Planes, Trains, Automobiles and an Arm Wrestling Competition!

Looking back, I can't believe how much we did in a small amount of time and even with all the traveling I was pretty relaxed for most of our trip to Montana.

-We took a 14 hour train ride from Seattle to Whitefish, Montana. To some this would be hell, but I LOVED it. I got to knit, stretch out, try to figure out if the married guy talking to the gay co-worker he just "happened" to bump into were actually involved or not, watch the Cascades pass us by and wake up to Montana in the wee morning. Minus the ache in my neck I couldn't have been happier.

-At Heidi's house we couldn't tell if her Mom loved us, hated us or just didn't care because there were so many people in the house that we might've just blended in. They were so great for letting us stay with them, I love anyone who can handle that many hungry people in one weekend. There were burgers, pancakes, sausages, eggs, biscuits and even fresh herbal tea for when my stomach wasn't feeling great after a cheeseburger (not hers by the way).

-At Eureka, the not so great weather we had in Belize seemed to follow us in Montana. Dominic and I didn't mind at all. It wasn't raining so I was happy! Bill almost got killed by some black powder shooters because he was gathering sage (since I didn't want to buy any). On my first run of the trip, I almost tripped over an elk carcass and then ran back to show the boys what I found. We watched people throw knives at targets, I discovered new ways to use a dutch oven, Dominic enjoyed meat on a stick, I found the only yarn store in town that was connected to a brisket shop, thus making all the yarn smell like meat, I caught up on my napping, played a game called Pigs and won, and yes, I entered an Arm Wrestling Competition (and lost). Heidi took the 3rd place trophy prize and all I got was an awesome sleeveless t-shirt. If anything, that is what I'll remember most of this trip. We also went to a rodeo, inhaled so much smoke from the bar that if I get lung cancer I will surely blame Montana, we witnessed a Mud Bog where big cars try to drive through the mud and looked at lots of expensive quilts. Eureka definitely has that small town charm, complete with cowboy hats, no stop lights and people stopping to ask me if I needed a ride because it looked like I was running from something instead of doing something the TV calls "exercise".

-After Mud Bogging and thanking Heidi's folks for their sweet hospitality, Bill, Heidi, Dominic and I were off in the car to our next destination: The Hidden Moose Lodge. We didn't complain one bit when we were upgraded with rooms that had jacuzzi tubs and Aveda products! In fact, I think I took 3 baths in the span of 2 days. This was the relaxing part of the trip and I'm pretty sure Dominic and I could just live there. With home cooked breakfast every morning, fire places, free wine and even a DVD library, we were in heaven. Having friends just a few doors down was pretty nice too. We had a grand meal, got drunk, watched movies, hiked up and up and up and up, took pictures of pretty mountains, skipped rocks on pretty lakes, saw lots of deer, ate "sushi", got lost, shopped at a Trading Post, discovered that almost everything in Glacier National Park is closed in April, hiked some more and got massages in our room!

-Flying back was interesting. I knew we'd have to be on a little plane, but figured since it's only for an hour it shouldn't be too bad. I was wrong. Ugh. This was scarier than any flight I've ever been on, and I've been on my fair share of scary roller coaster flights. Since the winds were strong in Montana and there were about 30 people on the plane, I was already a bit nervous. Then when the flight attendant asked Dominic and I to move to the back because apparently the plane needed to be top heavy, well that just increased my nerves. I'm usually very good when it comes to flying. If there's turbulence I just keep reading my book or knit or whatever until the shakes pass. But this flight immediately shook something fierce. Because we were in the back I think the shakiness only felt worse for us. When I saw that Dominic was scared too, I was practically trembling. The whole plane seemed more like a wonky paper plane that has no clear direction. We were trying to do a crossword puzzle to get through the whole mess, but I couldn't even write and Dominic was clearly not paying attention to the words in front of us. It was so bad that this was the first time I felt like I needed the barf bag. When we landed I was the freaky lady who kissed the ground. I still couldn't speak for a good 10 minutes after we landed. I was just in shock, hands shaking, just wanting to get home, even though where we just left was so pretty and beautiful. Next time we'll take the train back.

Sometimes vacations come at the perfect time.

This week has been a bit nuts.

-Dominic and I have been dealing with moving. I'm the planner and he's more of the last minute guy. This can be difficult sometimes, but I've learned that he'll just do things at his pace and I'll do mine at my pace.

-Every single day seems to be jammed pack, so actual packing time has been minimal. This, of course, is driving me crazy bananas because I want everything in a box and ready to go when the movers come May 1st.

-Dominic told the land lady she can text HIM. But she took that as she can text ME. I've been getting text messages every single fucking day about the stupidest shit. I finally told her to stop, as I don't even read them. She is a sweet woman though, so I let those first 10 messages slide.

-Trying to hunt down the people who currently own the building we rent from now is such a pain. They are so weird. They change their company name every other day and I wouldn't be surprised if they just packed up and left. I can foresee trouble when it comes to getting my deposit back. But I won't back down! That's for damn sure.

-While dealing with moving and getting ready for this Montana vacation, my mother decided that it was alright to call Dominic and me in a frantic panic because SHE JUST HAD TO GET ON SKYPE THAT DAY AND NO OTHER DAY AHHHHHHHHHHH. After gentle pushing her to learn these things on her own, because it's sometimes impossible to explain this stuff over the phone, especially when I have a Mac and she has a Dell, and because she really needs to learn how to use the Internet and not depend on people so much, she told me to GO FUCK MYSELF. Who says that to their daughter? I just don't know.

-I'm selling stuff that won't fit in my office, buying things that will, scouring craigslist for the perfect vintage coat rack, trying to figure out if I should sew my own drapes or worse, go to IKEA and deal with insanity, adding more money into our joint accounts to pay for the new, higher rent, trying to find a moment to go to Costco and pick up my contacts that have been waiting for me for over a month now, finding the time to return books to the library and return my vitamins at Bartells (like Walgreens) because the Sealed for Protection part of both the bottles I bought looks like they've been burned off and trying to find a second to pack for Montana, which we're heading to in t-minus 4 hours.

So yeah, a little crazy here. Looking forward to the day when we're settled in the new, totally fabulous house.

Blessed? Is that what we're saying these days.

While trying to figure out how to get access into my Sprint account on the internet, I ended up using their online customer service where you can just "talk" to someone in an Instant Message. As we were ending our conversation she said, "Have a Blessed Day!"

Really?! Is that what we're saying now. Not have a good day, great day, sunny, happy, lovely, insert cheery adjective in here day. But blessed. I couldn't believe it. So much so that I actually had to blog about it.

Cross it off the list.

I made cheese! Ok, well it's not really made just yet. It's drying out in a bag, hanging from our pot rack. And I really didn't have to do much. I just took the Kefir I've been cultivating for a few weeks, asked a friend for her cloth bag and voila, cheese is about to happen.

I also made something for a friend, who I doubt reads this, but just in case I'm not saying shit cause I'd like it to be a surprise. All I can say is that it's made with Nutella, butter and love.

This is what I want for christmas/hanukkah/birthday/anniversary/arbor day!

No, I don't want a shamwow or the newest thing from the mall. And if you don't ever surprise me a house filled with apples I'll be okay. Because if you get me this, I'll forget about all those times you got me something I'd never wear, use or decorate my home with. If you got me this I might just love you forever, if I don't already. If you got me this, I would even consider having kids just to please you. Or not have kids, just to please you. I'd give up peanut butter AND gum at the same time. I'd be excited about baseball AND the Dolphins. I'd do whatever you want because that's how much this gift would rule.

I won't give up bread, but peanut butter is a whole different story.

Over the weekend I decided something big. Possibly life altering. That's right, folks - I'm giving up buying shitty Safeway brand peanut butter for ONE WHOLE MONTH. Ok, so this might not seem like a big deal to you. You probably eat that healthy frou frou organic, no stir shit like the rest of my health conscious friends. And believe me, I AM THE QUEEN OF HEALTHY. Give me some quinoa and zucchini and I'm in heaven. But shitty, sugary, no named brand peanut butter seems to be my only weakness. I was/am/will always be quite possibly addicted to the stuff. Anyone who has lived with me knows this obsession all too well. At first I was just having a spoonful after dinner once in awhile. Then it was every day. Then it was 10 spoonfuls. Then I was buying a container a week. I wasn't gaining any weight from it so I'm not worried about that aspect, but I was just becoming concerned that this whole shitty peanut butter thing was becoming too much. Why do I need that much of anything in one day? I eat enough protein. I eat enough nuts. And yet, every day I was going deeper into the hole. The peanut butter was taking over my life! I had to have it!

And then, this Sunday I decided no more. Fuck you peanut butter. You can't control me! You can't make me buy your delicious crunchy, buttery texture. I told my plan out loud to Dominic to make this official. I, of course, set some ground rules. And here they are:

-I can have other butters, like almond butter or shitty organic butter. The reason? Because I would never eat spoonfuls of the crap. They would be soley for pbjs and that's fine by me.
-I can have peanut butter that is already in food items, like cookies or ice cream or reeses. I hardly ever eat any of those things anyway so I'm fine in that department as well.

Basically I just can't buy/eat 10 spoonfuls of the shitty brand pb I so covet. One month. I'm on day 3 and so far so good. Instead of an apple and peanut butter for dessert (my usual) I have opted for a banana and a homemade granola bar. It's not nearly the same, but I feel slightly better that I'm not totally freaking out and getting the shakes. Although, I think about eating it every 10 seconds and purposely sent my baker friend a recipe for homemade reeses peanut butter cups just so I can have a little taste of the bad stuff. I am pathetic. I know.

WHIRLY BALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!vvvv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!v!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!v!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!vvvvv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!vv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!vvvvv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!vvv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

can you tell i'm excited for tonight's activity?