October 8th: Cooler Weather & SNOW??

Yes, I said it... SNOW!
Ok, so it wasn't anywhere near us, but it was in the state! Up to 4 inches in some places.That's as bad as your creepy relatives knowing what town you live in... they don't have your address exactly, but their in the vicinity & scouting around. SCARY!

 

Hwy 81 Sunrise



So, no snow for us yet, but it is decidedly cooler out with several days of lows below freezing this last week and highs only in the mid 50's. I had to use my seat warmers in the car for the first time since last march... and it was AWESOME! Something about heated seats is just great. You get all nice and toasty first thing on your morning drive with golden beams streaming in the car window from a beautiful gold and pink sunrise... yeah, that is great!

There is beginning to be frost on the ground in the mornings... kinda gives you that false snow excitement... when your almost ready for snow, but still need some time to ease into the idea. And you can see your breath in the mornings, which if you work at an ethanol plant like me, means that you can see the steam off the cooling towers for more hours in the day. The sky seems to be bluer and heavier in the mornings, and the darkness comes quicker and more intense in the evenings.



Fairmont, Ne Ethanol Plant



Ok.. so we still have a long way to go before we hit winter (THANK GOODNESS) but we are getting closer. Harvest is winding down as corn gets wrapped up and beans are almost all gone too. The mad dash for the harvest wrap-up, and fall field work sprint has begun. Excitement is building to complete the harvest and i couldn't be happier to join in with the celebration. What a great year most farmers have lucked out with. Irrigated crops have done above average on both corn & beans, while even the dryland yields being down doesn't seem to hurt as bad with prices higher than ever at harvest. Soon all the tractors, grain carts & combines will be put away for the winter, but for now bring on the Fall Fun!



Dad taking a picture from the combine of my brother pulling the grain cart next to him. - Metamora, IL



October... a time for eating!

I Love to Cook, but more so I Love to Eat!

Which is probably a pretty good thing on both counts considering i live in the middle of nowhere, so a meal means i have to cook! Lately I've been on an easy, quick-fix, kick. So any shortcuts i can take, I do! Especially since the days are getting shorter, and the husband is spending more time at the elevator with harvest right now. Quick & Easy is a must!

And with it being Fall I'm really glad it is soup season again.... AND CHILI SEASON! This recipe was especially delicious. The flavors really reminded us both of the great flavors of New Mexico. PLUS, you get to dip a warm and flaky tortilla in it! Yum!

White Bean Chicken Chili


White Bean Chicken Chili



3/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 medium onion chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped (used two thumb sized ones in mine and didn't find it hot at all)
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tblsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (15 oz ea) white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
3 c chicken broth
1-1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream and minced fresh cilantro for garnish

-Sprinkle chx w/s&p. In a large skillet over medium cook chx, onion, jalapeno, oregano & cumin in oil (3-4 min) Add garlic, cook addt'l 1 min.
-Transfer to 3 qt crock pot. In small bowl mash 1 c beans; add 1/2 c broth and stir till blended. Add to crock pot.
-Add remaining beans and chx broth to crock pot.
-Cook on low 3-3.5 hrs (i put mine on warm for the whole day while i was at work)
-Stir, sprinkle w/cheese. Serve with dollop of sour cream and cilantro.
YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!

And if you like spice & quick, here is a great tip: And 3 tablespoons of cocoa mix, chai tea, or any other sweet flavored mix AND 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne to any white or vanilla cake mix and create a masterpiece. AND slather homemade cream cheese icing on anything to make it absolutely sinful!

Spicy Chocolate Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting!

And even though the freeze has just recently come and started killing all the green things, I've got a bounty of homemade tomato sauce in the freezer that i can't wait to warm up and serve over some delicious pasta with LOTS and LOTS of cheese... that is pretty much the key to any pasta dish.... cheese!!! Yes, just made myself hungry. I will probably be having cheesy pasta tonight! HA HA!!

The other great thing about food in the month of October is that this is officially Thanksgiving Recipe Practice Month! Which could be really good or really bad, depending on which side of the recipe you end up on. My husband will, unknowingly, be my guinea pig for the remaining 23 days of October as i try out all sorts of new potential Thanksgiving Dinner worthy recipes on him. (which also means he'll be helping wash dishes... but I can tell him that detail later!) I'll keep you updated with pictures and recipes of the "Yes" dishes, and maybe just pictures of the "No" dishes.... :-D

Happy Harvest Eating!

Two Tacos & a Hitch Hiker

Religion is not usually something i write about, but today is a little different. Its not exactly religion per say... but there are definitely religious undertones i guess. Let me explain...

Some background:
I was raised in a Christian household (ELCA to be exact) and grew up very involved in the church all through junior high and high school. I served on many boards and committees statewide and went to conferences and retreats to strengthen my faith. During college i was less active with all of the different things going on at college, but managed to get back to church my junior/senior year (this time the Frozen Chosen PCA).

There has been a lot of traveling and moving in my life, to small rural communities mainly, which has made it hard in the last 3-4 years to maintain any sense of active church going. However, i have received plenty of pressure from certain people to be going to church in the last 2 years. I think they fear for us (my husband & I)... well mostly they fear for our lack of community involvement and think that church is the answer.

Anyways... lately I've been wanting to get back to church, back to a formal place & act of praising the Lord.... but just haven't felt comfortable or right about it yet. I need to have a feeling... i can't really describe it, but it is the same one i felt when i found my church in Lincoln during college. However, this lack of formal church going doesn't mean God has left my life. This is something I've tried to explain to many people and they scoff at me, others completely understand. Honestly i think a large majority of people are in my same boat. They were raised to know right and wrong through God's teachings and they live their life by that everyday. They don't go to church, they might have a few drinks on the weekend and swear a little, but are good, honest, hardworking & God fearing people. They don't preach about their faith to other or condemn others for their lack of faith.

This is how my husband & I live.

With all this being said let me get to the point of this story. I have always believed that a person's faith, spirituality, conscious, whatever you call it, is based on their actions. The saying "Actions Speak Louder than Words" has always rang true for me. Needless to say, in these last few months of pondering my own spiritual life I've been lacking action! Maybe it was God (i certainly didn't her His voice in my head like people always claim), maybe it was my conscious, or maybe it was just my stomach talking, but today for lunch I drove all the way to york from fairmont for Taco Bell. Now, normally i just get a deliciously bad for you Cheesy Gordita Crunch, but today i felt i needed a Crunchy Taco Supreme, TWO of them to be exact. This is rare for me, i don't ever eat two of something & especially not since I've been watching what i eat.

Here is the point. On my way back to work at the intersection north of interstate 80 on hwy 81 there was a man sitting at the corner. He was older, white mustache, baggy clothes, sitting on a lone back pack with a sign. His sign was well written and 3 or 4 lines, but the only one i remember was reading "broke & hungry traveler".  Well i made the turn to go south to work and immediately felt guilty, so i turned off and looped back around. Even as i approached him again i wasn't sure if i would have the courage to roll down the passenger window and give him one of my tacos... what if he reached in and tried to grab me, or take my purse? At the last minute i pulled into the lane closest him, rolled down the window and stopped. I handed him my taco through the window and with the most sincere look on his face he said "Thank You Sister".

I don't write this to get praise, in fact i write this to be honest and frank about the situation. Can you imagine what being Broke & Hungry is like? I can't. Yes, I lived paycheck to paycheck through college and some of my post college life, but I've been very lucky and successful for my age. So has my husband. And even when we did have to live paycheck to paycheck we had family we could count on to help us out. My mom has been through serious financial struggles in the past few years & has lived paycheck to paycheck... but we have always helped her out. For good reason too, can you imagine your parent living Broke & Homeless? Can you imagine not helping someone you know, someone you care about? Its not about receiving a pat on the back, its about knowing they are taken care of. This man however, must not have had anyone.

 I don't think he was one of those scammer types you hear about in the big city either, I think he legitimately needed someone to help him. His hands showed age and when he stood up to grab the taco his pants were so baggy that the belt he had on was clearly the only thing holding them up. He had pride though, you could tell he was a strong minded person, obviously educated (the first sign in a long time where all the words were spelled correctly), and tidy. (i have worked in many soup kitchens, and those that need help the most tend to be the ones that are still trying, still look presentable, and still take care of their appearance as best they can. Not the low lives who pick the dirtiest outfit out of their hamper to go downtown and scam innocent people)

His eyes were very blue, his teeth were crooked as he smiled, and his body was rail thin. After i drove away I felt something... you would think i would've been happy or proud of myself for giving him a bite to eat. I felt guilty & overwhelmed. How many other like him are there? I see people on the side of the road all the time... i don't usually stop. I certainly wouldn't let them get in the car and drive them somewhere... not for vanity, for safety i wouldn't. How many more like me are there, afraid to help because of safety or fear of getting scammed and ending up giving money to someone who doesn't really need it.

Sometimes, i guess, you just have to have a little faith and go for it anyways. I do believe that something besides myself made me turn the car around and give today. I don't know whether it was divine intervention, i don't think it matters. I do know this, today is the first time in a while that i feel like I've earned the right to be as lucky as i am. However, i better keep helping others to continue to be worthy of the life i live. (and not my mom... that's a built in given. In fact i would contemplate building her a house in the back yard and being my full time babysitter anyways!)

Anyways, i wish everyone the best in these trying times and hope that they are given the help they need. I hope others will continue to lead through examples of what is good & right in this world, & that we all can appreciate the goodness/good things in our lives. Because i can't imagine Broke & Hungry, nor do i want anyone else to have to imagine this.

August... family, friends, & food

August has been jam packed with so many things. This month i had a visit from my father and brother, i visited a friend while traveling for business, and managed to cook up a storm this month. Well, if not cook it myself... i sure managed to eat some delicious grub this month.

Hubby's Masterpiece

The usual visits to Toad's for a salmon dinner occurred of course, but for the most part hubby and I created some culinary masterpieces in the kitchen. The thing about us though, is that we love to cook together (or i think he loves to cook with me... we will find out the truth later). It is fun though! I usually do the technical things, kneading bread, tart shells, custards, sauces, or anything other than a grilled steak and potatoes. There is one thing i don't mess with, and that is a grilled hamburger. My husband has that down to a science, and this past month he made me some delicious burgers stuffed with fresh mozzarella cheese. Amazing! Fresh lettuce, sliced onion, little homemade spicy mayo on top, all on a toasted bun... wow! He truly outdid himself... well until he made me some of his delicious marinated steak accompanied by rosemary garlic potato wedges.

When my brother and dad came to visit we all had a pizza day on Sunday while we watched the NASCAR race. The BEST part, i made my own mini pizza with half using my homemade pesto, mozzarella & Canadian bacon. The other half of my pizza was Hawaiian pizza, mmmmmm pineapple! Turns out the guys thought my pesto on pizza was pretty dang delicious!! They chowed down on two of their own 10 inch pizzas, and STILL my brother thought he needed to eat some of my pizza!


homemade basil pesto & salsa

Basic Pesto Recipe

1 1/3 c loosely packed basil
3 Tbsp Pine Nuts or Slivered Almonds
2 Garlic Cloves peeled
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Combine all in a food processor and pulse till combined.
Drizzle in up to 2/3 c EVOO until desired consistency is reached.
When ready to use, add in fresh grated Parmesan as desired.

Pesto in lasagna, on bruschetta, tossed with pasta, spread on calzones.... oh so many things you can do with pesto! And the best part is how easy it is to make! I've had sooo much basil from my garden this year I've made pesto for several friends, frozen some, used a bunch, and i still have basil to turn into more pesto! (Plus all the dried basil i have stacking up!) Nothing better than opening up the slider door & walking a few steps to cut some fresh basil for dinner! (or supper, if you are my husband)



Spinach Lasagna Roll-Up - yes that is a Meat Sauce on top!

And besides the dreamy greens of my basil, I also fell absolutely more in love with spinach... too bad I can't convince my father in law to love it as much as I do... he's supposed to be eating spinach to help prevent more eye problems... Oh yes, spinach, a very under appreciated green in my opinion. If you have a picky green eater, like my husband or father in-law, try cheese with it! I made some delicious Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups! Mmmmmmm....  really super easy, but oh sooooooo good. Actually, you can turn anything into a Lasagna Roll-Up if you think about it. Just cook your noodles, lay flat and spread with your favorite toppings. Roll them up and place seam side down in a baking dish and cover with sauce and cheese. Bake them off at 350* till warm, gooey, and bubbly all the way through. I personally like spinach and cream cheese in them, but of course the meat eaters appreciate a more traditional roll-up; sausage, hamburger, cream cheese, tomato sauce (i usually sneak in some pancetta or prosciutto too!).

Is it Breakfast or Something Sweeter?

Something else I've discovered this month, keep a tart shell or pie crust ready to be rolled out in the fridge! It is amazing how simple they are to make, and how simple they are to make into something delicious using whatever you happen to have in the pantry, fridge or cupboard! Like my easy Breakfast Tart. Just put the tart shell in a tart pan or pie pan (i don't have a big tart pan so i use a pie pan, and totally just as good!), add in your favorite meats; browned sausage or bacon, prosciutto, Canadian bacon, or whatever. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and pour over 5 eggs beaten with about a 1/4 c cream (salt & pepper, garlic powder too). I also like to sprinkle over some fresh chopped green onions. Bake it off at 350* for 25-30 min. Yummy! Something about that sweet buttery tart shell and salt bacon just make a perfect combination!


And what could be better after all this hard work than playing the lazy card and hitting up a Chinese buffet with my bestie? Uh, nothing! We are too funny, because we have a method to our Chinese dining experiences. We each fill a plate with whatever mix of yummy entrees, noodles, and rice we so desire... mine are usually more chicken, hers usually more beef... then we each grab a second dish, me the plate for Rangoons, egg rolls, spring rolls and anything else that can be dipped in sweet & sour sauce. She grabs the sauce and anything else interesting she eyes. This last time, we both came to the conclusion that we should just split the plate of fried rolls and Rangoons... why even bother with the other food! And of course we have to share our fortunes with each other. The best part however is the time we spend together catching up. We always seem to just pick up where we left off and solve the world's problems over broccoli beef or sesame chicken. **sigh** These meals/conversations/visits don't happen often enough.

Well - the grocery store calls as it is time to restock the fridge and cupboards for the next week of culinary adventures! Happy Cooking!

Thoughts - Harvest, Farm, & Fashion?

I am feeling very creative today with lots of energy.... it could be the rather large Starbucks espresso + energy drink i had this morning... or it could just be a little extra Tuesday morning energy.

Either way, lets chat! It is a gorgeous August day in Nebraska today! This time of the year is usually 90+ degrees and 80% humidity, but with the weather pattern being totally different this year than any in the last 20+ years we are at a wonderful 77* and 47% humidity with a slight breeze... just doesn't get much better.

And thanks to that unusual weather pattern we have some harvest going on. Harvest? In August? I know, its crazy... but dry land is coming out AND it is dry enough to haul to my Ethanol plant?!?!? Now that is the crazy part. A very wide range of moisture (10.4%-17.1%), but very low test weights compared to normal (49.7 lb TW vs LY @ 62 lb TW). Irrigated corn looks wonderful around here, looking for slightly better than average production, which should help control basis levels a little better than lately... well fingers crossed for me anyways!

I've been thinking with all the unexpected things happening this early in the year, that its time for a change myself. No mom/family/friends..... we are NOT getting pregnant anytime soon, i don't need that kind of change.... I'm just going to cut my hair, maybe add a little pizazz! Love that word... pizazz!!



There are a pair of legs under there... it's D!



Soon the seasons will change too... Oh Autumn, I'm just ready to feel those cool crisp nights on my face, the bite in the air when i leave for work in the morning, the beautiful changing colors... and the smell of fresh cut corn in the air! Autumn always brings harvest, and harvest always reminds me of home and family, and how even as a young girl i would sit in the combine or grain truck for hours with dad. I remember helping mom fix lunches and then taking them to the field to eat lunch with my dad and uncle. Even the times i would ride in the grain truck with mom to the elevator were always fun & eventful (no brakes.. that was fun). 

Now i live too far from home to help on our farm, but luckily my father in-law entertains me... secretly i think he is amused by me and likes when i come visit him in the fields with my husband. I'm definitely more talkative than my husband... and i find enjoyment in just about everything that happens at harvest time... except sitting still.. i hate that. I also make a point to look very cute and fashionable with i harvest with D.... he gets a kick out of it. I do my hair (usually loose and wild like the corn), get my camo and pink on and of course my cowgirl boots (not the nice ones... my real farm girl ones that get dirty) Last year was even more fun because D bought himself a newer combine. You want to see a 70+ year old farmer's face light up, watch him play with a new toy for the first time... like a combine. He was a kid in a candy store! My husband too! Well... even me really! I have lots of photos with it & me in it of course. It has a padded buddy seat, perfect for me! (yeah... doesn't sound like I'm 25 and an adult huh? HA HA!)



yup... harvest fashion? If that is possible...



Someday I want this for my children.. them to know what hard work and dedication is, to know what family is, and to appreciate the land and bounty that can be reaped from it! Too philosophical? Hopefully one day we can take over the farm and share our love for it with others. Especially during autumn & harvest!

Until then, I'm contemplating moving my office outside for the day to enjoy the sunshine! I'm also going to contemplate my new Autumn look and what i should wear for harvest this year. Gotta up the ante, ya know! D expects my husband and I to come help him.... just need to do something he won't expect... its worth it to make him laugh! Mama S will just think I'm really as crazy as she thinks! Here is a pic of last year... look for some new ones of this year a little later on.



It's Been Awhile - August Update

So... yes, it's been awhile. So much has been going on in the last few months i don't know where to begin. I won't bore you with a detailed catch up, but i will promise to become more regular with my writing.

I'm a creature of habit, so once i get into a habit it is hard to get out.... with that being said I've set up reminders to keep me on task and track with the creative process of writing. you will hopefully see two -three posts from me a month.

Today being the 15th i will just give you a brief shout and then write to you next week.

The last couple months as a corn buyer have been very interesting. All the volatility in corn prices and shock to the demand system and has started whittling away and ethanol demand. I'm lucky that i work for a company that has been proactive at reducing long term debt and setting benchmarks that we will not go under just to produce ethanol. Currently ethanol production is down 14% since last December 2011. I feel lucky i have my job.  So, besides struggling with buying corn at $8.00+ bu, I've been constantly working away at home too... on that little thing called a garden.



Rock Creek Station - August 2012



Tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, lettuce, radishes, onions, eggplant, zucchini, watermelon.... all growing and bearing fruit.... which means i have to figure out what to do with them too! HAHAHA! Tomato sauce, pizza sauce, refrigerator salsa, refrigerator pickles, salads, pesto..... and the list goes on. It's been lots of work, but man i feel great when I've made something we can actually eat later and not have to go to the store to buy. There is no way i could handle a garden big enough to provide for me all year.... I'd never get a vacation.... but it sure if fun having my little garden.

Speaking of vacations... my dad and brother were here a couple of weeks ago. Did some history buffing, yes a new term i just invented, at Rock Creek Station east of Fairbury, Ne.... really cool. I love all the historical stuff about this country and Rock Creek Station is pretty cool... you can see and walk in original ruts of the Overland Pass and Oregon Trail... pretty stinking sweet!



Thayer County Fair - Super 77 - August 2012



Here is a shot from the 100th Thayer County Fair, a couple of really nice old tractors were on hand to show the new guys what's up! Nothing beats a beautiful vintage tractor at the fair, especially if it is a pretty Oliver like this one! And speaking of vintage rides, the 125th Anniversary of Bruning had tons of vintage cars and tractors for the Bruning Days Parade this year... just amazing... too bad i left my phone in the house that day! :-(



Soon we will start seeing new crop corn loads here at the Ethanol plant, they've already started coming in for wet programs and nearby elevators.... even though we are a month ahead of schedule, harvest really puts me in the mood for sweaters, sweatshirts, scarves, and cool crisp nights (AND HOT CHOCOLATE!).

Goal for next mid-month a picture of something Harvesty!! Oooooo yay! Here is a July Garden pic!

Sieze the Summer!

This summer I'm going to do something great! I'm going to grow a garden!

Easy? Right?
It can be easy if you make it that way, but sticking to simple and enjoyable has always been a challenge for me. I get these great plans, like a garden, and in my mind i build them into these grandiose dreams and visions... which require lots of work.  Thankfully, as mentioned in a previous blog, i have a great husband who keeps me in check!

Let me give you an example, here is my planting list for my garden: basil, lavender, oregano, chives, green onion, yellow onion, tomato, pepper, eggplant, sweet corn, cucumber, lettuce, radish, zucchini... i think that's all. so you see, my small garden has turned into quite a lot... well luckily my husband is supervising the whole thing. i might have a lot of different veggies to plant, but we are doing them in small quantities... and besides, my reputation with growing things isn't exactly on a green streak... ask my mom and sister about the cactus.... it is no longer with us!

so anyways, I've started the indoor plants like i was supposed to & now they look great.... but what happens when i put them outside? i will probably water them too much or too little and end up with them dead. Which is why i opted to start from seeds (probably harder), they are cheaper to kill than buying a plant and ending up with it dead.

Aside from this garden I've also spent lots of time working on the yard in general. With a little help from said husband i have put in a new edger and rock all around our house, and after i finish this post i am headed out to start around the garage. Man does my house look good, i don't think I've been this proud of myself in a long time! Oh YEAH!

Of course, its been a lot of work and sore muscles... but man it was fun! Working so hard and then seeing the results... but the edging is a faster reward than the veggies... my patience wears out waiting on things to grow. So, i also decided to plant some flowers, seeds and plants. So, like the veggie seeds I haven't seen anything grow yet..... grrrrr.... but that's why i also bought some plants. A Gerber pot! Yay! And some other flowers for the front of the house and my planter. I look like a regular green thumb, well sorta.

Anyways, my small garden has turned into dreams of whipping up a fantastic new pasta dish where i run to the garden to snip some fresh basil to toss in as a finishing touch... yup a regular Giada! Or roasting off fresh stuffed peppers with flavors from my garden as my husband turns juicy steaks on the grill, hello Pioneer Woman! I'm sure we'll eat these dishes, just where the produce comes from may not be disclosed... well, when nothing grows my husband might figure it out.

Whatever the outcome, I'm going to enjoy myself trying to grow something. So if you are looking for Heather, me, this summer you should probably just come round back. I'll be there... in my floppy sun hat, muck shoes, over sized sunglasses, in my pink garden gloves working away, getting a tan, and hopefully weeding a glorious garden!

PS... i garden in an ac/dc shirt.... my husband loves it!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

I cannot believe it has been over 3 months since I've written any posts! My life has been crazy busy, but crazy good since starting my new job in January. I love the atmosphere and attitude where I work, I'm doing things that I really get something out of (finally), and my home life is great. (No travelling 4 days a week anymore!) See the picture for a view of my plant out my office window, pretty sweet!

I'll give you a break down of what's been going on, AND promise to get back on the ball.




January - Happy New Year and New Car to me! That was about all the excitement I could handle, or that my pocket book could handle! Although, it is shiny, pretty, and still smells like new car after 3 months!



February - My husband surprised me, not something he does regularly, with an overnight trip to Lincoln for Valentine's day AND he made reservations at the Lodge at Wilderness Ridge for dinner. What  a stud! He knows how to get me every time, just surprise me with something romantic and sweet from the man who laughs in the face of romance!

 Mom turned 50 & we celebrated by having a weekend with the family in Des Moines, Ia. It was really fun, adjoining hotel rooms meant lots of family game time (maybe with some alcohol... :-D) If you are ever in Des Moines looking for great Italian, Sam & Gabe's is the place! Delicious!



Oh Yeah! Sister in Salina eating with me at Little Italy in downtown Salina.

 March - March has been super busy! My sister came out to visit over her spring break and we had soooo much fun! She is awesome, we might be polar opposites, but we manage to have a great time when we are together. She helped me improve the economy in Salina, Ks on our shopping trip... not such an improvement to my checkbook, but totally worth every penny. We road tripped to Salina once, Lincoln, twice AND took the Frog to Toad's in Belvidere, Ne. What an Awesome time!

Something not so awesome though happened about a week later. My good friend, and the guy that officiated my wedding, was severely burned in a pre-St. Patty's day bonfire. It will be two weeks tomorrow since the accident, and someone is looking out for him because he is recovering well and already released to recover at home. He is very lucky AND very lucky I hooked him up with such a great girlfriend to take care of him!

Tomorrow my husband turns 29! One year from 30 is probably the first thing I'll say to him tomorrow, and he'll give me a look that could kill! He's soooo touchy about his age, I can't understand why? When men get older they look more distinguished, I think they actually get hotter, well at least this one does! I told him as long as he stays young at heart it doesn't matter how old you are..... something my mom said about turning 50! HAHAHA! Two peas in a pod.


Happy Spring Fever - I will write again soon!

New Job

As i mentioned briefly in yesterday's post, I have a new job! I'm really excited about this opportunity, but it is a scary change at the same time. There are a lot of factors that go into a job change, but for my husband and i the biggest reason was separation. Sounds kinda odd, more separation in a marriage, but we were both working at the same company, in similar jobs, in a really small office. Part of my job was to audit his elevator, files, and inventory..... depending on the day, that could be really fun! And I'm sure he wasn't exactly excited about those times himself.

So, over the last year we've known we would have to make a decision about jobs. Well, I moved to the Council Bluffs, Ia office in September, then moved down to the Carleton, Ne office in March and into our house in Bruning, then a wedding in June.... we've been a little busy! So finally this fall we went about talking about goals and life planning, etc... Then this opportunity came around.

In December this opportunity as a Grain Merchandiser came up 20 miles from home, just perfect. The job is with a company I've already looked at once and a great employer in the area. This is the best thing that could've happened to us. NO traveling, NO crazy hours and extended overtime, better pay, AND something that highlights my talents & skills! I'm way excited.  Don't get me wrong, i really did love my old company & the people, but this was the best personal move I could've made right now.

My husband and I are both really excited. It is a chance for us to branch out, OK mostly me branching out, adding to the people we know in the area. It is a chance for us to live & breathe outside of work, and for us to maybe start building our family (not anytime real soon).

I'm excited, my husband is excited, even my former employer and mentor there is excited for me. It is great to have all this support during a time filled with so much change. Thank you everyone! And yay to me for this great opportunity!

Holidaze...........

Why is it that everywhere you look, everywhere you turn, everything you hear during this time of year is all about having the perfect Holiday Season? I mean really, perfection? Not even possible!

I just get so irritated with the idea of perfection, how about the idea of fun, happy, & togetherness. OK, so I'm not the prime example of this because i get a little stressed about all of the holiday fuss as well, but i try. Luckily for me, my husband will remind me when I'm getting too deep! This year especially, i have been more relaxed about the holidays (possibly because i have 3 weeks off between jobs) & have been enjoying the little things like: baking cookies, making dinners, canning pumpkin butter and caramel pecan sauce.

Its funny though, i have all this time to realize how great it is when you make time for the little things, so why can't i do this all year round. I just don't know. I wish i spent more time doing these things all year round. Maybe that will be one of my New Year's promises... The other thing I've noticed is that I've grown apart from some very important people in my life: friends & family. This is pretty much all my fault... I've just not put in the time and effort. So i think that will be another New Years promise... reconnect.

The other thing I've realized through my crazy holiday break is this.... i have really high standards. I mean, its OK to have such high standards for myself, but is it fair to others. I shouldn't hold other people to such high standards, because they probably aren't attainable and then I'm just disappointed. Besides, who am i to dictate what is and isn't acceptable for others. Another New Years promise i think!

So in this madness of holiday hubbub, I've got a few things to work on for next year, but a lot to be thankful for this year. A great family, a new job, a wonderful husband, and supportive friends. I can build my home and my family, take care of the people who are important to me, and spend time enjoying life as it is now.... people always tell me to enjoy it now before there are little feet running around my house... probably a good idea.

So, I will close with this. Enjoy the Holidays, take the time to spend with family and friends. Enjoy a few cocktails and play those fun family games. Oh, and pause to soak it all in. Happy Holidays and Merry New Year! :-)

Road Trips and the Trip Back Home

My husband and I recently completed a long tour of duty during harvest.... long hours, excessive dust and dirty work, irregular eating habits, lack of sleep, and loss of communication with the outside world. What harvest really meant was no time for anything or anyone, including each other.  SO... what do you do to remedy this situation after harvest is done? Well you take a vacation! Road Trip!

Destination Santa Fe! Yup, Santa Fe, NM was the goal. We actually drove for this vacation, and it was so nice to travel at our own pace, see the country as we desired, and sing along to the radio!

*Half the fun alone in a road trip with the Ramsey's is me singing at the top of my lungs and watching my husband laugh and giggle at my ridiculousness... especially when i break out the dancing in the car too! Eventually his laughing turns into a station flip to Hair Nation and his own rendition of ACDC, Motley Crue, or some other hair banging, guitar raging, top of the lungs screaming band from the 80's. If only you could be a fly on the window in our car.... you'd either laugh so hard you cried or think we were totally nuts!

When we reached New Mexico (way up in the Northeast corner) the first thing we saw along the road was a ghost town, literally a ghost town! my first thought... "OMG, lets go back!" Well the husband said NO, and thank goodness for that because the trip across New Mexico to Santa Fe was beautiful and different from anything I'd ever seen. It always seems like when we travel somewhere new, we are reminded of somewhere we've already been. This was not really the case with New Mexico, sure if you cross the South Dakota Badlands with the Mountains of Colorado, and the barrenness of Western Oklahoma.... but that still didn't really describe the serenity & deafening silence of New Mexico, or the beauty and barrenness of New Mexico, or the vegetation and landscapes we saw. It was truly unique.

The open range and lands of New Mexico are so vast, it really made me think about how small and insignificant things can be compared to this great thing called life. Just amazing! Just the drive alone was enough to bring both of us back to life and reality, and the beauty of having life to share with someone else. It is amazing the conversations you have on a trip like this.... what do you think god wants us to do with our life, how much do you really want to stay working/living/doing what we're doing, how do you live this isolated and make a life work? I'm full of all sorts of questions and worries, my husband is very nice about playing along!

As we reached what was supposed to be civilization, somehow it still managed to look barren and deserted. How on earth does a city the size of Santa Fe manage to look like a wilderness. Well I'm sure some of it had to to with the landscape: sand, cactus, burned up vegetation, scant amounts of trees, etc.... but the other part was the buildings. These people have so much respect for their history and reverence for their land that it is almost mandatory to build in a way that is respectful to the land and culture (adobe style) as well as Eco conscious (green builds, solar panels, low profile housing). I had never seen anything like it.... so all you green loving Californians... you need to swing through New Mexico next time your Prius goes to your head!

Anyways our visit to Santa Fe really showed us what embracing a culture and lifestyle is like. From the gigantic daily farmers market, to the restaurants that support the farm to table concept, to the Native American shops and markets Santa Fe was truly a unique experience. I think some would like to think that this part of the country embraces their culture and history more than others, but I am not so blinded to see this sort of thing happening at home too. And with the thought of home in my mind, I suddenly wanted to be there...

Sure my husband and I loved our trip and all the sites and things we were able to do, but its always nice to come home. Its nice to remember what you love about the place you call home, and that is really what vacations are about. Getting away from it all to remember why you loved it in the first place. We can really get so caught up in what isn't important that we forget the great things we do have. Like, the fact that the old Oregon Trail runs right through the heart of our County, the trail that brought thousands of homesteaders, adventurers, and others being persecuted for numerous things to a new life and a new land. *Pretty stinking cool!

Plus the fact that here in the Midwest you can't turn a corner in the summer time without seeing a festival for one nationality or the other. In Nebraska alone I can think of Czech days, 2 major Irish festivals, a couple of Polish days, Danish, Norwegian, German and 2 Swedish festivals. (yup, Nebraska is highly European, not just overalls and buck teeth!). Plus we have the National 4th of July City in Seward. It doesn't get much more Historic than that... but there was William Bill Hickock who called Nebraska home for a time, and then the great Lincoln Highway criss-crossing our state bringing thousands of visitors each year, plus the birth of Arbor Day, and the inventions of Pivot Irrigation systems and Kool-Aid....



What I really mean to say is the trips we take away from home always make coming home so much better. It rejuvenates us and focuses us back on our goals for life. It brings a passion back to the things we do on a daily basis and maybe take for granted, and it reinvigorates our relationships within ourselves and with others.

It really is kind of comical in a way how the first site of a prickly cactus can excite the senses to something new, and yet the first site of a corn field can leave you longing for home. I guess you've got to get away to find your way back home sometimes.

Too Caught Up in Busy

It has been quite some time since i sat down to type, and you would think i would have something great to write about in all this time. Sadly, i have been so busy i have forgotten most of what has happened lately. What I do know is this... being this busy, this tied up, this crazy is NOT OK!

In all the madness that is harvest, i have missed out on so many opportunities. Opportunities to build and improve my relationship with my husband. Opportunities to better myself. Opportunities to spend time doing things i enjoy, relaxing, and connecting with others. And for what have i missed all this for? For a job? To spend all my time working on the road & away from home?

In the last month, i spent approximately 15 of 20 business days away from home. What I really did was leave my husband all alone (refer to the previous blog on his personal hygiene/housekeeping habits), neglect anything that was important to myself, and forget about what is important in my life.

I highly discourage being on the road so much that you forget you're married. (OK... not literally, but i definitely wasn't working on nurturing my new marriage). When you don't take the time out for the relationship that it needs, it really starts to suffer. I was too tired when i was home to want to do anything.... anything! I was on the road so much during the week that all i wanted to do when i was home, was stay home!

I also wore myself down so much that my life in general started to suffer. I was forgetful, unmotivated, and just plain exhausted all the time. I mean... not to gross you out or anything... but i was so tired i hadn't shaved my legs in 3 weeks.... it was just WAY too much work in the shower. Seriously? its like 14-16 strokes of a razor to shave two legs... how much energy can that take? Evidently too much!

I even missed my favorite time of year... that time right when all the leaves start changing and the nights get crisp & cool. Normally i would convince my husband out on a long drive to take in the beauty of this natural phenomenon. Normally i would convince my husband to snuggle and sleep in late in those crisp cool mornings we start to have.I missed them both this year... :-( Luckily i can get the snuggling made up... but the beauty of Fall will have to wait another year.

I guess what i should really say is... getting so caught up in running around for work or a job... and forgetting to stop and smell the roses, or have a couples day with your husband is just absurd.Your job won't take care of you when you're sick, they won't comfort you when you're sad, and they most certainly won't be at your side during your last days. Even when life gets busy, remember who and what is important... remember what makes you special isn't your ability to multitask and get the job done, its the people and love you surround yourself with.

Happy Relationship Building/Strengthening!

the J word: Jealous

Have you heard of the 7 deadly sins? Well, this should be one of them, Jealousy!

Jealousy: a secondary emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often consists of a combination of presenting emotions such as anger, sadness, resentment and disgust.

I am sure that all of us experience jealousy at some point in our lives, but the last few years I have seen things that I can't believe. Jealousy from myself and others, over the most ridiculous things ever!

One such thing happened this last weekend. I caught up with two of my favorite gals this last weekend. One of my single & free gals, and one of my new mommy gals. It was wonderful to see them both, and funny to see how much we have all changed and stayed the same all at once. What was odd was this weird jealousy thing that i kept feeling.

Lets start with my single gal pal... how lucky is she? Still able to roam free, go where she wants, do what she wants... play on the jungle gym even (ha ha!). Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but there are days that I wish what I decided only affected me...that if i wanted to wake up and drive home for the weekend I wouldn't have to worry about what my husband thought or had planned. I could spend my money on new shoes or purses without thinking "I should save this money for house projects". Nope, not anymore.... every time I pick up a new pair of shoes i see my Husband's face looking like "Really, another pair? Isn't 30 enough?" He means well i guess, I do end up saving money. But I am jealous of her freedom... her ability to do whatever she wants at her own whim.

What's funny about me being jealous of my single friend, is that as we catch up at dinner she is telling me how much she wishes she was settled and married. Believe me, this is nothing to be jealous of.... I tell her its a lot of work & she gets all dreamy eyed. I tell her that now I know all my husband's gross secrets... does she really want to marry someone that could wake her up in the middle of the night with a fart?? (love you dear, but really?? really??)

In the same day I also spent time with my mommy gal pal, and it was awesome. This, the once crazy and wild gal who helped me get into so many crazy situations, is now a devoted and loving mother. Its amazing! You can literally feel the love just being in the same room as her. She has the sweetest baby AND he likes me! As he napped on my chest that afternoon I couldn't help but envy her, not jealous, but envious. Knowing that some day I will have that, but I will have to wait so I enjoyed the occasion while I could. Her sister on the other hand has turned everything positive and beautiful about this special little guy into a competition.

It was repulsive how someone older, wiser, and a more experienced mother (two kids of her own) could display such jealous behavior. Everything was a one up situation. Nothing my friend did was good enough or right in her eyes. Where is the sisterly love? Where is the sisterly guidance? Where is the sisterly camaraderie about the gross baby stuff nobody tells you? It was so sad to see this ugliness totally ruining a huge opportunity to bond & share in such a wonderful moment. I was revelling in the opportunity & envious, but the one who should have been sharing the moment was blinded by jealousy.

Such an odd weekend... so many emotions tied up into such a short time. It really balanced me though, gave me some perspective on the great things in my life. It is really easy to get sidetracked in what is important in life, but it just goes to show you that everyone struggles with what is important. Married girls want to be single for a day, single girls want to be married. Mom's & sisters may clash, and friends want babies too when a new one comes into the world. But really, its about finding the balance between what you have & want you want in a constructive way. Its about being able to have wants and desires without getting so bogged down with jealousy that it ruins a perfectly good opportunity to share in someone else's success & happiness.

Best Made Plans:Meet the "Compromise"

I am a planner! I just want to clarify that up front, I'm not trying to hide it. I am a planner! My mom is a planner, my best friends are planners, and I am a planner. I firmly believe that you can think anything through long enough to make it fit into a neat little plan.... Well, usually.

Thanks to a certain man (my husband) I have begun to succumb to the sickening fact that maybe... just maybe... I can't plan everything. So far, I've been living my life in one neat little pattern after another. School was a very easy 4 year plan, then I planned to move into my full time career (check), then I planned to get married (check), then I planned to have kids.... I didn't plan on having "amendments" to the plan... but I have learned to cope with those few changes.

What I never planned on was having to incorporate anyone else into those plans that wouldn't just jump on board. I mean, if I plan to have a fairytale princess wedding, the other party should just jump on board. No! If I plan to renovate the bathroom between March and September of the first year of living in the house (also have a wedding during that time), the other party should just get on board. No! If I plan to start having kids at a certain date to ensure that birthdays are spread throughout the year, the other party should definitely jump on board. No! If I plan just to go visit the family in Illinois for a weekend, the other party should just hop in the car. No! If I plan to plan, everyone should be on board. No!

OK, I've heard of compromising.... just never really been very big on it. I mean, I lived on my own for 6 years, took good care of myself, and never had to make any compromises then. Obviously I'm pretty good at making decisions (well, most of the time) so why don't other people just go along with what I say? (OK, obviously I've had to compromise in my professional life a lot.) So, by other people I mostly mean my stubborn husband. He will undoubtedly tell you I'm the stubborn one, but i don't think so.

Even now, as I type, we are in a deep negotiation process. Trying to compromise on what our future plan should look like for the next year. I've found that trying to plan any further out in my life is somewhat futile at this point, besides I'm going to have to adapt that plan anyways. So... we are in deep negotiation. Should we travel and relish this time as a couple? Should we settle down and start planning our family? Should we split the year 50/50? Seems frivolous and unnecessary to a non-planner like my husband, but this is huge for me.

I want to know the plan so that I can make decisions about my life, my job, myself.  Yeah - I heard a lot of me, me, me in that. This is what happened one day in the last few weeks, I was complaining to myself in the kitchen one day and noticed this trend of me, me, me. "What is wrong with me?" I have completely turned into a whiny brat, totally negating the existence of the other person in my life. What is he, chopped liver? Nothing? I couldn't believe that this was the attitude I'd taken on, solely because I hadn't gotten my way. I was like a 5 foot 10 inch Two Year Old!

I start to wonder, did I miss the lessons in school on compromise? On learning how to share (a life in this case)? No, i clearly remember teachers telling me about this stuff. What they didn't teach me was that when two people become like one (marriage or a serious commitment), it is not to say that their thoughts, ideas, attitudes, and values become one. What? Seriously?  I mean, i was completely misled. What about "What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine"? That isn't true either?

So yes, this may seem a little ridiculous. That is that point. For all those women (or men) who get hung up on making a plan, trying to stick to that plan, and then facing resistance from the people who love them the most.... your plan is NOT the only plan. Your way is NOT the only way. Your thoughts are NOT the only thoughts that matter. Hard to deal with when you've been independent for so long, a rising theme in young women it seems. Compromise is one of the hardest, most challenging, yet rewarding things you will learn to do in your personal life.

OK - I didn't get the fairytale princess wedding, but I got a beautiful wedding that showcased my groom and I. I don't have a stylishly remodeled bathroom.... yet, but at least the mauve carpet got tossed right away. I don't have any kids yet, but fingers crossed I get a dog that travels well. And maybe I'm not sticking to My plan, but our plan is unfolding under my feet everyday. Its not a very well defined plan, my husband isn't big on defining things, but there are boundaries to give us some guidance. And believe it or not, letting some things just happen in life is really fun... some things.... not everything. I mean you have to plan shopping trips, girl time, and romantic getaways (those three things MUST be planned).

PS - I have also come to grips with the fact that ridiculous ultimatums do NOT work as compromise i.e.: Either we get a dog or have a baby! Not a very good way to "compromise". Sorry about that one dear!

Men: Growing Down & Keeping It Real

In my young life as an aspiring wife, mother, and career woman, I have always thought of myself as getting an education in "Growing Up". Not that I'm extremely good at acting grown up, but I like to think I've learned how to take care of myself, my responsibilities, my home, and now my husband. It seems the natural realm of things, to learn and grow and take on more "things".... Evidently I missed the memo on men NOT following the same pattern.

The same person that I love and respect and cherish, is also the same person that drives me nuts with his endless messes and incapability to manage "things"... Here is an example, when my husband was living on his own he regularly took out the trash and washed the dishes. He was able to do laundry, vacuum the floors, and even cut the grass. Well, he was able to accomplish these things before I started staying more frequently. Slowly, ever so slowly, i noticed a decline in his performance of said "things". It seems weird, but it took me several months... no maybe over a year to really stop and realize what was happening to him.

My current job requires that a travel... A LOT! So, generally i am on the road 3 to 4 days a week. At first I didn't notice what was happening at home... but then one week of being away I came home to the following:

The Bathroom - A complete wreck. Two used toilet paper roles on the counter, the garbage overflowing, toothpaste and whiskers all over the sink, and I'm not even going to mention the toilet and shower.

The Kitchen -Dirty dishes stacked up to the cupboards above and the sink completely full, the dishwasher empty, the garbage completely full,and  the fridge void of anything to cook. The one positive is that he didn't starve while I was gone, at least he remembers how to cook (frozen pizza mainly).

The Living Room - I will lay off the living room, it is somewhat of a husband's sanctuary. His lone chair is allowed to look lived in and worn, the stash of candy bar wrappers and pop bottles is slightly excessive, but its his little oasis in the barrenness of life without his wife at home.

The Bedroom - Piles upon piles upon piles of dirty laundry, well I think it is dirty... but he resorts to the SNIFF test to be sure.... Yuck! What is it with men? They think it is ok to rely on a nose that has probably gotten used to their stench of dirtiness to chose what is clean enough to wear?? No, clearly it is not!

It just baffles my mind, the things that men consider acceptable behavior. More baffling is how women like me can huff & puff, nag and nag, and stomp around the house all while the males in our lives think nothing is wrong. In fact in one of my crazy rants, approximately 3 minutes after stepping in the door from a 4 day stint away, he looks at me and smiles... actually breaks into hysteria.... he thinks I'm funny!! What? I tell him he's crazy, disgusting, a pig even. His response "I love it!".

How? How? How can i have missed this "unique" quality? And even more astonishing, my husband thinks I'm the one with the problem. I'm too OCD about my spaces, too particular about the parts of everyday that don't make a life.... What??? So... I decide if you can't beat em', join em'. What do you know.... letting the laundry pile up (which he has been doing on his own for approximately 8 weeks) on the bedroom floor isn't all that bad.... although sometimes i think i can see it move on its own! Clean dishes? Well, I've got 3 sets of everyday dishes before i really need to do any. :-) (I can't bring myself to dirty the everyday dishes AND break out the fine china.) And, I've even let the whiskers get scattered over the sink for 2 or 3 days before cleaning them up. (I can't however let the bathroom get much worse than that) Heck - as i type this, the grass hasn't been cut in almost 3 weeks! Yeah, I've let my hair down!

 Needless to say, I've learned to let go just a little. Its not about having a perfect home, its about having a perfectly good time living. I find that my guilt on choosing a night on the couch with my husband instead of cleaning the floors has slowly gone away. And let me tell you what, slacking off and having frozen pizza instead of a home cooked meal is OKAY! Heck, skip the frozen pizza and just order it... then you don't even have to turn the oven on, dirty a pan, or break out a plate if you don't want to!

So.. really, even though my husband is older then me and supposed to be the more grown up individual... its ok that he's not the so-called "Grown Up" he should be. He has this annoying ability to remind me of what is really important... as he sits in his favorite chair, belching after a Dr. Pepper Cherry and 3 slices of Casey's Pizza, glued to a football game. What is real and important here is collecting the memories in our lives and stashing them away, not collecting the dust bunnies and throwing them in the trash. Thank goodness for men who don't have a care in the world... well at least the house!

For the Love of Football

Football: a noun.Google dictionary describes football as: a form of team game played in North America with an oval ball on a field marked out as a gridiron. Nebraskans describe it as: a passion, a display of honor, pride, & glory, a family tradition, and an example of athletic excellence. As a girl who grew up in a small town in Illinois that preached football so much I grew to hate it, how have I become one of these Nebraskans that lives for football season?

It's my husband's fault! :-) For the first few years of school i resisted the urge to care about the Husker football team. I proudly wore around Illinois shirts on Husker game days just to spite these Native Nebraskans.... they didn't care, they just stood taller & stronger in defense. Then I met my husband.... he was a complete fanatic! I'd never met a football fan like this.

He had me fooled at first. We started dating in the summer, so a happy routine was established of Friday night and Saturday dates, with lazy Sunday afternoons perusing the mall or Target (my favorite). Then all of a sudden in early September, he didn't want to do anything on a Sunday afternoon, and he wanted to stay home all day Sunday. After getting past the initial shock of being turned down and beating myself up with all the thoughts a girl has when she thinks she's on the verge of getting dumped, he called me back. "If you bring pizza over we can watch TV. The game is is on." Huh? What game? Didn't matter, I brought pizza just so we could hang out.

Little did i know that on Sunday the phrase, "the game is on", meant the whole day is considered one big game, and we are going to watch at least 4-5 separate football games throughout the afternoon and evening. There is ABSOLUTELY NO stealing of the remote, not even when trying to flirt or be cute, there is always another game on when one is on commercial, and if not we scan ESPN online to keep up to date on the games we can't get. At the end of that particular Sunday i was absolutely repulsed, yuck!  We spent almost 8 hours together, and I got a "Hi", "You want a plate for that pizza?", "Can I get another piece?", "I'm going to bed". I swore him of, then and there.

I avoided him all week, the next weekend he sends me a text something along the lines of the Husker game is on. Ok, this is his last shot, this has to go better than last weekend since there is only one Husker game. It was a little better, we only switched to other games during commercials, and he was entertaining as this time he yelled at the TV the whole game. "Find a route!" "Run the damn ball!" "False start? learn your own counts!" "Holding, ref are you blind? That was a Hold!" Plus a few other obscenities and exuberant comments I won't repeat. I've never laughed so hard in my life!

Fast forward a few months... this guy is a huge Packers fan, so i decide during the Packers vs Bears game to really break out the Bears gear stashed in my closet (I own it b/c I'm from Illinois, I don't really watch games). I'm starting to really get into our football Sundays, talking a lot of smack, eating pizza, having a beer, and laying on the couch all day. I'm even getting familiar with some of the big names in the league. Woot woot!! This Sunday was awesome, a full out battle between our two favorite teams and between who's smack talk is better. "Quarterback sack, take that Favre!" "Jennings to the end zone! Eat dirt Bears!" On Sunday's you would never know we even liked each other...

Fast forward 3 years... I made sure to schedule myself to be working in my base office, so that i can be home for the regular season opener of the Packers on Thursday night. We've both got our brand new Green Bay Packers t-shirts on, and rooting for the defending National Champs in their regular season debut (Yes, I've committed the ultimate sin if you're from Illinois. I've converted, although I still root for the Bears when they play the Pack just because I can). I think I actually yelled louder at the TV than my husband did. Friday night we made it to my husband's former High School's second game of the season, definitely not very impressive, but still really fun. Saturday, a full day of Husker football activities with the CASNR Alumni Football reunion for the first night game of the season. Four tumultuous hours of highs, lows, yelling, chanting, cheering for the team that bleeds Husker red. Surrounded by 80,000+ others who love, cherish and are passionate about the same team I am. Hearing myself yell out "Make a tackle, wrap em' up!" I have to laugh! This is the girl who 3 years ago almost swore off a guy for the same thing.

Now, here on a Sunday in early September I sit with my computer up and rolling; one tab on the blog, one tab on ESPN, my husband running the remote, the NFL Sunday ticket working hard between games so we never miss a beat. I still can't read how an offense or defense is set up, but i know when someone really missed a block or ran the wrong route. Part of the thrill of Sundays is scanning every NFL team for a former Husker, checking up on them, seeing how their doing - like checking up on the family. I love football, its about perseverance and endless strategy. It can turn you into a babbling fool at times with all the random, nonsense trivia you know... that was directed at my husband. Ask him what the score was in the 96' Fiesta Bowl? Nebraska 62 vs Florida 24 "We beat the S*** out of them!", he says it with enthusiasm every single time, like it just happened. Let me remind you that he was 12 when this happened, he is now 28.... does this seem odd to any else besides me??

He played football, bled football, loved football. Spend enough time around him or any Nebraskan like him and it will rub off on you too! It's what we do in this state. We get our posse together and break out the grill or call up the pizza delivery boy (or girlfriend if she is kind enough to put up with you). We yell and rant and rave at the TV. We use football as an excuse to get the family together and to see long lost friends.... Football is life! We spend the rest of the year reliving the season and making our predictions for next season. We watch the young kids play in the yard and mimic their football heroes, we watch the high school kids grow and perfect their skills and ponder who will play college ball. We watch our favorite college players grow confident and skilled and pray that they get drafted to Our Team! That is how we live in the Land of Football.

A Fast Ride

This past weekend, my husband and I journeyed back to my home state of Illinois for the long Holiday weekend. We had 3/4 of the day Saturday & all day Sunday to enjoy my family's company. And boy are they company.

I say this because it always seems like something exciting has just happened every time I go home. This trip was no different. A friend of mine had just recently gotten a little speeding ticket from a friendly, neighborhood, policeman.... little is putting it very very nicely. The worst part about it was that no one was mad, we were all just kind of like "deer in headlights" at the predicament. Luckily, my husband clears the air with "Well, I thought those things could do 105!" Like, geez, why didn't you put the pedal down further?!?! Good question, might as well have...

Through this seemingly quaint remark, I got the sense that my ever so sweet husband may be eluding to more than meets the eye. He was. He starts to tell me about how when he was in High School he and a buddy both had matching Ford Thunderbirds (Great cars, my mom had one and us kids would put our arms out the window and flap them like birds when she would drive fast. We always egged her on!) Anyways, these Thunderbirds got the nerve to "FLY" one night down a lonely deserted highway, at an hour too late for anyone to know, and too fast for anyone to remember. Oh and then there was the time, down a very popular Lincoln street, that the Thunderbird might have almost tripled the speed limit early into the wee hours of the morning. Good Grief!

I cringe at the thought of our future children ending up with any of these ideas born into them, I cringe even more at the thought of what they might get from me. I can't say that I'm much better than my husband. I will say that I have an insatiable need for speed! If you've ever seen an episode of the American version of Top Gear, I would be Rutledge. A total goof, a nerd, and a speed demon! I love to go fast, which may be why I've had to forfeit my license for a month before. Which may be why my car insurance was always slightly higher than other girls of high school age. Which may also be why I bought myself a 4 cylinder, in hopes of preventing "incidents" (it doesn't work).

Even now, when perusing through makes & models for my next car, I feel the need... the need for speed! I tell my husband I need the fastest production wagon on the planet, the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon! I'd be the coolest soccer mom, never late. He cringes until I explain that soccer is a figure of speech, our kids will play football.

A fast ride, that's all I'm looking for. Until i realize that I sound like a playboy... i mean a fast ride? Isn't that what every hot blooded 18-22 year old male is looking for, although this ride with two legs & not four wheels? Eww, i just compared myself to an adolescent male! Maybe i should rethink this whole fast ride thing & be glad that my husband got both of those out of his system a long time ago! :-) I should probably equate this whole thing to more of the tortoise and the hare, and stick with my 4 cylinder tortoise. After all, my friend has a V8 hare that may just have to site for a little while, while my 4 cylinder tortoise carts him around.

I "Heart" Technology

Here is a short ode to the techno savvy world we now live in.
Smartphone, I love you! When traveling i can easily map, search, and wind up at the best little restaurants around with just a few clicks of a button.
New Computer, you are so awesome! Everything i could ever need is already built in and soooo easy to use.
Internet, where would we be without you? I can use your wealth of information on phones, computers, cars, ereaders, etc... Plus... now I can blog!
:-)

The Plight of the 20 Something Female

Here I am; early twenties, 5 foot 10 inches, blonde hair, blue eyes, married, and with a good job. I'm totally satisfied, right?

The world has this perception that someone of my age has it so easy... no worries, no stress. HAHAHA! That's a funny joke. I try to laugh and smile at those who don't understand the awkward position a female is in at my age, but its kind of complicated. I wonder, am I the only one in this same struggle?

In the last few years I've accomplished everything that a single girl dreams of. Two years ago I received my degree from the University of Nebraska - GO SKERS! I've been sharing my life and life experiences with a great man for over three years, and we just tied the knot a couple of months ago. I have a job at a great company, and have been there for 4 and 1/2 years now. Perfect, right?

As it turns out, on the surface life is great! However, there are things deep inside of me that aren't satisfied or sure that I've really made the right moves in this chess game of life. As I write this I am on the verge of a birthday that moves me into a new category, i will no longer be in my early twenties, I'll have to say I'm "Mid-Twenties". Yuck! No crows feet yet, thank goodness & fingers crossed!

In my almost Mid-Twenties life, i wonder where my place is. My younger friends are still unmarried and living it up, parties every weekend, new boys , hot fashions, and spontaneous. Me? I work 50 -60 hours a week, like to be in bed by 10 or 10:30, two drinks and hubby has to drive me home, and there is nowhere in this county that I could whip out cute fashion and not get crazy looks! My older friends are married with kids, they have play dates, family appearances to make, stories about their families, and limited time to spend with their non-child rearing friends (aka. me). I'm in an odd place; not quite the time and energy to hang with my younger friends, no kids to be able to relate to my older friends.

So, I should just find people my age. HAHA! Easier said than done where I live. Most people my age have gone off to school (like I did), and pursued careers in the big city (ok, big for this area). Careers, that's another topic. I have a job with a great company... but why do i feel like i'm there to improve the diversity statistic? I have a mind and have proven i have the potential, capabilities, and qualifications to go far, but still i feel trapped and pushed down by the male dominated industry I work in. I have a degree, i'm a licensed broker, and i work as someone' assistant. AKA.. i plan meetings and can order supplies. What? How did I get here? This was a promotion?

I know that eventually i will find a career that feeds off of my strengths, but it will take time. How much time? I don't want to be waking up everyday for the next 5 years struggling to get motivated to go to work. Maybe i should give it up, find a decent part time job and start a family. Or maybe i should continue searching, build my career and start a family later. I don't know! And to make matters worse, I have a great husband who will support me no matter what i do, and won't tell me what to do. (awful... i know i'm too lucky with him)

Oh, and besides all of the work/friend/social life drama, i'm still trying to figure out this whole marriage and family thing. No, not when to have a family, but how to incorporate two families into my life. If you know my family, that is enough to handle in itself. Now, lets add in my husband's family. There are stories, details on past family history, mini-relationships within the families... yeesh! Its alot to manage. Trying to bridge the almost 60 year gap between myself and grandma B, or ensure my mom that her quiet son-in-law likes her even if he doesn't say it (mom... not all of us are good at expressing ourselves like you).

Oh, and speaking of moms... my house is nowhere near mom or mom in-law ready. We've done some improvements, but i don't have the time to dust every week, or keep my laundry from spilling over the basket in the bedroom. My bathroom has the lived in look, my kitchen floors are clean, but not clean enough to eat off of.

Ok - STOP! i'm sure by now you think i'm slightly neurotic, overwhelming (my mother's favorite word), and possibly a tad controlling. I'm a people pleaser, I like to make others happy. I always feel responsible for the world.... heavy stuff... responsible for my world (that's more accurate).

I think at this point my plight at 20 something is complicated, but really simple at the same time. With all of these dilemmas what i really want is a purpose and to be happy. Don't get me wrong, my life is not awful, far from it! I just hope that i'm not the only one in this crazy struggle, that i'm not the only one who feels this torn in so many directions... or maybe I am just that much of a crazy worry wart!

Whatever the case may be, i'm sure it can be solved with a bottle of wine, a pedicure, and some good girl time! That's my solution to the plight of the 20 something female!