The trials and travails of living in the Midwest...

The other night I was at work getting something out of the storage barn. Suddenly, I heard snowmobiles! Snowmobiles! I stuck my head out the door to see where the sound was coming from. (Since there obviously wasn't enough snow to be riding one!) In the neighbor's yard I saw the ultimate "I'm a hick from northwest Ohio" expression. Two guys had pulled their truck around to shine its lights on a patch of ice in their backyard. There, on the patch, they were whoopin' it up racing their machines around and around. Having way too much fun...

Risk

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first. - Frederick B. Wilcox
Yes, risk-taking is inherently failure-prone. Otherwise, it would be called sure-thing-taking. -
Tim McMahon
A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are for. - John A. Shedd
To win you have to risk loss. - Jean-Claude Killy
The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny. - Napoleon Bonaparte
Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise. - Author Unknown

I like schedules. I don't like to take a 'chance' or 'risk'. Give me a 5-year-plan and I'll be a happy camper.

*sigh*

Weirdness....

Very unusual things happened to me these past few days.

• I woke up early to go outside and play with our dog (the fam was gone so she hadn't gotten much attention). This is very unusual for me...I don't like dogs, much less wake up early to play with them!
• I saw a dead lamb/small sheep/fuzzy goat/something with fur by the side of the road on my way home. Lamb road kill. Very weird.
• I listened to the same song over and over for 45 minutes on my way to town. And it wasn't even country.
• Our kitchen lights turned on by themselves...sort of. Go to www.xanga.com/Tallie_girl for the whole story.
• I ate at a very expensive Italian restaurant. VERY unusual ;) And I didn't even pay for it. Even better!
• I left my lights on in my truck and killed the battery. Not unusual. Unfortunately.

CMA Awards!

Dierks Bentley - I wish he would have gotten Male Vocalist of the Year. Just 'cause that would have been cool....but he did sing, so that made me happy (even if he was better in concert ;)



















Brad Paisley - "When I Get Where I'm Going" - Musical Event of the Year Super good song :)

Josh Turner - such an amazing voice. Absolutely love 'Would You Go With Me'....

And of course...the Vocal Group of the Year....Rascal Flatts!

I stayed up too late...not gonna lie.....

Philosophy

I have been reading a book on philosophy recently and it fascinates me. Check out these interesting quotes I found regarding the subject:

• Get married, in any case. If you happen to get a good mate, you will be happy; if a bad one, you will become philosophical, which is a fine thing in itself. - Socrates
• Philosophy begins in wonder. And, at the end, when philosophic thought has done its best, the wonder remains. - Alfred North Whitehead
• All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher. - Ambrose Bierce
• To teach how to live with uncertainty, yet without being paralyzed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy can do. - Bertrand Russell

Philosophy: the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct. The love of wisdom.

'Philosophy for Dummies'. It's a good one.

For my bloggers

This is a special post for my blogging friends....

(mainly Nichole...since she can't post on my xanga ;)

Snow has begun to fly and as much as I hate bad roads....I love this kind of weather :) I choose to go against the flow and embrace the winter....snow, Christmas, snuggling under the blankets, warm fires, snowmobiles, trees covered in white...*sigh* It's a good time of year!

All good things come to an end...

Our third and final day at the cabin. *sniff, sniff*

Today was absolutely beautiful day. Gorgeous. We serve an amazing God!

So this morning started out with a 5k race. Now, don't get any crazy ideas....just Dad and Nate raced...I was the cheerleader/photographer :) About 20 people turned out for the big race. I started talking with this lady at the finish line as we waited...she was telling me about how good her son was (blah, blah) so I was a little worried 'cause I was hoping that Nate would place 1st or 2nd in his age bracket. Pretty soon (20 mintues after the beginning of the race) I see this Kenyan guy come over the hill...with Nate right behind him! I was so excited! My amazing little brother :) So I was cheering (but not clapping 'cause I had the camera!) and he ended up coming in second place in the whole race!

After that we chilled around the house, had lunch, the guys rested....nothing super exciting. After lunch we took the dirt bikes /4-wheeler out on the trails. I got a lot of good pictures :) The weather was absolutely perfect. I love fall!!!!!

After riding the trails we came back here....watched some football...cooked some burgers on the grill and started a movie. A little into the movie we ditched that whole idea (not a very good one) and played euchre instead. After Dad killed us at euchre (grrrr) we cleaned the cabin for our early departure tomorrow morning. (However, Nate and I are planning a late-night MXC marathon ;)

This trip has been incredible. God has blessed me with an amazing family...