Friday, September 30, 2011

Mount Rushmore and Beyond!!

This week, we took a whirlwind, less than 3 days, road trip!  Mom, Dad, Shauna, and I left at o'dark thirty on Monday morning and headed north!  The destinations:  Mount Rushmore and then Billings, Montana.  Here are some excerpts from the trip journal (complete with pictures):

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Crazy Horse Memorial is AWESOME!!!!!  When it's finished, it's going to be GINORMOUS!  What am I saying?  It's ginormous now!!














The Needles Highway is beautiful!  And it's fun to drive through the small tunnels.














Mount Rushmore is A-MAZ-ING!!  So hard to imagine it was done so long ago!  How did they do that?













If you want to be extra proud to be an America, visit Mount Rushmore.  No joke.













We went back to Mount Rushmore for the Illumination Ceremony.  That was super cool!  The talk by the ranger and then the movie they showed were really great.  But standing to sing the Star Spangled Banner while the lights were coming on was BEYOND AWESOME!!


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

We went back to Mount Rushmore to take the Presidential walk, which takes you pretty close to the base of the monument.  Mount Rushmore really does look better in the morning light!  Less shadows.














9:00 am = on the road to Billings

10:00 am = We can now say that we have been to Sturgis.

While looking for the Loaf 'n' Jug in Sheridan, Wyoming, we end up in the airport parking lot.  Whoops!

Arrived in Billings at around 3:00 pm.

The Billings Temple is GORGEOUS!!  We got on the 5:10 pm and 7:30 pm sessions.  We even got a little tour between sessions.  That was nice!  We got to meet the Temple President and Matron, too!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

8:00 am = Back on the road after going back to the temple to take pictures.













We stopped at the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument.  (AKA Custer's Last Stand)  We didn't stay for very long, but we were there to hear one of the Ranger Talks.  Very interesting!














Dropped Shauna off at her house at 5:30 pm, meaning the entire trip lasted 60 hours.  I would say approximately 20 of those hours were spent in the car.  Oy.


We had a great time!  We are already planning a whirlwind road trip for next summer!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Phone Dilemmas

I am currently eligible for a discounted upgrade to a new phone.  However, my contract does not expire until April of next year.  I really need a new phone now.  I am about ready to set my Blackberry on fire.  It freezes at least 3 to 4 times a week and I have to take the battery out in order to reset it.  It's incredibly annoying.

So here's my dilemma:  I am paying $100 a month for my wireless service.  (My regular service is $39.99 a month plus $50 for unlimited internet/data & texts, plus all of their fees and taxes and stuff.)  Now, I can switch to a different carrier and pay $69.99 a month (same amount of minutes, internet/data & texts included).  However, my early termination fee would be about $100 and I'd have to pay for the phone and probably change my number.

It seems like such a hassle to switch to only save $20 a month.  ESPECIALLY if I have to change my phone number.  I've never had a problem with the coverage my carrier provides.  It's just the price that I have a problem with.

My 2nd dilemma is which phone to pick, if I just upgrade and stick with my current carrier.  I can get a refurbished phone for significantly cheaper than the new version.  I've never gotten a refurbished phone before.  The difference in warranty troubles me.  (90 days for refurbished, 1 year for new).  But the cheaper price seems to make it worth my while to try it out.  I've talked to a few people who have had good luck with refurbished phones, but I'm still hesitant.

I don't know what to do.  I can't decide.  Ugh!!!  Why can't this be simpler!?!?

Pay it Forward!

A couple of weeks ago, I dropped a wad of cash out of my pocket while walking around the outside of Coors Field.  Someone saw this happen and told me, so I could pick it up.

Today, as I came out of Albertsons, the girl walking in front of me dropped a five dollar bill.  I said "Hey, you dropped some money!"  She didn't heard me.  So I picked it up and chased her down.

Just paying it forward!

Monday, September 19, 2011

International Talk Like a Pirate Day 2011

It's that time again!  Talk Like a Pirate Day!  (Of course, in our family, every day is Talk Like a Pirate Day.)  This year we celebrated a day early, because it was more convenient for all involved.  So we called it "International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Observed)".  Here are so fun pictures from the event:

Captain Peg Leg, the Pirate Cake (Courtesy of Robin)

The Warbling Wench, this year with crazy hair!!!

The new (old) Tavern Table!!

Captain Ben, the Sock Hand





































































And now, for your viewing pleasure....the Talk Like a Pirate Day Song, featuring the NoCoMo Pirates!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Seaweed Salad

Otherwise known as Mock Seaweed Salad  (See NOTE below)

Equal parts:
Baby Spring Mix
Baby Spinach
Mâche Rosettes (Lamb's Lettuce)

Mix the Spring Mix and Spinach together in a bowl.  Top with Mâche (do not mix in!)


Serve with Thousand Island Dressing, Kraft Seven Seas Green Goddess Dressing, or Ranch (fer ye land lubbers!)  Use Sour Cream and Onion Goldfish crackers instead of croutons.




NOTE:  If you have seaweed, feel free to add to the salad in whatever way you desire.  Just make sure it's not dirty seaweed right out of the ocean.  That's gross!  That being said, store-bought seaweed is gross, too.  Tastes just like goldfish food smells.