Call me loon-y**

For anyone who still wonders how someone can live in Minnesota (and like it)...well, for starters you probably have never been there! Because if you step foot there you will find it's one of the best, most friendly and wholesome places to be. No where else can you get stranded by the side of the road and have more than one person stop to call, help change a tire, or jump start you vehicle. Life is not perfect there, but things seem to be taken in stride a little more. A little more simple I guess. All of that AND it has some of the best social services and it's primarily democrat to boot! What's not to love?

At this point in my life I don't think I will ever live there again (since all my family is moving down south and my husband is, as he says, "a tropical people"), but if I could pick any place to be on a winter night, it would be there. Or fall. Or spring...just about anytime really. Do you ever just long for and miss a certain place yet, in your heart, know that there is no going back either? Life has kept marching on and your family and plans evolve around you and you find yourself far from places you love...but you also know that where you are now is exactly where you need to be. One thing I know is that, no matter how long I live out of the state of Minnesota...I will always be grateful for being a Minnesota girl.

Peace.

**PS The LOON is the state bird of Minnesota


If you're not from Minnesota the following might not make sense...but it's all SO true...

_____________________________________________________________
Jeff Foxworthy on Minnesota :

If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by,
You might live in Minnesota.

If you're proud that your state makes the national news 96 nights each year because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation,
You might live in Minnesota.

If you have ever refused to buy something because it's "too spendy",
You might live in Minnesota.

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March,
You might live in Minnesota

If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there,
You might live in Minnesota.

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead,
You might live in Minnesota .

If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
You might live in Minnesota .

If your town has an equal number of bars and churches,
You might live in Minnesota .

If you know how to say...Wayzata...Mahtomedi....Cloquet . Edina ....and Shakopee,
You might live in Minnesota.

If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy,
You might live in Minnesota.

If vacation means going "up north" for the weekend,
You might live in Minnesota.

You measure distance in hours,
You might live in Minnesota .

You know several people, who have hit deer more than once,
You might live in Minnesota.

You often switch from "Heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again,
You might live in Minnesota.

You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching,
You might live in Minnesota.

You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events,
You might live in Minnesota .

You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked,
You might live in Minnesota .

You think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and Venison,
You might live in Minnesota .

You carry jumper cables in your car, and your girlfriend knows how to use them,
You might live in Minnesota .

There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Mill's Fleet Farm at any given time,
You might live in Minnesota.

You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
You might live in Minnesota.

Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
You might live in Minnesota.

You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and of course, road construction,
You might live in Minnesota.

You can identify a southern or eastern accent,
You might live in Minnesota.

Your idea of creative landscaping is a plastic deer next to your blue spruce,
You might live in Minnesota.

If "Down South" to you means Iowa,
You might live in Minnesota .

You know "a brat" is something you eat,
You might live in Minnesota .

You find -10 degrees "a little chilly",
You might live in Minnesota .

You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Minnesota friends,
You DO live in Minnesota.

Just for Rashea =)

So an old chum reminded me that I have not blogged in a while..and I thought no one was coming to this site ;)

Updates...let's see, I made it past my 5 months mark at work and am officially off probation (which essentially means I can request time off now)...review went well...I am still hanging in there and attempting to get some sort of organization and flow to my work. Organization not being my strong point (just let me be with people all day, I am good at that!), it's an uphill battle.

Looked at how much this whole advanced licensure thing is gonna cost...between boards, fees, studying, etc it will proy be around $600. Ouch. I have now added "Licensing Fees" to my birthday and xmas wishlist (in fact, it willbe the only thing on there!)

We are starting to get into move mode now...our lease is up in December (THANK GOODNESS). We (meaning Wil, me, Nomer, Stephen) have all decided to keep the family together and find a bigger place (or should I say we all agree we would love to rent a house and it is economically feasible if we are roomies =)...it will be great to move out of the 950 sq. feet apt. Wish us luck. There are potential roadblocks in our plan, but we are hopeful.

Wil starts travelling again next week...for more than a month. Although there is no room at home to be lonely, I'll miss his silly face. So, boo!

Got a tattoo 2 weeks ago...it is now healed and, yes, I am still liking it (everyone seems to ask "will you still like it later?") With every step I am reminded to be tenacious (haha, sicne that is what the kanji actually says!).

I am about 70 days into my "healthier me" life. Not easy, but I have made some good progress! 19 pounds down, getting in some good me time, and exercise to top it off. Wil and my sister are also rocking...it's been good to have our own little team here.

My mom will be here next week. So excited. I will have to post some pics...she plans on getting in some good margarita time.

Well, it's back to work...off to an appt. I promise I will try to check back in sooner!

Peace.