Vacation - Day Two

We saw lots of things today and didn't even leave Rapid. This morning we went to Prairie Edge, a store downtown with oodles and oodles of Native American-themed things. I bought two Paul Goble books I've wanted for awhile and a couple postcards. The gallery was full of gorgeous artwork - I'll have to organize my notes and find the artists' websites for a later post.

When we were done there, we went next door to the Firehouse Brewing Co. It's actually in an old firehouse. The French dip was one of the best I've had in awhile. Dan and I each tried one of their beers (can't remember which ones, and I can't find my notes)

After that, we went to Rapid City's Harley-Davidson dealership, where we saw gobs and gobs of Harleys. I even got a shirt to wear to Sturgis tomorrow (if it doesn't rain all day). We left the dealership just before the rain started. After that, we went to the Civic Center and saw MORE Harleys - good thing that was inside, because it poured while were were there. I think Ashley is hooked on Harleys now - we'll realize what a monster we created when she's sixteen, I'm sure.

Vacation - Day One

We drove to Rapid City today, with a few stops along the way. Too tired to write much tonight (must blog earlier in the day!) so I'll just post a picture or two tonight. The top photo is what the road looked like most of the way here - Interstate and motorcycles, motorcycles, motorcyles going both east and west. The second photo is Ashley riding the bucking bronco at Wall Drug. Didn't mean to do the stair-step effect with the photos, but I'm too tired to figure out how to fix it tonight. More tomorrow...

We're Not Afraid

Great site! Check this out.

The basement is finished! Framing should start before long. 

What a difference a week makes! We've got blocks! 

We now have a hole in the ground! This is taken from the southwest (back) corner of the house. The houses in the background were just foundations two weeks ago. 

We had a GORGEOUS sunset tonight. Just wanted to share... 

Quote of the day...

"...the 'box' we think is so confining is not really there at all, but just a rearrangement of perception." - Charlie Fox, Editor, Library Mosaics, "Editor's Note," 2005 May-Jun; 16(3):5.

This is where our front yard will be! The house will look like the second one in the row facing the camera, but the color of the first one in the row facing away form the camera. 

This one is down the hill looking up at our backyard. The house will be done in the fall!

Are you going to the Time-Travel Convention this weekend, or are you going to wait and go back to it later?

This just tickled me. Especially the idea that you only need to have ONE convention.

NPR : MIT Student Holds Time-Travel Convention

And be sure to read the info on "getting the word out" here

I've entered the digital age!

Okay, some people would say I already had, but this feels like a big step. Last night, I borrowed an e-book from the library! It was a first and went pretty smoothly. Now we'll just have to see if I can stand to read an entire novel on my PocketPC. What novel is it? The Princess Diaries, Volume I by Meg Cabot.

So what IS the average speed of an earthworm?

Tuesday night we had the shocking discovery of an earthworm in our dining room. Still can't figure out how he got in, but after reading this, I guess he'd had about the right amount of time to get from the patio door to the spot about 4 feet into the house where we discovered him. He got promptly deposited outside in the rain. I still can't figure out how he worked the doorknob, though. :o)

Re: how fast is an earthworm?

The Good Enough Mother

Anna Quindlen writes "If your mother has been micromanaging your homework since you were 6, it's hard to feel any pride of ownership when you do well. You can't learn from mistakes and disappointments if your childhood is engineered so there aren't any." (Newsweek, 2005 Feb 21; 145(8):50-1)

Rapid City Journal: Escaped buffalo sees mirror image

"The buffalo spent about two hours in the dressing room, where he apparently became fascinated with the image he saw in a big mirror — perhaps indicating tendencies toward a career in professional sports." :o)

Seen the end of Lemony Snicket?

I was mesmerized by the animation during the closing credits of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. For part of the team behind it, and some of his other work, see Benjamin Goldman's site.

Great story about my former co-worker

In a few days we can say "Leon, Leon!" But we can always talk about the "dowwwwnfalll of society!" NebraskaPressWomen.org

What's your parking "personality?"

Do you "Search and Destroy" or do you "Lay and Wait?" Maybe you're a "Stalker" or do you just "See it and take it?" Read the story and decide what parking style you have: TheOmahaChannel.com - Automotive - Crowded Lots Bring Out Parking Personalities

Scribble a message in the margin

At last! Permission to scribble in my books, though according to Ben Macintyre's rules, I shouldn't do it in my hardcovers. But that's where I scribble most! I don't know if it's because those are the ones which have the content I want to scribble about or if it's just that they have wider margins than paperbacks....hmmm. Either way, I'm giving way to the urge to scribble!

Teen's mom rekindles debate over novel

It's one thing to say your child can't read a controversial book in school, but to keep his whole class from reading it is something else. As Clemson University (S.C.) English professor says, "There's a fine line between good parenting and censorship."
What almost worries me more than this is that this mother had "never heard of" Catcher in the Rye. Granted, I've never read it either, but I'm familiar with the title, and it's been on my mental "To be read someday" list. Maybe I'll move it to the active TBR list...

Thanks to Jade Walker for the heads-up on this story in her blog, Afterthoughts