October 31, 2011

My 59th Birthday (Pictures to come)

My birthday started early. Pam, a friend of mine, quilted me a beautiful Halloween table runner. What a surprise!

With my birthday landing on Halloween, there are a lot of people that remember it. One of the kids on my regular bus route had remembered and he announced it to the bus so everyone wished me Happy Birthday. When I was driving the shuttle bus, my bus aide - Michelle - surprised me by having the whole bus sing Happy Birthday. Then during lunch, I was summoned out front and the 2nd and 3rd graders sung Happy Birthday. Thanks to my co-worker, Jodi, they do this yearly but this year was different. Unprompted they all got up and gave me a huge group hug.  Wow! It brought tears to my eyes.

Halloween evening, the trick-r-treaters met me at the door with "Trick or Treat and Happy Birthday!" They made me feel so good!

Other warm fuzzys included a Birthday card from Dula, my dad's cousin and a box of goodies from Linda!  Linda sent me a hand made top that is really unique. I really like the design sewed into it. She also included a pr of sox and a pad for my coffee cup. Linda also makes the neatest hand made cards. You can tell that a lot of thought and time went into her gift.

We normally have a family meal at a restaurant for my birthday and Dave picks up the tab. (That's my present from him) This year I requested that - that money be put towards new flooring for the computer room. That request will be granted (after hunting season).  But we still got together at Jamie's house for a meal for my birthday.  It was was a few days late, cuz Jamie & family were in Kansas City on my birthday. Jamie fixed one of my favorite meals, fajitas, and Jenny baked me a cake.

I made a haul! (I love presents) Jamie & Ryan gave me a couple accessories for my ipad, Jason & Bekki gave me a cover/case for my ipad and Jenny & Matt gave me some boots.

 I enjoyed my birthday so much, that I've requested a yearly repeat.

October 20, 2011

Road Trip to Bismarck

My co-worker Curt, and I were just pulling into Bismarck....when I discovered 2 different dates on the emails. The ESP advisory committee agenda that I had printed out said October 20th. The first email from Carla said "See you Friday". I called Leanne. She said that the meeting was Friday. Help! We were in Bismarck on the wrong day!

Instead of going to the Radisson where the meeting was to take place (the next day) we went to the high school where all the sessions were to take place. There were a lot of vendor booths where we picked up a few freebies. The sessions didn't start for another FOUR hours!

We went to the mall.... which really excited Curt. lol.

We took a leisurely lunch and went back to the school. We ran into a bunch of ESPs. They were hanging out at the NDEA booth. They kept apologizing for the date mix up. They offered to let me stay in their hotel rooms but.... they didn't offer the same thing to Curt. lol

Curt and I went to the only session that Curt found interesting... and would you believe that that session was cancelled?! So we slipped into a boring PBS session. Then Curt went out the car to take a nap. I went to a Member's Benefits session. There was one more session that I would have liked to see on technology but I didn't dare ask Curt to stay another hour.lol We left for home about 3:00.

Surprisingly Curt stopped at the Buffalo Mall in Jamestown. I couldn't help but think that if it was me and my girlfriends in the car we would have done the same thing.... but I don't think he wanted to shop... just an excuse to stretch his legs. He was really being a good sport about the whole thing.

One plus for the day was that Curt drove us to Bismarck in his little Bimmer. (that's how Curt says that it's spelled.... I'd spell it like Beemer) and it was a beautiful day for a (long) ride. :)