Sheridan Trails

weewph (my spelling of a sigh).... It has been awhile since I last wrote....but isn't it "absence makes the heart grow fonder"? yes it is so you see, this was all for your own good :) but that is neither here nor there, so let's get started. Just returned yesterday from my voyage to one my soul's many paradises (San Fran) to visit with family. I had an absolute blast. I feel like I should apologize to mom, dad, alli and joe for being a bit salty during the weekend....I was just in a horribly bad mood every time I thought about leaving them, so I wasn't the happiest of campers. We did normal staley stuff at this staley christmas.....sing karaoke.....eat 24/7.....laugh at the wierdest things.....go out for drinks with the pastor's family.... you know, normal stuff. One of my favorite moments of the trip (there were many and too numerous to put into this one post) was going to joe's football game. I absolutely love football...but being at the game is the ...

This Christmas has been a bit strange for me. How, you might ask... I'm not too sure. It's probably because I haven't gotten any of my Christmas shopping done. Or it could be because I don't have any Christmas decorations in my new little apartment. There is also limited snow right now (it's Wyoming, I wasn't prepared for a SHORTAGE of snow...but I'll take it). But I think the main reason this Christmas has been strange for me is because I miss all my wonderful friends and family. :( I cannot wait for this weekend, I get to go to California and have my first Christmas with my WHOLE family in about 5 years! yeah, I love 'em Hope everyone's holiday season is full of love and glee!

Before this day is done, I need to write little post about my amazing sister, Miss A. Little Miss A turns 20 today and is quickly becoming an adult. I will always think of her as a little squishy midget....but to the rest of the world little sister is all grown up. To commemorate this joyous occasion, I will write an ode to Miss A. Sister 'o Mine When you were born you were given to me As a little gift full of love and glee. I made you play Barbies with me all day until you cried and screamed and ran away. Now you are old and don't really care what I say or about what you wear. You are the stinkiest person that I know And you really don't care about where your stink goes But deep inside I know your heart And my little sissy and I shall never part. Sorry sister A, i really didn't mean to insult you with that poem, but I can't stop where the rhyme goes. Anyway, Anyone that knows little sister A tell her HAPPY BIRTHDAY and send her lots of love because she is an aweso...

Wyoming is a huge state. When you look at it on a map, it doesn't really look too big. Don't be confused by this...Wyoming is big. I had the great pleasure of driving 5.5 hours down to Cheyenne yesterday. It was for training so I guess it was worth it, but the trip was sooooooo long. I was unprepared for the car ride. I didn't have any fun car games, left all my good tunes at home, and I didn't bring any snacks. One cool thing that I saw on the way down to Cheyenne was not 1 but 2 BALD EAGLES....like the ones on 12 mile, to all my Rockfordites out there (holla at'cho guuurl). I was not expecting to see them so I don't have any pics to prove that I saw them. Anyway, when I got into Cheyenne, the first thing that we had to do was go to a fundraiser at the 'Old Country Buffett' restaurant. I dont believe that I have been into one of those for the better part of 10 years. The cool thing about it was that we were able to raise over $120 dollars and our raffle...

It's hard to have a bad morning when that is the first thing you see. I love that part about living here. I get to see such amazing views everyday...like it's no big deal. DO YOU SEE THAT! mountains.....MOUNTAINS. All my peeps in Michigan are jealous right now...I can feel it. Anyway, so I wake up this morning, start doing my usual morning routine. I love it, I am getting into a routine now. I ALMOST fit in here...it's getting close to happening. Anyway one part of my morning that I wish wasn't apart of my routine in the breaking of my towel rack. every single morning that I have been here, I have broken my stupid towel rack. Honestly, every morning. It just isn't fair. Anyway, today was my first day at work. I really don't think I did much of anything. I just did a bunch of listening, nodding, note taking, and looking really confused for about 4 hours straight. If that isn't a productive day then I don't know what is. Here is a few images of my office.....

Let me introduce you to one of my very good friends, Miss A. Miss A and I have been good friends for the better part of 22 years. There isn't much that she could do that would piss me off... but.... Miss A has ruined my life. How? By telling me about bakerella and pioneer woman . Now all I do and go to their websites and do absolutely NOTHING for 5 straight hours. FIVE HOURS! I should be mad about this...but I am not...really. but just to even things out...I decided to find a way to retaliate. She's the one in the glasses Sorry Miss A. Wow that makes me feel better :)

Welp, I'm back from good 'ol PSO (pre-service orientation) in Salem, OR. It was definitely an experience.....to say the least. Got to meet a TON of very cool, creative, fun, and crazy people. I also had the extreme pleasure of meeting some very interesting "characters"...I think you know whatI mean by that. I could elaborate more on both but then I would feel bad and once I get famous off of this blog, people might look at my past posts and think 'hey! that bitch is talking about me!', so I'm just going to stop right there. PSO lasted from Tuesday until Friday, but I was unable to fly out of Portland until today (Saturday). I was so so so tired when I got back, I mean it doesn't help that I had to wake up at like 4am. Anyhoo...normal people, when they return from emotionally, physically, mentally and financially strenuous experiences would just take a nap, or rest up. Ho, ho...not Andrea! I decided to drive all the way into town, manage to find their o...

Ok I honestly stink at all this technical stuff, so this is the best I could do. The above image is of my "bedroom" and "living area". The bottom image is of my "kitchen"....let me remind you that all of this is in one big room...don't even ask me how I was able to fit all my stuff in it...especially my clothes...it was a nightmare. So, I have safely reached Sheridan, WY. Wyoming is absolutely nothing like Michigan. Michigan has trees and lakes and yoopers. Sheridan has mountains and bears and cowboys. People here wear cowboy boots like there's nothing to it, while I stare at their feet wondering where they got such swanky shoes. I mean honestly, if I ever wore cowboy boots back home, I think people would look at me like I am some freak (I mean I am a bit of a freak already, so I guess it wouldn't really matter). In the 30ish hours that I have been living in Sheridan, I am quite disappointed in the cowboy selection that I have seen. I swear Ho...