Fair

Once again Andrew and I went to the state fair.

We figured it may be one of the last ones we get to go to since he is having to look for a job out of state.

The day we went was perfect. The morning was a little breezy and it warmed up to a good temp by the after noon. I think we were there for 9 hours-which was a major accomplishment considering I was still gimping around, and Andrew had pinched a nerve in his back the night before.

I don't think I could ever get tired of the state fair. I LOVE the people watching, and the awful-for-you-but-so-good food. My goal this year was to actually eat something from a stick. Did I? Nope! I was going to get in line, but it was a long long line. And I just settled for something else. I can't quite remember everything we ate there, but we did come home with an awesome handmade vase from Poland-on sale- because that's how I shop!

After walking for hours we decided to sit for a while in the arena. Stinky. I wanted to see a horse show, but we were not sure if we came on the wrong day, and we didn't want to sit through the stinky cow part. We sat for as long as we could, and left. People came in there eating and drinking. EWW. The smell that fills that place is FLOATING COW POOP. And your eating it.

YUM.

This is what happens every time we get into the car, however long/short the drive.

He is kinda like a baby, in the sense that if I want him to nap, I put him in the passenger seat and go for a drive. I think he has even fallen asleep on the way to the grocery store.

I love that boy.

By the time we got home my feet were soo dirty. I wore my lovely comfortable Chacos (if you don't have a pair you are truly missing out) and I think my feet attracted all the dirt from the fair.

I hope we are here next year to go, if not wherever we move better have something on a stick!

In my mind we can conquer the world

Today is so beautiful.

The wind is blowing a wonderful cool wind in through my open windows and doors. 

 I just wish we had more like these.

I am not a big fan of summer, or winter.

I love fall, and spring. But mostly fall.

Andrew and I have been pondering what we should do for our 8 year anniversary.

(yes, it is a month and a half away)

We thought about flying, driving, or taking a train to Chicago.

Money doesn't approve of that.

So in state it is.

Taylors Falls has been catching our eye lately and we are trying to decide what to do.

I personally would love to go there the night before, or early that morning, and canoe down the river 2-3 hours, then walk around enjoying the day. Finishing off with a dinner cruise on the river.

Sounds and looks lovely right?

Andrew doesn't agree.

Well, he does.. to a point.

His problem is the weather.

We have no way to know if it will be nice enough to enjoy a canoe trip in the beginning of October.

Have you been on the river that late in the year?

Is it FREEZING?

The cruise isn't the problem at all, in fact I hope the leaves are changing around that time.

It's really my favorite time of year.

I just don't know what to do.

Were not set on this quite yet. We love exploring MN and would love to know of anywhere else that we could enjoy the wonderful outdoors without pitching a tent and not showering. Looking more for a day trip.

I would LOVE your suggestions.

Keep in mind we are not looking to go to Duluth or the Cities.

Been there,

done that.

Meet Roque

We had planned to get Miss Opie a boyfriend after winter, making whoever we bought about a year younger than her. The age difference wasn't too big of a deal. They are just dogs.

That was our plan until one day when we decided to go for a walk around the lake with Opie.

A girl nearly ran up to us asking us if we had gotten her from the pet store.

Actually she said HIM..

apparently she was there yesterday and there was a dog that looked just like Opie, and she had thought we had bought him.

Well hearing that there was another long haired miniature daschund in St. Cloud perked up my ears!

It is so hard to find them, when we looked online before we had Opie, the only ones for sale were over 75 miles away.

I BEGGED Andrew to go with me to the pet store.

and I won :)

My friend and coworker Ashley was with me, and Andrew had a friend from work with him as well.

At first the girl working there (a complete idiot) told us that the only daschunds they had were red short haired. We almost walked away when Andrew found him against another wall.

He was soo adorable!

They thought he was ugly.

And made him over 1/2 off.

Their mistake.

We got a killer deal for him.

And he is super super sweet.

Opie likes him.

But hates him at the same time.

Mostly when we are giving him attention.

Thank goodness we didn't wait a year! I can't imagine how she would have been then!

He is soo tiny!

On our way to Milaca.

Please note the ADORABLE pink bows I made Opie.

(everyone always thinks she is a boy.. even with the pink collar)

She really wants nothing to do with him sometimes.

She'll come around.

his face is much darker than hers- makes him look like a boy

She hated this. Each time we tried to make them lay next to each other she would get up and run away.

At this point I think she was so tired she just gave up.

After Sleeping 8 hours he slept 3 more.

This little guys sleeps alll the time.

He loves to cuddle.

So do I.

******

FOOT UPDATE

In a boot now!

the day after getting that awful cast I was having a hard time walking and pain in my ankle.

I called, they probably thought I was whining.

I got my way though.

AND

When they took off the cast I asked to see it, looked inside and found a ripple of cast.

These guys rock.

But I still won.

We just can't win.

Yes, this is cast #3

We went in thinking I would be walking out with a boot. WELL I guess boots are not as fitted and would cause rubbing on the back of my heel. Which apparently is bad news.

So

They fit me with a walking cast.

This one is heavier.

AND

They had to stretch out my foot/tendon.

Not a good feeling.

Wanna see the incision?

Okay.

Very pretty isn't it?

Looks the same as last time.

The big black lines are marker.

I like to think that they drew them before, and used them to make sure I was put back together right.

It still looks a little swollen to me.

My right leg is smaller in size then my left.

But the left will get its chance to thin out, just give me a few weeks.

The difference was a little astonishing.

The doctor said I could go back to work in about a week.

Then I have to work for 2 weeks to get my vacation.

That's right,

I was 80 hours short.

This whole process has taken longer than we anticipated.

I am not loving it at all.

AND

on top of this

Duluth hired someone else.

Its like we aren't going to get a break at all.

Even though we really need one.

School loans are coming due soon.

The next semester starts soon.

Since Andrew isn't a student at SCSU he would have to be hired on as "staff" in order to keep working with his professor. That would mean that they would have to pay him a lot of money. Which they don't want to do.

We are frustrated and a little angry.

He sent his transcript to the lady in Duluth 3 different times, the last being about a week ago.

Guess who emailed him today asking for the same thing.

AND

Not but 5 minutes after sending it he finds out that they have already filled the position.

Anger pretty much describes how we are feeling today.

Numb does as well.

All other Histotechnician jobs are out of state, at least the ones with the most potential.

Opie of course is oblivious to everything.

I wish I was her.

your love is all I need

Last Sunday we FINALLY went to see the Gross' new house!

I wish I would have gotten a picture of Adella's reaction to my cast, since she herself had just gotten out of one a few months ago.  

Concern, fear, and utter distaste. She wanted nothing to do with it for quite a while.

Opie wasn't allowed inside.

A. They don't allow dogs

B. She might piddle

C. She may chew on something

So we smuggled her in inside a large purse of mine, and stuck her in the garage.

It went great until she barked at the neighbor, so we brought her in and threw a little something on her.

Adella's diaper.

She was so mad at me.

Andrina loved it.

She was convinced she could see Opie "going to the bathroom" in her diaper.

Adella couldn't figure out what the heck her diaper was doing on the dog.

And it gave us all a laugh.

 

Adorable isn't it!

******

Tuesday I get my cast off.

I can't tell you how excited I am.

The incision has been itching for the last 3 days.

At least with the other spots that itched they would go away.

This one is lasting all day.

I don't want to know what my leg hairs will look like.

3 weeks is a long time to go without shaving.

I made sure to shave the day of the surgery.

Right now I imagine its a jungle

I may need to bust out a weed whip.

Nice picture in your head huh?

At this point in the game I REALLY don't want to get the other one done AT ALL.

In fact, the thought of it makes me want to crawl in a hole.

I would love to tell the doctor that I was kidding, and the other one is fine.

Too bad he has already seen the x-ray.

At least I will have two weeks of working between the two.

But

I REALLY don't want to go under anesthesia again.

I hated waking up.

My eye lids would not stay open, even though I really wanted them to.

I almost cut my cast off last night.

In fact I think I begged Andrew to help me.

I told him we would super glue it back on when we go to the doctor.

He didn't buy it.

Showering, Opie, and a Tree.

Not an easy thing when you have a cast. I have this great thing called a "Shower Bag".

Saved my life. 

When we went in for a cast, I noticed one of the drawers was marked as such. 

I had to have one.

The nurse just said they would bill my insurance.
 awesome. 

Basically there is a hole at the top where you put your foot into.

It some how stretches out around your cast, and tightens around your leg.  

Best invention EVER.

well, as well as the shower chair.

(I just may keep that forever)

The Bag

Apparently you can swim with these?! You just have to let out all the air.

The little black squares are grippers..

It's far too big.. Kinda a "one size fits all" - ADULTS

I think you could fit a small child in there.

Really.

****

 Lately Miss Opie and I have had some time to bond.

And play.

For my dear sister Emma who is freaking out at this point.

The toy is clean.

It was just washed.

simmer.

(Love you!)

We have spent many hours playing fetch and sleeping.

She has been an awesome little entertainer these few weeks.

Too bad she can't get me things.

We should work on that.

Maybe someday she will be able to make me lunch.

****

There has been all sorts of construction going on around Lake George.

I have not had a problem with it until today.

You see, there is this tree.

Its HUGE in every sense of the word.

I would say its a good hundred + years old.

They are cutting it down.

It's so sad.

I would love to have petitioned in some way,

anything short of chaining myself to that tree.

But I didn't.

It wouldn't have helped.

Its so old.

We have had to watch it get torn down limb by limb.

There is still the trunk and the branches off to the right.

It should be gone by tomorrow.

It makes me angry and sad all at the same time.

I am not considered a "tree hugger" in any sorts.

I just find it completely frustrating that they cannot work around the TWO FEET that the tree sticks out at the bottom. The TWO FEET that is "in the way" to make a road.

There used to be a road there, before it was torn up. And I think it was just fine.

If any of you have seen the house we live in, you know it is HUGE all by itself.

The tree is like our house stacked on its self  2 1/2 times.

Am I too worked up about this?

I just feel it is wrong to get rid of something that has been around for so long.

The itching continues

Well no boot, I have a cast.

I don't love it at all.

I like the colors,

and that's about it.

I begged the doctor to just put me in a boot.

I even said I would pinkie SWEAR I wouldn't walk on it.

He didn't want to pinkie swear.

I am stuck in this for two weeks.

My leg still itches, and I can't itch it.

I did however itch it A LOT while the wrap was off.

That was heaven.

my cast

So do you remember how on Toy Story how Andy signed the bottom shoe, or foot of his toys?

Andrew did...

Does this mean he owns me?!

Oh well..

Its hard to tell in the picture but my foot was turned in a little bit when they put the cast on, and some how it was too big. I could fit my fingers past the knuckles inside. We didn't realize it at the time, and went on our way. That night I had some pain on the top of my leg in the shin area. I just figured it was normal and tried to ignore it. The next day I tried elevating it in different positions, ice pack on the heel, toes, back of the knee and on top. I even tried to stuff an ice pack into the large space between my leg and cast. I decided to just call and see if they had any other tricks I could try. The nurse seemed worried and told me that I needed to come in that day. My wonderful mother basically dropped what she was going to do for that day and come to take me there. (she also had to get a Rx from Walgreen's) So we went and they discussed if they should / should not take the cast off and put on another on. I really didn't care what they did, as long as the pain went away, because frankly I wanted to chop my leg off.

My Second Cast

They decided that the only way to get rid of the pain was to take the cast off. Originally I wanted the pink on the first one to be small like this second one.. the girl just didn't get what I was saying. I decided to go with a color, the first one looked too much like a tube sock. I have no pain from this one and I am enjoying the colors. In fact, I even went out and bought new nail polish just to "go" with the cast, not matching colors, just complementing bright colors. I still have yet to have someone sign the cast but I think Andrew will be the first again,

and I am sure it will be just like the first.

As the days go on I think I am getting better at using the crutches, then I nearly fall. I am not graceful, I never have been. But now I have one foot to stand on and two "sticks" assisting me. It's fairly comical to watch, and a little scary. I am slow, and when I am outside, even hotter. At least it's not winter, and I am not trying to do this on ice.... I know your picturing that now. Your welcome for the smile, or the laugh.

Good night.