Travels

On my way to Brookings one Sunday evening, I went through an awesome hail storm. In fact, just before I went through it, I saw the clouds and the color reminded me of tornado weather. Greenish sky - very spooky! It was hard to get a good picture, but here you can see that everybody has actually either pulled off the interstate, or they are going about 5 mph. Even the semis pulled over!



The hail was coming down so hard, I actually got a little nervous. And I could feel rain on my face coming in from the sides of my Jeep (I guess) where the half-canvas doors were being blown around. It was pretty cool.

On a totally different note, I was at WalMart and I saw this:



You just take any CD, scan it under this machine, and it plays clips from that CD! How thoughtful! You don't have to listen to the ones that they have plugged in, you can just pick an album and listen! Ahhh, the joys of technology!

Home again

***YAAAAAAAAWWWWNNNNN***

Well, I'm back at home! I slept a little over 9 hours last night and it felt GREAT. Yesterday we were in the parade in Brookings. I thought it was going to be a little silly, but I ended up hearing a lot of people talking about us and stuff. It was awesome exposure! While I won't post pictures of our truck and trailer from the outside (because it has the name of the company I work for, etc. - yeah, call me paranoid), I DO have pictures from the inside! Keep in mind that our trailer is actually 53 feet long!!! 53 FEET! It's monstrous!

This is the view from my desk.



And here is my desk from the other side. You can't see my chair, but I have a cushy chair... and I might be getting something even more comfortable! Hehehehe!



It's a pretty good setup. I really enjoy it! Driving for 5 1/2 hours every Monday and Friday sucks, but oh well. And being away from the cats sucks. Speaking of the cats, they're doing ok. I think they still fight once in a while, but Buddy was downstairs yelling at me in the window as soon as he heard Roger pull up in the driveway. So I think they're almost back to normal.

Well, I have to get ready for church, so this is it for now. I'll try to post more later - I want to tell you about the storm I went through just north of Eugene. No biggie, but it's something to post!

My Sweater!

So I finally finished my sweater (my very first!) while I was in Brookings - the last time. It was cold and foggy and I needed it. :) It's WAY too big... I made a man's medium and apparently I should have made a small. But live and learn. So here it is. I didn't put a collar on it because I kind of like it like this... It won't mess up my hair when I put it on! :) hehehe



I told you it was huge.

May

Well, it's the weekend and I'm finally back home. It's weird being gone all the time. I'm starting to forget which light switch does what if there's more than one switch on a panel. I flick one on for light and the fan turns on. Oh well.

This coming weekend is pretty packed. I want to do something with Joel for taking care of the cats (and they've been horrible!), mow the lawn, go to Jeff's and install my new valve cover,go to church, do all my laundry and iron it for next week. This week is different because they need us down there over Memorial Day weekend. So I'm going to be gone for two weeks this time. I feel bad for my cats. I know Joel is looking in on them, but they're my babies and I can tell they've missed me. I just gave them Advantage, so they're even more angry. I guess Buddy and Grace have been fighting all week, and this is the cake topper. But it has to be done! Hopefully they'll forgive me.

On my way into Brookings last Monday, I had left early to be there early. I wanted to be able to get some coffee, fill the tank, do whatever. Well, they have construction going on. At that point, it was at the beginning of town, but the traffic was all the way out about 2 miles from town. I was in that flippin' traffic for over AN HOUR!!! There was enough "sitting-around" time for the trucker behind me to check something out in his engine compartment:



I rolled into work 15 minutes late, to see the owner of the company there talking on his phone. ARG! Other than that, things have been going along pretty well. The construction is now right in front of where we were working, but we're moving the trailer down to Harbor this coming week, so maybe we'll have a little more peace and quiet and better smells. Not that the smell of fresh blacktop isn't great.

Now that I'm back at home, I've got to tell you about my strange neighbors across the street... again. They've apparently got some company. And they drive this:



Can you see the cow skull on the top? And chained to the back is a lovely pitbull, or whatever breed it is... It's scary!



I've been online long enough - time to get my chores and errands done! I'll try to figure out how to blog from the road, but until then - see ya!

The First Week and Another First...

So my first week was great. I really love my job so far! I know I already posted that, so I'll try not to be redundant. I had a request from Jim (hey Jim, let me know if it's okay to make a hyperlink to your site... you can email my work address or comment here) to post pics of Brookings, so Jim, this is for you:

This was a pretty windy day - nice waves.



I can't think of what street this is on... I think it's Oak Street.


There are a couple for ya anyway. :)

Now for something new. I was stopped on my way home and given a present. Some of you might recognize this gift:



That's right Ladies and Gentlemen. I got my very first ticket. I don't know how much detail you can see, but the fine is $242!!!!! My first offense!!! Good night! Well, I guess it was bound to happen. I'm thirty... something... and I suppose it's about time I got my first ticket. *sigh*

Okay, enough. I'm pooped. Time for some rest and whatnot. :)

On the Road Part 1

Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to finish the post about the trip to Ashland, but I'll try... Later.

I'm in Brookings - again - but this time for work. So far, it's been going great. The work is laid back and the people are awesome. I really like the people I work for and work with. What a difference it makes! I don't have any pictures right now because I'm at my friend, Marie's house, and I don't have my camera with me. But I'll try to get to all the pics later.

It's been pretty nice in Brookings. The weather is awesome (a lot nicer than when I lived here) and the people have been cool too. I'm doing new things and learning things. But it's pretty calm and fun.

We've been eating dinner at Marie's, which is great because she's a great cook. Yesterday was steak, potatoes and a vegetable medley. Today was twice baked potatoes and meatloaf. Tomorrow is meatloaf. We are spoiled. No doubt.

I've been a little concerned about Buddy and Grace, but I just have to remember that they're not that helpless and they'll be fine. Plus Joel is looking in on them, so they aren't totally alone.

I'll try to take pictures of the hotel and whatnot, but for now this will have to do. Gotta go for now...

Training in Ashland Pt. I

Yesterday I drove down to Ashland for some training for my new job. I actually rented a car (an Elantra), as I mentioned previously, and it was great.



I got to hear the music I was playing, it had a sunroof, and it apparently liked to go fast. Automatic vehicles are like that!



Welcome to the Mid-Valley or Willamette Valley:



Here's a common sight.



And more to follow....

American Idol

Well, with Rayleen busy at the moment, the American Idol review falls to me. I'm not going to be nearly as colorful or lengthy as Faythe or Rayleen, but here it goes...

They went through the normal blah, blah about what Randy, Paula and Simon thought about the performances last night. I didn't actually watch last night's show, so I can't comment. And I have to admit, I was at my computer listening, so I don't know how they looked. I hang my head in shame for Rayleen and Faythe.

After the initial boring "this is what happened last night" stuff, I was surprised at how fast they started "safing" people. I thought they were going to draw it out and make groups and whatever, but I suppose with only five left, you can't really draw it out much.

Taylor: safe.

Chris: safe.

Paris was the first to be in the bottom two. She sang Prince's "Kiss". Eh. It was okay. I wasn't impressed by it and I don't really think it's a song she should sing. I think she should sing songs with a little more... I don't know, but a little more.

Kathryn (am I spelling her name right? I don't think so.) and Elliott were the last two... and Kathryn.... is safe.

Elliot sang "On Broadway", a song that I am sick of. I think it's over-used for commercials, movies, whatever. And yes Faythe, he was "goaty". He must have been pretty nervous, poor guy.

I figured early on that it was time for Paris to leave and my assumption was correct. She got to sing one last time after watching her travels through the show and she didn't sound very good, but I think it was because of emotions. I think she's great, but I agree that it was time. If I were bold enough to make a prediction for next week, I would have to say it's Elliot's turn. Not because he was in the bottom two, but just because I think he's been low-key, hiding-in-the-back long enough. But I could be wrong!

Oh, and I'm really getting tired of that freakin' song, "You've Had a Bad Day", or whatever it's called! I used to like it, but come on!!! Arrrrrrggg!!!!

Random

I finally got a picture of the front of the courthouse without anybody standing in the way! Not that I don't want people in my pictures, but I feel like a freak taking their picture when I don't know them. I had some more pictures of really pretty flowers, but they came out blurry - dang it!



This was nice - My boss got me flowers for Secretary's Day:



It's not the best picture, but I was in a hurry and Buddy was trying to eat them. He loves flowers. And grass. And ferns. And thinly sliced cucumbers.

Speaking of work, today was my last day!!! She gave me my paycheck 15 minutes before I was supposed to leave... And then gave me some work to do so that I left 15 minutes late! AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

I'm driving to Ashland tomorrow - about 4 hours of driving - for some training. I actually reserved a rental car as soon as I got home because Roger is leaking a little oil from the back of the valve cover. I think the gasket squished out a little and it's spurting out a bit. There's even a little oil on the BACK of Roger! So I'm giving him the day off since I don't want him bleeding all over the freeway... And I want to make it there and back. I love Roger and all, but I must admit I'm looking forward to actually hearing music on the long drive. If I make good time, I'll try to take some pictures...