Things are moving at breakneck speed with the house purchase now. We're rocking and rolling, as the kids say! (Or maybe they don't, but they should. Rock 'n roll will always be cool.) We wrote the earnest money check today. The home inspection, well inspection, and septic tank inspection are all scheduled for Friday. It's … Continue reading What a Dick!
Tag: Rapid City
Juice pouch cocktails and magical lighted mushrooms.
Friday, mid-afternoon, a very large deposit in the high five figures hit our banking account. And just like that, our house was officially no longer our house. We happened to be on the 7th floor of the Graduate Hotel in Madison, at a really cool rooftop bar with an old-school summer camp vibe. The bartenders … Continue reading Juice pouch cocktails and magical lighted mushrooms.
Fort-unately, time machines don’t exist.
Soooo. What's new? (Seriously. I haven't had a spare moment to read blogs in about 10 days. I'll catch up soon, I promise.) When I last wrote, it was the morning after we arrived in Wisconsin. Everything felt very strange and overwhelming. I did not mention how I'd tossed and turned for hours on Wednesday … Continue reading Fort-unately, time machines don’t exist.
Saying Goodbye in Two Weeks vs. Eight Months
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
Letting the cow out of the bag.
I’ve been keeping a little secret, but it’s time to let the cow out of the bag. I was in Madison, Wisconsin again last week. Just me; Tara stayed home. I left on Saturday morning, driving to Sibley, Iowa, where I spent the night. It was a charming little town. Quintessential Midwest. I chose Sibley … Continue reading Letting the cow out of the bag.
Just because it smells like a skunk doesn’t mean it’s a skunk.
When we bought our house in 2019, I joined Nextdoor to keep tabs on the goings-on in my 'hood. It's mostly just the same group of people complaining about youths running amok or vandalism to their property or the sorry state of education these days or out-of-state newcomers driving up their property taxes. They might … Continue reading Just because it smells like a skunk doesn’t mean it’s a skunk.
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.
You know it’s summer when Spidey starts chafing.
How do you define the official start of summer? If you're the literal type, you might look to the calendar and say, June 21st. Others count the first picnic, first barbecue, first camping trip, first time it hits 80º, first time you're attacked by mosquitoes. For us, summer arrives the moment we hit the water … Continue reading You know it’s summer when Spidey starts chafing.
Bring Your Betsy to Work Day
A few months ago, Betsy Kerekes—a/k/a Parenting Is Funny—was eliciting suggestions for a new blog name. Sure, parenting is funny, but these days, she writes more about Jiu-Jitsu. I get a real kick out of that. / martial arts humor. In any case, my suggestion got the most votes, so I "won" the "contest." I … Continue reading Bring Your Betsy to Work Day
Still horn-y after all these years.
Friday evening was wild. Actually, the whole day felt heavy with anticipation. Like things were going to happen. Sure enough... It began when I stepped onto the front porch at 5:30 for my morning walk. The air was pungent with the earthy aroma of rain. Which was odd, given that there wasn't a cloud in … Continue reading Still horn-y after all these years.
Mark My Words 