When Tara and I plotted our escape from the Pacific Northwest in 2018, we had a lot of time to prepare. About eight months from the moment we made that decision over mozzarella-wrapped fried pickles in a Rapid City pub one warm fall evening. So much time, we embarked upon a "PNW Farewell Tour," revisiting … Continue reading Saying Goodbye in Two Weeks vs. Eight Months
Tag: Black Hills
Too many balls, not enough hands.
I was in my supervisor's office yesterday, spouting off circus analogies. As one does. "I'm juggling an awful lot these days!" I said. "I've got too many balls and not enough hands." Only later did I realize a comment like that could have earned me a visit with HR. Work is super busy right now. … Continue reading Too many balls, not enough hands.
“Nobody” doesn’t mean “no body.”
I was taking a stroll around the office recently and happened upon an interesting sight. A man had pulled his pickup truck onto a grassy area beside the road and was furiously digging a hole. I discreetly snapped a pic. That’s weird, right? It’s not like he was gardening or planting a tree. I’ll admit, … Continue reading “Nobody” doesn’t mean “no body.”
The Last Dinner
When we moved to the Midwest three point five years ago, some cultural adjustments were necessary. For starters, we had to get used to people who were overwhelmingly nice. Began to think of “traffic” as being third in line at a red light instead of inching forward on a freeway for hours. Discovered that Fleet … Continue reading The Last Dinner
Tina, Eat the Food!
I had a Zoom meeting with a Hollywood producer this morning. Which is a very cool sentence to type out, but not nearly as glamorous as it sounds. I'd love to say I was pitching the screenplay for my novel to some big-time movie studio, but alas, I was merely interviewing a guy for a … Continue reading Tina, Eat the Food!
Like 700,000 Angry Bees
It’s that time of year again, when the Black Hills are filled with an incessant, angry rumbling. Distant thunder? Nope: the constant drone of thousands of two-cylinder four-stroke piston engines. The streets are clogged with motorcyclists from near and far, who have descended upon our fair land for the 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Rally is … Continue reading Like 700,000 Angry Bees
Here, Bear, & Everywhere
Irrational(?) Phobia When we moved to South Dakota three years ago, I was relieved to learn there were no bears in the Black Hills. I have a deep-rooted fear—probably irrational—that I might get eaten by a bear. The Cascades were black bear country, and I used to go hiking in the wilderness. Alone. While picking … Continue reading Here, Bear, & Everywhere
Red Flag Days
It's been an interesting couple of days. A noisy couple of days, with the constant sound of helicopters and airplanes filling the skies. We woke up Monday morning to very gusty winds. A Red Flag Warning had been issued for our area. Contrary to what you might think, this has nothing to do with a … Continue reading Red Flag Days
Oh, Shoot!
Last week, South Dakota Magazine reached out to me, asking if I'd be interested in having a photo featured in their Photo Friday series. Umm, does a three-legged dog swim in circles?! I was both humbled and honored. I do like this shot. Specifically, the contrasting colors that play against one another. A lot of … Continue reading Oh, Shoot!
There’s Gnome Place Like Home
Hard to believe there's just one week left in January, huh? February may not have much going for it, unless you're into groundhogs or candy hearts. It's also Girl Scout Cookie season, so at least we have Thin Mints to look forward to. Like everybody else on the planet, I got sucked into all the … Continue reading There’s Gnome Place Like Home
Mark My Words 