So this weekend I walked a lot of miles as I am in the first few weeks of my training for the 3-day walk that I am doing in San Diego in Nov. This week I walked a total of 21 miles. Yesterday I had to walk 6 miles,when I walked in the door with all my garb on Brett said: "Vikk, you look like you are 40 years old with that hip pack on!" I thought it was really funny because I pretty much have lost all pride for how I look when I work out as far as this walk goes. I bought some shoes that are size 10.5, my feet are huge!!! I purchased these shoes based purely on comfort which I never do, gotta look cool. I where a hip pack and a pedometer, pretty cool!!!! ;) I do have a pink i-pod so hopefully I do look close to 26 years old as I walk. Anyway, Brett took some pics of me after a hot walk: 8.13.2007
26 going on 40
So this weekend I walked a lot of miles as I am in the first few weeks of my training for the 3-day walk that I am doing in San Diego in Nov. This week I walked a total of 21 miles. Yesterday I had to walk 6 miles,when I walked in the door with all my garb on Brett said: "Vikk, you look like you are 40 years old with that hip pack on!" I thought it was really funny because I pretty much have lost all pride for how I look when I work out as far as this walk goes. I bought some shoes that are size 10.5, my feet are huge!!! I purchased these shoes based purely on comfort which I never do, gotta look cool. I where a hip pack and a pedometer, pretty cool!!!! ;) I do have a pink i-pod so hopefully I do look close to 26 years old as I walk. Anyway, Brett took some pics of me after a hot walk: 8.09.2007
Old timer

2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
3Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
The Trumpets 6Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
13As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
8.07.2007
7.31.2007
School days

I guess the one positive thing I can think about as far as summer coming to a close is: SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!!! I wish I could still get school supplies. ;) Oh how I love the trapper keepers (by the way this trapper keeper is on ebay going for 20 bones) and and fun folders with boy bands on them ;) I remember when my mom lets me get ever sharps (mechanical pencils) I LOVED THOSE!! It was so much better than normal pencials. I also loved my protractor and reinforcers too. Can't say that I have used reinforcers since middle school. ;) Maybe I will go get some and start using them. I can think of several times when I have needed them at work. I have a lot of binders in the line of work that I do, not so many trapper keeper though, dang!!
Anyway, this is just a shout out to all you kids out there going back to school (since I am sure so many of them read my blog). Happy school shopping and hope you had a good summer!!!
7.17.2007
Look alike


Saturday was wonderful!!! I woke up early and my sister hung out just like old times, it was wonderful. While Carrie was making this fruit pizza, she was talking like she was on a cooking show in a British accent, we use to play cooking show when we were younger with all the left over’s when we were doing dishes after a meal. We had so much fun!!! We also hit a wonderful fabric store where I picked out some fabric for Carrie to make me a purse; I can’t wait to see how it turns out. We then went out to the Legends mall, which I have to admit, I kind love. We had lunch with my Mom and I introduced them both to Forever 21. This might be one of the best moments of the day because I told them I just wanted to go in for a second, thinking they would hate this store. They both ended up buying more than I did. I was cracking me up!!!!
Then Saturday night we headed to my great girlfriends house for our annual cook out and to celebrate my birthday. Some of you may remember I blogged about this last year. It is so fun a causal. Callie, my little sister, grilled all the meat and everyone else brought something and then I made Mojitos. We love to get together and sit by the fire and just be together. Be sure to check out my flickr pics of the party.

Carrie, thanks for coming all the way from Seward, Nebraska to come to my party. My friends and I had so much fun hanging out with you!!!!
7.12.2007
Back in the game

I woke up to a fun birthday card and a clue of what my present was:
- Clue One: I could not really wrap this present
Then when I got in my car to go to work another clue was on my steering wheel:
- Clue Two: This gift is not something that you specially asked for
After I received some beautiful flowers from Brett at work. I headed out to lunch I found a clue was taped to the window of my car:
- Clue Three: There has been songs written and movies produced about this gift
I started to put the clues together and I really started to think maybe he was taking me somewhere for my birthday, maybe Omaha, Oklahoma, New York City or Chicago. Yet, I thought it was not in the budget (if any of you know Brett, you know he likes to stick to the budget ;) and even if it was a trip he was just going to tell me that he was going to take me somewhere and then I would end up planning the whole trip. I don’t mind planning trips but lately I have been kinda burnt out on planning personal things since I do it all day at work.
Just before leaving for dinner I got the fourth clue:
- Clue four: Some famous people like this gift, especially Oprah.
I was almost 100% sure I figured it out by now but still kinda worried I was going to be just a bit disappointed when I found out I was going to have to book everything and know how much everything cost, which never makes it fun to travel.
After reading clue four, Brett took me out to dinner at my new favorite restaurant, 1924 Main. This restaurant reminded me of this fun place we went in San Francisco, it was really hip and the food was out of this world good. Brett had even made reservations, which he knows I adore. I am not sure how it started but I really don’t enjoy going to franchise restaurants (mainly, Cheesecake factory, PF Changs and Applebee’s, YUCK). I always prefer to support the smaller local places that are really happy you came in to eat there. 1924 Main was the perfect place for a nice birthday dinner.

Just before we ordered, Brett said: “Vikk, I think I am going to skip the last clue because I think you may be catching on to me”. He handing me an envelope and inside was a confirmation for two airline tickets to Chicago and a four star Hotel reservation that was located in the heart of Chicago. I got teary eyed and was so excited!!! As I started to thank Brett, he started telling me what he has planned for each day, even where we were going to eat and fun places we were going to visit. I was and am THRILLED!!! Any one who knows me well knows I love weekend trips and I love getting out of Kansas. I went to Chicago in January and it was one of the best trips. I can’t wait to go again when it is warm and we can do a bit more and to go with Brett, how fun!!! We leave on Aug 30th (which is our 4 year anniversary) and I can’t wait!!!
Brett, thank you so much, you are defiantly off the hook ;) Love you.
P.s.
I have to mention my second favorite gift so far, it is a blanket that my girl friends Kerry and Sarah got me, I have been snuggling in from the moment I got it, and I love it!!! Thanks Ladies.

7.11.2007
One year older
When I was 21 I thought I would be so far in life by the time I was 26 years old. I thought I would have two kids by now, driving a mini van and maybe 50 pounds heavier ;) Just kidding, but I did think I would be making more money and purhaps be some of those things in the last sentence. Turns out, being 26 is not so bad as I get to hang out with my best friend Brett all the time and don't have any screaming babies just yet,.I drive a pimping Nissian Altima and I just just dropped a couple pant sizes so I am loving life ;) I thought about being kinda down about turning 26 but I really couldn't see why. I mean, I think I am feeling better about life this year than I did last year. I have great friends and family who love me so much, I have a great spouse who I think is stinking hot, I still have a job, I have the cutest beagle known to man kind and my house is like 900 square feet but I love it and it is my home. Life is good ;) I truly feel so blessed for everything that I have, event the rough times I am thankful for.
Thank you all for your birthday emails, phone calls and even flowers. I love you all!!!!
7.09.2007
And I am back

So the vacation has concluded. Thought I would share some pics from our time off, to see more you can go to my flickr account later tomorrow and I should have them loaded. I would have to say the top three things about my time off were:
1.) Hanging out with Brett that is usually a blast so I was not too surprised at that. It was great to laugh about inside jokes and just do our own thing. We had a great time laying out by the pool, eating some Okie Joes and even seeing Transformers (I loved it by the way)
2.) Winning third in my age group on the 5k race on Saturday. Pretty fun to run in 5k’s where there is not as much competition ;) I love the medal I got and I really want to wear it out and about but I thought I better cool it.


Now on to another week packed full of hanging out with friends and celebrating my 26th birthday. Tonight some good girl friends are taking a couple of us July Birthday girls to McCormick and Schmick’s for some dessert. MMMM, what shall I have??? J Something chocolate I am thinking.
7.03.2007
T minus two hours and 5 minutes

Starting in 2hours and 5 minutes, I am one vacation baby!!!!!! Man, there is no better feeling then working like a horse on events for months and then taking a nice breather. Brett is also taking off work, we are like two little kids getting excited about late night slumber parties, fireworks, eating some good grub, hanging out by the pool and just being together. As some of you know, Independence Day is my second favorite holiday next to Easter so I am excited for this time off this week. We have all kinds of fun things lined up to do starting with a Royals game tonight, fireworks display in Shawnee Mission Park, some Okie Joes, time with friends, pool time and Sabetha!!!
We will be heading up to the farm on Friday for a family party and I am almost positive it is going to be one of the greatest celebrations around. I can’t wait to see how great that farmhouse is going to look with big flag bunting!!!
Brett and I are going to start the day by running the annual 5k in Sabetha, which is called the “ Firecracker Run”. It is my favorite 5k to do because it is a pretty easy course and all the people know you and they sit outside their homes to watch and say hi. My favorite part is that they serve sausage and pancakes after the race is over ;) Nothing like running for 30 minutes and washing that down with some grease and syrup ;) No thanks on that but I will be eating great later that night as my Dad will be cooking a lot of pork and all of his family are bringing food and they are wonderful cooks. I hope to be blogging about this on Monday.
Happy 4th of July to you all!!!
6.28.2007
oh please trash man

6.08.2007
Smores


I love the summers. The cookouts, the pool, ice cream, Lighting bugs, green grass and trees, summer mornings on the porch, walks with the dog. I LOVE IT ALL. Lately I have loved my new fire pit that I got. I also have a chiminea that I got last year for my birthday but I found that it did not put off as much heat as I wanted to and it was not good for cooking smores which is the main purpose of having a fire ;) Brett built our first fire in the pit last weekend and we each had way to many smores!!! It was so good and so fun. I think this is on the agenda tonight around 8pm, if any of you would like to come over for smores, just stop on by, we will be outside!!!!
6.05.2007
Motorcylce Daddy
Is it Tuesday already? I meant to blog about this on Saturday but was too busy having a great time and here we are on Tuesday at the end of the day. Saturday I started my day by seeing my father off on a cycle ride benefit. It was pretty fun to see my Dad in his entire motorcycle garb showing off his hot bike ;) My brother Abe painted this cycle so it is really special for my dad to ride it around and get compliments on it. I even think it is pretty cool and I am not really into the fire graphics on motorcycles, I am more into skeletons and naked women on motorcycles but that is just me. JMy Dad had four sisters and no brothers so it is amazing he is not more metro sexual ;) ** Side note: Dad, I will explain what metro sexual means some other time. It was fun to see Dad, Joe (dad’s neighbor who is really dad’s brother separated at birth) and my uncle Jim have fun just being Guys and trying to fit in with all these Motorcycle guys and girls (yikes, those girls are kinda scary, I really did fit in with my little dress and red shoes ;).
It was a great way to sta
rt my Saturday and I was so happy I got to see him off. 
5.17.2007
Walking the Hill
I can’t believe it has been four years since I have graduated from college, I still try to use my KUID to get discounts and sometimes I feel like I could walk on campus again and nobody would be able to tell that I was not a student. MMMM, pretty sure my “none hip” clothes would give me away. I guess I could always go get a minnie skirt, some burks, and tights and pull it off, what do you think?
Anyway, this Sunday my baby sister, Callie, is going to walk the hill. This will be the last of the Strahm girls that will walk the hill and I am so proud ;) I am sure my dad is too. Callie is the baby of five kids and it is hard to think about her getting a job and being on her own. It actually makes me a little sick to my stomach that she is all grown up. I have so many memories of her singing in the car with me, slumber parties, NYC trip and just hanging out on the farm. She is one of my best friends and I can’t love on her enough! Apparently other people can’t love her enough either. I am planning a celebration picnic for Sunday, there are going to be 55 people there!!! Holy crap, they are all coming from out of town too, I think it just goes to show that people love her as much as I do and they would drive two hours to congratulate her and hopefully give her some cash ;)
Just a few words before I start crying ;)
Callie, I love you so much and I am so proud of you for working hard and getting your degree. You really are such a blessing in my life and I can’t imagine life with out you. You have the greatest heart, you are always up for an adventure and I feel like I can really learn so much from you. I pray that you will find a great job, find a hottie husband and have one stinking good life!! You deserve it! Love you.
CONGRATS CALLIE!!!!!
5.11.2007
Breakfast in Bed

I love breakfast food but I HATE the idea of eating in my bed first thing in the morning. Who in the world thought of breakfast in bed? I think it is the dumbest idea ever. Oh yes, I love waking up and before I have a chance to realize where I am, I am smothered by little kids and a big tray of food. No thanks! I told Brett that I never want breakfast in bed. I would prefer to be woken up gently and told that breakfast will be served in 1 hour so I have time to sleep a little bit more, get up maybe take a shower and build up an appetite. Then walking in the kitchen to see a spread of French toast with warm syrup, poached eggs, powerdered doughnuts, Sausage patties, fruit and OJ. That is right, I want it all and I want it on the table with a fresh batch of flowers (no red roses please).
It would be a nice touch to have the kitchen already cleaned up as well. That is the other bummer about breakfast in bed. Your family brings you the food in bed all pretty on a tray but then when you get up to come to the kitchen to get your coffee, you see the mess that your family has left for you. Again, no thanks. I would love to hear some pros to breakfast in bed because I could not think of one unless you like:
- Sleeping in your crumbs from the toast that was on the tray
- Trying to hold a tray on your bed when kids are in your bed watching you eat the food they helped Daddy make
- Maybe you are a starving manic the moment you wake up and you prefer to shovel food down 5 seconds after getting up
- Your bedroom to smell like sausage
I love the idea of Breakfast but not in bed, whoever thought of that: Stupid points.
5.08.2007
Gearing up

Well, I am not sure what I have gotten myself into but I registered today to do the 3-day walk for breast cancer, which is walking 60 miles over a three-day weekend. The good thing is at least we get to walk and not run but I have a feeling we will be power walking it since the friend I am going with loves to beat everyone even when it is not a race, hee hee. Just kidding Kim. I have to say I am a little nervous about getting blisters and smelling lots of B.O. since we are camping the whole time and I am sure showers are optional since it is like a portable shower in semi’s. There are lots of things that I think will be challenging but it should be a great experience and it is for a wonderful cause. If any of you would like to join our team and fly to sunny San Diego with us in November feel free to sign up!
So many of you have already given money to support me and I can’t thank you enough. If you are interested in helping me raise the money I need to raise in order to do the 3-day walk, I would truly be grateful. Here is the link to my personal page where you can give. Thank you all so much and let the training begin!
5.04.2007
5.02.2007
Oh what?
April was a crazy month, I don't remember much of it since I had an event like every other day and I was consumed by work! Today, I thought I would just post a blog about nothing but this:
I'mmmmmmm Baaaackkkkkkk!!! ;)
Ok, I need some ideas of blog post because my life has been kinda boring as far as good stories. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know.
Oh, I will be blogging about this on Friday. I am dying my hair dark, no more blonde highlights for me. I am thinking this dark:

What do you think??? ;)
4.12.2007
A weekend at the farm


4.04.2007
Almost the last
I have (accidentally) injected myself with a pig needle (syringe used to vaccinate my dad's hogs) right in the ars. I have also sat down on a knife and I have the scar to prove it, any takers??
Until my freshman year of college i thought laptop computers were called "labtop's" (since they're used in labs)
I get a sick enjoyment out of seeing a car crash
I would not/do not swerve for cats in the road (sorry to my cat loving friends, oh wait, I don't have any, hee hee)
I have my hunter's safety license but can't shoot a target if it were right in front of me.
4.02.2007
didn't like purple until now


3.26.2007
Could there be any more you know know????
I have seen three tornado’s in my lifetime.
I was my high school mascot for one football season, the bluejay.
I was home schooled for less than a month.
I broke my leg in the first grade and didn’t have enough balance to use crutches so I had to use a walker for 6 weeks. I still don’t have that great of balance.
I want to learn to dance like a machine! You know, like pre crazy Britney, yes, I want to be able to dance like that.
3.21.2007
Lazy? No time? ROELAND P!

So, you might all look at this picture and think I got it online somewhere after goggling “White trash” Nope, I took this picture from my front door, that is right. Johnson County is way over rated!! (I will save that topic for another blog) I have seen more than a couple houses that still have their Christmas lights up.
Jan 21st: maybe I can understand. Feb 21st: You are really pushing it but I still don’t think you are lazy; maybe you just don’t have time?? Marcy 21st: You are stinking lazy!!! Get out there and take your Christmas decorations down!! If you want to leave the trees up, fine, but at least hang some sparkly Easter eggs on it or something.
I have often thought about going in the middle of the night and pulling some of the lights out but I just can get the guts to do it. Any volunteers??? I might even pay you or make you a yummy dessert!
Anyway, I have noticed that my blog is mostly venting about things I can’t stand, sorry about that. I am not really that negative of a person but I guess when something irritates me, it really irritates me. I would hope that most people would be irritated to see Christmas lights up every stinking day and night in March. Maybe if I was a bigger fan of Christmas time I would like it but I am an Easter girl myself. Bring out the bunnies and pastels!!! I love it.
In conclusion:
Dear Person that is to lazy to take your Christmas lights down,
I love the little baby Jesus as much as the next person but it is time to move on and think about him rising again from the tomb instead of him being born. Please take down your Christmas decorations, I will even come over and help you out if you want.
Happy Easter,
Vikkie
3.20.2007
More about little ole me
Easter is my favorite holiday, I like it more than Christmas and thanksgiving combine.
I am a certified nurses aid and use to work in a nursing home
I sleep with matches by my bedside in fear of the deadly gas sleeping next to me (oh, oops, was that something you didn’t know about Brett, that is not what this post is about) hee hee!
I am pretty good at running a chain saw but at the same time I can paint my nails like the best of them.
If I could pick one food to eat all week it would be: POTATOES!!!! I LOVE EM!!!!
3.19.2007
Extreme Trash pick up Edition
This weekend was a good one. Spending some good time with my boy and his family, watching the hawks win, doing some spring cleaning giving some good snuggles to Debo and even seeing and movie with my girls. After the movie Saturday night my friend Andrea ( a go getter, if you will) thought it would be fun to go help out at the Extreme Makeover Home Edition site in the north land and see if we could help out. She is a huge fan of the show and I also like it so I thought it might be fun to do. The catch is that we decided to do it at 12am on Saturday in hopes that we would get to go inside the house and check it out. I guess there are tons of volunteers during the day and not so many at night when they have last minute things to do. We arrived at the site and signed in to be a volunteer around 12 midnight and went to the sight which was pretty cool. As an event planner, it blew my mind out much planning goes into doing this show. I might be sending my resume to LA this week ;) Anyway, pretty cool to see how this show works.
So on to our glamorous volunteer duty, at first we sat down for a little bit, actually more like an hour, with some kinda creepy security guys to wait for a job assignment. We chilled with these guys for a while and got the dirt on how this show works. One of the best parts is when a security guycam in a grabbed a full box of Twinkies that he planned on eating (that is right, all 10 of them). It pretty much confirmed that I think all security guys are kinda fat slobs that got beat up in high school. They become a security officers because it gives them a chance to boss people around and they sometimes get to wear a gun which makes them feel like they can kill anyone. SIDE NOTE: yesterday, I saw a security guy at the Price chopper that could not catch me if he tried, I could have walked faster than he could run for sure!!! I love all people, big and small, but he was a big fella and maybe could have refused a few twinkies.
Anyway, around 1am we started our job, we moved some boxes of food into a tent for the crew to eat the next day and then came the trash duty. That is right, we picked up bags of trash in the three block area of the house to keep things cleaned up. We even had to go into those nasty bathrooms that are in public trailers and dump the trash!! I think I was good until I went to throw a big bag of trash in the huge trash bin and I got what smelled like Meatloaf juice all over me, YUCK!!!! It was pretty gross and we did that for almost two hours. We got our free t-shirt for volunteering but ended up not getting a tour of the house. We could see the inside of it from where we were (pretty much in the driveway of the house) and it looked pretty cool. Not a big fan of the colors on the outside of the house but it is not my house ;)
Anyway, it was fun to do with a friend and if you know me at all you know I will try just about anything just to say that I did it. So here it is " I volunteered on the set of Extreme Makeover Home Edition"!!!!!
Here is the link if you want to read more about the family:
3.16.2007
Great Idea, I'll take it !!!
Things you didn’t know about me:
I like it HOT, by this I mean I love to be hot (not just warm) in the winter to the point where I wear sweats to bed and have a heat blanket on high all night. I have to have all hot drinks and soups piping hot in order to enjoy it. My rule of thumb when seeing if it is hot enough is bringing it to a medium boil just before serving it.
I hate teenagers, they are gross, they stink, they don’t clean themselves property, they lack social skills, they are all followers and fall into pier pressure, they are snotty, they dress bad, they think their life is so rough when they don’t know that half of it. I hate them.
I don’t enjoy reading, it is relaxing, and by that I mean I fall asleep within seconds of picking up a book.
I don’t care to talk on the phone for more than 10 minutes after I get off work. Something about being on the phone all day and then having to get on it again to shoot the breeze, I would rather meet you for coffee or dinner if you want to shoot the breeze.
I hate Oprah (who doesn’t really)
I can’t stand people that have speech impediments, it is just lazy not to work on that and fix it. I have zero sympathy.
I love all food but if you make me eat any form of sweet potatoes, I am likely to hurl all over the dinner table.

More to come, didn’t want to give them all away in one blog ;)
2.26.2007
Date Night
Then in college I started dating a different guy, he was a site to see from the beginning. We were great friends for a couple months until I found myself falling in love with him. He finally asked me on a date. Oh, date night!!! What are dates like in college I wondered?? They were usually a movie or out to a fun restaurant. Maybe we would take a trip to Kansas City and go the plaza for some good food and shopping. We would go to Gallyans and climb the rock wall, go play some Frisbee and out to the lake for a picnic with KFC. Or we would just stay in the dorm for some pizza and some reality TV. I went on a lot of fun dates in college with my cute boyfriend, now my husband ;) I will never forget the feeling of getting ready for date with Brett and the anticipation of him walking up 4 flights of stairs in the dorm to come pick me up ;) Or when we lived across town from each other and seeing him pull in the driveway in his vintage Saab. Oh, I kind of get butterflies in my stomach just writing about it.
I am a firm believer in date nights. Brett and I don’t really call them date nights anymore, we just go and do what we please whenever we feel like it. Well, Friday during the day, I got the urge to go on a “Date Night”, just the two of us. I really wanted sushi but I knew Brett would not be in the mood for that. So, I let him plan the date night. He didn’t really do too much planning as it panned out but it was a blast nonetheless. We ended up going to M&S Grille. I sat down and realized that it was a little pricey and I was not sure we wanted to spend this much on dinner. I just started to tell Brett that I didn’t know it was so pricey when he said, “Vikk, it is ok, you get what you want. We have money to go on a date; we don’t have kids or tons of stuff to pay off. It is ok, we can have a nice date night”. I got those butterflies again like I use to when we first started dating. We ate a wonderful meal in one of the best spots in the restaurant. Everything was so tasty and we had the best conversation and just enjoyed being with each other. We headed home and Brett thought we should look through some photo albums for fun. He pulled out the album that I kept of all our college days together. It was the best!!! Snuggled on the couch, looking and laughing at pictures. Thinking of stories that I had already forgotten about or remembering stupid inside jokes. I love date nights!!
Thank you Brett for being the best date a girl could ask for.
2.16.2007
Snow days

On the flip side, I got this email from my dad this morning, a bit of a different perspective:
“We ended up with 6 inches of snow, then it really started blowing about midnight on Monday. I had just gone to bed, and was almost a sleep when bang and a flash that lit up my whole bedroom. What they hay!!! I jumped out of bed and notice that the flagpole light was still on, so didn’t know what was going on when again "bang" and what looked to be a roman candle shooting across the barnyard. All power went out. It was no longer what the hay, but what the hell!!! I got up and went outside to make sure there was not hot wires dancing across the feedlot. I could find nothing wrong, so went into town to report it at the dispatch office. Would you believe Joe already had called it in. (He is the greatest neighbor) So I came back home and cleared the roads so the city truck could make it out here, for I barely made it back home. So spent most of the night up. Apparently, the lines blew together over my feedlot, and then it blew a line knockout fuse over at Rod’s corner. Today it is blowing hard from the south, so the roads are closing up again. I hate snow when it blows.”
What the crap, I am such a snot here in KC to think about how glorious the snow is and my poor father is up all night because of the wind and he has to use a tractor to clear his path. Anyway, I kinda get in my own world and think I it so exciting to have lots of snow until I get emails like this, then I just feel bad.
Love you Dad, spring will be here soon.
2.14.2007
keep it casual
Some of you may know that I am not a huge fan of Valentines Day. I am not sure which part I don’t like: The big cheap teddy bears that have writing on them saying “Be Mine”, the dozens of red roses that have more baby’s breath than roses (I hate babies breath), the packed restaurants, the Little Debbie desserts that are covered in nasty sprinkles or just the hearts everywhere. Now, I do have valentines and I love him dearly but he also knows that if he gives me a dozen roses (or carnations) with baby’s breath, I will throw them directly in the trash. Yes, some of you may think that is harsh but I hate them. I do love roses when they are all different colors and they are bunched together with other big bright flowers, not like this:

I hate getting the same arrangement that thousands of other girls are getting; I want something different and bright. I almost think arrangements like this are depressing, I guess Brett can use this at my funeral if he wants. I don’t think I will mind at that point.
Moving on past the flowers, I have to tell you what I am so excited about tonight. For our date night Brett is taking me to Culvers, that is right, HOME OF THE BUTTERBURGERS!!!! I love this place; I love the burgers, the fries and the custard. I love that is will not be packed tonight and it takes less than 10 minutes to get our food. We will not have to wait in line or make reservations or spend an arm and a leg to go there. I am not sure my date is as thrilled as I am except maybe excited because it will be easy on the check book but he loves me so he is taking me there ;) When Brett and I were dating we use to go to really nice restaurants but it was so stressful on me to get ready, wear the perfect shirt, get to the restaurant on time only to wait because they forgot to write your reservation down. NO THANKS!! I just want to be with my valentine and be causal. Every once in a while I like a nice dinner but I would prefer it be on a weeknight when it is bad weather and everyone else is staying at home. One year Brett took me to Chipotle for Valentines Day and we had the best date. Since then we have made it a tradition to go causal for Feb.14th. Try it out ladies; it is way more fun and you don’t spend all night in a restaurant with hundreds of other people. I get to be done with dinner and snuggling while we watch the KU game with my groom by 7:30pm baby!!!! Nothing better than snuggling while it is chilly outside.
Oh, be sure to get some Reeses buttercup hearts today!!! Not to worry, Easter egg Reeses are already in stores. That might be the only thing I love about this holiday, the Reese’s hearts and the fact that Easter it the next big holiday. Easter is my all time favorite!!!!! Can’t wait to break out the Easter egg tree and all my cute bunnies!!!!
2.08.2007
Star Struck
Anyway, I love it and last night I was invited to go to a Special Screening of "The Astronaut Farmer" by my girl Andrea . Billy Bob Thorton and Virginia Madson were also there to welcome us and give a few comments on the film before it started. It was pretty cool and thought it would make for a good blog.


2.07.2007
Event time
Yesterday I had an event and it was pretty crazy all day with rentals showing up, liquor being delivered, valet services, security on site, podium and mic set up and my caterer and florals. I have to say this event had some stinking good food and it was really pretty. My pictures don’t even do it justice but I had to share.
2.05.2007
For girls only

Ok, so no surprise, once a month a women gets her cycle (ok, boys stop snickering like you did in the 8th grade when you heard all of this for the first time). Anyway, it is not a huge deal now because I have done it once a month for over 10 years. Yet something new this month really pushed me over the edge and I have to share. Again, boys you may want to stop reading now.
I went to go grab a feminine pad (I like to call it that) and unwrapped it only to find the sticker on the pad that you tear off that read, “Have a happy period”. “Oh, yes” I said out loud in the bathroom, “I will have a lovely period”. After all, it is my favorite time of the month, I love a time to reflect and think about how I love being a women and how we are so special to get a cycle once a month. I mean the commercials for tampons really say it all. Yes, I love to get in a bathing suit and dance around in my pink leggings and then out shopping with the girls. Everything is pink and lots of clouds are used in those commercials for some reason. Are you kidding me??? “Have a happy period”??? Who was the ad wizard on that Advertising team that thought to put that? Did they really think that was going to cheer me up right after I had a two hour headache, cramps all day and a huge fight with the person I love the most for no reason what so ever??? If I was on that ad team I may have written this on that sticker:
“Have a candy bar, you will feel better”
“$1 off French fries coupon, use now”
“Massage for hour coupon”
“Yes this sucks”
“ It is ok to smoke pot when you feel this bad” (totally kidding, never smoke pot kids, it makes your brain shrink and it will destroy your life)
Again, just to conclude, I do know that a women’s cycle is perfectly normal and women have been doing it for years. Yet, really there is no need to come up with cute packaging and nice sayings on the packaging. Rather than making me feel like it is all wonderful, it makes me want to throw the whole box of your products into the trash. Needless to say, I will not be purchasing that brand of feminine products again.
Oh, I went to check out the website of this product and this is what they had to say about that product and see if it said “Have a happy period” anywhere on this web page, sure enough:
My favorite part of this webpage is when they say this:”This is the time of the month that's all about you. So be your own best friend. Make it your mantra to indulge yourself and celebrate being a girl” Don’t event get me started on this comment, hee hee.
Peace out sisters and stick in there!!!






