Gettysburg, South Dakota: Where the Battle Wasn't

While the EHS team and I flew into Rapid City and drove two and a half hours to Pierre, I spent most of my time in the lovely town of Gettysburg, South Dakota.

I know I should have framed this shot better with the John Deere sign more visible in the background, but I was in a moving car, okay.

Let me just say that these people know how to do a small town good.  They were so lovely to us "outsiders," and we were quite identifiable by our Southern drawls.  We ate all of our meals in Gettysburg at the quaint Medicine Rock Cafe, where they make apple pie to die for (I would link it, but of course, there is no link).

They may not be a big city, but at least they have the town of Agar beat.

And the day after I took this picture (which came out way better than I thought it would given that I was again in a moving car, only this time I was driving- eek) there must have been a baby born in Agar because someone had placed a sticker on this sign to read: POP. 83!  No joke people, true story.

And the ladies at Community Care Clinic were wonderful!

  

And, of course, the reason for the post title...

What I learned from this trip had more to do with life and less to do with work.  These people love their small town.  They love the kinship it brings and the community, in the truest sense of the word.  Yes, I missed my family terribly, but they reminded me to be grateful for where I am at this moment in life.  Don't look forward to where you'll be next week, or backwards to where you were last year. 

Live in the moment that is today.  And love it.  Own it.  Own your small town, big city, small family, big family, good job, hard job.  It is where you are now.  And whether we know it or not, it is teaching us how to be better in the future.  So that when the future comes, in it's own time, we'll be ready for it.

Thank you Gettysburg, South Dakota.  You will always hold a very special place in my heart.  You taught me to embrace the present and that everything is better with homemade apple pie!

Interesting Times in South Dakota

So, the week was filled with lots of learning and even a little fun.  We were in the middle of nowhere, South Dakota, and I have the pictures to prove it!  Just farms and cattle as far as the eye could see (and a rainbow, too!).

We made a pit stop at Wall Drug, an apparently very famous tourist venture, but I must admit, I was a wee bit disappointed.

And my co-worker buddy, Von, with the cowboy

And Su, the dinosaur... Something about fossils from the largest

 T-Rex were found here?

More about the rest of my trip to come!

Sweet Home Alabama

Man, it's good to be home.  I had a wonderful time in South Dakota and really learned alot, but I missed my babies (yes, Luke is still my baby) very much.  I'll have lots to post about my trip, but in the mean time, here is what you really came to see!

Look at those teeth!  Two more coming in on the top!  Very funny stuff from my trip is coming up so check back in later this week.

Thank Goodness It's Friday!

It's been a rough week for us, so I am really looking forward to this weekend.  The Nu Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha (where yours truly spent four of the best years of my life) is turning 100 years old.  The sisterhood is celebrating with a wine & cheese tonight followed by lunch tomorrow of our famous fried chicken and Zeta potatoes (I really should find this recipie because the world could always use more Zeta potatoes).

It is also the University of Alabama's Spring Game, so some will be taking part in those festivities as well.  Me, I'll most likely be found on Saturday afternoon on the patio at Phil's with a large draft.  Luke is keeping Claire (practice for the time mentioned below) so I can have a little girl time, and man does momma need some girl time!  Lots of old friends are coming in from out of town and we may even hit up our old college hot spots.

Then, I regret to inform you (my dozen or so readers) that I will leaving the blog for some time.  Stop crying... (just kidding)!  It will be a little over a week, because on Monday I am leaving for Fort Pierre, South Dakota for work (I know you're jealous).  Four co-workers and I are going to assist a client who has begun to use our software and requested support.

A few things on this...
1. I am really excited to go.  I feel very honored that after less than three months with the company, the powers that be feel like I am ready for this.  I know I will learn so much and gain some needed "real-world" expertise.  And I am glad to get my first "go-live" out of the way before Bella comes for the Summer.
2. Yes, I am sad to leave Claire.  Yes, I will miss her.  But yes, I feel confident in Luke's ability to care for our child for five days. 
3. Yes, this is Luke's first time to be alone with Claire.  She may not be clean or well-dressed, but she will be changed and fed, and as long as she lives, I'm okay with that.
4. Yes, his mother is taking her for two of the four nights I will be gone.
5. Yes, he left me for five days to go on a bachelor party cruise and I had no help whatsoever, so... No, I do not feel bad for him.  It's his kid too.

So miss me while I'm gone, but I will return with good pics of good times from this weekend and some funny stories from work.  Have a good weekend!

EHS Night with the Birmingham Barons

Last Friday, we had our company night at the ball park.  Claire was a big hit and got passed around to all of my co-workers.  Here are a few pictures from Claire's first baseball game...

I am lucky enough to work with my good friends Tiffani and Emily's husband John.

Momma and Claire

And I can already hear my dad saying, "hold your head up straight!"

New Kid on the Block

No, not the oh-so awesome boy band of my youth (yes, I believe I even had the sleeping bag), but this is the new kid on the block...

And I call her a kid because she no longer looks like a baby, and while other might relish in this growing up, I simply do not.  I want her to stay a baby forever (sans middle of the night feedings).  Her cute baby fat rolls and adorable belly laughs make me melt and I do not want to turn around and see a back talking, money grubbing, car borrowing teenager.

But I digress.  I did a Boston Tea Party-esque boycott of cleaning Saturday (yes this pic is a little late) in favor of an afternoon stroll with my kid.  I told Luke we needed a maid and now that I am working, I deserve Saturdays off.  He did not agree, but I am still looking into.  I don't want to spend my weekend with my head in a toilet bowl or my hands in a sink full of dirty dishes.  I want to spend my weekends, especially the beautiful ones we have been having in Alabama, with my family.

I'll let you know how it goes as I try to win the hubbs over on my idea!