Thursday, December 28, 2006
A Hard 24 Hours
I am so thankful for my neighbor Diane. She has really helped me and has been there for me while I cried to her on the phone. (I also want to say that Kristin and Mike too. They also got the privilege of listening to me cry.) The good thing is that Diane told me that Nate will only be gone for 12 Grey's Anatomy episodes. That sounds a lot better than 90 days.
A Very Merry Christmas
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
A New Addition
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2ug1a0R7RF3b96FrZJrmfLm3-XzWsaEnSL2IgGR-SDeH4Gz8yzlw-a-Zf0K5Kuu32E_-hx0qlWIwDFnzAdm5Ry4G7taU84KB_g6sK0-MTd6kTvbnDgx9SpCYSy1PEtAXYEeo4g/s320/Darren+Voge+009.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxrsCT4eVSGpV7XIxF77tIuogxYY7B6goKq0tGqQi1QGTGoHX0GBqCF1kKTDhXiuhHBtIdDGkM4-Xp1z7Z7cckaJF976fMUgmXNlf0lbtgLP5I1sEgx6oiWrWmSJ_1xYpgC5T6A/s320/Darren+Voge+099.jpg)
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Last Weekend
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxpY3tQdYHzLQkVymtN8j5Y3QwFSQBxxFJkCeNe_UnMRi-ityK3aTR4N-uhzssLQKc-BZkyimZWRQXvFq3a7HhMI-PAy6GDhQtE3IUgfZVRZjInDCL7-Kqq4u3sa-VrZytSN76Q/s320/December+2006+019.jpg)
Here is a picture after the first fist full of cake. Good thing FavoriteNeighbor bought a special cake for Hailey. A few minutes after this picture was taken Hailey got it all over her face and in her eyes. Sorry I don't have any pictures of that, but I had to help mom clean it off her face. Hailey wasn't too happy that it was in her eyes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCw25SHdI0IX93lXYF7IJHBtQtgNF3gaKgXCEk9vABEnNDyUoPWqYfo8_YuKzmVCXuMuy0n-vGJdovKdHcRBAj877ppQqgkauZvewjmSgQm2InazfsxSchSpHw2em3ywmJC1F1A/s320/December+2006+014.jpg)
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
All By Myself!
I do have to mention the negative event from my dinner. I made my favorite pie that my grandma use to make. Anyway - I have made the pie in the past. (No problems than.) Let's just say that the pie was more like a soup that had to be served in a bowl. It tasted the same, but just would not hold it's shape. I was so frustrated. I even put it outside for 2 hours to see if it would freeze. Nope - that didn't work.
So my dinner was a success. I am official now!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Dentist
Good thing is my dentist is cute! :)
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
An Urgent Matter
My thoughts were right and I was able to fix the toilet. Honestly is was pretty easy, but it was only a temporary fix.
Tonight as I was driving home my co-worker called me to tell me that there was an urgent matter that they needed my help with and that I needed to come back to the office. My first thought was "Great, I need to go to the grocery store so I can get home and make dinner. I don't have time to go back to work." I asked "What could this urgent matter be?" - "Well, the toilet won't flush again." I just laughed and said I would be able to fix it tomorrow morning.
Maybe I need to put these types of things on my resume.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Duties of a Maid-of-Honor
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/2613/4109/200/Nikki%20035.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/2613/4109/200/Nikki%20027.jpg)
On a side note: Motorider really surprised me. Normally, at least all the weddings that we have gone together - Motorider wears jeans and a nice shirt. I have given up on convincing him to wear dress pants. Anyway, I told Jen that I hope she didn't mind that Motorider would be wearing jeans to her wedding. (Of course she didn't care.) I was completely convinced that he would, but when we were packing to go - Motorider put out a shirt, tie, and dress pants. I couldn't believe it. Here is a picture of the two of us at the reception. Doesn't he look so good dressed up?
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/2613/4109/200/Nikki%20020.jpg)
Monday, November 27, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/2613/4109/200/Nikki%20009.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/2613/4109/200/Thanksgiving%202006%20012.jpg)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Black Tongue
I got to work and it just so happened that a nurse was coming in to give us flu shots, so I asked her about my little problem. The good thing is that she solved my mystery. She told me that Pepto-Bismol has been known to make your tongue black. And guess what... I had taken a chewable tablet the night before.
I do apologize that I didn't take a picture of this great episode in my life.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Naughty Puppy
Anyway... my story begins on Saturday morning. I woke up and let CrazyPuppy out to play with the neighbor dogs. CrazyPuppy usually stays in our yard or the neighbors and I occasionally yell out the window to make sure he hasn't strayed to far from the yard. (To our surprise CrazyPuppy has not wondered too far from mom or dad.) While CrazyPuppy was playing outside our little neighborhood girl (we refer to as Crazyeyes) came over and was playing with the dogs in our yards. I think she played with the dogs for a good 2 hours. I enjoyed having a babysitter to let Crazypuppy release some of his energy.
I happen to look out the window and noticed that Crazyeyes was walking CrazyPuppy towards the front door. It looked like she had him on a leash, but actually it was a ribbon she wrapped around his collar to bring him home. Than the doorbell rang and Crazyeyes tells me... "Nikki, your puppy was being naughty so I brought him home." I said... "Thank you" and she left with no explanation on why Crazypuppy was naughty. We sure do live in an interesting neighborhood that I wouldn't trade for the world.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Deer Hunting
This is what I know about deer hunting... Guys (and some gals) spend hundreds of dollars and time getting ready to hunt. They have to buy the right gun (and even than they want a bigger one.), bullets (which are quite spendy), deer tags (to allow you to kill a buck and a few does), and of course the fashionable orange gear. So, it is deer opener and this is what happens... Remember this is from a non-hunter perspective. You get up at 4:30am to meet for breakfast before sunrise. You walk into the woods (in the dark) to your deer stand (which is hoisted in a tree about 10 feet above the ground) and sit. Yes sit and wait. I have heard rumors that they occasional fall asleep. Not only are you just sitting the temperature outside ideally should be no warmer than 30 degrees. Than when someone shoots a deer in your party you wait until it dies and than have to go and gut it out. Yes, cut through the deers skin and bones and remove the insides. (This is not for the faint of heart.) Once you have that done, you drag it to the truck to be tagged and registered with the DNR. After that you can either process it yourself or take it to a professional butcher. This does not sound like any fun to me. I told Motorider that this can something he does on his own and I would not participate in this adventure. I think he was relieved.
Waking up early, sitting in a tree freezing to death, and waiting are definitely not my cup of tea. I am hoping for some pictures to capture these moments in the next two weekend hunting trips. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Friday, November 03, 2006
What would you do for your Boss?
We get back to the office and I notice I have left my purse at the restaurant. My co-worker says she will call and make sure it is there and that I will pick it up on my way home. I than realize that my keys are in my purse, so I have to get my purse now. The good thing is that I needed to go back that way because the stupid people at the auto parts store (which will remain nameless because they are not giving me advertising dollars to mention their name) to get the right one.
I borrow my other co-workers car and make the trip back to get my purse and exchange the headlight. Don't forget my boss's car is sitting in the parking lot with the headlight hanging off of it. Once I exchange the bulb for the correct one I start heading back to work. About 2 stoplights from the auto parts store I realize they gave me the high beam bulb and not the low beam bulb. Now I am frustrated and turn around and go back. I did learn that Yukan Denali's use the high beam bulb for both high/low beam headlights. (Just in case you needed to know.)
Once I am back at work - it takes me about 2 minutes to finish the process and now it is fixed. I am not sure if I would do it again, but at least I know I can do it without help. On a side note: Not only did I have Motorider as a back-up, my friend Rob (who fixes everyone's cars) works on the other corner of my office building making him back-up number 2.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Happy Halloween
I am not a big fan of dressing up for Halloween, but Nate enjoyed in the festivities this past weekend. He decided to dress up this year. On Friday night I went to pick him up and didn't recognize him. I had to ask our friend where he was and he was a few feet away. I actually think he could pull off this look in real life...
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5748/3699/200/Nate%20Halloween%202006.jpg)
Monday, October 30, 2006
Who Pays?
It happened last winter when MotoRider and I went to Subway for dinner. Normally we take turns on who will pay and a quick conversation at the cash register determines this. But this time was different. MotoRider knew what he wanted so he placed his order and I was quick to follow with mine. Just as I am about to finish telling the sandwich maker what I want on my sub. MotoRider turns and says... "I have to run to the bathroom. I will be right back." At first I don't care, but than I realize what he has just done. He left right when the decision was suppose to be made on who will pay... So, his absence has confirmed that I will be paying for this meal. When he returns... I ask about his quick disappearance and confirms my suspicions are true. That was his way of letting me pay for dinner.
The reason I am telling you this now is that he did a similar scenario to me just the other night. We were at Jimmy Johns (MotoRider's favorite sub place.) and he ordered first because it was my first time at JJ's. Once I placed my order I look to find MotoRider filling his beverage far enough from the register that we can't make this quick paying decision. (Plus there about 3 people behind me.) So, I had over my credit card.
Now you can try these tricks the next time you don't want to pay for dinner or want to avoid that awkward feeling. I do want to make one side note. MotoRider does pay for me on a regular basis and he did the other night when we went to see a movie. I just thought these were some creative ways to avoid this awkward moment.
Monday, October 23, 2006
A Weekend in Mora
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5748/3699/320/Fall%202006%20043.jpg)
Here is a picture of MotoRider and Hailey. It is nice to see that Hailey finally likes MotoRider. It has only taken about a year for her to not cry when MotoRider held her.
Here is a picture of MotoRider and Hailey doing some reading. I think Hailey is reading to MotoRider.
Hailey also is very polite because everytime someone sneezes she says "bless you!" Let's just say that everyone had to sneeze.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Lap Dog
CrazyPuppy has been a lot more protective over me and has been craving some extra attention. I have a feeling that CrazyPuppy thinks that he is a lap dog now. Everytime I sit in the recliner, CrazyPuppy thinks he can sit with me. It is kind of funny to see a 70 pound dog trying sit on my lap. I wish I had a picture to give you a visual. It is kind of hard to take a picture of yourself when no one is home. I am pretty sure FriendlyKitty wouldn't be able to take the picture.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Pumpkin Patch
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5748/3699/200/Fall%202006%20011.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5748/3699/200/Fall%202006%20010.1.jpg)
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Friday the 13th
In the morning... I try an experiment. I turned the fan on the dresser (which is not connected to the same outlet, or even near the lamp.) and guess what? The stupid light turns on... Weird. I don't have a huge knowledge of electricity, but all I know is I can turn the light on with the fan.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Book Club or Bust?!?
Okay - the point of my blog today is give a little history on why I would join a book club. It all started 2 years ago in Biwabik, MN. Renee and I were enjoying our yearly women's ski trip to Giant's Ridge. Our church plans this every year and as an ice-breaker we were asked to tell everyone what book we were reading. My book was "Lemony Snicket's - Unfortanate Events", and Renee's book was ".... and the picky eater" (a children's book). (Renee has her own home daycare.) Of course all the other women in the room commented on what book their "book club" was reading. This of course sparked Renee and I's interest. After some small conversation on the way home Renee and I decided to start a book club when we got home.
So, that is how the "Why Not? book club" was born. Today we have 7 active members and 3 retired members. I have to admit. I love being in a book club.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
We're Not Going To "Conia" Tonight!
To give you a little background on why I would say "We're not going to "Conia" tonight!" Last April - 20 minutes before our party (actually - it was my birthday party) was going to start, MotoRider decided to show of his wheelie skills in the yard. During his last wheelie attempt MotoRider puts the foot peg right into his calf. After some quick assessments, we decided the ER was where we needed to go. Being the nice girlfriend, I brought him inside and said "Call me when your done, and I will come get you!" Than I returned to the party without MotoRider. About 1 hour and 12 stitches later I went and picked up MotoRider. We returned to the party and enjoyed the rest of the evening recalling the earlier event. (According to MotoRider - all the nurses kept coming up to him and asking if he was the one with the knarley leg wound.)
So I am happy to say that this years party was a lot cheaper, but not as entertaining.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Should it look like a swamp?
Last night I called her on my way home for help. I told her it needs to be easy and with ingredients that I have heard of. Her suggestion is Chicken Parmesan. So, now it is time for me to go shopping. Thank goodness for cell phones or I would have been searching all night for tonights meal. She takes me through the store ingredient by ingredient until I have everything. I did need some help with side dishes too. "and...you will need something green she tells me." I guess I didn't realize dinner had to come in a variety of colors. How about corn? I reply... I know it is not green, but it is a vegetable. The one ingredient I was a little nervous about was the fresh parsley. (How do you cut this up? This is a big deal... I better call MotoRider to make sure he will be home in time for dinner. It is not every day that I cut up fresh parsley for dinner.) To be honest I was almost tempted to just use the parsley from the spice rack.
Now it is time for me to make this exotic meal. With Kristin on the phone coaching me through the preparation and I am feeling confident and excited to be making something that doesn't have the directions listed on the box. I have most the ingredients mixed together and it is now time to melt the butter. I put it in the microwave and frequently check on the melting process. As I am stirring the mixture I question the look of what I am making. I ask Kristin if it is suppose to look like a swamp, she ignores the question and just assumes I am doing everything right. So, the next step is to coat the chicken in the butter... the swamp mixture doesn't look like it can be coated and that is when Kristin's light bulb comes on... I have made a huge error in the recipe. I guess I missed the statement... "in a separate bowl... melt the butter." Good thing I have enough ingredients to try this again. This time Kristin questions my every move. I think I need a cook book with step by step pictures... This should confirm if I am doing it correctly.
In the end MotoRider and I enjoyed a wonderful meal that was not made from a box. Next week... I am making a Roast.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
My Favorite Neighbor Under One
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5748/3699/320/Duluth%20023.jpg)
I haven't written for over a week. What is wrong with me? It is not like I am busy and don't have time. I guess we could call it writers block. Life has been pretty quiet in our small town. So I thought you would enjoy a cute picture of our favorite neighbor.
I will title the picture as this: What adults do to capture the moment in a picture?
This is Neighbor Hailey in Nate's lunch cooler. How come kids love playing with everything but their toys?
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Missing Kitty
You thought my story was over, but no.... There is a part II. Today I get home from work and go and get CrazyPuppy out of the kennel. When I get back in the garage I hear FriendlyKitty meowing... Not the "Hi, pay attention to me.. meow". It is the I am stuck and I want out meow. I run inside and start looking around... Nothing!!! So, I go outside and I still hear him. I walk around to the back of the house and their is FriendlyKitty scared to death hiding in the Hostas. Um... I was the last to leave the house... How did he get out? That I will never know.
To summarize... Don't let your Uncle treat your animals like their rule the house. This can only cause you stress and fear in the future. I guess when I told ArmyMan that FriendlyKitty is an indoor cat he must not have understood me. They must have a different definition for Indoor Cat in Florida.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
A Few Snapshots
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5748/3699/200/Hawaii%20001.jpg)
I thought I would put a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.
Here is a picture of MotoRider and CrazyPuppy. This was taken this spring.
CrazyPuppy is a lot bigger now. He loves playing catch in the yard, but is a little nervous when MotoRider brings out the pit bike in the backyard. Did I mention that we have mock pit bike track in the back yard. MotoRider has created a nice track that encompasses the backyard. A few weeks ago one of neighbors came over and told us that they enjoyed watching Motorider race around the yard. They have even voted on where he will most likely crash. We surely don't need another trip to Waconia. I would like to add that I am working on my own pit bike skills. I am trying to master a wheely, and I have yet to complish this task. I am fairly confident that
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5748/3699/200/Las%20Vegas%20003.jpg)
Thursday, September 07, 2006
The ArmyMan is Gone but Not Forgotten
1. ArmyMan idolizes FriendlyKitty. I have included a picture of FriendlyKitty to give you a visual. ArmyMan thinks that FriendlyKitty should have full reign in the house. All the training that Motorider and I have done is now down the drain. FriendlyKitty now thinks he can freely roam the counters in the kitchen, go outside on the deck (previously an indoor cat, he now meows to go outside), and sleeps with us at night. When ArmyMan was here, I would scold FriendlyKitty and ArmyMan would run over and pick up FriendlyKitty and say "It's Okay!" So, now we are starting from scratch on training Thomas.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5748/3699/200/Las%20Vegas%20021.jpg)
2. The Honda - ArmyMan has taken ownership of my Grandmothers car. It is 1997 Honda Civic. You would think this car was a Ferrari on the way ArmyMan treats it. He has stated that he is unable to help my relatives if he can't keep his car in their garage. (So, they need to keep one of their own cars in the driveway, so the civic can stay in the garage away from the weather.) ArmyMan has also found the sweet spot for gas mileage in this car. ArmyMan could be found driving on Interstate 94 where the speed limit is 70 mph but only traveling at a pace of 55 mph because that is the speed he gets the best gas mileage. (The time I save by driving the speed limit is worth more than the money I would save in gas mileage.) Now, that ArmyMan is driving back to Florida (in his 1969 Impala convertible - I wonder what kind of gas mileage that gets?????) his precious Civic is sitting in our garage.
3. Last but not least. ArmyMan offered to paint the entire basement. The only problem... Motorider and I did not have much say on the color. What??? Who's house is this? That is what I thought. In the end the basement was painted in a color not completely agreed upon.
On a side note... ArmyMan is a unique character. I have learned to accept ArmyMan for who he is and all his strange actions and behaviors. It doesn't bother me that he has re-arranged our garage 4 times (um, I wonder where he put that?), only uses plastic silverware, plates, and cups,(Fewer dishes for me to wash) or sits at the kitchen table clipping newspaper articles for everyone he knows. I do have to apologize that I don't have a picture of ArmyMan. I do hope that you are still able to visualize him through these stories.
Monday, September 04, 2006
"Hi Weirdo"
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5748/3699/200/Hailey%20002.jpg)
Wow, I can't believe that summer is coming to an end. This weekend MotoRider and I went to Mora for a weekend of family events. MotoRider's grandparents celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Some of you may know that MotoRider has a niece that is 19 months old. She is able to copy any word that you tell her to say. This being said, she can be persuaded to say just about anything. Her saying for the weekend was "Hi Weirdo!". Of course this only was said when coached by your grandpa (Motoriders dad) with one exception. All the guys were golfing (including grandpa) and it was just Hailey (Motorider's Niece), Mandi, Mel (Motorider's sisters) and myself. So, we were sitting around the kitchen table and Hailey looks right at me and says "Hi, Weirdo!" The three of us look around and amazed that she said this without coaching. After a few more minutes Hailey decides that this is funny and tells me over and over that I am a weirdo.
When everyone comes home, Motoriders is thrilled that he is not the only one that Hailey calls Weirdo. I am told that children only say the truth because they have not learned to lie. So, I guess the truth is out and I am officially a WEIRDO.
I have included a picture of Hailey and myself so you have a visual of the entire situation.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Testing my Computer Skills
You Punched Me...
One Post at a Time
I hope to become more computer savy and add pictures to document my drama.
Stay tuned for my first actual drama post...
Actually - I need to fill in some characters that you will mostly likely read about in this blog. As characters are added I will make sure to note their actual identity.
DramaQueen - Me
MotoRider - Nate
CrazyPuppy - Cody
FriendlyKitty - Thomas
FavoriteNeighbor - Diane
NoisyNeighbor - Brandon
BabyNeighbor - Hailey
ArmyMan - Uncle Jim