Flashback: South Bend

On a recent trip to Fox Lake I was able to stop in South Bend and visit with my cousin, her husband, and her adoreable spoiled monkey girl!  It was a nice breaking point since it is still a bit of a haul to FL from PGH.  I was given the tour of their new house -- absolutely beautiful!!  We also took a trip to the South Bend Zoo, enjoyed a delcious dinner, and watched the beginning of the ND game before I headed onwards to the greater Fox Lake Area.  I look forward to getting to come for a real visit!!

Kudos

Need to give David a special shout out.  While my arm is on the upswing, he has been beyond helpful up to this point -- driving me to doctor's appointments, taking me grocery shopping, picking me up and taking me to dinner so i didn't have to cook, walking the dogs.  He certainly earned boyfriend of the year status :)

Engineering Free Time

Our group had our Christmas party at the Division Chief's house this weekend.  He's a Handy Andy.  He suggested we go downstairs to the basement and set up a game.  Life Size Jenga is not what I expected!

Thanks to David for the sharing this video he took. 

Great News!

I went to the doctor this morning.  After reviewing my MRI he says I defintiely did not break or tear anything.  I just bruised the bone (contusion) and have some fluid in the joint.  However, he says the bruise is good enough that I'm lucky I didn't break it -- apparently I was close to breaking it.  In other news, it has seemed to be getting slightly better over the last few days.  I'm still in some discomfort but have been a lot more mobile and am using the arm more now.

So the current treatment plan is to work through it and let it heal for a couple more weeks.  If I'm not seeing any more improvement or get plateaued I'll go back for a steroid shot; however, for now I'm chosing to be drug free and try the time thing.

BTW.. for those who might not know, the day after my birthday I fell while walking the dogs.  As in they pulled and I feel down in the middle of the street, directly onto my arm.  It was pretty painful and I couldn't lift my arm over  my head -- at first i couldn't really move it much at all.  Driving was out.  Washing hair was out.  It was rough.  But now things are looking up -- and you know that my year is pretty much only going to get better rather than worse.

Happy Friday!

Snow

Snow.  We've got a bit!
Not much else to share. Still gimpy with a half an arm. Will be for a while. Avoiding snow driving with gimpy arm -- makes for quiet times. Thank God for public transportation!

Monday Laugh

Ok, so I'm not up to date with the blog -- dont' have much to say.  however, if you want to laugh check out this AMAZING recipe from Rachel Ray.  It is totally helpful.  more importantly look at the comments and reviews and you will Crack Up!

BRGR and BBall

We went to a new, trendy restaurant the other night -- BRGR.  Their deal is fancy burgers and 'adult' beverages.  I liked it, too bad its off in the middle of East Liberty and not in the South Hills.  It was uber trendy, but cool.  The decor was fun, and the food was yummy!  David had a burger with ribs on it while I had the gobble gobble turkey burger with fried stuffing, pickled green beans, and cranberry aoili.  I also had one of their adult floats -- Cherry soda, Makers Mark, Chocolate liquer, and chocolate ice cream  -- super yummy!  After the game we went over to Peterson Events Center to watch Pitt beat Penn down.  Fun times!!

Thankfulness: Friday Edition

You might be surprised that this is the last one on the list, but today I am thankful for my family -- near and far (and thankfully, more near than  they used to  be).  You have all supported me in my many decisions in my gypsy life.  I appreciate your support and your love and hope that I can do the same for you all!

I chose to wait until today to be thanksful for my family since today is a special day in the Jersey family -- it is my mom's birthday!  Happy Birthday Mom! I know your computer is broken and you won't read this,but Happiest of Days to you!!!

 

Thankfulness:Thursday Edition

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Today is the day!  I have so much to be happy about in my life.  Today I am going to broadcast how thankful I am for my friends, near and far, new and old.  I realized the other day that I haven't had Thanksgiving in Fox Lake since 2000 - yikes, that's a quick 10 years!  Yet, in the time I've only spent one Turkey Lurkey Day by myself, during grad school.  The rest of these years I've had friends take me in as a member of their extended families.  I've seen all sorts of celebrations with them.  The key to all those holidays was one things - some of the nicest people the world has to offer.  My friends listen to me when I'm tired of work, upset with others, and excited to share good news.  They are super supportive, and some of the funnest people I know.  Thank you all for being my friends!

Happy Thanksgiving again!

Thankfulness: Wednesday Edition

Today I choose to be thankful for my awesomely amazing boyfriend!

I was single for a looooooong time.  My standards were apparently pretty high, I just wanted to date someone who actually liked me. You would think that was pretty low standards, but it wasn't!  However, David was completely worth the wait.  Not only does he not put up with my crap, but he does put up with Daisy and Madison.  He understands that I'm an E Team Dork, puts up with said E Team Dorkiness, and might even love me for it.  He doesn't even think its weird that I like college basketball!  More importantly, David spoils me rotten, treats me like the princess my daddy thinks I'm supposed to be and I can't imagine life without him now.
 -- I am truly thankful to have someone who 'gets me' in my life.

Thankfulness: Tuesday Edition

I am so Thankful to have a job. 

A good, generally satisfying job at that! I may not want to come into work either day of this two-day work week, but I am so glad that I have that job to not want to go to. The fact that my job is fulfilling and I am using my gifts to make the rivers and lakes safer for recreation purposes and reducing flood risks is a total bonus. It is awesome to have a fulfilling job that is filled with purpose!

Thankfulness: Monday Edition

So this hasn't been the easiest of years, in a lot ways. HOwever, it has also been a great year. I plan to blog every day this week with a list of things I'm thankful for to remind myself how blessed I am.

I am thankful to have made it safely home! I traveled to Fox Lake over the weekend and the trip back was a long one. It was very misty and rained off and on throughout much of IL/IN/OH. There were lots of wrecks on the road, particularly on the Indiana Toll Road. I am very Thankful that I made it back home safely!!!! It was so good to sleep in my own bed, rather than a hospital bed :)

Beer Tour

While in Beantown we checked out the Sam Adam's Brewery Tour.  I reccomend it -- it is FREE!!!  They did the standard tour:  we tasted the hops, we toured the brewery floor, and then they did a group tasting.  We enjoyed a Boston lager, a Sam's Oktoberfest, and a Boston Brick Red (only available in the Boston locale).  We met some characters while there too!

Maybe you recognize this guy?

Pitt-UConn Game

We braved Hartford Connecticut and checked out the Pitt-UConn game.  Their stadium is in the middle of an abandoned airfield, which the nerd in me found quite cool.  If you look at an aerial there is no question at all whatsoever that is where you are at.  The runway is the 'traffic lane' for driving in and you park in the outfield.  odd.  yet cool. 

In an ode to my Palko peeps, I masqueraded as Tyler Palko for this game. 

Happy Halloween!

We celebrated Halloween in style.  Check out our pumpkins.  Pitt and skeletor were David's creations while I kept it cute with Boo.  That was the first pumpkin I've ever carved myself -- last time I carved a pumpkin I was too small to safely wield a dangerous weapon like a knife... It had certainly been a while.  David had an awesome Halloween party Saturday night, everyone had a great time to say the least.  Then on Sunday he attempted to float the keg by giving trick or treat parents beer -- no takers though. 



My first big girl pumpkin!

Party people.. or at least those who 'dressed up'

How has Mt Lebo NOT fined him for this one?

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

It is that time of year -- Fall is upon us.  All my friends with little kids have been hitting up the pumpkin patches.  Although I have no child, we are like a little kids at heart so we decided to join the fun.  We went out to Simmons Farm where they actually grow the pumpkins.. as well as apples and squash and flowers and an assortment of other vegetables. We took the hayride out to the field and picked a few pumpkins and some Indian corn, followed by a trip into the corn maze.  The pumpkin picking was serious business -- definitely had to find 'the one'. On our way home we stopped by Giant Eagle and found an even more impressive pumpkin.  Eventually we'll carve them!  No promises on showing you the finished product.

Acres upon acres of pumpkins!

Yup, they actually grow them here!

A little baby pumpkin hiding in the shade.

Seriously, Acres of pumpkins

Nope, thats definitely not "the one".

But maybe this one is!

Or this one?

Here are a couple more options...

I'll take this one -- she's a keeper :)

Picking Indian Corn

They had some amazing jack o'lanterns up at the farmstand.  mine will look nowhere near this fancy, for sure.

Mr. Ed's

 On the way home from Gettysburg we ran into this awesomely creeptastic place.  Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Shop.  Unfortunately, the Museum burned down several months ago, but the creeptastic fiberglass elephants are all over the place to suck you in.  It was certainly something.

Weekend in Gettysburg

We spent Columbus Day weekend in Gettysburg PA for my cousin's wedding.  It was great to see the entire family!  We're happy to have Courtney in the family.  Here are some of the highlights of the weekend.

A cupcake for breakfast before the long ride to Grandpa and Nana's.  Sure glad I wasn't in the car!