Days 8, 9, & 10 - finally over?

I have read and re-read this blog a couple of times and I can't figure out if it's a happy blog or a sad blog; or maybe I just needed to get it off my chest.

Well, vacation has been over for a couple of weeks now so I figured I may as well "end" the story.  In all honesty, I thought I would be in a better place; both physically and emotionally.  As we all know, life doesn't always give us exactly what we think we need when we think we need it.  The answers aren't always right in front of us and we have to wait to see which door is closing and which door is opening.  

I am finding out that my "safe place" and those that I trust, have all but disappeared.  I am on a journey to find a new "safe place" and I think that whole trust thing can just be thrown out the window.  I honestly believe that this person...me...can trust me and only me.  My priorities and my problems have to remain with me and can no longer be shared with any one person.  As you can see, I have done a lot of soul-searching on my time off and have really tried to evaluate what is in my heart.  I'm getting there.  As sad as what I have typed so far sounds, it is refreshing at the same time.  I am moving on to the person that I need to be.  And I won't be taking a whole lot of others on that journey with me.  

Let's be honest, we are the only ones that know what we need...even when we don't know.  

I am compiling the last three days of vacation in one blog for one reason.  The last three days were full of laughter, compiled with thrills and drama, and I even stuffed in some edge-of-your-seat action and adventure!!  Lies!  All lies!  Nothing like that happened...except the laughter.  There was plenty of that so let's get to it!

Day Eight started out with me going to the doctor.  Woohoo!!!  Isn't that what we all look forward to on our vacation time?  I think my vacation should have been labeled "catching up" because it's all I seemed to do.  I'm not saying that's a bad thing at all!  Anyway, for many weeks, I have had an issue with my right middle finger.  As funny as that sounds, I couldn't straighten it without literally crying my eyes out.  It started out as a need to pop the finger and I couldn't get it popped.  The pain got worse and since I have this wonderful ulcer that I am trying to get healed, I can not take my beloved Aleve.  Boo!  Tylenol didn't fully did the trick of making the pain go away.  I had tried everything over the weeks; ice, heat, ice-then-heat, popping (or trying to), and then finally we (the husband and I) just splinted it for a few days here and there to see how that would work.  

Quintin swears he told me for two weeks that I needed to go to the doctor but I don't recall hearing those words come out of his mouth.  Whatever.  Irrelevant now because well, I finally ended up going.  So, I splinted it for a couple of days and then the pain seemed to go away.  So the splint came off.  Every time I worked out or did exercise, this stupid pain came back in the same place!  So, I would just live my life with my middle finger kept tucked down.  I don't know what was more difficult; typing with a splint on or typing with no middle finger.  It was definitely a challenge I wasn't liking.  

Blah, blah, blah, so anyway, I was convinced by a friend that I had something called "trigger finger."  And to treat this, they would simply cut a slit in the palm of my hand, cut out this little ball of scar tissue and then magically, my finger would straighten out and life would be grand!  Well, after looking at the hand...and me threatening the doctor that if he straightened my finger I would throat kick him...doing some x-rays...he set me up with a hand specialist/surgeon for the following Monday.  "Just take some Tylenol when it hurts."  There isn't enough Tylenol on earth, doc!  I went home and put a splint back on the finger and decided it was going to stay on until the appointment with the specialist.

The rest of this day spent taking it easy; laying on the couch trying to come up with something good and healthy to take to our family reunion the next day, playing catch up with the laundry, and keeping my kitchen clean.  Apparently my dear husband hasn't figured out that when I'm not home, he is literally the only other one in the house so nobody just appears and cleans up after him.  I'm not sure if I need to video the empty house to prove to him that "I AM THAT MAGIC EIGHT BALL" that sees all!  I see that you can't pick up your socks.  I see that you don't know how to put dirty dishes in the dishwasher (or God forbid wash them yourself).  I see that you know how to start a load of laundry but you haven't figured out that they need to make their way into the dryer in a timely manner.  I also see all that hair that precious Eva leaves, laying around on floor.  Use a vacuum, dude, seriously! 

Yeah...that's how day eight went.  That's probably the edge-of-your-seat stuff that I may have been sarcastically talking about up above.  -_-  I ended my day with a trip to the grocery story...and many of you know how much I HATE that chore.  I would rather brush my eyeballs.

Day Nine rolls around and I gather my layer salad and head to Corning to pick up my two partners in crime, Kathy and Jackie.  We headed to Bedford and hung out with Cindy, Dan, Jeremy, Erin & the kids for a while before heading out to the family reunion.  I'm not going to lie about this for one second (because if I did, there would be too many people out there calling me out) but I was very anxious about this reunion because I hadn't been in so many years simply because I thought I didn't like these people and I was convinced they didn't like me either!  Yep, a family reunion.  Any other time I would have just said "Not going!" and been done with it but this year, I felt very strongly about being there.  I felt that I HAD to go and I didn't know why.  And it was a terrifying feeling.  

So here's how that went.  Showed up at the family reunion and had the best time EVER!  Ummm, I want a do-over for the past reunions I was so stupid to avoid.  I had a freaking blast!  Cousins, siblings, laughter, hugs, love, and enough food to go around a few times.  I honestly could have stayed another several hours!  I wish there was a way that EVERYONE could be there on the same day.  Maybe a camp out next time!!!  Perfect host/hostess, perfect place for the get-together.  I can't thank them enough for the good time I had. 

This night was spent hanging clothes and getting a game plan for the next day.  It was the last day of vacation/catching up and there was one place I needed to be that I hadn't been in quite some time.  Do you have a junk drawer?  Most people have a junk drawer, right?  Well I don't keep a junk drawer in my house!  Well, I didn't used to.  I had a junk room!  And it drove me crazy!  I may re-think that idea of a junk drawer though.  (I have actually already started on it) 

So Day 10 was all about the junk room.  I had a bunch of totes in there and they were just everywhere.  I had been through them, picking and choosing what I could give to the mission a week before and deciding what really needed to be thrown away and what I needed to keep.  I'm slowly trying to minimize the "crap" in our home.  And I have to do it slowly because if my husband notices that stuff is starting to go away too fast, he will find some other junk to replace it with.  And let's be honest here folks...he is getting ready to start a job at the county landfill...it is literally trash...so that's a whole new book of headaches for me to learn to deal with!  I may have to incorporate a new policy at our house "Must be approved by the boss!"  And we all know who the boss is.  As my husband so eloquently says "I wear the pants in the family...she just tells me which ones to wear!"  When that room was finished, we did some re-arranging in our bedroom.  Nothing major because...well, you know!  But we got a lot of things accomplished that day and nobody got hurt, maimed, or killed.  

Life is good.  Not great.  Nowhere near perfect.  But it is good and I can take good for now.  Until I see which doors are closing and which doors are opening.

**Fast forward to Monday - I woke up and had no pain whatsoever, in my finger.  No breaks, no fractures, nothing he could do for me.  I could have told him that. He did however, tell me that I fixed whatever was wrong with my finger by splinting it so if the problem arises again, I know what to do. Geez, stop being a baby, Shellie!**

Days 6 & 7...sometimes you just need to get away!

Onward to KC!!! I have REALLY been looking forward to this trip for more than one reason!  Sister Cindy and I used the drive down to vent about many things going on in our worlds, and I took advantage of asking for some advice from the ex-diva dispatcher.  I mean, she lasted 30 years in the business so who else would I ask???  By the time I had explained everything I felt in my heart and sorted out most of the stuff clanging around in my head, we had arrived in Weston, MO.  My very last question to my sister before we entered the first little quaint store was "I wish dad was here to ask.  What do you think he would tell me?  How do you think he would instruct me to get through this?"  

And then, just like that, our conversation came to a halt and our world was consumed with very expensive cow-hide rugs, rustic home decor, and hand-made scarves and clothing.  The first thing I saw when we walked in was a refrigerator and written in chalk on the front of it, was a sign that read something along the lines of  "This is a real refrigerator.  It has water for you to drink ($1.00)....." along with many other things.  I should have taken a picture because I can't remember exactly what it said but seriously, if you walk into a store and there is a big ole refrigerator in the middle of the place, why would you not think it's a real refrigerator???  Only in Missouri.

Backing up a short bit, we stopped at the Pirtle Winery for a friend, where we got a free frozen wine slushie and then my favorite part:  "DON'T LET THESE BOTTLES OF WINE SIT WHERE THE SUN SHINES ON THEM BECAUSE THE CORKS WILL POP RIGHT OUT AND YOU WILL HAVE WINE EVERYWHERE."  Just peachy!  Now I have to take these babies everywhere I go!  Next time, get that stuff on the way back!!!  Alas, no corks were popped and no wine was wasted in the making of this story!  But, with all the wine and liquor I purchased in that little town, I'm sure if the people in our hotel saw all the alcohol I carried in with me...for it's own protection even though it was not all corked...they would have thought either: 1 - she is planning on doing some hard partying tonight; get security on standby or 2 - she has a severe problem; get security on standby. For the record, I got some Christmas presents.  We all know I don't drink................................much!

Back to the quaint little shop.  Sis is still in the front and I have made my way to the back, looking at decorative signs and here she comes with a card in her hand.  "This is what dad would tell you" she says with a smile on her face.

That made me feel good for a while.  And I thought it was actually going to work.  I thought that was really what I needed.  It felt good while it lasted.  I used our whole two days deep in thought about what my future holds for me, for my husband; how our lives were either going to stay right where it was at or how it could be changed for the better.  I'm thankful the ulcer was not flared up because I think this would have put me over the edge.

When we arrived in KC, we stopped at the Drury Inn to get a room and the gal rattles off a price that made both our chins drop.  No way are we paying that.  We kindly told the gal we would find another place. I mean, all we really wanted was a hot tub and an exercise room.  How hard is that?  While we were driving from place to place, I was scouring the internet for a room that wasn't going to cost us half the mortgage.  No dice.  Apparently, when the hotels start to fill up, they jack up the prices.  And if that's not enough, even if you get a room with 2 beds and tell them you have 2 people staying, they charge you extra.  Talk about screwing over your own customers!!! If I am going to stay there alone, why would I need an extra bed???  Let me guarantee you this...if I ever stay at a hotel alone, I am asking for a 2 bed-room and I'm going to sleep in both beds the same night.  Going to take the sheets off the beds and pillows and pile them up on the floor.  They have no choice but to take care of two beds, right?  End rant.

A little over TWO hours later, we head back to the original hotel, the Drury Inn where we have to eat crow.   "Still got that room available???"  Too funny.  We asked everybody what was going on in KC on a Wednesday that had everyone so full up and all anybody could come up with is that "maybe" there were a lot of people from Texas or Florida that were displaced for the time being.  Maybe?  Wouldn't you know that?  

We go back to the truck to move it closer to our room...which we ended up parking at the complete opposite end...and a guy approaches us and says "I'm not looking for a ride.  My car is broke down and my boss is coming but I just need a drink. If I could just have a dollar..."  There was a Wendy's across the parking lot and the first thing that went through my mind was "I would never fall for this any other day" but this wasn't any other day!  Cindy looks at me, trying not to laugh and says "I just have a dollar here."  I open my little Weed money pouch and there's a $5 sitting right on top.  Here, get something to eat, too!  He appeared to be very thankful and headed toward Wendy's, where he went and stood by this old, seen better days car.  We didn't stick around long enough to see if he was just going to rob it or if it was really his but either way he was our of our hair and maybe he got a sandwich...maybe he went and got a 40 oz.....maybe he got a cheap bottle of liquor.  Not my fight but I did hang tight to all that liquor I was carrying from the truck to the room!!! 

The first things we did when we got to our room was turn on the air, the tv, and lay down!  By this time, I was emotionally exhausted and we took this time to catch up with the news and world reports, as well as be our silly selves.  Kathy and Becky, if you're reading this, you missed out on a great time and you shouldn't have!  Oh!  Did I tell you that AFTER the room was paid for, they told us the pool AND hot tub were out of order???!!!  Wow, thanks for all the action Drury Inn!  Screwed us on price and gave us even less than we expected. 

We went to the lounge and had a nice chicken salad for dinner and a free drink.  THAT.HIT.THE.SPOT. Then we went to visit her kids and grand kids.  This is and always will be one of my favorite parts of KC.  The little ones are still at the age where they are okay with Aunt Shellie hugging and kissing on them so I take advantage while I can!  Now, if I could just find a way to bottle up their energy and take it home with me.............

Back to the motel and I change my clothes to head to the exercise room while Cindy gets under her fluffy blanket and tells me I am on my own.  I figure I have a 5k that I want to run...let's not get carried away here...jog, in October, so I better see if I can even do that!  I may have done a little speed walking here and there but for the most part, I can do a 5k on a treadmill with minimal cursing and crying, in pretty good time.  The part that scares me is the part where I have to carry a pumpkin the whole time.  Their choosing from 1-10 lbs.! I have a deputy that thinks I can't do it because I have angel hair pasta for arm muscles, so we know what that means!  I WILL DO THIS!!  Now, to prepare myself to run on the streets!  We all know running on a treadmill is nothing like running terrain... 

My funeral arrangements have been made and notarized, just in case.  And I don't care how upset (or relieved) you are Mr. Deputy, you are going to stand up and speak. Bahahahaha!!  Friend and co-worker Polly is going to do this "run" with me and I asked her what she is going to do if I just fall over and die in the middle of the race and she said "Well, I am going to laugh when you first fall down!"  Touche Polly!  Spoken like a true friend!!!  And this is why I'm going to do the race with her.  She knows exactly what to do..... 

When I got back to the room, I told sis that if she hears something at 04:00, don't worry it is just me going back to the exercise room because I automatically wake up then.  Well, I work up alright....at 09:30!!!  Perfect, comfortable sleep for hours and hours!!!  At least 8 hours!!!  I am not sure when the last time was that I had that much sleep without interruption.  It was amazing.  If the pool and hot tub were working, I would have just moved in.  Problems all solved!!!

By the time we got our showers taken and packed up, breakfast bar (ha, I wish it was a bar) was closed.  Nebraska Furniture Mart, here we come.  Met up with niece Lindsay and had a lot of fun looking at different things.  Lunch at Panera bread, where Cindy and I had never eaten.  It was good while it lasted and without going into too much detail, it didn't last very long!  The salads made it to St. Joe though!!!  Between KC, St. Joe and Maryville, we did a little shopping and had a lot of fun just hanging out together. We definitely don't get to do this enough and just once, would love to get all of us sisters together for a night...a weekend...a week (I figure if I'm asking, I may as well ask for a miracle too)!  We all would benefit from it immensely but what do I know???  I wish they would see how much we need this and to keep putting it off is going to make sure we never make time for it.  

I drove around Bedford a little bit before heading home and I hate to say it but I get very sad being in town.  It will never be the same place without my mom there and my heart gets so heavy with yearning to see her one more time or to hear her laugh just once more.  I want to walk right into her apartment and see her sitting in her rocking chair, plucking her chin, watching the Nebraska Cornchuckers, talking on the phone and all at the same time, making another list of things she needs from the grocery store.  I thought that heavy, sad feeling would eventually go away but it never has.  I went straight to Gravity to the cemetery and the instant I saw my dad's name on the stone, I cried like I hadn't cried in years.  Again, I needed his words; his wisdom; his shoulder; and I really, really needed his arms wrapped around me.  I needed his direction and there was no way to get it and that hurt like nothing else.  

When dad first died, the cemetery was the only place of solace for me but when mom died, I was never able to find it again.  I think that once mom was with him, it wasn't "my place" anymore.  It's funny how different situations in life makes your need for one parent so much greater than the other on different days.  Don't get me wrong, I miss my mom so much; way too much; but on this day, at this time in my life, my dad was who I needed to get me through.  

When I arrived at home, we had a visitor.  Quintin was personally offered a job with the county and I was so happy for him...proud of him.  He has made such great strides in his life and this is right along the lines of where he wants to be in his life.  Which made my life decisions even harder now.  The good wife knows you make compromises and you find a way to make it work.  Sometimes, a person has to "hang on" while at the same time "let go."  I'm trying to find this balance and make it work in our lives and be happy all at the same time.  

I don't want to adult today.  

In the words of Pink, "Where there is desire, there is gonna be a flame.  Where there is a flame, someone's bound to get burned.  And just because it burns, doesn't mean you're gonna die.  You gotta get up and try, try, try."

That is exactly what I plan to do.  TRY.             

Day 5!!!

I'm pretty sure Dana thought this blog was never coming.  I mean it's only day 10/10 of my vacation and I'm just now writing about Day FIVE!!!  Look, I've been busy.  Give me a break.

I woke up on Tuesday morning and was getting ready to start my day with Dana and Miss Kendall when this text message comes through from one of my co-workers.  Let me just insert here that I blatantly told everyone not to be calling me from work...about work...and I didn't care if that place was on fire, I wasn't stepping foot on the property!  So, if it did burn down, they could find me across the street with a bottle of water and a hot dog on a stick.  They were welcome to call or text me otherwise but I needed a break from that place.  And then this message came through "...but I'm glad our county has someone like you in that chair at night..."  

And I sat there and cried.  And I cried some more.  She can never know how much those words meant to me.  What most of you don't realize is the struggle that I have been having, deciding if this is where I am supposed to be.  So many positives in my workplace and so many not-so-positives.  Just like anyplace else I suppose but still...questioning myself and my future.  I was really hoping that this time away would give me a fresh new take on which direction life should take.  

So, back to our day!  We head to Des Moines where we had decided we wanted to go to the Botanical Gardens. Dana hadn't been there since she was young and I had never been there.  Kendall, well she had never been there either so it was quite amazing for the two of us!!!  Between Dana and I, we took A LOT of pictures and we asked A LOT of questions...to each other; as if we knew any of the answers hahahahahaha.  Why don't they put labels on these plants so we know what we are looking at?  I mean, how much does it mean to you if I say I REALLY liked that purple flower on that long green stem.  Seriously!  So if you have any botanical connections, they need labels!!!

When we were going through the first area, a worker said to Dana "Is it a boy?  He's sure cute!"  Uhhhh, excuse me Miss but while some people MAY put a giant pink flower headband on their little baby boys, MOST people do not!! I'm pretty sure my eyeballs about popped out and I wasn't sure what to think about this place.  A little while later, another gal came and about gunned us down just to say she was sorry if they ran us off but wanted us to know that they were switching things around for the season.  What in the hell is going on this crazy place???  We didn't run away.  We didn't even act confused, scared or indifferent!  All we did was look at the pretty label-less flowers and plants!!!  I would give this place a thumbs up though just because it was so beautiful and bright and there was so much to look at.  Even when we walked down a quiet hallway and Miss Kendall decided to crap her pants.  LOUDLY.  That girl has quite a gift!  Glad I didn't have to clean that up!!!

While we were enjoying the outside water plants, I may or may not have gotten a snapchat from someone else telling me to come back to work now.  Good thing for sunglasses to hide the tears that I couldn't hold back.  So many emotions on this crazy day!

Downtown we go!  We took a walk around the PapaJohn Sculpture Park.  I'm not even sure that I remember many of the sculptures that were there but I will tell you what I do remember!  There was a food truck on the side street when we took our walk and when we came back by from the artsy-fartsy school...IT WAS NOW AN ICE CREAM TRUCK!!!  Do you know that I have wanted some ice cream for about 2 weeks now and haven't let myself give in!  God works in mysterious ways but I'm sure this time he was grinning from ear to ear and letting out a big ole belly laugh!

About that artsy-fartsy school. Yeah, I can't remember what it was called but when we got there, we decided it looked way too "school-ish" for our liking so we were content with driving through the parking lot and gazing at the building.  And the building wasn't even cool!  Yeah, we are party animals like that.  We can talk ourselves out of our decisions faster than anybody I've ever seen.  "Let's do this...no, let's don't do this!"  And we laugh and laugh and laugh!  Dana did get a little lesson in sign-reading on the way to this place.  I'm pretty sure she didn't know before this day that there were words on metal sticks on the sides of the roads that tell you which way to go and where things are at!  I bet she knows now!!

Lunch time!  Not just for us but for Miss Kendall as well.  Dana parks in this "out-of-the-way" spot where there are no people so she can get in the backseat and feed the baby and we chat the whole time.  She gets out of the car and I hear her say "Well, how long have THEY been standing there?"  Two guys just standing by their car talking it up.  Hahahaha I guess that parking space...you know, the one that was 6 miles from HuHot...wasn't so out-of-the-way after all!!!

Now...the next place we wanted to visit was the Iowa Historical Museum.  It was on the drive here we noticed that stupid ice cream truck!  It's just BS if you ask me!  Anyway, If you haven't ever been to this museum, you should go.  It was extraordinary!!!  I can't believe I never knew this place existed.  I have driven right by it a hundred times if I've driven by it once.  It's free to visit and I'll tell you why...the parking SUCKS!!!  We like to walk so it worked out in our favor...eventually.  -_-  Kathy, we are definitely going to this soon!

I also don't know why I didn't get a picture of the outside of this building but if you know where the Capitol building is, it is literally half a block west!

So, here we are, driving up and down the streets looking for a place to park that wasn't going to eat all the quarters that we didn't prepare ourselves to bring.  And if that wasn't fun enough, the one-way streets were amazing!  I think we saw three cars that intentionally went down the one-way street in front of the Capitol building just to get to a two-lane road!  Lazy jerks!  As we meet one...yep, we were going the right way and they were going the wrong way...Dana says to me "Isn't this our road?"  Ha, well you know me!  I'm willing to take possession of a roadway without cause so I said "Of course it's ours!"  Hahaha what she meant was "Why is this A-Hole driving toward me when there isn't even a lane for them???""  

While looking for a parking place, we found the specialty surgery center in case we needed to pass a kidney stone while we were in town.  We also found that huge funeral home in case the surgery didn't go well.  Or someone drove the wrong way on the wrong road and someone just wasn't meant to make the trip!  At one point, Dana tried to park us in a State Employees Parking Only garage.  It's a good thing I can read those sign thingys!!!

We make it safely to this museum and our attention was caught immediately.  It was amazing to see all the items kept back from the wars; the articles from newspapers; the history. I'm not one that usually enjoys spending my free time in museums but I think my sister has rubbed off on me a little bit in that way.  It was neat to see what Henry Agard Wallace (I had no idea that was his middle name) looked like.  They had a couple of interactive maps about different areas of the state. Heck, I don't remember knowing there was an astronaut from Ringgold County!  This is what I get for not watching the news my whole life, huh???

We jumped onto the elevator to go up to level two because well....taking a stroller up a bunch of crazy steps wasn't on our list of extra-curricular activities.  So, we get on this elevator and both of us turn around and start looking at the map on the wall.  I noticed the elevator is moving and neither of us has pushed a button.  Dana turns around and pushes 2 and before we know it, we are on level 3!!!  That was one quick elevator and then there was that whole "Come on in, we wanted level 2" but were too dumb to push a button when we got in!!!  For the record, the nice man  that got in the elevator on level 3, knew Miss Kendall was a girl!

Dana had only been thirsty for about an hour so when we came across some water fountains, we were both a little relieved!  I got a drink first and luckily for me I did because otherwise we both would have been parched and we can't have that!  When I got done, Dana goes over and uses the fountain next to the one I used and as she bent down to get a drink, she pushes the button and I swear that thing meant to quench the thirst of someone in the back of that building and around the corner!  That water spout was crazy big and it would have made my day so much better if she would have gotten her face down just another inch or two before pushing that button!  Let's just say that Dana did not get a drink.  For a long time after that!

After a while, Miss Kendall decided she needed to get out of her stroller and be carried and Aunt Shellie was more than willing to hold her and talk to her.  Well.......it wasn't a walk and a talk she was looking for!!! She needed the boob and she needed it now!  Sorry kid, Aunt Shellie is no help to you now.  Luckily, mom comes to the rescue with a bottle. Let me tell you, this happy baby can wail and when you're in a quiet museum, it's about 10 times louder!!  She sucked that little supplement thingy down faster than any baby I have ever seen take a bottle and before we knew it, I was shoving another one in her tiny little mouth.  That seemed to hit the spot and take care of the problem.  I even got her to burp for me without puking all over me.  Maybe Aunt Shellie hasn't lost her touch, after all!

If you have never been to this museum and you decide to go, let me give you a couple of pointers.
 First:  when you go through the little "hut" or whatever it was, there is a very small incline or step on both sides and if you walk backward, to say...take pictures or something...be careful because you could fall on your arse.  I heard that from a friend!

 Second:  It is really, really easy to get turned around in this place!  Just because you go in one door, doesn't mean you're coming out that same door or any door that leads you to anything familiar so you may find yourself back tracking to finish looking at the displays that you started with!!!
 Third:  DO THE GREEN SCREEN!!!  We totally ran out of time and didn't get to do it!  Looked so fun!

We made it home with no scrapes, tears, or accidents and we were able to just talk and hang out.  We did finally get a drink, in case you were concerned.  Thank God for Kum N Go!  I hope I didn't leave anything out and if I did, I hope it wasn't funny!   Thank you Dana, for a fantastic day away.  I can't wait for our next trip!  Why didn't we have someone take some pics of the three of us???   <3

I'm going to end with this picture because the story behind it...and I'm not at libery to say...is so funny!!!  We will call this pic "Face Plant!"

Days 3 & 4 - So confused

Maybe I'm finally getting the hang of this thing.

This vacation thing.

And maybe I'm starting to really, really like it.

Maybe I want to keep on vacationing.

Maybe I should do this more often.

Maybe.

Maybe it's too early to tell.

If you read my last blog, you already know that the first two days of my vacation were not FULL of things I want to do again but I'm glad there were a few fine moments in there.

Let's just start up with Day Three: After a long night of restless sleep, I got up and going earlier than normal, after going to sleep after 01:30. With eyes halfway open, I threw a few things in a bag and headed down the road. I got a whole two miles before I realized I forgot some of the food I wanted to take with me so turn around and start over. At this point, all I could think was “vacations hate me. I'm never going to get it right.” Luckily, with the help of my husband, I got the rest of the stuff I needed (or so I thought) and got to Corning.

I hadn't even gotten my few things out of the car when Kathy and Jackie were outside ready to go on a walk and waiting on me. “Well, hello to you too! Don't mind me. I only have some groceries to put away first!” I will tell you that they started walking while I was still in the house and just figured I would catch up. I mean, I did but dang it, don't be a jerk!!! So we had a great little walk and before we knew it, we were back at the house and Kathy was ready to go to work for the day. As soon as she left, Jackie and I headed to the grocery store where I put Jackie in charge of helping me find everything on my list...as well as a few things that weren't! She did a good job.

One of my favorite things that I love about going out in public with Jackie is when we run into someone that I don't know but that knows her. After they chat, I always say “Who was that, Jackie?” and about 90% of the time I am met with “I don't know.” This time however, she knew it was Betty . She didn't care that I didn't know Betty!! Actually, she reacted as if she was a little surprised I didn't know who Betty was!

I also want to give a shout out to Kathy K! We saw her at the store as well. Hadn't seen her in so long!! That crazy lady needs to come on a road trip with the sister and I. She could probably teach us a trick or two! Kathy, it was nice to see you again (finally)!

I got to spend the rest of Day Three with Jackie and Zach. Jackie and I made cauliflower cheese sticks for lunch and homemade pizza (with cauliflower crust) for dinner. She did a superb job of mixing up the crusts and spreading the cheeses and toppings. It was a great day for us AND we got to throw in another walk between the two meals. She wasn't too happy with me for making her walk a little further but she was a real trooper and performed her famous “Special Olympic Walk” several times. We talked about why we walk on the left hand side of the road when there are no sidewalks and about proper breathing while we walk. She was probably muttering “shut up” under her breath but hey, it's important to know these things, right???

Now, spending time with Zach.....he cleaned his room and did his laundry. If that isn't making Aunt Shellie extremely happy, I don't know what is! I mean, I'm pretty sure he didn't do it because I was there but dang it, if he would have just asked me, I would have been upstairs helping him in no time! I'm not going to tell him that though!!

Back to the food. I'm not sure if they really liked the cauliflower ideas or not but they ate it and said it was good. Maybe they were being nice. I don't know. I think we are close enough that they would tell me if they didn't like it but I could be wrong. Maybe it's just a Me thing. Maybe it's just a Kathy and Me thing. Oh well, it's done and over with. Nobody went to the hospital and nobody died. It's all good.

When Kathy got home from work and dinner was over with, we went for another walk with Jackie. I don't think she was too thrilled about it but we did it anyway. She has lost 6 lbs. lately so her mom and I took this opportunity to tell her why it is important to keep on track. We even slowed down and verbally pushed her while we all struggled with the last hill! She was done and Kathy and I continued on for more. Because we are gluttons for punishment or because we wanted to work off the cheese we ate? Ha who knows! Good walk, great talk. So great we turned around and did it again at 05:00 the following morning.

And now we have entered Day Four of this exciting vacation!! Yep, this girl got her butt off the couch at 05:00 just to go for a walk. Ugh, I am totally not one of those people that get out of bed just to exercise. I like to be completely awake when I work out. You know...like 8 hours awake!

Now...here's where it gets exciting. Hold on to your shorts people. After Zach and Kathy had gone to work and Jackie left for dayhab, I went home and did laundry and cleaned my kitchen!!!

I KNOW...YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT!!! I ALREADY KNOW I'M AN ANIMAL!!!

And for those of you concerned...I also went and got my debit card back from the sports bar. I had left a message for them to call me but apparently they were way too busy to do that because they never tried to contact me or the bank (which was local for them). When I called to ask if they had it, the gal says “Ummm I did find a debit card. Was it blue?” Is it just me or is that a weird thing to ask? I'm pretty sure my questions would have been “What's the name on the card? What bank is it from?” So after I told her my name and that the card was in fact blue, AND that it was from a local bank, I told her I would be down to pick it up. When I got there, she didn't ask for any ID to prove I was the owner of the card or anything. I told her “I'm Shellie” and she walked away, got the card, handed it over and started to walk away. I did my best to engage her in conversation but I must have stunk or something because she didn't want much to do with me. Screw you. I won't come back to this establishment. Poor, poor service all the way around!

My night consisted of one of the most boring city council meetings on earth and then coming home and relaxing. Popcorn and milk for dinner and spent an hour dealing with the internet company in which it took forever and a day to get a solution! Again, this animalistic life is exhausting! I don't know how you are standing all this excitement...I mean staying awake!

Two days. That's what you get. I know that Dana is sitting back in the corner just waiting for me to talk about Day Five but I'm not going to. At least not today! Two days at a time, don't push!!! So... while it looks like I'm getting the hang of this thing, finally...I wonder just how much more I can take. I have had a very emotional day today, thanks to a few good friends, and my heart seems to be in limbo while my head seems to be drowning in mud. My future is so unclear and I have a lot to figure out.

We will have coffee and talk about this another day.

Maybe.

I have to learn to vacation!!!

Well, today marks day 3 of my vacation and let me tell you, I'm already exhausted.  I can prepare myself for any kind of upcoming walk, hike,cardio exercise but when it comes to vacations, I am SO OUT OF SHAPE!!!  

On the first day of my much needed hiatus, I had my vehicle packed to the gills with donations for the Open Door Mission.  Early Friday morning, on my way to Corning, I receive a phone call from one of the night guys.  To save you the boredom of this long, drawn out story...he accidentally called me BUT didn't know he did it.  I say his phone was already missing our usual (albeit nighttime) vulgar and hilariously funny conversations.  I also told him if he goes the rest of the 9 days without talking to me, his phone may literally fall apart and die from withdrawal. As I hung up from talking to him, guess what I did!!  I accidentally dialed one of the local state troopers!!  Ugh, thankfully I caught it and disconnected before he answered me.  I'm sure he wouldn't have been too happy with an accidental call from me after he worked the night before!  I definitely need this vacation!!  

I picked up my partner-in-crime, Sister Kathy (she's not a nun but she may as well be) and away we went.  Carter Lake, Iowa bound!!  We had a much needed talk on the way and a few laughs as usual.  We had our usual gripes about interstate traffic and construction zones.  Nothing too out of the ordinary.  As we crossed the bridge going from Iowa into Nebraska, my sister looks to her right and says "There's that bridge I've always wanted to walk across."  Now, let me tell you something about the teller of this story here.  I have drove over these roads NUMEROUS times and have never once noticed this beautiful bridge to the right of me.  Apparently I concentrate too much on the road in front of me and the traffic around me.  I'm not sure which is more important right now because I am learning that as the driver...who NEVER gets to look around much in the cities...I am missing out on a crap-load of neatness!!!  Screw the traffic, I'm going to start looking around at all the stuffs!!!

We arrived at the mission and were met by this spunky gal who says "Are you here to drop off donations?"  With a nod of my head and a smile on my face, she says "Well, we are closed for remodeling."  You won't even believe the stuff that was going through my head.  ""Are you going to make me take this stuff back home?"  I was immediately scanning the city of Omaha in my head, for drop offs and donation centers.  "But don't worry, we have a temporary drop off center set up just a block down the street and to the right."  Thank you Jesus!  So we got the stuff dropped off and away we went.  

To the bridge of Bob!!!  Once we finally found the parking lot for this place, we started the trek with great anticipation.  I was actually shocked that Kathy wanted to do this because she isn't much of a bridge...hey, they are high in the air...kind of person.  Kind of like I'm not much of a clown...hey, they are creepy and ugly...kind of person.  We walked this beautiful bridge and had a great talk (again).  We may have peed a little when runners would come up behind us and not tell us they were going to pass.  RUDE!!!  Every time we jumped, we giggled.  If you have never walked this bridge, you should do it.  It is literally 0.9k (according to the sign) and if you complete it, well you are a marathoner!!!  SWEET!!!  There are also walking paths that stem off of each end of the bridge but we didn't do that.  Maybe another time.  For this time, we were just happy checking out the bridge and bobbing (yes, that's a thing)!

After our little walk, we headed to the Old Market and walked around a bit more.  Did a little shopping.  I feel sorry for the recipients of some of these things!!!  This was my very first trip into Tannenbaum's where I didn't make one purchase.  It was kinda sad but I just wasn't too thrilled with the thought of Christmas shopping.  I know, I know, I'm having a hard time believing it myself!!  We had lunch at the Twisted Fork, which is a nice place to eat.  Several options for healthy eating.  

Next, we headed over to see nephew Jake and his wonderful family.  They have the cutest white cotton ball...well it's actually a chinchilla, named Coconut that I fell in love with.  I was so afraid of squeezing him to death but alas, I did not hurt the little guy and he did not hurt me.  When I was finally done holding him, I had a perfect little cotton ball on my shirt.  He sheds as much as our little Eva does!  I have to add here that I couldn't be more thrilled that Jake and family are now living so close to us.  It is so nice that he is just a hop, skip, and a jump away.  Who knows how long he is going to be here so I am going to take advantage and try to see them whenever I can.  I couldn't love his wife and family any more.  They truly make my heart full.  I am so blessed to be a part of their lives.

The excitement of the day started for me at 0400 so by the time I got home, I thought I wouldn't make it from the car to the house.  But I did.  I told Quintin that I really wanted to go to the swap meet but I needed a little nap first.  He said that was fine because he was tired too!  Next thing I know, he is eating a plate of food and the house is dark.  Oops!  I guess the swap meet is out of the question!!  You know what that nap did for me?  It gave me the energy to go upstairs and climb into bed. Yep, I was done.  Fork stuck and all!!  Did I mention that I am out of vacation shape???

So, if you are like me...and I apologize if you are...you might be thinking "Well this isn't such a bad vacation after all!"  I will just add in day two for you.  

Late for my nail appointment because I had my husband (and Eva) in tow.  I don't think I've ever been on time for anything when he goes with me.  I mean, why get up when the alarm goes off and get to moving when you can procrastinate and do every single thing at the very last minute and forget stuffs and things.  Heaven help that man!

Got my nails all prettied up in support of the Iowa Hawkeyes and away we went to Marshalltown, for a wedding reception for one of my favorite people!!  We had so much fun and I got to see so many people that I hadn't seen in so long!  Luckily, the Hawkeyes pulled it off!  It wouldn't have really mattered who won because Iowa wins either way, but the rivalry is always the best part of it.  It was so fun to see all the people with Iowa and Iowa State shirts and how we all kidded with each other about who the winner would be.  It was a tight game; a good game.  Way to go Iowa!

Crystal, if you are reading this, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day.  We love you very much and are so happy for you, James and the girls!

We got home just in time for me to go out with my friend Justi.  We headed to Creston to Mario's.  About halfway down, I was thinking about sending a text (No, I was not driving) and realized I didn't even bring my phone!  Oh well, I can live without it!  Now, let me tell you something!  It is HARD these days to not check your phone...especially when the person you're with, is sitting across from you at a table, constantly checking theirs!  I was secretly hating on her the whole time!  So, we paid for our decent food and crappy service and headed out the door.  The whole time we are walking to her car, talking about her burnt out headlight and how she is probably going to be stopped for it. 

As we are heading out of town I said "There's a cop, just so you know.  You're probably going to get stopped."  She doesn't believe me and why, I don't know because it's not like I can't spot these things a mile away!!! I have a little experience with the po-po and the things they drive but whatever lady!  As we approach the vehicle waiting for us to pass by, she sees that familiar gold reflective stripe and the word "Sheriff" on the side.  "OH YOU WERE SERIOUS!!"  Lord, have mercy on my little simpleton friend here.  She doesn't know what even she thinks!!!  Luckily for her, he wasn't too interested in us and quickly turned off and out of site.  Don't get me wrong, I was wanting her to get stopped.  Yes, I'm evil like that.

Next stop, Orient, Iowa.  Pumpkin Days in full swing with a band playing.  Not a whole lot of people outside listening, which is sad.  It seems to get smaller every year, unfortunately.  There was supposed to be a beer garden but I think someone didn't get the memo about how the "garden" cant be the whole town.  It is supposed to be sectioned off and you aren't supposed to be able to just let people run around with open containers but they sure did all of that!  When I go to pumpkin days, I always wish they had the crowds that they used to have; the activities they used to have.  Like all good things, they are quickly coming to an end.  They need to bring back the mud volleyball.  I think I have some family members that would LOVE to get a team together for that!  I remember when I was a little girl and all the drunks would just be sitting on curbs or passed out in someone's yard.  Some of you may not think that's the best memory but I always got a kick out of it.  People are so funny...and so stupid when they are drunk.  Me included.  Look, I'm no better than anybody else!  I just tend to not do it too often for the sake of social media looking down the barrel and shooting me in the face!  

As we are getting ready to leave the snooze-fest, I suddenly thought about where my debit card was at.  I looked in my little pouch and it wasn't there. Not in that pocket, not in that one, nope, not there...or there!  Crap, I bet I left it at the restaurant!!!  Ugh!!! Justi says "You better call them and see if they are still open and we will go get it."  I almost throat punched her as she was driving just for saying that!  "Oh yeah, you can use my phone."  Isn't she just the greatest???  Guess what!  CLOSED!!!  UNTIL Monday!!!  SERIOUSLY PEOPLE???  

At this point,  I have no phone and no debit card and obviously no cash!  I AM NOT GOOD AT VACATIONING!!!   It seems that when I don't HAVE to remember a million things, I CAN'T remember one!!!  

We get back to Fontanelle and I told her to go by my house and I would grab my phone.  I ran inside and just left both front doors wide open and ran into the bathroom because well...I had to potty, okay!!!??  Without going into all the stinky details, I look around and there's no TP.  None.  Not even a single sheet.  So now panic starts to set in.  I have left my phone at home and that was fine.  I even left my debit card at the restaurant and I'm not freaking out about that.  But this...this wasn't a great situation to be in because nobody else was home with me and Justi was outside in her car!   To get to the nearest roll of toilet paper, I would have to cross my dining room to get to a closet.  The problem is that I couldn't pull my pants up because I had a dirty bum, okay???!!! AND I LEFT BOTH FRONT DOORS WIDE OPEN!!!  

Time for a pep talk.  "Here's the plan, Shellie..... run for it.  Just run across there with nothing on your bottom half, jump OVER the punching bag that is leaned up against the closet entry, and try not to land on or break the vacuum that is across from the punching bag.  And for god's sake lady, DON'T GET POOP ON ANYTHING IN THE PROCESS!!!  So, I take off like a lightning bolt out of the bathroom and as I LEAP into the air to long jump over the punching bag,I turn my head to the door and the inside door has closed!!!  It closed!!!  But wait, I'm still in the process of straddling myself over this bag and hoping not to wipe my ass on it!  Well, I got over it and nothing got mangled, broken, or "dirty" in the process; knocked over maybe but nobody and nothing got hurt!  I should probably try out for the Olympics!  

It wasn't until now...when I was typing this...almost a whole day later...that I realize I could have just called Justi to come inside and get the TP for me!!!  Oh well! 

At this point, I think carrying a 10 lb. pumpkin for a 5k race won't be as bad as I thought.  I slept really good last night in case you were wondering.  I think I'm frazzled out of my mind with forgetfulness and bad-luck preparedness.  It's exhausting.  Right up until 0400 when my internal clock says "IT'S TIME.  WE GOT THIS.  LET'S DO THIS."  And I don't even have anything planned!!!  Good luck to me and anybody else in my way for the next 7 days.  We are all going to need it.  Next time I take vacation, I'm going to practice for it!