The upside to being sick...if there is one.

If there is one good thing about being sick for over a week, it must be the fact that one can get in a lot of movie-watching time

I think I have watched about 8-10 movies in the past week and a half - lying on the couch! I am currently in the middle of Eat, Pray Love. Kind of slow so far - one of the reasons for the blog post. Give me a movie with Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez or gay men, and I will be a happy camper.

Besides the multiple movies I have watched this week, Derick and I have watched a ton of episodes of Modern Family - catching up and finishing season one and starting season 2. that show is too funny. My favorite is the gay couple with the adopted daughter - Cam and Mitchell. Too funny!

Here are just a couple of quotes from the show from them that make me seriously laugh:

• Cameron: I’m sort of like Costco. I’m big, I’m not fancy and I dare you to not like me.
  
• Mitchell: Take it down a notch. We’re trying to make a friend, not initiate a three way.
  
• Mitchell: It’s Cameron’s turn to be out in the world interacting with other grown-ups while I get to stay at home and plot the death of Dora the Explorer.
  
• Lol here is a quote from the movie Eat, Pray Love:
  "Do you always talk in bumper sticker?"

I am happy that I am finally starting to feel better! Yay! Just in time to go back to work on Monday. Ugh.

But, let's not focus on that part. I have had a decent holiday this year, despite Derick first being sick and then me, following after, picking up his cold.

Christmas with my mom's side was pleasant and short, just as it has been the past few years since we have transferred Christmas to Lucky's restaurant vs. my grandma or aunt's house. We all travel out there, eat a good home-cooked style meal, the kids open their presents and then the adults participate in the White Elephant gift swap. This has only been the second year of the White Elephant, but is has been a big hit! This year a couple of the last year's gifts resurfaced and were TOO funny!

Then my parents hosted my dad's side Christmas. My uncle and cousins drove up from North Carolina, and it was fun to get to spend some time with them there. Later in the week Derick and I went over to my grandma's house to spend more time with them. We played games and were able to see their puppy Shadow! What a cutie! Maybe they are in town next time - the summer - we can take both their dog and Tucker to the dog park. I love dogs. Didn't think I would say that, and if you asked my mom and dad the same thing, they wouldn't think so either!


The Doberstein Christmas was fun as well - also short and sweet. The drive over on Christmas Eve day was really nice. We took an alternate route in hopes to stop-in at Derick's Grandpa's house, but we could not get ahold of him on our way there, so we abandoned that route and went straight to his Grandma's house where there was so much lasagna that I thought I might be in heaven! There was a lot of good food, a little dash of drama, and then the flurry of tearing gift wrap and tissue paper as everyone opened their presents. I now have enough popcorn to last me until next Christmas! My goodness! We decided to head out that night for home since Derick was not feeling great and I was starting not to feel so great as well. Derick and I realized that over the past 5 years we have been together, we have been on the road for more holidays that we can count!

Next up in our Christmas celebrations, was my little intimate family Christmas with my mom, dad, sister and Derick. We always light the advent wreath, read the Christmas Story in the Bible and then exchange and open gifts!

This year I got many of the things that I wanted! A lot of baking accessories, including a new set of airbake pans, cupcake liners and much more. I think that a lot of my family and friends have caught on to the cupcake devotion I have more recently acquired. It is fun to see when and where the cupcake-inspired gifts pop-up! My friend and coworker got me a smattering of things all cupcake related - a cupcake mix from Sprinkles, the famous cupcake bakery, a cupcake corer and a cupcake ornament and chapstick cupcake scented! It was too cute!

There are so many things that I am thankful for this year, and so many happy moments and memories. Some sad ones, some bad ones, but all in all, it has been a year of growth and experience for Derick and myself. My wish for all of you reading this is that you can reflect on your moments of experience this past year and look ahead to making new ones in 2011. Thank you for following me and reading with me through some of those moments.

-L

'Tis the Season

'Tis the season for

Christmas cookie exchanges
Family Holiday Parties
Friend's Holiday Parties
Baking
Secret Santas
Decorating the home for Christmas and winter
Cold weather
Over-eating
Relaxing
Christmas Shopping
Wrapping
Christmas movie watching

The majority of those things we have already done this year. Today we will be checking one more off the list - today is the Nordquist Family Christmas gathering in Amery, WI.

I was trying to count how many Christmas parties we have been invited to and will be attending this year...let me see,

1. There was the Barnetts -Friends (which was cancelled last weekend due to the snow-pocalypse)
2. The Nordquist's - Family (mom's side) (White Elephant)
3. The Krutzig's - Family (dad's side)
4. The Krutzig's - Family (immediate family)
5. The Doberstein's - Family (Derick's side)
6. The Sunnarborgs - Friends of the family
7. The Beckers - Friends of the family (TBD if we are getting together or when, but we usually get together each year)

So, all-in-all, that makes for many Christmas gatherings with friends and family! It is nice, but also exhausting! 

Last night, my sister and I went to see Billy Elliot, the play/musical. Our mom had gotten us tickets to go see it, and we did. We were both surprised at how long it was! After the first act was over it was already almost 10pm! We ended up getting home closer to midnight. We both left not really having enjoyed it, which was a bummer, considering it is always really fun to get a little dressed up and head downtown to the theater! So, that part was still fun. Not finding parking in downtown Minneapolis, but it wasn't so bad. Thank goodness for my GPS too - getting down there with a couple of roads blocked off would have been hard to navigate otherwise! Yikes!

I have all of my Christmas shopping done and wrapped and under the tree. We have been done for awhile now. I like that feeling of being done with it!  A lot of my family wanted books for Christmas this year, so Amazon was my friend this year :) I am looking forward to running through Target on the day AFTER Christmas again this year - getting a few new things here and there to decorate for the holidays. I do not really need much this year - but I do hope that they have my snowflake dishes on clearance like they did last year that I was able to pick up a few pieces of the collection! They even added a few "new" pieces to the collection, so that will be a fun hunt for me this year!

I have one week left to work before I get a whole glorious week off! I am really looking forward to that! I think everyone needs to take time off just to take the time off and get away from work. especially where I work - with all of the leadership changes we have been going through at the most rapid rate imaginable. It is a little unnerving, to say the least. I just go to work every day, hoping my badge lets me in the building, and that I have a place to sit and work. Sad, but that is the state of affairs there at the moment.

Well, I am off to finish getting things pulled together to head over to Wisconsin for the afternoon, I will update when there is more to update! I am sure there will be some great stories from the White Elephant exchange this afternoon!!

So, glancing at the blog, it has been awhile since I have posted!

First off, Thanksgiving! We made our way to Medford, WI to celebrate Thanksgiving with Derick's family. I tried my hand at making a dish from my family's usual gatherings - Scalloped Corn! It turned out alright - it could use a little work. Practice, practice, practice! It was nice - we got to see a lot of his family and eat some yummy food!

Snowmageddon, SnOMG, tSNOnaumi...these are just a few of the catchphrases that were flying around cyberland this weekend in Minnesota referring to the incredible amounts of snow that fell on us during Saturday. The snow, combined with the wind, made for a very interesting day! People were gearing up for the storm the day before, figuring that they were going to be "grounded" all day Saturday - and that was pretty much the truth! The snow began late Friday night and did not let up until late Saturday night. It snowed, and snowed, and snowed! The first time that I had to let Tucker outside, there was a huge snowdrift right outside our front door - I am guessing about 3 1/2 feet tall. Well, Tucker went to jump outside, and jumped right in the big part of the drift and I could not see him - the snow was over his HEAD!! He came up, shook it off, and went about his business - quickly. After that, I decided that I would let the snow fly for a little while longer and then go try to shovel a path away from the door. I let Tucker come out with me and run around. I threw a few snowballs his way and he tried to catch them until he got to cold and wanted to go inside. In all, I went out to shovel out our front door three different times.


Also, Saturday, I made my day go by baking and watching some of the chick-flickier movies that Derick never seems to want to watch with me - Dear John and Last Chance Harvey. The first was good, the second not so much. I also baked cinnamon raisin bread and 5 different types of cookies!  I made spritz, red velvet cookies, toffee bars, peanut butter blossoms and peanut butter reindeer. There are still a few more that I want to try - and one request from Derick about a kind that he wants me to make. Becky and Justin's Christmas party was supposed to be that night, but they called to cancel part way through the evening. There was no way that anybody was going to be going anywhere. It was pretty funny to watch some eager beavers try though...

There have been many changes on the work front. In a matter of a month and a week, the following has happened: my boss who first hired me, left the company. Our department was moved and now reports to a different department. I had to relocate floors and "desks." My new desk is about 1/2 the size of my last space.I got a new boss (the jury is still out on that one), and found out that in that time frame, six people are quitting/have left the marketing department. To add insult to injuries, Derick found out that his teaching gig will be up 2 weeks earlier than originally planned, with nothing long-term out there until April. It has been really hard  sometimes - the fact that he still does not have anything more permanent. I wonder if we moved states if that would help or change anything. I almost want to just because. So, if you are reading this, and live somewhere other than MN, and know of a teaching and or graphic design job out there, or both, let me know!

Well, there you have it, a quick update!
see you soon!
-L

A Late/Early resolution...

...that I am going to follow-through on!

I have decided this weekend that this would be the week that I jump back on the feel-good bandwagon. this embraces all things physical health, mental health and spiritual health. I kick-ed off this notion last night as I pulled out the workout clothes from the dresser. Hello, old companions...

Jillian Michaels 30-day shred began.

After my workout last night, I got to thinking, hmm, since Derick wakes up and leaves a lot earlier than I do, I should get up when he does and try to work out every morning of the work week (unless there is going to be a strenuous activity - like an all day floorset). I think that Jillian was trying to get into my head because that sounded like a brilliant idea last night. This morning, however, came a bit too early for me, and I had just rolled over and had gotten re-comfortable when Derick came over and said, "Time to get up - time to work out." My initial response was less than thrilled, I can assure you. But I did it! I got up, put on the workout gear again, walked stiffly down the stairs (already feeling last night's workout in my legs) and hit play on the mini dvd player. Crap that woman is persistent and motivating! I did it to the best of my ability that morning - even added the 5lb weights in some parts of the workout again. Man - amazing how those can feel more like 25lbs when you haven't used them in awhile! Sheesh!

But all complaints aside, it helped me wake up a little - though I am not sure that I enjoy that method of being called to consciousness. I felt pretty good. Immediately after the last stretch ended, I hauled it back upstairs to shower and get ready for work. I must have had some extra energy already this morning because I showered, dried my hair, got dressed and ready, packed my lunch, and let Tucker our twice and STILL had time left over before I had to leave for work - about 15 minutes worth! wow!

I have also re-started taking more Vitamin D - as suggested by my doctors - and I want to try to drink more water throughout the day. I think that is where some of my problems have come from in the past - not getting enough water. I just forget during the day and then, before I know it, the day is over and I am home on the couch, or doing other things.

On the spiritual health side, I am going to make more of an effort to go back to church-searching. I feel like I need it back in my life and I have to go and do that. No more anything holding me back, no more waiting. Now is the time - ok, more like this Sunday and then after Thanksgiving weekend when we are away. I am going to see if some friends go to a good church, otherwise, out on my own again. I would love to find one that is reasonably close to me - I know that might be picky, but come on, the chance of finding a good one that is close isn't completely out of the realm of possibility, I don't think anyway. I still have a few that I can check out that are just about within the 10 mile range from my house still! Granted, I might not find it there, but why not give them a shot - they are close!?

I think that is all that I have for now! Just thought you deserved the update!

-L

100th Post!

And what better way to celebrate it than with nature's winter confetti - snow!! Yesterday - Saturday, MN got hit with a doozy of a snowstorm!

I was content to stay inside and work on baking Ava's 1st birthday cake and get other things done around the house, but Derick had other ideas in mind! We piled into his truck and ventured out to Target to see if they had anymore folding table and chair sets on sale as listed in their ad. We got there, I took one step onto the tile floor and almost wiped out! I am sure the security camera watchers had a hay day with that one - it was not so graceful - almost like the "Superstar" pose from Mary Catherine Gallager followed by the final move of a vaulting gymnast. I think I might have even exclaimed "Ta daaa!" afterwards! I also saw that they had "my" snowflake dishes back in stores, so that also got me excited to maybe pick up another piece or two this year after the holidays.

Well, we had to call someone to ask if they had any more of the table chair sets - and he went in back and brought out the very last one they had - and we took it! We picked up a few other random things and ventured back out into the sloppy wet snow. Just from being outside for a small amount of time, we were both soaked!!

Most of the afternoon was dedicated to Ava's birthday "cupcake" cake. I think it is all going to come together and be very cute! It is hard to believe that she is one year old already! Time flies!

I also fulfilled my duties as Board Secretary by typing up the very long meeting minutes from our annual board meeting. I also typed up a few other documents for them and posted them for all to see. Our annual board meeting was pretty lively and entertaining as well as a bit shocking!

I am not too sure where the rest of the day went yesterday, but all I know is that it went very very quickly!

Derick made lasagna...mmm...that is one of my most favorite things!

Today there are still a few snow flurries out there flying around, but hopefully that dump of snow we got yesterday will be all the dumping we will get for a little while.

I guess that is all that I have for now!

-L

Christmas has come early!

Christmas has come early to the Doberstein household!

Last night, as we were eating dinner, Derick and I were talking about what we wanted to do for the rest of the evening. I told him that I really wanted to go look at dishwashers at some point. After a small discussion, we took my car to the Appliance Smart in Champlin to look around at new dishwashers. We had one of the best salespeople that I think I have ever had! He was nice, very informative, able to easily compare two models that we were looking at and gave us a lot of time to “play” with the models. Then when we had it narrowed down to two models, he showed and told us how to install one ourselves – and that it was fairly simple. So, as we usually are at Appliance Smart, we found “the one,” bought it, went home and got Derick’s truck, and came back to pick it up.

After debating in the store for awhile to go with a “dream” dishwasher (stainless model for about $120 more than what we paid) or go for the slightly down-grade (white) one – we chose to go with the white one based on a few uncertain variables coming up in our lives. With Derick’s job, there could be the possibility that we could be moving sooner than we had thought originally. Also, the benefits and the color, for about $120 more, wasn’t exactly worth it to either of us.

It was pretty exciting to take it home that night. We had decided that we would try to install it that night. We first had to find which power breaker switch was linked to the dishwasher, shut it off after testing a number of the switches in our breaker box. We had to shut off the water to the dishwasher. Once we did that, we pulled out the old dishwasher from under the counter. I was dreading looking behind the old dishwasher – as I was not sure what kinds of dusty bug monsters there might be to greet us. One spider crawled out right as we started to pull it out – good sign right there…but when we unhooked everything, there wasn’t too much room for anything to BE back there! So that was good! *whew * we slid the new dishwasher into place, were hooking up everything, and everything seemed to be going really well. Oh – side note – regardless if you turn off the water you will end up with a puddle on your floor because the hoses hold water…

Well, when Derick went to hook up the last part of the dishwasher – the water hose – to the water supply, we reached our mandatory stopping point. The old hose we had was a lot bigger than the current one, so we have to get an adapter piece before we can hook it up and use it. Ugh. So close! Oh well, I can use it hopefully tonight, as my kitchen is slowly becoming a dirty dish mecca…

That is my current excitement, which I have been labeling as “nerdy news,” but as my friend, Ben put it, “It’s not too geeky…it’s home ownery.” Haha. I guess that’s true.

From Toys to Dishwashers

From toys to dishwashers, I am not sure exactly where the transition occurred.

I remember pouring through the Fleet Farm and JCPenny Holiday Toy catalogues the moment they were delivered to our house – flagging, circling and starring all of the toys that I dreamed of having and playing with. I would make detailed lists out of the American Girl catalogues that would add up to amounts in the $300 range and I would sigh and say, someday. That was the old definition of “Christmas List.”

If I were to compare those lists to the “list” that I just compiled for my family, I am pretty sure that you would not be able to tell it was for the same person. My current list still has a few “toys” on it – a new video game, a couple DVDs, and then we get into the practical gifts – snowflake dishes and a new dishwasher top the list.

Our dishwasher has not been living up to its name. It more or less swishes around dirty water in there for awhile before calling the dishes “clean.” I think our dishwasher has a very casual loose definition of clean…the majority of our drinking glasses and other assorted kitchen items are caked with gunk, of course, at the bottoms of each glass. I end up having to handwash almost everything in our kitchen – and who really wants or expects to do that when they own an appliance called a dishwasher, anyway?! So I told Derick that is what I wanted – for Christmas or otherwise – a new dishwasher. I am pretty sure I cringed after I said it, just the thought of asking for a kitchen appliance sounded “unfun.” The dishwasher is supposed to help make life easier, but just ends up making more work for me, it is time to make a change! Maybe I will even end up killing two birds with one stone and getting a newer, more efficient AND one that is a lot quieter than ours now. Currently, each time the dishwasher is run, you’d think a 747 was landing in our kitchen (and just so we’re clear, that is NOT fly like a G6…sorry, had to make that reference in there).

I seem to be all about change in my life right now. On the lookout for different things, improvements, different things to do, etc. I have already found good and bad things out about going and looking for things to change. Some things I can change and others, I cannot. I have to deal with the things that I can have an impact on to change – for the better.

As the weather remains warm, 50s and 60s still (wait, it’s still November 8^th, right?!) I am feeling like I am actually getting to experience one of my favorite seasons – Autumn – for a longer-than-normal period of time. I am really enjoying this. I am looking forward to the holiday season – Thanksgiving (my favorite) and then Christmas soon enough afterward. I actually already started shopping for Derick’s birthday and Christmas…and keeping that a secret will be pretty hard. Gifts are the hard thing to keep secret. I usually end up being so excited about them that I want the person to have them right away and share in that excitement with me! But then again, I always like to open something on Christmas Eve/morning. Last year, for example, I went Black Friday shopping and got a pretty good deal on some video games that Derick had wanted. I ended up giving him one or two of them after I got home because I didn’t want to keep them a secret for that long. Also, with that one, I have his birthday AND his Christmas gifts to keep secret! That is a lot of pressure on one person!

Oh well. I am sure that everything will turn out. I just catch myself sometimes in one of my “grownup moments” and laugh to think that I am thinking or doing things that I would have not thought about before. I must be getting older.

dream a dream

Here was my latest dream from last night that entirely made me scared and angry beyond all reason:

I was going to a convention where I was going to be the main person representing my dad's company. I had two giant hockey bags - that were pretty light weight. I was checking in at the registration desk with this lady, a security guard close-by with a telephone with a cord that went to no where, but for some reason, I had picked up the phone to make a call out, to no dial tone. After I hung up the phone, I was shown to my room where I dropped off the two hockey bags that held the convention booth set-up materials. Then I was sitting on the floor of this large circular room with all of the other convention booth presenters and their personal luggage, as well as my own. We were each individually visited by the same lady from the registration booth as well as a man from the head of the convention. I consulted with the woman (who looked a lot like one of my neighbors) and she was asking me to pair up the things in my suitcase that I planned to wear together during my time at the convention from the nicer "presentation" clothes to even my sleepwear.

There was a small pile of things that she re-folded nicely and placed in a pile and then there was everything else that she laid out on the floor. The attention was suddenly on me and the man and woman leading the consultations as she wielded a large pair of scissors and began cutting all of my clothes apart that were not in the small pile deemed "convention appropriate." I was shocked and angered that no one told me about this odd procedure, and the fact that she was cutting up clothes of mine, many of them gifts from my family from the past Christmas, or a couple of tops that I had just purchased for the sake of the convention. Each person was focused on as the man and woman cut up their clothes - even the lounge items that for no reason should have been seen by the rest of the individuals at the convention. I remember specifically a floral short sleeved shirt, a pack of patterned socks and a couple pairs of lounge socks cut to shreds. Another man's ski cap with a large pom-pom on top was also shredded after he begged and begged them not to cut it.

So here we go...

Convention
To dream that you are at a convention, represents your need for contact and communication. You need to keep in mind that the choices you make with effect those around you. Don't be hesitant in getting them involved in your decision making. The dream is also a metaphor for bringing various aspects of yourself together. Consider the type of convention for additional clues as to what may be lacking in your life.

Bag (hockey bags)
To see a bag in your dream, represents the responsibilities that you carry. If the bag is ripped or torn, then it indicates that you are carrying a lot of burden. The symbol may be a metaphor for an "old bag" and refer to someone who is old. 

Baggage (my luggage)
To see or carry baggage in your dream, refers to the problems and things that you are carrying on your shoulders and weighing your down. You feel that you are being held back by past emotions or problems. Alternatively, baggage symbolizes your identity.  

Register (registration @ the convention)
To dream that you are registering for something, signifies your commitments toward your goals. Alternatively, the dream may be a pun on something that has made an impact or impression on you.  

Security Guard
To see or dream that you are a security guard, suggests that you are seeking security in some situation or relationship. The dream is compensating for the lack of security in your waking life. Alternatively, the dream means that there is something of value that you want to protect. 

Telephone
To see or hear a telephone in your dream, signifies a message from your unconscious or some sort of telepathic communication. You may be forced to confront issues which you have been avoiding. Alternatively, the telephone represents your communication and relationship with others. If there is no dial tone or the phone is left off the hook, then the dream indicates that you are shutting yourself out. You are experiencing difficulties in getting your thoughts and feelings across.   

Scissors
To dream that you are using scissors, denotes decisiveness and control in your waking life. You need to get rid of something in your life. It also represents your ability to cut things or people out of your life.Perhaps you are being snippy about some situation.

To see a pair of scissors in your dream, indicates that your focus is being divided into too many directions. 

Cutting (cutting clothing)
To dream that you are cutting something, signifies a broken relationship or severed connection. Alternatively, the dream may be a metaphor for something you need to "cut out" in your life. Perhaps it refers to a bad habit or a certain food.  

Socks
To dream that you are wearing socks, signifies warmth and comfort. Alternatively, to see socks in your dream indicate that you tend to yield to other's wishes. You are flexible and understanding in your thinking.  

So, in other words, I need to make some changes in my life and "cut" some things out, is what I am thinking. maybe some of the negativity that is surrounding me, and a new change of pace...  

Halloween Dress-up Day

Today was one of my most favorite days of working in corporate retail…Halloween Dress-up Day!!

It makes the day just go by a little happier and goofier than a normal work day. My costume this year has been very well received – from my drive into work this morning.

I got many laughs, points, even a guy snapped a quick pic at a stoplight and a mother driving her minivan with her child in the front seat – she did the first glance over, then did a double-take and motioned for her son to look over at me. What a hoot!

So, my costume this year was inspired by one of my passions. It was dreamed-up by a co-worker and put together by my grandma. So, without further ado, I give you, my costume...

I was a CUPCAKE! (I also was called Strawberry Shortcake, but that works too). It was a lot of fun! On our floor, not many people dressed-up. There was a pirate and myself, and a couple of others, and more downstairs. We had a costume judging contest at 2pm and I won 2nd place!! Yesss!

This weekend was more productive than I had originally imagined. I got all caught-up on Project Runway and was so disappointed that Gretchen won....UGH! I wish they would judge on attitude as well. I thought that Mondo deserved to win the most - I am pretty sure that I would buy almost any of his things that he showed on the runway for his show. SO fun with mixing patterns and colors!!

Derick and I tried a different Chinese restaurant that we had not been to before - and it was pretty yummy. When we went to open our fortune cookies, Derick's was right on - and there was NOTHING in mine! No message, no nothing! Crazy! Wonder what that means...

We ran up to Maple Grove and ran a few errands there between Saturday and Sunday. We went to Petsmart and got Tucker a sweater - yes - you read that right - we got Tucker a black sweater because he has been getting very cold when we have him outside on walks and sometimes at night - he will shiver and crawl into bed with us! So we decided to try this out and see if it would work out. Derick also got him a "costume" football! haha. Oh man, I will have to post some pictures! He looks funny in it - but oddly does not mind wearing a sweater or the football costume! Funny dog!

Also, this weekend, we got the house almost deep-cleaned! Derick really stepped it up and helped deep clean the kitchen - I woke up one morning to find him scrubbing the stove and sink! We still need to put together a list of things that we need to get done - or should get done soon. That includes getting the fireplace cleaned out so that it works properly. Second, getting our air ducts clean to see if that alleviates the problem with no vented heat or air going into the office/guest room.

I went major grocery shopping this weekend to stock up on things for awhile. That was much needed - and our freezer is now BUSTING with good things to make! Aldi is pretty much my favorite!

Sunday we went to Kohl's for Derick - to get him some new work teaching clothes! He got mostly solid-colored dress shirts, one new tie, an argyle sweater and one pair of new pants!! Then after we brought his clothes home, I played stylist with him and all of the other shirts and ties in his closet - pairing them together to give him ideas of what ties he could wear with what shirt, etc. While at Kohl's in the men's athletic dept, I was "attacked" by one of my college friends, Kim E! It was so funny! All I could hear before I saw her hurling towards me was, "I KNOW she must be here with you...what are the odds that she...LAURAAAAA!!!" " I knew you would be here with him!" (she saw Derick first and then figured I might be with him!) So that was entertaining and frightening all at the same time!

Sunday we went to the Corn Maze that was right by our house - it was a Twins theme maze and it was pretty neat. We should have brought my cousins with as they would have loved the Twins Trivia game for sure! We did not participate in that game, but rather walked around in the maze, and ended up finding our way out rather easily. We walked in the main part of the interior of the maze where they had a lot of things for kids to do - an entire hay-baled off area filled with corn kernels - that was the hit attraction for kids. They also had a children's hay bale maze, a super slide, a "pumpkin slinger," climbing tower, play area, live music and concessions. We got the cheese curds - delicious and mini doughnuts. yum yum yum! It was a fun thing to do to support the local community!

 

Then I watched some of the Packer's game with Derick - and went to carve my pumpkin right after. I was all excited because I was going to try for the MN Wild logo - but that did not work out so well with your normal knives, so I made my unsuccessful attempt into a large-mouth vampire catfish. Derick carved his too after trying to tell me that he had zero interest. Not an option sir, try again!

I set the pumpkins outside on our patio, ran a couple strands of orange halloween lights around them and put small tealight candles inside the pumpkins and waited until it got dark enough to light them.

 

Once it got dark enough, and after 5 kids came to our door, I lit the candles and plugged in the lights! I sat on the futon down stairs reading my book as I waited for the trick-or-treaters to come to the door. We only got about 15 kids. We don't have a lot of candy left though because Derick had taken it upon his self to grab candy out of the bowl much earlier than Halloween... hopefully we will be able to run out to Target after work on Monday to get some more candy so that I can make some cookies...mmm.

Other than that, I think that was about all that we were up to this weekend. Hanging out and getting things done around the house!

-L

Dum...Dum...dumdum!

Two years ago, about this time of year, those were the thoughts in mine and Derick's head! On Monday will be Derick and my 2nd wedding anniversary! So, traditionally, the second anniversary is cotton, or the "modern translation" in gifts is China.  Interesting. Though, we doubt we will be getting any china since we do not own a piece of the stuff (who really uses it anymore...?) Derick and I did find a pretty neat set when we were registering for our wedding gifts at Bed Bath and Beyond….well, more like I was flipping through the books and books of them that they had there and found “the set” with dragonflies on it. Of  course, Derick said yes, being the smart man that he is. So we registered for the set but did not get any of it for our wedding gifts – which was perfectly alright with both of us. I might see if someday I can get a couple of the serving pieces since they are pretty neat.

Anyway – didn’t mean to tangent off there into the land of china, so I will continue onward!

This weekend, Derick and I are going to travel back down to Lakeville to The Chart House for dinner, and then my mom and dad bought us tickets to a play, called “String,” playing at the Yellow Tree Theater. I am looking forward to a night out. It has been awhile, and it is a special day after all! Technically it is Monday, but we will both be working a later day that day anyway, so we thought, rather than make it more hectic and crazy than it needs to be, we would do it over the weekend.

Sunday I plan on heading over to my Grandma’s house to have her assist me in making my Halloween costume. That’s right MAKING my Halloween costume. I found some inspiration online for what I am going to “be” this Halloween, went fabric shopping with a friend from work and am very excited to put it all together and see how it all comes together! Photos to come, I don’t want to give it away, but believe me, people that do know have said that it is very “me right now.” Whatever that exactly means…

Work news:

So, earlier this week, my boss lowered some bad news onto my coworker and I. After four years with the company, my boss is leaving. She has just had enough and wanted some better change to come her way – which, I am sad to say, is pretty much the state of the majority of the employees here. She is going to another, larger company where she will be working in a bit of a different area. I wonder if she could put in a good word for me… It was a very emotional day. I was sad, mad, happy and envious all at the same time. Mostly sad at first. I lost it right after she told us in the confines of her small office. It is hard because I like and respect her so much. She is truly one of the best bosses that I have ever had. She gave me my first chance here at the job I have now – and about three years ago!  She will be deeply missed and she was/is SO great at what she does. At the end of that day, I came home, ate, and pretty much went to bed. I was spent.  So, she is done at the end of the month, and after that, who knows what will happen. I am nervous and anxious about what is to come of us and how we operate and run things around here. Change is scary enough around here when it is the most normal and routine things, but throw something like this at us…who knows. Duck and cover rings in my head, or stand back and watch the show. Too bad I cannot do the latter because I am one of the ones front and center in this debacle.

So, please send good thoughts my way. The next few weeks are going to be crazy, and then after that, it will be a day, an hour at a time. But, I am here to say I am going to strap in and get ready for the ride!

-L

Crockpot Season

I think that for the months of October and November respectively in the Doberstein household, they could be considered "Crockpot Season."

Derick and I have found that making meals in the Crockpot on the weekends helps TREMENDOUSLY with our "lunch crisis" during the work week. Since we are both working - me at CBK and Derick at a long-term gig through mid-January in New Prague (thank goodness!) we both need lunch food, and tire of PB and J. So began the cadence of making a crock-pot meal intended exclusively for weekday lunches.

This weekend we really cranked on the Crockpots! Yes - Crockpots - as in TWO of them were/are running with yummy food in them! It also doubles as a great home air-freshener!

This morning we took Tucker to the dog park after a long hiatus, and he was LOVING it, as always. I really liked going out there and seeing all of the fall colors. The weather this week and weekend has been gorgeous! Hard to believe that we are in October rather than August or September! Tucker was so tired out from the park that he is currently sleeping close to my feet as I blog - about him.

Such a happy, muddy Tucker-oo at the dog park!

Let's see...what else is new? Work for me has been insane! We booked out our calendar to see all of the projects we are working on and the due dates for them. My next few weeks are going to be madness. And I also decided to jump back on the workout bandwagon. So, once again, Jillian Michaels is kicking my butt with her 30-day shred (that I have already done all the way through twice before). I like the way that the workout is set-up with that one. It is by no means easy though, and if you would have asked me the first day after I did it again after a long hiatus, I could have SWORN to you that my 5lb hand weights were 25 lbs each!  Whew! 

I guess, other than that, things are good! Nothing too new to report, just thought I would jot down a little update! Cheers!

-L

Climbing the ladder?

So there is some good news!! Derick went and interviewed for a long-term substitute job at a high school in New Prague, MN. He got a call from the principal this morning offering him the job!! YAY! There are two women who are expecting, one expecting one child and the other is having twins! Whoa! He will start either October 17th or the very end of October and go through January - unless circumstances change. I told him to go talk to the teacher expecting twins and say, "Yeah, I have heard that having twins is a lot of work...so, ya know, if you need to take the full next year off, I TOTALLY understand..." haha. He got a pretty good vibe from the principal, so that is a great thing! There is always that potential that if they do end up with an opening next year, and they like what he does during his long-term assignment that he might be able to make New Prague High school home :) That would be positively amazing!! Here's hoping more good things come his way! yay!

Also - since I decoded a dream before, here is another one that I found interesting and that I do not recall having before:

Derick has become a contractor/engineer - of sorts, has brought me to his future job site in Australia. We are climbing this really really tall tower that is basically just the bare scaffolding and an elevator shaft. We are looking out around the area, and down the tower. Then, we end up moving to australia. We are housed in the old home of an "absent minded professor" type man who has left Australia. The identification on the building is my first and old last name. We open the garage there are heaps of old junk and we continue into the house and there is more stuff that needs to be thrown away.

tower:  To see a tower in your dream, signifies high hopes and aspirations. If you are looking down from a tower, then it indicates that you have a perceived superiority over others. Your ego is inflated.

Australia:  To dream about or that you are in Australia, suggests that you are being pulled toward opposite directions. The dream may also indicate self-exploration into your natural and uninhibited self. Often referred to as the land down under, the dream may be a metaphor to represent your unconscious and your underlying thoughts.

Moving: To dream that you are moving away, signifies your desire or need for change. It may also mean an end to a situation or relationship; you are moving on. Alternatively, it indicates your determination and issues regarding dependence/independence. 

Junk: To see junk in your dream, symbolizes your need to get rid of and discard old ways of thinking and old habits. 

Name: To dream that you changed your name or are referred to by a different name, suggests that you are undergoing some major transformation or metamorphosis in your waking life. You are experiencing a reawakening.  

Interesting, huh? 

SpooOOooOoky

It's getting to be that time of year again...planning Halloween costumes!!

Granted, Derick and I have not gone to any parties or any place on Halloween, but last year we got to dress up at work. (I went as G.I. Jane-military inspired). This year, my friend from work and I were chatting about costumes. She is going as a 50s girl – poodle skirt and all. We have thrown around ideas for me –  50s car-hop waitress or a Pink Lady. Derick and I thought about being characters from “the Sims” computer game – just make the icon above their heads and dress as usual. I might be making my outfit this year…we’ll have to see. I am going to stop by the pop-up Halloween shop in Champlin hopefully this weekend and take a look at what they have – if anything. I might also go and check out Party City and see if they have anything useful and not super expensive. Target probably has their costumes out already too…so many choices! And if I cannot find anything there, there is always the internet to search and order items!

Decoding Dreams

Have you ever decoded a dream that you had?

Well, this morning around 2:30am, I woke up from this one dream. I have had parts of this dream before and I decided to look up some of the factors in my dream.

In short, here is what I remember the most about the recurring part of the dream:

A small girl (I think it might be me - but I look different) is walking by herself through the halls of a museum. At the end of the hall, she notices a yellow balloon trapped in between a glass window pane and metal blinds. She walks to the end of that hallway in order to retrieve the balloon, wedges herself, grasping at the balloon, retrieves it, and steps out of the window. Now she is holding that yellow balloon and a pink balloon all at once.

I was wondering what, if anything the symbolism of the balloons and or the colors or the museum had to do with anything and here is what I came up with...

balloon: To see balloons in your dream, indicate declining hopes and disappointments in your search for love. A situation in your life will take a turn downward. Balloons also represent arrogance and an inflated opinion of yourself. If you see black balloons in your dream, then it symbolizes depression, especially if the balloons are descending.

To see an ascending balloon in your dream, signifies frustrating conditions in your life in which you are seeking to rise above. You are expressing a desire to escape. On a positive note, balloons symbolize celebration and festivities. You need to acknowledge your inner child.

yellow: The color yellow has both positive and negative connotations. If the dream is a pleasant one, then the color yellow is symbolic of intellect, energy, agility, happiness, harmony, and wisdom. On the other hand, if the dream is an unpleasant one, then the color represents deceit, disgrace, betrayal, cowardice and sickness. You have a fear or an inability to make a decision or to take action. Your desire to please others is at the risk of sacrificing your own needs and happiness. As a result, you are experiencing many setbacks.

pink: Pink represents love, joy, sweetness, happiness, affection and kindness. Being in love or healing through love is also implied with this color. Alternatively, the color implies immaturity or weakness, especially when it comes to love. Consider also the notion of getting "pink slipped". Pink is also the color for Breast Cancer Awareness.

If you dislike the color pink, then it may stem from issues of dependency or problems with your parents.

museum: To see a museum in your dream, indicates that your non-traditional path to success will make you stand out from the rest. Sometimes you need to take a risk. Alternatively, the museum represents your own personal history. You can learn a lot from your past and your heritage. Consider what you have gained from these experiences and apply them to your current circumstances.

To dream that you are in a museum, represents the things you value in life. Objects in the museum symbolizes memories and talents.

hallway: To see a hallway in your dream, symbolizes self exploration. It is the beginning of the path that you are taking in life. You are going through a transitional phase and journeying into the unknown. It also signals spiritual enlightenment, emotional growth physical prowess, new opportunities and mental passages in your life.

alone: To dream that you are alone, indicates feelings of rejection. You may be feeling that no one understand you.

yourself: To see yourself in your dream, is a reflection of how you act and behave in your waking life. Consider what you are doing and how you are feeling in the dream for additional significance.

child: To dream that you are a small child again, suggests that you are feeling the burdens of adulthood. You are trying to escape from your daily responsibility and are looking for someone else to shield, protect and care for you.

trapped: To dream that you are trapped or caught in a trap, suggests that you are feeling confined and restricted in your job, career, health, or a personal relationship. You may be in a rut and are tired of the same daily monotony.

Interesting...

Hello Autumn

I believe the autumn winds are blowing! It is one of those mornings that it feels nice to just sit around the house in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, snuggled with a blanket, warm beverage and make a blog entry.


This is one of the things that I like best about living in MN - the change of seasons! I like the summer and end of summer into fall the best. (pretty much the entire time leading up to my favorite holiday - Thanksgiving!!). Each year I remember being amazed at how abruptly the seasons can change - especially the summer into fall area! Just the other day it was in the 80s and sunny warm...today, windy and chilly!


Yep - I think I could be pretty much content just sitting around, working on my new "punch needle" kit I picked up last weekend, or reading one of the last books of the series I have been reading, The Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke. These books are great. They are murder mysteries that involve humor and baking, both of which I enjoy (not the murder part though so much...) but one unique thing about her books is that she includes a bunch of recipes in her books that go along with the story! I have made a couple of the things in her books and they have turned out pretty well!  So far there are just two other book in the series that I have not read.


I could pull out some of the fall/harvest decorations to decorate the house today - since we are in September!
There is also a corn maze right down the street from our house that we will go to soon...

What: Twins Cities Harvest Festival and Corn Maze

Where: Off Hwy. 169 in Brooklyn Park

When: Weekends Sept. 18-Oct. 31

Admission: $8; children under 36" tall are free

Attractions: Corn maze, straw bale maze for kids, corn pit filled with 8,000 bushels of corn kernels, live music

More info: The maze's website will go up soon: www.twincitiesmaze.com

Now, all we need is an apple orchard that is close to our house too! I really like to go to those in the fall as well. It completes the whole fall theme to me! We used to go with my mom and one of her sisters every year, or almost every year. So there are always things to look forward to :)

Happy fall!

-L

Getting over green

OK...so getting over myself from the last post, I decided that I would keep busy with the things that I have and that I can control around me. Case in point - the clutter and organization of the closets, nooks and crannies (yes, even townhomes have them!) to make them work for me. I got through the office closet, the linen closet in the hallway and the linen closet in the bathroom - like I took everything out, went through it, tossed and then put back what needed to be put back. I went though the majority of my closet as well - although, I admit, sometimes it scares me in there. I am going to try to be strong tomorrow and go through my shoes and handbags...(I know, lord, give me strength!!) But really...do I NEED all of them - no. That is the answer - plain and simple. Maybe I can take them to Plato's closet so I will not feel as bad about just "chucking" them. At least then there's the chance that I could also benefit if they choose to buy any of them off me - I get a little spending money. yay!  Actually - sorry to cut this off - but I am going to go through the handbags now to bring things in tomorrow...man, motivation strikes again! Crazy! More later!!

Clearing the Clutter

I am sad to say that I think I have been having a case of the "green eyed monster". I look at where I am in my life, and yep, for the most part, things are good~ but there are always things that you want, or things that you wish would go or have been going better.

I look around at some of our friends recently and, really, it just doesn't seem to be fair. Luck is with them all the time, no matter how much they "mess up," or get into something that seems too far over their heads, they end up getting helped out of it by someone else, or things just happen to magically work out.

There are others who seem to have their lives virtually "set." They have the house that they will grow old in and both have stable incomes for both of them in the household. While I still feel like we're in limbo, I am sure that has to do with the fact that we have only been married for a couple of years and Derick doesn't have a stable job yet.  I am looking for his "break," for our lucky streak to hit, but it gets hard when things have been hard for so long. Money is stressful. It feels like I am counting the pennies in my bank account and then watching as they suddenly all fall through the cracks when it is time to pay the bills.

I am a big fan of making my own mistakes and learning from them - and this is one that I have learned from doing some of the things we did do with our money when I bought the house and after we got married...

1. Bought a house that was at the high end of our budget and not really budgeting and accounting for the fact if Derick did NOT have a job (we never thought that would be possible).
2. Do not put all of the furniture you buy at one time on your credit card and scoff when the sales person offers no-interest financing for one year.
3. Live with the furniture you have for the time being. Eventually you will get the things that you need/want, but don't rush out and get everything. Limit yourself to the basics, even though it seems like a ton of fun to set up your first real place.
4. I will never be "house poor" again - limiting the house mortgage payment to under one week's salary for the entire household income.

Thanks for letting me complain and express my discomfort with life right now - if anyone is reading this. I don't think many people do, but that brings me to another point. I am thinking of  cancelling my blog all together. I am not sure how much good it is actually doing me right now. We'll see. I used to hand-write in a journal all the time in grade school through high school. I ended up tearing up and burning and recycling all of them except a few of them before I moved out of my parent's house. It didn't make much sense to hold onto those things anymore.

I will give notice when and if I choose to quit the blog-mosphere, but for now, I carry on.

-L

My life in FF >>

Things seem to be happening in my life at warp speed. It is insane how an entire month can start, and be gone in what seems like one day.

Work - things are speeding like a cheetah catching lunch - and then some. I am grateful to be busy - but really? THIS crazy busy!? Tis' the time of year for us in retail - and I imagine, ALL of us in the retail world.

Personal Life - things here are not seeming like they are going by too fast when you take a look at us...we are a pretty boring married couple. I guess that happens when you have no "fun" budget money to do anything - so I have been trying to make use of things that I have at home to do - but that only lasts me so long before I get antsy and want to go out amongst other people. The hermit life is certainly not for me. My husband, yes, but not me. For instance - this coming weekend is Labor day weekend, and I have Monday off. Well, Derick and I were trying to discuss what we were going to do for the long weekend. I threw out a bunch of options, asked for his input and he did not have an opinion at all. I think he really wants to stay home - but really, I can only stand so much of that before I get antsy (and probably annoying). We'll see. We don't really have any money to go and do anything, but we will make it to the State Fair this year! yahoo!

On the other hand - if you look at the lives of our friends, life is FLYING by! Here's the headline: Laura, ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS ARE EITHER PREGNANT OR HAVE ONE KID. That in itself is nuts to me. I don't feel old (heck, I doubt I will ever really FEEL old) but looking at where other people are in their lives - man! I feel like the tortoise! But not in a bad way - I don't want kids yet. There are going to be a lot of "if" factors for me to do that business anyway - healthwise. I am not a huge fan of my doctor because of this - but that is a different story.

I guess that is all for now - just wanted to give a quick post on current thoughts!

Update! Update! Read all about it!

So, here's a little glimpse of the happenings in my life recently...

This has been a pretty busy, crazy week!!

Tuesday was the pre-floorset alignment meeting at Eden Prairie with the merchant teams and some of the executive team. It went well.

Wednesday was our all company picnic! I went to set-up the picnic at 9:15am and got ready for the rest of the company to arrive! The picnic was a lot of fun! We got a bunch of lawn games, had Famous Dave's cater the event and had 40 prizes to give away! I didn't win any, but a lot of the "Culture Keepers" won prizes, so that was really neat!

Thursday - all day I was at the floorset. I ended up leaving a little early in order to go pick up my mom at her work and then go downtown to see Wicked!! It was a REALLY great show! And wow, can those actors SING!!! It was nuts!

Friday was the floorset walkthru. It was VERY early that we had to be out there. That also went fairly well. All -in-all it was a really stressful, tiring few days!!

So, upcoming plans for the weekend - pretty minimal actually, and that is quite alright with me! I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow and get some things done around the house. I also need to log in some hours actually working from home this weekend to get the VMUs done on time. This was a pretty big floorset for us with a bunch of new initiatives, so that is going to make my job a little more in-depth than normal.

On the docket for the weekend, however, is to make a new kind of cupcake from my cupcake book. I need to go out and get more frosting tomorrow though, or at least look and see that I do not have any that got shifted in the pantry...

Alright, well, it has been a long week. More later!

-L

In with the new!

I ordered another medical bracelet from one of the coolest places that makes them, Lauren's Hope! I never used to wear an id tag because, let's face it, some of them, and some of the older ones are UGLY!! Not these ones!
 www.laurenshope.com.

They have some of the neatest designs! I got one that is more casual for the "everyday life," and I also got an updated tag with my married name. I am pretty stoked to get that in the mail! So, I will be waiting by mailbox if you need me...

The Great Fish Tank-off

Alright, so, apparently the Doberstein Great Fish Tank-off has begun!

This past weekend, Derick and Paul got together and had a man-date over fish, plants, heaters, lighting, filters fish tanks and I am sure a plethora of other fishy business.

First, there was the purchase of a 55-gallon fish tank.

Then there was the conversion of the 45-gallon tank hood, and the 2 10-gallon hoods.

Then last night there was the drive down, pick up and "donation" of $10 for a used 55-gallon tank stand.

(mind you this is in ADDITION to the 45-gallon and the 2 10-gallon tanks we currently have set up in our sunroom at home currently)

I am not entirely sure of the rest of the events of the weekend, but a few 2-liters of Mtn Dew and a messy kitchen later, I assume that they finished what they set out to do this weekend.

Where was I this weekend, you might ask?

Well I was at only the most AWESOME place ever. Naturally, Camp St. Croix, or better known for the next 2 weeks: Camp Needlepoint 2010!!!

It was time once again, for me to assume my role as "Camp Mom" Friday night for the counseling and CIT staff who would not be driving the long distance back home, but who would be staying overnight at camp. It is usually a really fun time. We work around camp, prepping things for the week, go out on the town of Hudson, eat a good "last meal," and call it a late-er night. Usually, in the past, the group has been about 4-6 people spending the night. Well, that number BALLOONED up to 25 people this year! Yikes! It worked out well though because we were able to have 1 cabin full of the girls and one cabin for the rowdy boys (who ended up staying up into the wee hours of the morning). It was SO hot out that night that it kept me awake until about 4am, that, and probably the fact that I was excited to be there and my brain was running, running, running!

Saturday was more camp training - more in-depth. That night I temporarily moved into the "Staff House." WOW. Was that ever a nice place to be!!! It was newly-remodeled this year, and complete with 2 bathrooms, 2 living areas and air conditioning! SO nice! It almost didn't feel like you were at camp staying there! I slept really well that night for sure! Becca, Wendy and myself went out to buy supplies and 2 carts full of junkfood to feed about 80 counseling staff for "staff snacks." It is always amazing to me how much junkfood we go through for one round of staff snacks- and we're diabetics! haha.

Sunday, we were up and setting up the front of camp for all of the 220-some campers that were coming to Camp Needlepoint session 1. It is always a whirlwind of activity, but this year, everything seemed to click into place! And THEN the campers showed up! For the next three hours, I stood outside in the sun with my Camp Store clipboard taking people's camp store money forms and playing "flight attendant," telling the moms, dads, siblings, and other miscellaneous relatives of the campers the next steps in their camp check-in experience.

After that, the rest of the opening day activities fell into place and we were off and running. I ate dinner at camp - tacos- YUM and then decided to head for home around 7:30.

Back to the real world, work. Boo. It was funny because after dinner, me, the camp director, asst. camp directors and I were all standing around thinking of ways to tell my boss I would be gone for the 2-week time span of camp that year...it was priceless!

So, those are the most recent events in my life right now. On Sunday I will be back out at camp with the Camp Store responsibility once again and I will be there to help kick off another awesome week of CNP!

-L

Training the Future Leaders

Friday morning starts off one of the best times of year ever. Camp Needlepoint. Staff Training.

I will be busy packing tonight for my 3-day stint out at camp, assisting the camp director in training the new staff and the counselors in training. Friday morning it all begins, and I become the "camp mom" Friday night for all those staffers who are too far from home to drive back home that night and come back the next day. We usually end up staying out at camp, finishing up some things in the medical center, going out to dinner as group, coming back, showering and calling it a night. I might have them help me with putting together the staff "get to know us" board that night, so it is all ready to go. we'll see.

Saturday is day 2 of all-staff training and everyone comes with all of their belongings for the entire week or 2 weeks that they will be on staff at camp. That night, we all hang out, eat a lot of really bad junk food and then turn in for the insanity of the next day, which is camper check-in and arrival day!

Sunday, the campers, parents and, yes, sometimes pets, come to camp, check-in, move-in and the week begins! I usually end up collecting all of the camp store forms (Becky says it's because I look so trustworthy...). I hang around for awhile, checking in on cabins to see if I am needed. Most times I stay until dinner and then head home, other times I have stayed for the opening campfire and then call it a night. Only time will tell.

All I do know is that I am looking forward to it. The usual things happen, but then again, the new people and some new twists are always evident and keep things interesting. I get to see staff friends that I haven't seen or talked to in some time, so that is always fun to catch-up and see what they have been up to.

So- until later, happy trails!

Stay-cation

So since last Thursday, I have been on a "Stay-cation" with my husband.

Initially, we had plans of going camping, or working on some house projects that we have been wanting to get done. We went another direction, for the most part, due to some plan changes!

On Thursday morning, we headed out on the dreary-sprinkling day, to the Como Zoo. Our initial thoughts were, well, it looks like it might be a rainy, cooler day outside, so maybe that will deter some of the people from hitting the zoo. Wow, were we wrong...we got to the zoo about 1/2 an hour after it opened. We had to go down and park in the overflow zoo parking lot and hop the shuttle back over. (At the end of the day, it was mutually decided that we would just assume to park over there next time, as it was rather easy to get to and home from, and the shuttle came and went fairly quickly!)

Friday afternoon we caved and got the entertainment center we had been eying at Target. We spent most of the afternoon putting the beast together and now it looks very nice and the room is looking even more put together!

Saturday morning, Derick's cousins: Joe, Cathrina, and Joe's girlfriend, Brittney came over and we headed out to Bunker Beach in Coon Rapids for the afternoon. It was a pretty fun day! We hit the body slides, the tube slides, the wave pool, lounge chairs and the fabulous lazy river! The day was fun, but when we got home, most of us discovered that mr. sun had not been too kind...we were burnt!! Mine is still sore in places as I type this!

After our fun in the sun, we came back home, showered, and the girls and I ran to Cub to get cupcake decorating supplies to make the Stirng Monsters (see my facebook album) and the guys prepped the kitchen to make our "state fair food." Most of the food turned out really well. We made mozzarella sticks, popcorn shrimp, popcorn chicken, cheese curds and then mini doughnuts the next morning. We played Apples to Apples and found out that Derick and Joey are connected on some sub-atomic level that no one fully realized until that night. We all seemed to crash pretty early from the extensive sun, fun and fair food, so it was off to our respective corners for some well-deserved sleep!

Sunday morning, we all got up and I took the girls shopping in Maple Grove. We were successful getting Cathrina some of the left over things on her college list. I also bought some jeans from American Eagle - on sale (and thank goodness because I was in desperate need of some jeans!!) and a new fragrance of foaming soap from bath and body works. mmm.

After the gang left, Derick and I relaxed and watched some tv. I then went into the office and began sorting through all of my magazine tear sheets and put them into the binders that I had started long ago. Today I finished that up for the most part, with the exception of moving the overflow of the "articles" section to a new binder and placing them all within that new binder. But it makes me feel so much better that they are all in there and I can now flip through them to find something, rather than go to the dreaded box - that had become the dumping ground for the clippings that I wished to file "at a later date." Whew, at last, the "later date" finally came!!

Tonight, a couple of the ladies from our townhouse association and I will be going out to Costco and the dollar store to rangle-up items for our National Night Out - Tomorrow night!! Finally I will be rid of the prizes that have been on my counter for the past month and a half!!

Whew, so that is the Reader's Digest of what I have been up to, so I will leave you with some pictures...

Prayers for the family

This is one of the sadder posts that I have made.

Yesterday I got an email from my dad - that I did not get until later that night - that said my Grandpa Krutzig was transferred to Hospice care at the hospital, the doctor had detached his defibrillator and if I wanted to come say my goodbyes, this would be the time to do it, as it looks like he'll only have a couple of days left in him.

I was debating whether or not I wanted to go - I am becoming more of a believer that I don't like going to see people in the hospital because I want to remember just the good memories, not how awful, or struggling they are in the hospital, ya know?

Well, my mom called at about 9:30pm last night after I had just gotten out of the shower and told me that just our "little" family was there, and they sent my Grandma home for a couple of hours so that she could get some rest. I hemmed and hawed about going, and felt the daughter-to-father pull that he needed me to be there.

So, I changed out of my pjs and Derick and I drove to the hospital. It was rough. As we walked into the hospital, everything about the place seemed unwelcoming. The smell of sterilization and sanitizer and even the lady and the security guard at the information desks weren't overly pleasant. One more thing about hospitals - why is it that just about everyone is like the hardest building to navigate period?! You would think that they would have another method. Like, for instance, Derick and I had to enter through the Emergency patient entrance, ask at the info desk where to go, go over to the security desk to get a visitor badge and he said to go to the end of the hall and take the elevators to the 4th floor. Ok, we walked to these huge, grey, steel double doors that look like all of the ones in the shows and movies that you "cannot go through." but, we had to then press an intercom and he had to buzz the doors to let us in.

Once we got to his room, my mom made me go and sit in the chair by my Grandpa's bed. I was not ready for that. I should have said no and gone to where I ended up spending the rest of my time there that night - sitting in a chair behind my dad on the other side of my Grandpa's bed.

Watching him was hard. Both my dad and my Grandpa. My Grandpa struggled to breath and then would wake up a little and struggle to sit-up and get comfortable. I liked the quiet in there with him. You just felt led to think about happier times with him and just zone out and be there for him and for the rest of the family. That is, until my mom began her nervous (?) chatter that seemed to last too long. Then my Grandma and aunt Beth showed up again. My Grandma seemed happy to see me, but seeing her there trying to take care of him made me very sad as her whole world seemed to be falling apart.

It has been her life for so long to take care of him as he has had failing health for years and years. There was one point where I looked over at her leaning over his bed and she was just shaking her head. That is one of the most helpless moments that I have ever experienced.

We stayed until after 11pm and then I hugged my dad again - and he seemed like he did not want to let go. It was a good moment, one that also made me realize a couple of things:

1. Life is too short
2. The good ones go too soon
3. I need to tell people that I love, that I love them more often

and one last thing...

4. I think that I inherited my love of plaid from my Grandpa. He was wearing a plaid shirt (that I later found out was not his, but one that the hospital had put on him) and he usually wore plaid shirts.

It is going to be a rough week for the Krutzig clan, so please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.

-L

Happy Birthday America!

How nice is it to have a four-day weekend? Let me tell you – it is a beautiful thing!  I was able to relax as well as be rather productive!

On Friday, Derick and my dad went up to their lake place to work on the cabin and the boat. Later in the afternoon – I picked up my mom and we headed up there. Shortly after we arrived, we got things together and went over to my aunt and uncle’s cabin just a few miles away from my parent’s cabin for dinner and fireworks. It was nice to sit, relax and chat with the family. They have a “Lighting of the Lake” that takes place every 4^th of July weekend that is really cool to watch/see. About 9:45 pm, when it is dark, each cabin lot gets about 3 red flares, spaces them out on the shore of their property and lights them. You can see them go all around the smaller lake that they are on and also the larger- adjoining lake through the channel.

Awhile after that, the fireworks started and lasted awhile. My uncle lit fireworks until they started and some of them were crazy! Fireworks always make me a little nervous, mostly because you can never fully trust them to do exactly what you expect them to do or go where you aim them to go!  Derick and I drove back to the house that night. He took off the next morning to go work on the boat some more and then go fishing with Joe, who met up with him up there. The guys fished up there, and ended up spending the night – Derick slept in the truck and Joe, in his car. (what some guys will do to have a fishing weekend…)

Saturday I did a lot of cleaning and also made a new type of cookie. Last week I had brought in some cookies to work, and now have more people telling me that they will be my cookie taste-testers always! So, I might have to bring those in and have them try them out. Jana and I went to see Toy Story 3 in 3-D in Champlin. That was a really cute movie, and made me want to go out and get both of the other Toy Story movies, since I don’t have any of them and don’t have many cartoon movies in general. I still have my doubts about the 3-D technology, but it was interesting and both my sister and my first time watching a movie in 3-D.

Let’s see – Sunday, the 4^th, Derick came home in the morning because it was raining and looked as if it would continue all day. Sunday was a pretty lazy day for us, and I was just fine with that! We watched tv – caught up on the season of Parenthood (just an ok show) and watched some comedy central. I made another new cookie – that one was pretty yummy. Then later that night, since it was kind of yucky outside, we watched the Boston Firework show and that was pretty amazing!! They were all synced up to music that was playing and there were a TON of fireworks going off at one time off a small barge-type set-up.

Monday I had off from work and Derick had off from watching the boys. We were pretty lazy in the morning, but then got down to business in the afternoon. I did the finishing touches on cleaning the house, then we prepped, cleaned and painted the sunroom!! It is now “Prairie Green” vs the original white paint we had before. It looks really nice with the light woodwork and wood blinds that we have in there. It just feels more ours and more finished now. We are still debating on painting one wall with all of Derick’s fish paintings on it – just because there is some funky wall architecture going on and we are debating on how we should address that.

This week should go by pretty quickly. I have a mini-floorset tomorrow and walk-through Thursday, so that will keep me out of trouble. Then just a ½ day again on Friday! I think this weekend Derick, Joe and Paul are all going to try to go fishing, so me, Jenny and Ava might have to have a girl’s day/weekend! We still have to see if it will work, but at least that would give me something other than cleaning and organizing this weekend!

I am thankful for a great weekend that I got to spend with family this weekend, and yet be able to be at home and spend time with my husband and our puppy Tucker.



I hope that you all were able to have a nice, relaxing 4th of July as well!
-L