Memorial Weekend 2013

This year for Memorial weekend we (meaning me, Nicole, my mom & Robbie) headed to northern Utah for the weekend. Mom & I both took Friday off from work so we could have some extra travel time & not feel rushed to get there and back. It's a really long trip for such a short time, so any extra time we can take make a big difference!

We left late Thursday night after we for home from work & drove to Beaver where we stayed the night. I was happy to sleep even though the bed was uncomfortable (remember I'm a Marriott hotel snob!) In the morning we woke up early to travel the rest of the way. We weren't in a hurry though because we couldn't check into our room until 3pm, so we took out time. We stopped at the cheese factory to get our monthly supply of cheese. It's always been fun to stop there. Nicole & I got an ice cream cone, yummy! Then onward with our journey with a stop at Costco, and lunch somewhere I can't remember. (I must not have been too impressed with it since I can't remember what it was, oh well). We got to our hotel & checked in. Then of course we had to make our traditional trip to the mall... I know dumb huh? But we always find the best deals when we go there! This trip we scored for Nicole! She came home this trip with lots of new clothes!

Mom, Nicole & I went to meet Aunt Sandra and Camille to go to the cemetery when Eldon, grandpa & grandma are buried to clean the headstones. We sat and talked so long before we went there, we decided we'd go have lunch first before we went to the cemetery . We ate at Pepper Bellies. Then we went onto the cemetery. I was surprised at how many people were there!

So we cleaned the headstones. Oh my! They sparkled once they were finished! We walked through the cemetery to see other places of family who is buried there as well. Nicole kept saying what she's going to put on my headstone one day...she said she wants to put my high school senior picture on it! I said "Can we leave before she gets anymore ideas?" Hahaha

Anyway we finally finished then went and bought flowers for the graves. We were going to take them the next day, but I though it would be a ton of work to keep loading and unloading them, so we went back again to place them at the graves.

We left again and went to the mall. Again Nicole scored on that trip too. I got a couple bras & a pair of shorts. Problem was I didn't want to pay a crazy amount for the shorts I wanted, but ended up still paying a crazy price! We left the mall & picked up mom to go get some food for dinner on Sunday at Sandra's house. We got all we needed then went back to the room & made out dinner...pizza & breadsticks then went to bed

Sunday morning we got up & went to church. After church we went back to the room & got our salad fixings ready. We want to Sandra's to eat. We sat & talked then went back to the cemetery so the rest of the family could place their flowers. The cemetery was packed! I have never seen so many people on a cemetery at once in my life. But it was beautiful all the graves with flowers placed around them. We talked some more with family and other people who recognized my mom or her sisters. (What do you expect when you lived on a small town?)

Anyway, it was a fun weekend to remember my loves ones. There are several other loved ones who have dies that were on my mind this weekend as well, but they just aren't buried at this cemetery.

Cow Story

I think everyone has at least one goods cow story to tell. I know I have a few good stories myself just from my own personal experiences I can tell. 

When I was little my parents thought it would be funny to stop in the middle of a pasture of cows so I could clean off my feet that was covered with mud. Heck no! I thought those suckers were gonna charge me! I screamed & cried to get out of there!

Then there was the 1st and only annual McCourt Running of the Bull in Washington. Oh my gosh seeing Josh holding onto Taco the bulls tail while being pulled through the stinging nettle was hilarious with a bucket of feed so the bill could get it medicine will always live in memory (I just about pee'd my pants watching all this take place at the time!)

So our most recent cow story took place when I was with Josh in North Dakota while he was working...

Whenever we see cows, we always honk the horn. Doesn't really matter where the horn is honked. Even if the cow can't hear it... Anyway on this particular trip  Josh's brother John was ahead of us in his truck while Josh & I were following. We were actually in the middle of nowhere Montana! We turned onto a side dirt road where some cows happened to be as we turned. So Josh honked the horn...unbeknownst to us John did too! No big deal. 

But obviously it was! Next thing I know we stop! I didn't know what was going on because I was in the sleeper of the truck. Next thing I know, Josh is unrolling his window and some guy is standing up on his truck asking him "You got a reason for honking at my cows?" Josh said, "Just to honk".  Then the guy said "Your trying to make my cows run & that makes them lose weight & takes away my profit so don't honk at my cows!" He then got down & walked back to where he came from.  Apparently what happened was he jumped in his truck and sped down the road, passed Josh & John then stopped in front of him. He got out of his truck yelled at John about the same thing then came back to Josh! 

I thought it was funny because I watched the entire thing happen. When the horns were honked the cows didn't even move. They just stood there eating happily away on the grass. I suppose the farmer guy thought differently (he must have been having a bad day).

What we found out later was even more crazy..the farmer guy has come up to the job site area complaining about his profits being lost. Come to find out, there were other drivers from other companies and divisions honking at the cows! A message was sent to the computer system not to honk at the cows! This went on for a couple days, so it became a joke after awhile.

When I was on my way home I thought maybe I should invent the honk diet! Whenever you hear a honk your suppose to run...apparently it causes you lose weight! Shoot that horn would have to be on constant blast for me to finally lose the weight I've been working on losing for so long. 

Fun Night

On the road again so what do I do to pass time? Work on catching up on my blog....so here goes!

A couple weeks ago I had a fun night out with a couple fun chicks! But these weren't chicks that one would expect me to have a night out with...these chicks were my mom & Aunt Elaine. Our night out was also not too normal night for those two, but it was definitely a fun night. 

Our night started out with dinner then a Beach Boys concert. Attending a Beach Boys concert is something on my moms bucket list she has always wanted to do, so it was us three who went. I was pretty much one of the youngest people there, but I didn't care! I love me some Beach Boys music! I grew up listening to them with my mom. The seats were kinda cramped but that didn't stop me from wiggling to the music in my seat. If we closer to the end of the isle I would have been up dancing. I sang along to every song!  

I wasn't the only one having lots of fun too... Mom & Aunt Elaine had just as much fun, but they're just older & wiser.

North Dakota adventure

I came to North Dakota to be with Josh for his surgery and to be with him for a few days of recovery. As everyone knows its hard to keep Josh down...

Before his surgery I went on a couple runs with him for work. I don't mind getting on the truck with him & going to different places, I just tend to get a little bored! Needless to say, this has been quite the experience for me on this trip!

The state of North Dakota is very flat & has green rolling hills that is mainly farmland. In sporadic places you will see farm animals (more on that later), tons of rundown houses that people still live in, lots of pickup & semi trucks, railroad, and travel trailers. Most of the towns are really small...if you blink, you'll miss it! Although Bismarck, Minot, & Williston are rather large. We went to the mall a couple times in Minot while we were waiting to run a load somewhere. Bismarck is where Josh had his surgery and where the airport I flew in and out of. But that was the extent of my time in Bismarck. We drove through Williston on our way to Montana for run. I was surprised how booming it was. It reminded me of Vegas when all the building and construction was going on before the economy collapsed.

My experience riding along in the truck is quite comical to me...I don't know how Josh puts up with me, he's so patient (with me anyway). I can never hear what he is saying to me because its so noisy in the truck. On the first day I went with him, the wind was blowing so hard I couldn't hear him and I thought my door was going to fly off!  Josh said the wind blows really hard in North Dakota and tornados can form (great that's all I need to know).

So that first day wasn't too bad. It was the couple days after Josh's surgery I began having issues with. First of all, I had an issue with Josh because he's not suppose to be working and I just wanted him to rest until I left! And then the length of the run we did....holy crap! I had no idea! We drove to Montana. The drive was pretty, but long! And of course Josh hurts from his surgery so I am worried about him. He can't bend to put on his pants or shoes. I had to help him get his jeans and boots on. I have to get his boots on him just like a little kid and tie them. We can't figure out what he's going to so when I'm gone. His brother John is being very helpful with the work duties. Josh would have to climb on top of the trailer to open it, but in the state he's in he can't. John has been very kind to do his own driving and heavy work as well as help Josh do the heavy lifting that he's suppose to do. I am really appreciative of his help and support of Josh. We haven't always seen eye to eye with one another, but we both have Josh to lookout for right now.

So while Josh is driving I keep myself occupied with looking around, reading, playing a game on my phone or sleeping.  Last night while we were at the never ending drop off place I placed my game while Josh slept. I was kinda waiting to see if I needed to go to the bathroom, but it never came (thank goodness, more of that later)!  I finally decided to try to sleep about 11:30. Problem is I never sleep very good on the truck even when it's parked, it's too noisy and you hear all the other trucks around us. It's not easy for me to relax with all the noise. Another thing...I don't understand the order of how the drops are done. In my thinking the person who is there first goes first, not in the oil fields! Josh & John were trying to explain it to me, but it kinda went in one ear & out the other. 

We ended up sitting at that job site for 12 hours. I woke up to see what Josh was doing because he climbed over me when he got up. I helped him put his boots back on because it was time for is to finally do whatever needed to be done. But...now I had to pee! It had been over 12 hours since I had went last. I did my best to not focus on needing to go. Problem is being on the truck..no place really for a girl to go very easily! Especially when there's lots of men around and no port a potty! Josh was so kind to empty a Gatorade bottle for me to use. I WAS NOT AMUSED, BUT HAD NO OTHER CHOICE! So broke down and did a first ever experience of peeing into a small opening of a Gatorade bottle! (I can admit I have pee'd into a cup before at the cabin during the wintertime, but the bottle was definitely a first for me!) I to Josh he had to close the curtains and stay in front of the truck while I went. He said, "I don't see what the big deal is!" We'll duh! Hello! It isn't everyday a girl has to pee into a bottle. Us girls don't have an aim and shoot tool like boys do! It's more complicated than that! All I can say is mission accomplished and without any mishaps!  

Once everything we finally done, we were able to drive back to North Dakota. I decided that I was just going to sleep seeing as how I only got like 3 hours to sleep before everything started happening. So I slept in the back...again I repeat IT'S NOT EASY SLEEPING IN THE TRUCK!  Sleeping on the truck while your driving down the road reminds me of when I was young playing crack the egg on the trampoline. It's bumpy! There is normally a time that I am airborne while laying down along with bouncing all over the place! I know I'm tired because I usually don't get up until we pull into a truck stop for food! I know...not great for my diet! 

So here I am again, back on the road to Montana! I decided while I was just sitting I would share my experience and thoughts...

The following are some random pictures I have been taking while out on the road...

              That's Adam up there!

   That's a buffalo that doesn't roam wild

                    Missouri River

I have other stories, but they are worthy of a blog post of there own!!! Stay turned!

Big guys get hurt too

I came to North Dakota Monday morning to be with Josh. He was injured about a month ago while working. He was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia. I was really surprised when I found out he was going to need surgery, but knew he shouldn't put it off. He wouldn't be the same person if he didn't have the surgery. Josh is active and strong. If he didn't have it the hernia would progressively get worse and cause much more pain now and for the future. 

The two of us woke up at 4:00 am to drive to Bismarck for his 7:00 am surgery. We got there an hour early (travel around here is weird, I'll post more about that later!) His nurse, Audrey was really nice. I couldn't have asked for a more pleasant and caring person. She wasn't only worried about Josh, she was also worried about me. When she found out we were from Las Vegas and so far from home she made sure we had all our needs taken care of before we left the hospital. The volunteers in the waiting room were very kind to me as well. They made sure I knew exactly what was going on at any give time. When he was finished with surgery, the volunteer came to me and told me the doctor wasn't able to come see me right away, but I could go back to the room to be with Josh until the doctor was able to come. I chose to go back to the room.

When I walked in Josh was in the chair telling me he was ready to go. Nope not possible! I told him he still had his IV in and couldn't go until it was removed and he used the bathroom! (Josh has never been known for his patience) I said we are staying as long as we need too. So I sat there feeding him his crackers and root beer. When his prescription was ready I walked down and got it while he stayed on the room and went to the bathroom. When I got back I helped him put on his pants...that is not an easy task! He's a big guy & I'm kinda small! So we got that taken care of. Once we got that done nurse Audrey took out his IV and have me instructions about his diet the next few days. ( I'm not looking forward to these next couple of days...again his patience). So we finished getting him dressed and were sent on our way.

I drove us back to Underwood. I was a little nervous because I have no clue the directions of this state. I just knew it was a straight shot in a north/south direction. The drive home was entertaining to me because he kept saying crazy things that I could hardly understand. I know it's the drugs, but it's funny because normally he is in total control of himself. He has no control for anything right now. Since I have known him, he's never had anything like this done, so it will be interesting to see how he acts. The one thing I have to make him realize is he's not going to work! He seriously thought he was going to be working by tonight! I laid into him telling him he's not going to be working for a few days. He keeps saying we need the money... We don't need the money as much as we need him around! He just doesn't realize that right now...

So my next couple of days will be playing nurse to this big guy. Usually it the other way around, but that's okay that's why I'm here.

Canned goodness

This past weekend I took on a project I have been wanting to do for awhile. I made homemade vegetable broth and bottled it myself...

Yes, no help from mom! Except she bought the veggies...

It took all weekend to finish it too! Actually I finished boiling the last bottles Monday night after I got home from work. So technically it was the weekend plus a day. I was so happy once I got it finished!

Now we will have broth for recipes we make instead of needing to buy the stuff. I always like doing stuff like this, but making the meals is our problem. We have a hard time wanting me make dinner when we get home after work because we are just too tired!