Color Outside the Lines

Sometimes life takes a guidebook, and other times it requires you to make one. The latter often resulting in some colors outside the lines. "Life is what you make it" or "Work with what you've got..." I've been pondering these things as I once again find myself in the midst of difficult changes. Stay tuned for more details in the near future.  That's just a morsel of thought for the day. 

It took me plus 3 neighbors to get my car "un-stuck" yesterday after an hour+ of digging. I can't say that I have ever had to take a shovel to my CAR before; the sidewalk, yes, but not the car. Usually a handy little scraper and long handled brush do the job. Not here. Some advice for living  in places where it snows large amounts and often: get a garage, an SUV, and studded tires. 

I'm going to take you on a virtual tour of my apartment soon... I just want to paint first. So give me few more weeks.

This is for those of you who are struggling knowing what time zone I live in or failed geography of the Unites States (and my mom thought I was bad... she has NO idea).  And fyi, I am in the furthest possible corner of NW Montana. 

Living in a small town suits me since I don't have a GPS. There's nowhere to get lost :-). But once again, even though I have been coined as being directionally challenged, I will reference the geography comment again and say that I am not THAT bad. When I know more about the streets and locations of places than people that have lived here for a year, it's an ego booster for me. Kudos. None the less, I do feel bad for those people.

A grand experience came my way tonight. I encountered a long lost love of mine: playing BUNKO! For those unfamiliar with the game, it involves dice, a bell, a money pot, and tally sheets. My friend Kortny and I played with a bunch of 60 & 70 yr ladies and were doing all we could to control our laughter the entire time. It was great. And guess what? I won for having the amount of most losses in the night and got my $5 back that it took to enter. Score. 

Happy New Year!

2009?! Really? That is SOOOO strange.... where does time go? And when did I suddenly grow up? Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, and New Years... There used to be such a build up of climax for the whole 2 months. And now it came and went without so much as a blink, not holding much significance.  But none the less, HAPPY NEW YEAR! :-) I have made no resolutions for the year except to survive; it seems best that way. Where there is no expectations there is no disappointment. That sounds depressing, so let me phrase it another way- I have goals and things that I am seeking to accomplish, but none that are specific to the start of a new year. They have been in existence for a long time... like getting caught up on organizing my digital media & scrapbooks, reading all the classics, going to graduate school, backpacking through Europe, and working in Calcutta, India... just to mention a few. 

In review, I spent Christmas Eve and Day at the Ranch with my girls... 

Going home after Christmas was good. It was nice to see my family. Even though I realized upon coming back that I had no Christmas family pictures, this one is still my favorite. My sisters, Mom, and I played old women having a tea party  practically every day per my little sister Shariena. 

I am still waiting on arrival of my new niece/nephew who was supposed to make an appearance in the year of 2008, but apparently had no interest in meeting me and "no-showed." Thanks a lot, little one. Disappointing. 

Being back in this arctic tundra has proved to already provide it's new challenges for the year. More on that later. We will just say for now that I had to get an emergency ride to work yesterday because I was experiencing the literal meaning of snowed-in.