New Dogs on the Block

On October 11, we made a trip to a Northfield, MN breeder's kennel. We have been looking to replace Pebbles, Eric's Dalmatian, who died just before Christmas last year. We all like the Dalmatian breed and have for years. Spots on an Appaloosa ranch is just a must! Well we had to take both dogs if we took them, so we now have 4 dogs (3 in the barn & 1 in the house), 6 horses, 5 cats and 4 mini goats....a real "phun"-ny pharm!! They are Prince and Patches. We will probably have a litter of pups as neither dog is fixed (yet)....and Gary thinks it would be nice to have a litter. He has one sold to a neighbor that stopped by tonight if we do have a litter! Good grief Charlie Brown!!

Trip to North Platte, NE

A week ago, sister Jane and I took a quick road trip to North Platte, NE for her uncle Lloyd Johnson's funeral. We left my house at 8 am and following a quick lunch break in Shelby, IA we pulled into North Platte about 5:10 pm. After settling into the Hampton Inn, we met with Bill and Bunny Johnson. This was Bill's brother's funeral. There were family stories shared. Jane was most excited to meet Lloyd's 2 daughters, Peggy and Barbara. Peggy and Jane knew of each other as children but hadn't seen one another since some 55 years ago. Barbara is closer to my age. Lloyd's widow, has an amazing memory. While she was excited that Jane had come for the funeral, she looked over her shoulder at me (sitting in a pew back a ways) and said "Is that Stephanie?" "Stephanie E____ (blanked out for security purposes)?" While picking up my jaw, I walked up by Jane and the widow and I gave her my sympathy and then she asked about my sister Susan E____, brother Steven (she couldn't remember his middle name) and Sindi....I am still just flabergasted by her knowledge of our family. I don't know this woman, she only lived in our hometown for a few years, yet she knew all about us! Just amazing...
We left Wednesday directly after the burial at Fort McPherson Nat'l Cemetary. This was very stoic...the Air Force Base Honor Guard did an OUTSTANDING job for this veteran. The wind was blowing 40-50 mph, misting or raining and cold! Yet they maintained their composure, folded the flag like you'd see at the Washington DC Tomb of the Unknown soldier.... and I could really feel for the soldier who played Taps...my lips were cold just thinking of it! We left North Platte in rainy conditions and about 20 minutes later we were driving in SNOW! That lasted about 30 minutes and then we drove in rain all the way back to Des Moines. We got back to my place at 12:15 am Thursday morning. Manned with the Garman GPS system we got there and back thru the big towns of Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Omaha and North Platte! Now Jane just needs to name her!! We had a nice trip even though it was a sad situation. Good time bonding with Jane!

Job searching

Well, its been one month since my position of Customer Service Account Manager was eliminated at Streater's. I haven't had to ever think about "What I want to be" when I grow up since Junior High when all the world was a stage! Since I'm a little too wide for the Airline Stewardess job that I thought I wanted to be in 7th grade, my sister says that the travel industry isn't the way to go right now, and I don't have a medical degree of some sort.....(do I hear the sound of the violins yet???) If only I could play the organ or drive a truck - I'd be in hot demand around here!

I have had a couple of interviews and have a couple of serious job offers, I just don't know if its what I want to do or not......the pay isn't the greatest or the benefits aren't there....this just sucks!

So if your Mother told you to get a degree and/or make something of yourself, be damn glad you did it! My mother told me to get the degree and I blew if off for marriage! SSStttupppidd! Ok, now add the drumroll .... and the whining is over!

Weekend Visitors

Had a great visit with my sisters Sue and Sindi. Went out the the Extreme Home Makeover build site, came back and had pizza and pop for lunch. Great weather! Sue had to tell Maurice that she was out driving in a corn field when he called!! Too funny!

We have to do that some more! Sue had trigger finger surgery and is recouperating nicely!

Eric helps with Extreme Home Makeover

Tonight Eric will be installing the garage door at the DeVries home. His employer - Overhead Door Co of Albert Lea donated a Courtyard series door with a Silent Max opener. Eric volunteered to install the door along with another employee. So keep your eye open for him when the show airs, just incase they are captured in any video. :)

Helping with the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

When I read the article in the Albert Lea Tribune announcing this area Home Makeover, I immediately contacted my Home Interiors & Gifts Unit Director in Fort Dodge, IA to have her find out if Home Interiors would be able to help out with a donation of Home Decor. The company had helped out another family 2-3 years ago on the east coast, so I thought - "If you don't ask, you won't know". Well Home Interiors responded in the affirmative!

Next the Unit Director sent out an email for the EMHE Design team to look thru the catalog on line at her website and let her know what items they would like to use. Some time went by and there wasn't an answer from the EMHE Design team. Now it's Thursday night, so I took it upon myself because I'm only 8 miles away from the build site, to go get an answer. With books in hand, my family and I drove up to the build site. They observed the building, I was on a mission to get these books to the right person to get the order in. I was put in contact with Heather from the ABC production team and she contacted Jowill. Friday morning Jowill called me and gave me a "Wish List" and I put that list in an email and sent it off to a HIG Branch Manager in Davenport IA who would have direct contact with the HIG President Robin Crossman. Ms. Crossman put into action a team who picked, packed and shipped everything on the "Wish List" order Friday afternoon for next day air freight delivery to me. By 4:30 pm Friday, we were in business! I'm looking forward to the freight arrival on Monday and taking it up to the build site. Jowill has put me on the "Move In" List. I'll be assisting with the placement of the Home Interiors and Gifts products in the home and anything else needed.

My sisters and I took my Home Interior Banner and hung it on the fencing at the build site on Saturday morning.

I'll keep you updated with information as I have it..... :)

I'm Baaaack!

With the help of my sisters and everyone telling me I need to get my blog in gear I am going to. I had forgotten my password but Sue and Sindi helped me out so watch for my new blog about my Extreme Home Makeover experience.