So much

So much, soooooo much has happened since my last post!

Here's a synopsis:

We went to my old stomping grounds, Washington, D.C.!  Here are some highlights:

My favorite monument...

Sitting with mama in her old chair.  Might we have a future press secretary in the works...?

Sitting in my old boss, Sen. Enzi's chair...

On a tour of the Capitol building.  Here we are in the Rotunda...

Highlight number 2?  We bought a new couch!  FINALLY!  The couch I bought after moving back from D.C., was in pretty shabby shape.  I hadn't anticipated a husband, two black labs and a baby when I purchased it.  Now we have the couch we want: leather, nail heads, sophisticated, not shabby...

Doesn't it look like it's always belonged here?  I was sad to see the old couch go, I admit.  It was a sleeper and I firmly believe we need one of those with the visitors we get.  But Todd didn't want to try to jam it downstairs, and let's face it, it was in poor condition, so to the dump it went.

We went to Wisconsin!  And Rosie and her cousins in Omaha got to meet for the first time!

But first, we hung out with Great Grandma Kittel and Grandma Kittel...

Rosie ate in a high chair at a restaurant for the first time...

We ate lunch with Paul Bunyon and Babe...

Met Great Aunt Barbara...

And second cousin Kim...

Then on to the cousins!  Tess, Owen and Judd meeting Rosie for the first time...

Hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Sears...

We cheered Raymond on at his all-star baseball game...

All the cousins together!

There's more, but this gives you a pretty good idea.

Registry rationale

Putting together a baby registry is HARD WORK.

After talking to a few girlfriends who have recently had babies, I feel better that I am not alone in thinking this.  It's funny how smart gals with common sense can be overwhelmed by putting together something as seemingly simple as a baby registry.  

There are so many silly and unnecessary products out there and it's hard to cut through the noise to figure out what you really need and when.  

I have spent hours reading baby product books and researching, comparing features, and reading product reviews until I've narrowed down the items I think we'll like best.  I've kept by my side the sample registry list I found in a magazine and slowly - very slowly - I have either checked an item off as "registered for" or scratched it off as "not necessary."  

Some items have been saved after being written off as not worth it once I consulted with others who have kids.  Like the Boppy pillow, for example.  It seems like a gimmick to make you spend money on yet another baby "supply."  Why can't you just use a pillow if you need support?  One friend did just that, but she was outnumbered by four others who absolutely insisted that the Boppy was a lifesaver.  One girlfriend told me last week they have three, I believe - one for each floor of their house.  My youngest sister went so far as to just buy me one out of fear, I think, that I wouldn't register for it.  So, the initially silly Boppy was saved and arrived last night on our front porch.  

I find I have to really think through even little things like sleep sacks.  Little Kittel will be a winter baby, so she'll obviously need something on the warmer side.  Ok...a fleece sack it is.  In fact, two fleece sacks in case an accident in the middle of the night warrants a change.  But which size?  How long are babies, particularly newborns, in those sizes?  What if she's like another girlfriend's baby who, I just learned, runs hot.  On to the list went a cotton one, which then required another round of deciding on colors.   

And so it has gone for the last month.  Read, review, compare, list.  

I am happy to say the list is almost done!  Just a few more items to decide on and the registry will be good to go!  Now which stroller system should we use...?  

The friendly ghosts

Casper's baseball team is called the Ghosts.  Yep, just like the friendly ghost.

Since we moved to Casper two summers ago now, I've wanted to check out one of their games.  I've imagined perfect summer nights drinking a beer, eating a hotdog, listening to the crack of the bat, and cheering with other diehard small town fans for their hometown boys.  

The old song by Alabama, The Cheap Seats, pops into my head every...single...time I think of going to a Ghosts game.  

On Thursday, Todd scored free tickets from some coworkers!  We met up for beers and burgers then headed out for an all-American night on the town.  

Ok, so it wasn't the most well attended event, but the crowd that was there was very passionate about their team!  It's also an awesome field.  A nice facility...

Here they are on the field!  They played the Ogden (Utah) Raptors...

What I don't quite get is our mascot.  Why is he a purple platypus...?

  

Go Ghosts...!

It was the second to last game of the season and unfortunately the Raptors took 'em.

Next year, Ghosts!  

Out of control?

There's something I've gradually become rather obsessed with over the last couple of years...

Magazines.

I've always carried a few subscriptions - Cooking Light, Shape, InStyle, and Lucky, but lately, I've been picking up all kinds of new magazines, reconsidering my long-time subscriptions to some, and considering new subscriptions to others.

Todd recognizes the growing, um, interest.  When I casually mentioned last week that I need to start going through some of the old piles I have, he smiled and said, "Yes.  You do."  

It's not like I'm a hoarder and have a million back issues stashed in towers around the house.  But I do have several small piles, neatly kept, that I need to go through.  

I can't help it!  There are so many interesting magazines out there on every subject imaginable.  I like thumbing through a lot of different ones, some for the photos, some for the articles.  Usually, my interests are in fashion, cooking, and health.  Lately, it's grown to include gardening, farming and raising chickens.  Yes, seriously.

The pile by the bed.  This includes a tourism guide to Casper, Wyo., two Cook's Illustrated cooking magazines (a subscription I am seriously considering), Flea Market Style, Rachael Ray (she will be arriving in my mailbox soon), Marie Claire (one I'm going to drop), and a Mother Earth News...

I picked up a ton of bridal magazines right after we got engaged and still have a couple.  This pile also includes some True West copies, a National Geographic, a Wyoming Wildlife issue, Cottages and Cabins, Where Women Cook, and a High Roads and some History Channel issues I picked up two years ago from the Governor's Tourism Conference...

Ah, yes, a 5280.  There are a few of those in here, along with a Washingtonian left by Linds C. after her visit in March, a couple old Cooking Lights and a copy of Mary Janes Farm (one I considered but decided I was annoyed with after a while.  The title also bugs me.  What's up with no apostrophe anywhere in "Janes"?  It just doesn't make sense.)

For the record, not all magazines around here are mine!  Note the Game Warden International issue at front.  There's also a Fine Homebuilding copy in here as well as Consumer Reports,  Handloader, Quartermaster and Bugle - none of which are mine.  There are also a few National Geographics, a Wyoming Library Roundup, more True Wests and MORE 5280s(!), a New Yorker, a couple Backpackers, and an Audubon issue...

Oh my, what do we have here?  History Channel, 5280 (I didn't realize how many of these I still had lying around!), The Atlantic, Country Decorating Flea Market Style, Via, High Roads, Encompass (the last three are from the Governor's Tourism Conference), Good Housekeeping, and Journey Western, Westways, Budget Travel, Coastal Living and a Yellowstone Journal - all from that darn conference...

And don't forget the collection by the toilet: Lucky (one I think I'm going to drop), Fine Homebuilding, Shape, Cooking Light, Hobby Farms (the chicken issue), The Family Handyman, Wood, Bugle, American Cowboy, Woodwork, Wyoming Wildlife, and IHEA (International Hunter Education Association, and Wisconsin Natural Resources).  Obviously many of these are not mine...

What does this boil down to?

A. I need to get rid of all the magazines from the Governor's Tourism Conference.

B. Todd needs to whittle down a few issues himself.

C. I need to FINALLY flip through the remaining 5280s and get them out the door.

D. I need to firm up the magazine subscriptions I want (Cooking Light, InStyle, Rachael Ray, Cook's Illustrated, and Shape) and those I don't (Lucky and Marie Claire).

And maybe I should throw some books in there periodically...just a thought.  

Happy birthdays to us!

Todd and I were born almost exactly one week apart.

Oh - and two years.  I'm the older of us.  (Go ahead and say it...I know you're thinking "cougar," and "cradle robber!")

This year, instead of going out to a big elaborate dinner for each of us we combined forces.  We invited folks to celebrate with us jointly - at a bowling alley.

Neither of us have been bowling for a while and we thought it would be a fun night out with our friends and their families.

Problem was...we haven't been bowling in Casper since we've moved here and we didn't know which place was the best one to go to.  There are at least two alleys in town.  We stopped by both to check them out and decided on the one with the restaurant attached and Glow Bowl! You know, where there are disco, white and neon lights, and top 40 dance music playing...?

We went to Sunrise Lanes  which also has the restaurant Prime Time right next door.  We've never eaten there before, but they boast the best burgers in town and how could we pass that up?  You can order from their full menu and it will be delivered right to your lane.  That's service, I tell ya'!

Todd bowled awesome - as to be expected, and I bowled terribly - also to be expected.  But we all had fun!

On Todd's actual birthday we went out for a few drinks and I also made him a special birthday breakfast and dessert.

For my actual big day, we had lunch at the Lime Leaf Asian Bistro.  I'd seen on their menu they have Pho soup, a Vietnamese soup that I LOVE and haven't found since leaving D.C. - not even in Fort Collins, Colo.!

Just look at this deliciousness...!

And summer rolls?  I love, love, love them.  I'm going to make them this year...

A very satisfied birthday girl...

That night we layed low with pizza and movies.

Do we know how to party, or what?

Drop out

About a week ago I made the decision to drop my classes.

I'm only taking two classes, but they equal six credits and I just can't manage that right now.

Part of me is very relieved and a part of me feels like a failure. 

I never dropped a class in college this far in.  I remember dropping an art history class that was just way over my head.  I wasn't an art major and it was more than I could take.  Any time I made a change in my schedule, which was basically never, I did it within the first couple classes.  This time, I'm nearly through the spring semester and am going to loose a lot of money on tuition and books.  That sucks.

But it's better than getting Fs, which is what I was heading for.

With wedding planning, house renovations, travel for work, a new puppy... my time was just too scarce.  This upsets me also because if I'm going to ever make a career change I need to get these classes done.  I have an entirely new degree to earn and at the pace of one or two classes a semester I'll be 40 by the time I get my own classroom.  

But I was three papers behind in one class and who knows how far behind in the other class.  I haven't looked at it in a while.  

So, here I am.  A beauty school drop out (name that movie!).  Ok, I wasn't going to beauty school I just couldn't resist that Grease reference.  

The item I most dread

Swimming suits.

I hate all of them.  I hate shopping for them.  I hate trying them on.  I hate the way they look on me.  Hate, hate, hate.

But sometimes, unfortunately, they are a necessary evil.  Like, when, say...you're going to Mexico for a week.  Since it would be universally viewed as weird to be on the beach in a burka, a swimsuit is a must have.

It's not because I'm modest.  It's because I hate the way they look on me.  If I had the body of a Victoria's Secret model I wouldn't even be writing this post.  But I don't and consequently I dread having to parade around flaunting every flaw I spend most of the months of the year happily hiding.

Knowing how long it takes to find a suit I can live with, I started my Great Swimming Suit Search a couple months back.  Surprisingly, I found a suit I rather liked in a catalog I randomly received one day and which I had never received before.  I consider it divine intervention.  The suit was comfortable - unheard of.  And I didn't feel 100 percent wretched in it like I usually do.  I kept it.

While I "liked" the suit, it was really more sporty than sexy and I wished it made me feel more like lounging at a fancy resort - like the one we're going to - than hitting the waves for a surfing competition.

So, I decided to look for another for some variety.  We will be there a week after all, and I should probably have a back up.  Not many places have swimming suits out yet, so the selection was quite limited.  However, I think I found one that is a little more lounge-appropriate.

We'll see how it goes, but I guess, what should I care?  I'll likely be in a cover up most of the time anyway!

Smattering

Just a little of this and that from the last month...

Our house in fall.  Isn't it pretty...?

The leaves we still haven't raked up yet.  We need a rake...

My gnome riding his ladybug into fall...

Rigby desperate to come with me to Omaha, Neb.  He kept jumping in the back of the car.  When I called for him to get out the last time he nestled down into this "please take me too" pose.  I nearly did...

Todd's mom gave me a bunch of old crocks!  I love them!  But I don't know what to do with all of them yet.  I've used the mixing bowl a few times already, but there are only so many things I think I can do with the bigger ones.  I don't want to use them for utensils because a) I don't have counter space left to set them out, and b) I have plenty of drawer space already assigned to my cooking tools.  Ideas...? 

This one is cool.  I think it's a mortar, but I already have one of those.  Right now I'm using it as a catch-all on the counter...

Nancy also gave me this jar, which so happens to match the bowl I use for our fruit.  This will be a cookie jar and Todd's already requested oatmeal raisin cookies to fill it...

Rigby chilling in my office.  I'm set up in the sun room and it's pretty tranquil in here.  He's being lazy in this photo...

The cinnamon bread I made!  The recipe is from The Pioneer Woman.  It's quite tasty...!

That's about it around here!  Except that I'm crazy behind on my homework which I will be settling in with this weekend.  Exciting, huh?

Mellencamp melancholy

Tonight John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan are playing at the Casper Events Center.

I desperately want to go for Mellencamp.  I don't really care about Dylan.

You see, John Mellencamp was the first tape I ever got.  It was from Santa in my stocking when I was in 2nd grade, I believe.  That same Christmas my sisters got The Pointer Sisters and Bruce Springsteen.  Can you say children of the '80s or what?

I have had a mild obsession with Mellencamp ever since.  For awhile I owned about every tape you could of his.  I played his songs on repeat.  And when we moved from Indiana, his home state as well, to Colorado his music just meant something more.

I have never seen him in concert but it hasn't been for trying.  Fate just won't allow me to go!  Once, when I was in D.C., he played in Virginia.  I wanted to go, but couldn't get out of work in time.  Thank heavens I hadn't already bought a ticket!

Another time he was playing in Colorado.  I think this was right around when I had just moved back West and was jobless.  I couldn't justify buying a ticket and driving to Denver when I had no way to pay for it.  How was I so responsible in my judgement??

Tonight is strike three.  I heard a couple months ago he was coming and I was determined to go.  But we had the Jackson wedding last weekend, I have a flat tire that needs replaced, I have to save for some trips coming up...

I just can't go.

My coworker Matt sent me an email earlier saying he had heard Dylan was playing and he wondered if I was going to go.  I had no sooner explained I'd rather see ol' John Cougar, but couldn't justify the price to go when Matt emailed me a message he had seen on Twitter...

Matt's email:

I was just handed two tickets to a Bob Dylan concert in Casper TONIGHT at 6:30pm! Who wants 'em? They're free!

Find @UWInfoDesk on twitter!!!! HURRRYYYYYYYYYYYY

The first part is the actual tweet, the second is Matt's command to me.

I have never searched for, followed, and tweeted someone so fast.  I told Matt I'm sure I set a record.

Turns out you have to pick them up in Laramie, which obviously doesn't make any sense for me.

So, here I am.  Struck with Mellencamp melancholy.

One day I will see him!

I hope this isn't three strikes and I'm out!

Discoveries

I've been hardcore packing our Cheyenne house this week and last night I came across a couple interesting things.

First, was a stack of notes and papers regarding the second time my vehicle was stolen in D.C.  Yes, second.  There was a total of three times.  It was funny to see officers' names written on drink napkins - I remember very clearly that I was eating dinner with Carrie at an Asian diner when I got that call.

The other thing I stumbled across was my Colorado "book."  In D.C., I had the D.C. "book" where I kept a collection of ideas for restaurants, bars, shopping, events, outdoor activities, etc.  Friends looking for fresh ideas of where to go and what to do would call me for a suggestion.

When I left D.C., I passed that "book" to Linds C. and focused on a Colorado one; filling it with new stuff as well as ideas I'd collected even as I lived in D.C.  The Colorado "book" also had ideas for restaurants, happy hours, cute boutiques, places to hike and other things Coloradans do...

And, since I expected to be living in Denver I had collected a lot of information about its different neighborhoods so I could know which one I'd love living in the most...

I just threw my collection out and have decided to let my subscription to Denver's 5280 magazine expire.  I'm never going to live in Denver.  Or Colorado.  

And I discovered a while back I no longer want to.  

I think I landed where I'm supposed to be.

New home sweet home

What else happened last week?

Well, as soon as Todd decided not to pursue Wisconsin we decided in the very next breath to put an offer in on that "Big Tree Area" house we were stressing out about. 

They accepted our offer!

So, since then we've signed a contract with Rod, the owner, and have been finishing up the finance process.  Our hope is to be in by the end of May!

The house is amazing, but it's going to take some work: It's covered in 60s fab carpet that we're going to take out so we can enjoy the awesome hardwood floors; it needs some fresh paint to liven it up; and the backyard - which is quite small and covered nearly completely with slabs of concrete - needs some help. 

Those are our first projects.  There are others, but the above will really make a major difference!

We have no idea yet what we're going to do with our beloved Cheyenne 'stead.  Rent it out?  Sell it off?  Not sure.

Want a peek at the new place...?

Knock out!

We have a winner in the Great State Debate!

Last week Wyoming finally got the KO.

Todd called for some final information from Wisconsin and they just couldn't give him the assurances he wanted/needed.

So, Wyoming it is!  Time to hunker down and move forward!

Acquiring Zen

Last night, my stress took a turn - for the better.

After months of worrying, strategizing, and making plans and preparations that would get overturned the next hour or day, I reached my limit.

You know about the move to Casper: Todd's job stationed him there effective April 1.  The other part, that I haven't shared here, is that Todd has also been going through the interview process for a game warden job in his home state of Wisconsin.  The Great "W" State Debate (WI versus WY) has been going on since December and last month it looked like Wisconsin was going down.

But Wisconsin is a fighter.  Just when you think Wyoming's delivered the final blow Wisconsin jumps up with another swing.

If it were a boxing match it would be something like this:

Wyoming: "Take that Wisconsin! Here's a raise for Todd to make it more difficult for you to use 'better pay' as a reason to go back!" Jab, jab! Uppercut!

Wisconsin, after a brief rest on the side: "Oh yeah...?!  Well, Todd's mom wants to sell the property!"  Right cross.

Wyoming, reeling from this particular blow, comes back:  "Ok.  Ok.  What about your sorry excuse for a pension and the elderly age Todd will be when he's vested!" Left hook.

This sends Wisconsin to the corner for a squirt of water and a towel down.  "Whew. Almost had me, Wyoming.  But take this - the family neighbor has passed away and Todd's always hoped to add to his parents' land!  The wife's putting it up for sale!!!"

Wyoming: "WHY won't you just go down for the count already??  Ok.  Kim's got a job here.  Todd's got a now good-paying job here.  Todd gets a Game and Fish-supplied home if he stays here.  You can't beat these numbers, Wisconsin!"

But Wisconsin doesn't cave.  Wisconsin knows how to mess with your head.  It's not just uppercuts and right crosses, oh no.  Wisconsin gets inside, playing on heartstrings and taking you for an emotional ride.

And that's where we've been.

We had no choice but for Todd to go to Casper, so we've been doing our best to make that work: I've been telecommuting two days a week from there, we've been living in our little apartment with Rigby, and have been trying to figure out which W state would win.

To top it all off we've been looking at homes in Casper, many of which are overpriced dumps that leave much to be desired.

One house, in "The Big Tree Area" really caught our eye, and for the last three days Todd has been going through the place and talking with the owner, all while we try to get pre-qualified before another person we know of makes an offer.  

And last night was it.  My breaking point.

I could feel the stress sitting in my chest.  I drank a (large) glass of wine, took Rigby for a walk and then Todd called.

He'd talked to his mom.  There was discussion of selling the property.  I could sense he was torn.

It was in that moment, somehow, I found clarity.  I told him he needs to get all his remaining questions and concerns about Wisconsin answered.  If it means going there, we'd figure it out.  The house we were trying to get pre-qualified for just didn't matter.  If Wyoming won and we missed this opportunity, we'd have another.  I have friends whose parents are realtors up there - we'd regroup with them.

In an instant my chest cleared up.  I had reached a point where I knew we couldn't control it anymore.  The only thing we could control was how we dealt with the decision.  I truly gave the bigger decision - where we go - over to God.

I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true.  And since I had that realization I have felt very...Zen.

I also don't think it's coincidence that Alison Krauss' song Jesus Help Me to Stand suddenly came on my Pandora.com as I am typing this...

Happy birthday weekend to me! And, oh yeah, Casper weekend #3

Saturday was the big day...the big 3-3.

But, because of Todd's schedule, we decided to have a birthday dinner on Thursday night.  I have been craving sushi, so invited a very eclectic group of Casper friends to have dinner downtown at House of Sushi. 

I want to take this moment to say: Casper restaurants are good.  They're open to new foods; and Asian cuisine abounds.  To boot?  Casper seems to "get" the idea of downtown shopping/eating and the importance - yes, importance - of dining outdoors. 

House of Sushi didn't disappoint.  And it was fun catching up with folks!

Friday night, we kind of celebrated again with a trip to the wine/martini bar Vintage.  I have been curious about this place for a long while and it was well worth the visit.  They have good wines, good martinis, good food, and a good atmosphere - and outdoor seating.  What the heck more could you want?  Oh, how about knowing the manager? That's nice too.  She was one of my lil' helpers when I worked at Casper College after graduating from UW and we spent some time catching up.

The inside of the bar...

Our hummus plate.  Delicious...

A wine flight - which I highly suggest doing...

And Todd's final drink - a bloody Mary.  Look at that presentation!

Saturday - the actual day - I treated myself to an iced coffee at the Metro coffee shop I discovered  downtown.  I'm rather obsessed with this place... 

Then Todd and I went out looking at houses.  We ended the night with a burger and beer at the old Wonderbar downtown... 

Talk about a happenin' place that night!  Funny story: When I lived in Casper after graduation some friends - a couple from the sushi dinner - and I went to a Halloween party at this bar dressed as the Gang from Scooby Doo. We took first place and won a decent-sized bar tab!

Then tonight Linds H. and Jonna came over from Laramie to take me to dinner!  We had a right nice meal at the Capitol Grille downtown Cheyenne.

And my birthday present...?  You'll recall this book from this post... 
 

All in all it was a great birthday weekend with lots of new discoveries and lots of friends!