sums up my life right now.  I am really looking forward to many more road trips in the upcoming future.  There are so many places I want to visit around here and I can't wait to share all my adventures with you all. 

B - O - R - E - D - O - M

Let me just say that my life right now is so dull and boring that I can hardly stand it.  My husband asks me today what I have posted on my blog lately and I tell him "nothing because I don't have anything to write about".  His response?  "Well you haven't done anything lately TO write about".   He's right!  I haven't... we haven't.  Like a bear I have been in hibernation.   The weather has kept us mostly in doors.  Lack of money and little vacation time has also kept us mostly in doors.  And I seriously need a vacation about now.  I often dream of being in someplace warm like Hawaii.   Heck, I would even be happy with going to the "The Happiest Place on Earth". Disneyland.  Anywhere, where it is not cold and there is no snow!  I can dream can't I? 

Ahhhhhh!

Very Happy!

I spend the majority of my day(s) doing "something" in trying to find a job.  And let me tell you... that is getting REALLY BORING.  When I am not doing that I am studying for the sunday lesson I teach, practicing the piano, goofing off on facebook, reading your blogs, watching TV, and spending whatever time I can with my husband in the evening before he goes to work.   I have also been learning the art of Couponing (that can take up some serious time). 

The weather hasn't made it possible for us to go anywhere new, fun, or interesting.  The most exciting times I have are taking a walk, going to the grocery store, and on Monday's when my husband has the day off, we try to do something like thrift or antique shopping (more like browsing), or to the movies.  Today we went to the bookstore where I purchased a new book, and we went to the movies and saw Edge of Darkness  (BTW - good "action filled" movie, but a little gory in parts).

I need to get more yarn so I can start another aphgan. I need to work on some photography, but I can't seem to find anything of interest to photo when there is nothing but snow and ice and I have already taken all those kinds of photos that I want right now.  I should catch up on scrapbooking but I just don't have an interest in that right now either.  I will probably start working on our taxes this week even though whatever refund there is will be paying back taxes from previous years.  I will be making Valentine Cookies tomorrow so I can send them off to my kids.  And I will also do my visiting teaching sometime this week.  Other than that, there is nothing to look forward to anytime soon.  Summer can't come soon enough. 

I can't wait for the snow to melt so we can go hiking, fishing, camping, paragliding, visit Ghost Towns and Yellowstone, white water rafting and horse back riding, exploring the Lewis & Clark Caverns, and maybe even head over to Mt. Rushmore.  THEN I will have something to write about.  And I can't wait!  But first.... Old Man Winter needs to give us a break and go on his own vacation so I can start mine. 

A Look at Thanksgiving

I picked up Shellise & Jessie at the airport on Wednesday morning.  I was so excited to see them!   Shellise had oral surgery on Monday (2 days prior), to remove all 4 wisdom teeth, so when she arrived her face was all swollen and she wasn't feeling all that great.  In fact, she didn't feel completely well all weekend, but luckily it didn't deter her too much from having a great time anyway. 

Shellise not feeling so well after oral surgery

On Wednesday, after they arrived we got them settled in at home and then took off to do some shopping at Walmart.  Afterwards, they spent the rest of the afternoon playing video games and watching movies, while I finished up on pre-Thanksgiving preparations.  Later that afternoon and after Bill woke up, we took them to our favorite rib place in Bozeman, Bar 3 BBQ, where on Wednesday's they have a full slab of ribs for half price.  A full slab fed all 4 of us and we still took home some leftovers.  The kids really seemed to enjoy the restaurant's atmosphere and the food. 

Shellise & Rocky Relaxing

Jessie & Daisy just Chillin'

This is the first time the kids had been to our home since we moved here, so it was fun showing them around our little town of Belgrade and also Bozeman, which is about 8 miles away from our home.

Thanksgiving morning while in between preparing dinner, we played scrabble and video games, and snacked on Ord'herves (spelling?)  Dinner was planned for 3:00.  Everything turned out great!  The turkey came out looking and smelling great as well as all the other food.  I was a little dissappointed in my homemade rolls though.... they tasted great but I think they raised too long and ended up being a little on the flat side.  But all the other food was really good.  Of course we had lots of leftovers, which is fine by all of us to have Turkey sandwiches to munch on all weekend.  I served dinner on fine china and served our drink in crystal goblets.  The table settings looked really nice.  The apple and mud pies were very yummy for desert! 

Thanksgiving Dinner.  No we did not dress up (probably should have).

And I have no idea why Shellise had on that hat during dinner.  Really Classy!

Chalk it up to that she wasn't feeling well and I didn't realize she had it on until afterwards.

Some of the yummy food on my plate

That evening consisted of more scrabble & more movies.  We rented Angels & Deamons (same author as Da Vinci Code) with Tom Hanks, which is a really good show, for those of you who were wondering.  I'd see it again. 

Friday plans were to take the kids on a scenic ride down towards West Yellowstone, Shopping and Go Karting.   The ride started out great and ended up being awesome when we came across Rocky Mountain Goats crossing the river and onto the road in front of our car.  I was able to get some photos but I will blog more about this later. 

Jessie with Gallatin River in background

Shellise holding her cup of hot chocolate.  Face swelling looking better.

Me, Shellise & Jessie

Bill with Gallatin River in background

I did not get up early and do any of the early Black Friday Shopping like I've done in years past.  We did venture out later in the day to WalMart and to one of our favorite Pawn & Thrift Shops, where the kids found some remarkable deals on some clothes and other fun things.  I picked up a purse for me that still had the brand new tags on it for next to nothing.  Love those deals!

Go Karting was a riot!  Bill came in 1st, Jessie 2nd, Shellise 3rd and I came in last.  No surprise there.  What was surprising and very sad for me is that Bill lapped me by 7 laps, he lapped Jessie by 3 laps. That gives you an idea of how pathetic I was.  Oh... and how very sore my hands, forearms and biceps were.  Steering those machines are very difficult and used muscles I must not use much... also pathetic!  It was so much fun though! 

Shellise preparing for Go Kart Racing!

Jessie practicing on video game

And the Winner Is.....

On Saturday we took the kids shopping at the mall and then to the movies.  We went and saw The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock.  IT IS THE BEST MOVIE!  I repeat, IT IS THE BEST MOVIE I have seen in a very long time.  Even better...It's a true story!  It's a great family movie and I would highly recommend you take your family and friends and go see it.  I think this is Sandra Bullock's best acting ever.  EXCELLENT MOVIE... I would give it 5 stars! 

After the movie we went home so Shellise could take another dose of pain meds, because by then she hadn't had any for several hours and she was in a lot of pain.  Once she started to feel better, we went and grabbed a pizza and came home for wrapping some christmas gifts, more games and movies, as well as getting the kids packed. 

Shellise preparing to wrap some Christmas Gifts. 

Shellise just loes wrapping gifts!

Jessie doing what he does best... Chillin'

Sunday morning arrived too soon.  At 9:30 a.m. we had to be out the door driving to Butte so the kids could catch the plane there.  They flew into Bozeman but flew out of Butte because the tickets were significantly cheaper to do that and since Butte is only an hour ride a way it was worth it.  We arrived with plenty of time to spare so we stopped by the Mall and walked around for a while before we had to get to the airport. 

It sure was sad and hard for me to let them go.  We had a fabulous 4 days together.  Having them with us sure made Thanksgiving extra special!  I was extra blessed this year! 

My sad face cuz the time went by too fast

Dorky, I know!

Now the countdown to Christmas begins.  Depending on the weather, we will be picking up the kids on the day after Christmas in Idaho Falls (half way from here to Salt Lake).  Can't Wait!