Time For An Update February 7, 2010

So it must seem as though I’ve fallen off the face of the Earth since it’s been almost a whole month since I made my last post. I just took a little peek at that post and much has stayed the same. I still really miss the warm weather and hate winter. In fact, right now it’s snowing and is supposed to keep on snowing well into Tuesday, stop on Wednesday, then start right back up on Thursday. It would be so wonderful to be ridiculously rich and build a sort of greenhouse or conservatory around our house and property so it can be warm and green all year round. Of course if I were that rich I guess that I could go live anywhere warm that I wanted. One thing that did change is that I started a new job last week. In my last post I mentioned that I sent in an application to a casino and that’s where I now work. I’ve only been there for a week so I have a couple days left of training and such and then I’m on my own. Sadly I don’t like it at all but I’m going to really try to hang in there for six months until I’m allowed to switch departments because it’s so hard just to get hired anywhere. It’s a pretty tough job because it’s all physical labor the whole day and feel rushed because you have to get so much done during your shift. Not to mention that it’s also disgusting.

Last weekend (1/30) I drove up to Lynsie & Josh’s place to hang out. So we hung out for a bit at their place and then walked to a couple of bars. I really don’t know when I’ll be able to go out with everyone again because it looks like I might get stuck working every weekend

I set up my camera and a light downstairs because I wanted to do some silly pictures but nobody else did so I just have these of Sadie & Lynsie. After I took only a couple everyone wanted to get going to the bars.

Jessie A. & Jessie W. playing around with mine & Lynsie’s glasses.

Jessie hiding from the camera

Josh & Lynsie

Dan & Josh

Lynsie & I.

Poker Party January 12, 2010

On Saturday Jessie and Max hosted another poker party. I don’t know how to play but I go to hang out and see everyone. I’m glad that I got there early because I got to see Caitlin for a little bit before she left pretty early and because of the whole parking situation. Usually when it’s warm out everyone can just park in the yard but in the middle of winter there’s a crapload of snow everywhere so lets just say that everyone was having some problems with parking and getting stuck. Towards the end when a few people were out of the main game they tried to teach me how to play with pennies. I think I got some of it and won a few hands but I think that I’m ultimately hopeless when it comes to poker. I think that I’m more of a Liverpool Rummy type of person. So anyways here’s a few photos from the night. Lynsie ended up taking a bunch with my camera since I was being lazy with it:

Me & Lynsie sitting at Jessie’s computer goofing around on facebook which usually yields pretty funny results when viewed (the comments & wall posts) the next day.

Jessie W. & Jessie A. I don’t know what they were wrestling about.

me, Lynsie, JW, & Jessie

If Phil won’t propose then Lynsie will!

Brad

The table.

Jessie, Lynsie, & Josh

Jessie A. & Jessie W.

uhm?

My penny poker mentors and I.

Josh & Dan.

Max & Jessie.

Why doesn’t anyone else like banana Tootsie Pops?

Caitlin’s Baby Shower November 30, 2009

Yesterday was Caitlin’s baby shower. There was lots of guests and a butt load of gifts for little Axton. I still can’t believe that Rachel and Caitlin are pregnant right now and only something like a week apart from each other. And who knows when the other girls are going to get married and have kids, Jessie is married already and she’s probably going to start popping them out pretty soon. I’m only 23 and can’t even think about that stuff yet. I have noticed on facebook though that a very large amount of my classmates are married, have kids, or both. I don’t know, it’s just mind boggling to me that all of this stuff is happening already. What happened? I guess that I’m more the type of person that’s fine with being unmarried until I’m thirty or so. I just keep thinking about how weird it will be when all of the girls are married with kids and I’ll still be the oddball. Anyways, here’s a few pics:

Caitlin opening gifts.

Lynsie, Jessie, & Rachel.

Lynsie, me, Jessie W., & Jessie A.

Oh, and I also want to say that I just signed up on vimeo. I’m finally starting to go through all of the video that I have stored on my camcorder and doing something with it. It just sucks that my internet connection isn’t very fast so the videos that I’m uploading are pretty small and I can’t figure out why they aren’t displaying as widescreen and instead look a bit smooshed.

Thanksgiving November 27, 2009

Yesterday was time for Thanksgiving again. This year it was a bit more sparse than usual because not everyone could make it including my dad because he had to work. We did have a good time though and it’s nice to see family especially since you usually only get to see them during the holidays.

Chuck making his famous Cajun turkey. This is the food item that most of the family drools over.

Lindsey & Erin with my favorite Thanksgiving food, homemade rolls.

Jamie & Jake

Mike & Grandma

Jake brought tupperware along so he could bring food back home.

The couch, a great gathering place.

Samantha, Jamie, & me.

Re-enacting a photo from last year minus Kaleb.

Mom, Craig, & I. Craig doesn’t take “normal” photos.

Free backrubs.

Plenty of desserts left to bring home.

 

Halloween November 3, 2009

First I must say that I love Halloween! It’s the only holiday that I even really like. Second I must say as a warning that this is going to be a long post. With that said, on Friday everyone met up at Josh & Lynsie’s for their Halloween party.

Our hosts, Lynsie & Josh.

Little Sadie is so cute in her coat.

Josh, Jessie, Phil, Rachel, & Brad.

Jessie & I. I must say that I loved dressing like this, it was my first attempt at wearing victory rolls!

Max & Jessie. Max went as that scary Sham Wow guy.

I just thought this was a pretty funny photo of Caitlin.

Caitlin & her boyfriend Cody. Cute, right?!

Phil & Jessie

Jessie got a little lap dance by Lynsie’s brother.

The three photography students – me, Ashley, & Jessie. Kisses!

The Next night was Halloween and also Jessie’s birthday so we went out to eat at the Orchard, played apples to apples at Jessie & Phil’s, then went out to The Dive Bar for the rest of the night for some dancing.

There was a guy going around the dance floor with a vampire blow up doll.

We made a few trips outside in the very cold night air which feels pretty good after being in a very hot & crowded club.

The birthday girl!

One sad thing – they no longer offer the ladies drink free here because some guy sued them for gender discrimination. This makes me sad, very sad. I was waiting until 11pm for my free drinks but they never came In return I think they should at least offer some special like $1 drinks instead of charging a crazy $4 per drink. I was very thirsty so I bought 1 drink then refilled the glass a few times with water in the restroom. I get to see the ladies again next Sunday for Rachel’s baby shower, then again in a few weeks for Caitlin’s!

a birthday, a visit from my brother, and loathing of my physique. October 20, 2009

Well it’s been some time since I’ve made a post in this blog so I thought it was time for an update.

On October 10th my mom, dad, and I went to my aunt Denise’s 40th birthday party:

My cousins Tony & Tricia, & me.  Tony lives pretty far away south of here and Tricia lives all of the way out in South Dakota so I only see them a few times a year (although that goes for most of my family).

Aunt Amy & my mom.

Aunt Amy, my dad, & aunt Carol.

Some of us ladies: Kristi, Tricia, Amy, Amanda, me, Carol, Denise, & my mom.

Uncle Chuck brought some Brew House beer. That stuff tasted like coffee.

The birthday girl.

My aunt Carol loves to stand and dance on top of furniture. It’s just her thing.

This past Wednesday Craig came home for MEA break. I think he really likes coming home. This is proven by the fact that he has to drive 6 hours each way. I think he gets home sick plus he gets to see the dogs, sleep in his own quiet bed, and eat all he wants.

This is him preparing a bowl of ice cream which he doesn’t get much of up north:

And big news! It stopped raining and the sun came out from hiding! I think it got into the lower 60′s which is waaaay better than the 30′s & 40′s. That more like it! This is how it should feel. I was thinking that Minnesota was skipping fall completely and heading into the longest, darkest, and worst season ever like some sort of cruel shock treatment. (I HATE winter!)

Today I went with my mom to Kohls to see if I could find a pair of jeans that fit since I haven’t bought a new pair in almost 3 years and mine are getting worn out. I tried on 13 pairs and gave up. NONE of them fit me right and I feel like crying. I’ve always hated trying on pants. Once in a blue moon I can actually find a pair that fits and I treasure that special find so very much. This is one of the reasons that I LOVE skirts and dresses. They are so forgiving and help cover up my larger bits that give me so much trouble (hips, butt, & thighs). Plus they are so easy to find the right size and fit into! I wish this was the 40′s or 50′s so I could wear those clothes all of the time.

Cabin Weekend August 9, 2009

On Friday, July 31st it was time to head up to Rachel’s family’s cabin up in Amery, WI for a full weekend of fun. It was quite a drive for me (about 1hr 40mins). I know that doesn’t really sound very long to you seasoned drivers but driving just makes me so sleepy! Seriously, even just 1 hour in a car wipes me out. I missed the driveway at first, then when I found it I took the wrong turn and ended up at someone else’s cabin so I turned around and tried one of the other ways and finally got there. Another thing that I found I usually do while traveling is I ALWAYS forget to pack something, even if I set it right next to my bag to pack I still forget something. This time I forgot to pack Jessie’s birthday present and a pair of long jeans. That was a first for me, I’ve never forgotten to pack pants before.

There were many cornhole games played:

Phil & Brad

 

Jessie W. & Jessie A.

I was pretty lazy with the camera on Friday but finally busted it out on Saturday when there was more going on. Of course there was more corn hole (Brad & I finally broke Max & Josh’s winning streak), some badminton, lounging, pontoon rides, & some delicious Dairy Queen.

 

Jessie & Phil doing a little bit of lazy lounging.

 

Jessie & her puppies Precious & Vader.

 

Max, Jessie, & their dogs Clyde & Luca.

 

Group photo! (darn harsh sunlight)

 

We decided to take the boat out for a quick ride before dinner:

Brad & Max

 

Phil (it was a bit chilly on that ride)

 

Jessie & Lynsie (a bit windy too)

 

 

After that it was about time to eat and we hung out around the cabin for a while.

 

Me & Jessie

 

Jessie & her puppies.

 

Hypnotized by Donkey Kong.

 

Brad was working on the grill while Max was working on the stove.

 

After we ate it was time to get back on the boat to ride down to Dairy queen (isn’t everyone so cute bundled up in their hoodies)

 

Josh & Lynsie

 

Jessie W. & Jessie A.

 

Brad

 

There was a giant bobber at the dock we got off on.

 

Dairy Queen is ALWAYS good!

 

Back on the boat:

 

Jessie

 

Brad finishing off his DQ.

 

Phil & the beer he bought at the gas station.

 

Jessie & Phil

 

Max & Josh flashing their “Sven & Deuce” signs. (they will never grow out of this.)

 

Rachel.

 

Back at the cabin for a fire & lots of corn hole which consisted mostly of Brad & I competing against Josh & Max. (we finally beat them 3 times!)

 

Lynsie & Josh (& Sadie)

 

Lynsie & I.

 

A few of us stayed up late playing dominoes:

 

This is Jessie W’s first turn. (Darn her.)

 

All of these photos have a crappy red/orange color to them because I didn’t feel like using flash.