Have you seen this baby?!

Because she's pretty damn cute!!!

 

this is what happens when you shove a whole chicken nugget in your mouth when your dad isn't looking

 Pretty happy with her dordor and big girl cup

Just hanging out, watching some dordor before sleepy time

Supermodel pose to show Auntie her new sweater!

and yes those are dordor jim jams on underneath it.

I've been missing all my babies super bad this week!  The other two have been killing it with the cute.  Danyal proudly announced to his mom that she hurt his balls and that he has a penis!  I think he just likes to say balls.  Typical male behavior ;)

Work has been busy and boring.  So I'm not going to talk about it.  Last night we had a few too many and today has been rough, thankful for half my appts being rained out.  As with all rain days Mike and I had lunch and then went to the grocery store.  2 of the clerks thought we were married, and I'm pretty sure we are.  It's crazy how well we get along and don't get annoyed with each other.  It's very easy and nice.  Tonight we ordered in a pizza and watched the Badgers get their asses handed to them.  It was exactly what I needed.  

Time for bed and I'm sure crazy dreams.  Last night tequila kicked my ass in my dreams so I'm hoping for a nice restful sleep.

S&M Shower

Sometimes I can't put my finger on why I do or don't like a hotel.  This one in Des Moines, I liked it but after reviewing the TV stations last night I couldn't remember why.  Then tonight, I took a shower.  Holy water pressure Batman!  I LOVE the shower here and I don't mean that in a naughty way either.  It's just delightful, and borders on being painful.  It's like a deep tissue massage and a shower.  Oh and I can have screaming hot water here.  I was so red when I got out of the shower tonight, but it's so worth it.  I'm going to have to go buy some thicker lotion cause I guarantee standing under that stream of water from heaven is certainly going to dry my skin out even more.

Now time for some random side bars:

I can tell the vitamin D supplement is working.  I was describing a weird situation and realized I had zero emotional response to it.  Being an emotional robot is back and it makes me happy.  I cannot deal with feelings!

Work is just blech.  It's not stressful or hard it's just boring.  There is zero challenge in what I'm doing unless you count figuring out how to climb super steep roofs and not coming off as a weenie to the local claim reps.  I had to give 2 claims back and I never do that.  But let's face it, when the roof is almost straight up and down there is no way in hell I'm going to even put my ladder up.  I do NOT get paid enough to risk my life over stupid hail damage.

Yesterday I had the world's best sandwich.  Big thanks to my Sue-Bee for recommending a new place. It was rotisserie chicken breast, with a huge slab o'brie melted on top.  THEN it had grilled/sauteed apples on top of that on a ciabatta bun.  I hate ciabatta buns, but this sammie needed it.  I'm pretty sure I will dream about that meal until I get back home and can have it again.

Now it's time for bed.  I set an appt stupid early tomorrow and I doubt the roof will be dry or the sun will be up high enough to see anything.  Here's hoping the line at Starbucks is short.

Single Sunday

This would be a deep deep love for me!

But I might start!

I had a very frank discussion with my mom and sister last night about me dating.  Their motivation for me to date, new stories.  Yep new stories!  I get that (my dad is a rambler), but somehow I thought my happiness would be a bit more important.  I admitted that I fail at going out, so online is my only option, which terrifies me.  Neither of them really cared or expressed too much effort in helping me.  I even asked for help with my profile and they just glossed over it and onto how hard it will be for me to find someone as good as my bro-in-law.  Helpful huh!

So now it's Sunday night and I've thought about a million different ways my day would have been better if I had someone to share it with.  It's the big things like going out for a meal, to the small things of watching the game and having a hand to hold when my team plays like crap.  Tonight it would be wonderful to be cuddled on the couch cheering against the Bears, or at the bar having a late dinner and a beer.  Or having someone else go gas up my car and pick me up a soda.  The little things really matter to me.

I want all of that yet I still can't push the button and renew my membership.  I'm all talk and no action and I'm not sure what I need to make that final push.  I'm debating letting someone else look at my profile since my sis never did.  I feel like I'm selling myself short and being too confident at the same time.  It's all so terrifying to me.  I don't deal with rejection.  I mean that with all seriousness.  I cannot handle being told no, it makes my stubborn german red headed scorpion blood boil.  There are actually days I wonder how I still have my tongue because I have to bite it so hard when someone rejects me.  Funny thing is, I can reject you in the blink of an eye and have no regret.  Ahh an interesting dichotomy of my personality.

For now I'll sit on my couch and watch football and kill all the flies I let in while cleaning out my van this afternoon.  Maybe I can find my motivation in Iowa next week.  Maybe not.  New bucket list item -  be in love by the time I'm 40!

On Your Mark, Set Get, GO!!

Yes I know that's wrong, but when a 3 yr old repeatedly says it, you don't correct him.  You go with it and fling your stuffed kitty in the air.  BTW best way to spend a Friday afternoon, although I may have permanent hearing loss.

He's laughing at my Cookie Monster voice!

Edwina the Dinosaur is much like auntie, she ignores people and bakes cookies

Sneak attack hug

Just chillin' out in the toy box

Shivering away my day

I am so cold I can barely type.  The high was 58 but I call shenanigans on that.  The 25mph wind, yeah it burnt the hell out of my face.  It's so red and sore and hot right now.  I also nearly blew off a roof.  No I am not kidding, yes it scared me to death, and no I didn't get off the roof after that.  I'm pretty sure I said FUCK YOU ND at least 8 times today.  I think it's my new motto.

I'm so excited to go home tomorrow.  Saturday night is family time and I cannot wait.  Now I just need my boss not to be an ass and send me to Aberdeen tomorrow or some other equally awful place!  2.25 days at home sounds pretty awesome right now.  I still didn't get much sleep last night.  Fuck you snoring guy!  My own bed is my happy place right now, 24 hours to go!

Mists of North Dakota

It's official I need to get a pair of Wellies.  I fear I ruined my Merrills today by getting them soaking wet. It rained over night and was a crappy misty foggy morning.  Instead of taking another rain day I went out and got done what I could.  By the time I got back at 12:30 my pants were wet up to my knees, my shoes were squishy and my socks could have been wrung out.  This afternoon turned out beautiful but it just wasn't enough time to get done what needed to be done.  Tomorrow I'll be running my butt off, but being busy is good.

The best news is I'll be traveling home on Friday.  I'm so excited to see my family and get some apples. I routinely miss out on the only good things of fall, orchard trips with donuts and leaf looking.  Plus Boo has a zillion new words and a slide.  The videos I received today had me cracking up.  She likes to go head first and her diaper butt is all up in the air.  She's precious!!!

I feel like I have a ton to say and nothing at the same time.  I think I need to get some sleep!  Thanks to a snoring neighbor I slept very little last night.  I think the trick is me falling asleep first.  Now if I can just get my butt in gear and off the couch!

Stab Stab DIE!!!!

Today was just a no win kind of day.

1st appt wasn't an appt, one I could do anytime.  Took so damn long I was late for my first real appt.

2nd appt, huge mother of a house, finished with a minute to spare

3rd appt, even huger mother of a house, finished late and didn't get to settle with the homeowner

4th appt, better, I had 15 min to spare until I realized my 5th appt was 20 min away.  FAIL

5th appt, nope didn't happen.  Van battery died.  Had to call my co-worker to come jump me (not the good way either)

This evening it's been all about playing catch up and the van is fixed (can I get an amen).  Mike even took me to 5 Guys for burgers.  And I've been drinking beer while finishing up.  I really want to dive into my bag of cheesey chex mix, but instead I think I'll shower and go to bed early.  

Tomorrow doesn't have that great of an outlook right now, but I'm going to do the best with what I've got.  It has to be better than today.

Falling Short Sunday

I dare you to tell me which kid is the cutest?

The top one asked me to come home so I could read the heavy book to her.  I'm pretty sure it was one of her dad's text books, but I'd do it.

The middle one?  He asked me to not work and that I should come over and slay dragons with him.

The bottom one whose 18 shades of naked?  She runs around making everyone laugh and saying HEY YOU and Awwww Mannnnnn.  Oh and she's officially 21 months today. 

Today is day 12 of being gone and it really kinda sucks.  I have no clue how long I'll be here and I'm really not prepared for anything more than another week or so.  I used to be so good at this but it was much more defined than what I'm doing now.  It's getting really cold in the mornings and I just hate it.  I resume my proclamation of how much i HATE fall.  Gah-Ross!!!!

I realized how much I sucked at blogging this week but lets wrap it up like this, 3 14 hours day, beers, football and a rain day.  The highlight has to be my co-worker Mike.  Dude takes care of me!  Friday night he ordered pizza for us.  Yesterday while it was raining he took me to lunch, then we hit the stores for beers and steaks.  After that he cooked me dinner too.  Today he got done working first so he secured us a table at Hooters so we could watch the game.  We all have our faults with work, but personally, he's pretty awesome.

There is one observation I have to share about Bismarck, huge huge huge shortage of women.  The ones that are here, I don't think it's by choice.  Also, it's a very interesting demographic too.  The waitresses today were what I would assume the "A squad."  It wasn't pretty.  If you've ever seen the Southpark where they take Stan to Raisins and Butters falls in love with Lexus, that's what we were dealing with.  Bad hair, worse make up and no boobies.  Although our waitress was a cross between Elvira and Snookie.  The highlight was the group of Hispanic ranchers that came in.  Those men had some mustaches!  I immediately thought "Free Mustache Rides!" and then giggled like a 12 yr old.

I also made the mistake of Walmart on a Friday night.  The store wasn't busy but it was full of single men stocking up for the week.  The median age of death can't be much beyond 55 based on what these guys were purchasing.  And if I ever did I need an ego boost it was in that store.  I was still in my work clothes and could feel all kind of eyes on me.  Flattering yet creepy at the same time.

Now it's time for some more football because I can!  I should also work on finding some dinner, but that mean less football.  hmmmmmmmmmmm

Training Tuesday

Does anyone else remember these markers?  If these came out you know your school day was gonna be epic.  I walked into my training today and a pack was on each table.  I was chosen to write later in the day and loved the weird blueberry smell that took me back to 3rd grade.

My training was really good today.  I'm learning so much, but my brain is mush.  I actually just remembered I have homework to do, which requires getting out of bed.  Boooooo!

First day of swimming today and yesterday was first day of Pre-School!!

Sucky Sunday

I did not make this, but believe me I'll be trying my own spin on it!

Today has just been shitty.  It rained this morning, and my insured's were dicks.  All of them, dicks!  Look I don't want to work on a Sunday but I'm here, in the rain, so let's make this happen.  

Now my team lost and I'm stabby.  I HATE and I mean HATE the QB for the 49'ers.  Like HATE so bad I can't even be bothered to look up how to type his name.  Oh and thanks refs for the bad call that potentially cost us the game.  That's just super!

And the cherry on top is that I'm packing up all my crap again just to leave and unpack it tomorrow and then do the same thing on Wed afternoon.  The plus side is seeing some friends over the next 3 days and I'm coming back to Bismarck, not starting all over in a different city.  It's all a bit exhausting so maybe it's time for dinner and bed.  Some extra sleep cannot hurt today.

It's the most wonderful time of the year . .

Yes I still hate fall, BUT BUT BUT I LOVE FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!  Tonight is the official kick off and I'm not watching because this hotel blows big donkey balls.  I'm so excited for Sunday's game!

So ND isn't so bad.  They have a Pita Pit and a Hobby Lobby within walking distance of my new hotel.  I cannot wait to move out of this hole they put me in.  There's absolutely zero soundproofing and it's on the corner of a major intersection.  Men of Bismarck, loud pipes do not save lives, they make me stabby and less prone to be nice to you when I do your hail inspection. Plus the new hotel is new and pretty and has decent food and nicer people and a huge patio and a hot tub and I can drink with my coworker.  Yay for drinking.  It has to be better for me than smoking and I was dangerously close to buying a pack today.  Yay for willpower!  Now it's sleepy time.  I hate not getting enough sleep.  Tomorrow could be very interesting if I don't get enough zzzzz's

Just my luck

 Her future's so bright she's gotta wear shades

Today has been so less than ideal and definitely felt like a Monday.  It deserves a list!

• I've been deployed to Bismarck ND and I won't be home for a couple weeks.
• It's the National Pow Wow in Bismarck this weekend, hotels are impossible.  Thank heavens for working for a huge company who can pull strings.  I'm pretty sure I have a bed for the next 2 nights.  I know I for sure do this weekend
• My hand is not getting better.  I tried to get in to my specialist but can't.  He's very busy.
• I won't be able to keep up my therapy
• I have to cancel my exam.  My study guide shipped today but I won't have any way to get it, making it very ineffective.
• I just did the math and I will be spending 5 nights in ND, then 3 nights in NE, then 4 back in ND then 1 back at home, then back up to ND or maybe to southern MN.
• I've gotten a fair amount accomplished today but feel like I spun my wheels quite a bit.
• I'm almost looking forward to the 7 hour drive tomorrow just to zone out.

Salsa Sunday

 Yesterday's Pinterest Project completed!

1 cheap frame, some cardboard with burlap glued on and an initial I've had glittered up since a failed Christmas project. 

I've got one more project planned for this weekend and it's a bit time consuming.  I know it's going to turn out great I just need to dedicate some time to get it all finished up.  I will of course post it.  I made some great progress on the baby blanket too.  Watching a boring movie, Admisssion, last night really helped me move along.

She's getting really good at taking pictures.  We used the Ipad this time around which is a bit easier to see.  It's a good thing we are both so photogenic :)

Today was a great family day.  Canned 15 small jars of salsa with mom and peeled tomatoes for several quarts of stewed tomatoes.  I'm guessing by Wed I'll be back up there and making more stewed tomatoes for myself.  No jarred sauce this winter!

My friend Tori came out too and we had a great time visiting and just hanging out.  Boo was at the house so she kept us all entertained until her parent's got back and regaled us with some very funny furniture shopping stories.  Long story short, no new couch for them.  Overall a great way to spend a Sunday.  The bummer was the cool weather.  Yes it's been unworldly hot for weeks now, but 68!  Well that's just too chilly for me.  I'd like 78 and sunny, here's hoping tomorrow pans out a bit more to my liking.  I am enjoying having my windows back open!  And as usual it's time to put the hot pack on my arm and take a load off.