The Proof is in the Truck

I doubt that you would know that my younger sister and I are related at all if we didn't tell you.

You see, she loves an organized schedule. 
I love to see how the day will evolve all by itself.

She majored in math and chose a math-based profession. 
I majored in words and chose a word-based profession.

She is a talented pianist.
I play enough for me to focus on my real love: singing.

She is right-handed.
I have a mixed-dominance in my handedness.

She reads in bed.
I watch t.v.

She joined a gym.
I drive by one on my way to the Dairy Maid.

But despite these differences, there is one sure way to know that we share DNA.

It's true: we MUST be related after all.

FF: Trying to stop talking. Really.

 have returned.  Did you even notice that I was missing ?? Humor me on that one, okay?

During my hit or miss blogging during the last two weeks,

*I have slept at the bottom of the second largest canyon in the U.S (Palo Duro) and did  not see a snake.

*I realized that even in the cold and rain, Colorado is one gorgeous state, and if I pay to ride the train up to the top of Pikes Peak and the visibility from the top is zero, I can still convince myself that the ride was worth the money. But no, sadly my boys did not see a black bear.

*I didn't buy a University of Wyoming hoodie and that is something I really regret.

*I realized that we did not encounter one mosquito west of the Mississippi (what's that all about???)

*My friend found humor at my expense when I said I couldn't believe how Mt. Rushmore had changed in the last 30 years ( I meant the gift shops, OF COURSE.)  I also learned that some people go to Mt. Rushmore to look at the carvings.  What a mystery that decision is when there are so many great signs there.

*I thought myself very lucky to sleep on the prairie and see shooting stars and maybe a meteor (okay, fine.  I missed the meteor while I talked about the historical significance of the prairie.  My boys, who were not listening to single word, saw the meteor) until 2 AM when the winds decided to BLOW my modern covered wagon about and I was sure Laura Ingalls Wilder and I were about to meet in the heavens somewhere.

*I found all the missing mosquitoes.  It turns out that they live in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

*I also found the Mall of America and learned a lot about how people use elevators.

*We learned that when a campground is rainy, boys will find something to do.  In this case it involved wet underwear and a stick.  Voila!  Underwear ball had now been invented and it doesn't have a single physical connotation.

* And I met Mrs. 4's IRL!!!!  Suffice it to say, she is smart, very pretty, energetic, svelte, and graciously accommodating.  But I guess you already knew that, didn't you?

P.S. Do you know what happens to Checkered's car when his son leaves a milkshake in the backseat and the car sits closed up outside in the 100 degree weather for two weeks?  Let's just say Checkered is now riding in a veritable cloud of ... well ....  let's just say, "Poor, poor Checkered."  I should buy a gas mask for him.










 




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My Companion

"It is advised that any woman attempting to cross Lake Michigan by marine vessel be accompanied by a friend.  Said friend should have the woman's comfort and well being as a chief concern."

So much learning that my brain might explode

We learned a lot yesterday. We learned that Mt.  Rushmore is still as wondrous as it was 30 years ago.  We learned that it is cool to meet someone who was a Driller on the original project. We also learned that he wasn't nearly as nice when we didn't buy his book.

Our learning curve included understanding more about the Crazy Horse monument and the brilliant man who began the project.  It was very cool to be there during a blast.

We unwittingly scheduled our visit to the Black Hills at the beginning of the Sturgis Bike Week.  It's been fun watching the bikes,  and more fun watching the bikers.

Our worst learning experience of this visit was the chuckwagon dinner.  It might have been more affordable to buy our own ranch,  but yippee eye,  my boys would get to eat like cowboys and sing cowboy songs. I should have known the chuckwagon show would be a bust when the cowboys starting singing Eagles music and through in a little Glenn Miller for good measure. You know, just the typical trail music.

Dare we hope for a better experience at the Little House on the Prairie homestead tonight?

And I Don't Even Like Horses

Dear Wyoming,

I love you. Seriously.  With all my heart. I know I married Michigan, and it's been good to me, but I dream about you constantly and what we could be together.  Well, I mean in the summer anyway.  I long for your vastness, your rugged terrain,  your enormous sky.  So I spend my backseat riding time perusing real estate ads and I've learned what I really want is a ranch. That I can't afford one and would have no idea what to do with one notwithstanding, I still dream.  I've even taken to writing our initials on the backs of brochures:  CF + WY.

Yeah,  I've got it bad

Love you!

Caution

PS Don't worry about Checkered finding out about us.  He's lost his heart to a little place called Colorado.

Germs, Fog, and Missing a Hotel

It would be so nice if I could find a blog - posting program for my phone which would allow me to post more than one photo!  Nevertheless,  this photo sums up our day yesterday.  We rode the cog railroad up Pikes Peak and thoroughly enjoyed the ascent. Beautiful.  Fascinating.  Unique. 

Unfortunately,  a major thunderstorm also made the ascent, too, so the visibility was zero from the summit.  We shivered in the 38 degree weather,  and our feverish birthday boy shivered long after we returned to our very chilly campground,

As a gesture of graciousness,  I have offered to let that sick boy sit in the front during our long ride today. I will be a magnificent mother and take the back seat - right between two wild and energy filled siblings.  We shall see what shape I am in by the time we reach Mt.  Rushmore.

We Hope

We hope the rain really has ended.
We hope the temps really do get above 50 today.
We hope to get up Pike's Peak this afternoon.
But most of all, we hope that this boy who turns 13 today, will always know what a gift from God he is.

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