Day 3 of the 38 hour drive home. This drive: 9:31:57 of me, Border Crossing, and rain.

Well onto day 3 - the final day!! Yay!!!!!!

I woke up in Helena and actually had breakfast.  I think the first real meal I had in 3 days.  It tasted glorious!!!  I also forgot that being in Montana, people probably actually understands where Canada is and certain parts.  So when the front desk person asked why I was up at the crack of dawn and told them I had about an 8 hour drive ahead of me, he says 'oh that puts you right up around Edmonton'  Finally!!! Someone who knows Canada!! I could smell the Canadian Air and knew that it wasn't too long till I was back on Canadian soil.

The drive itself this day wasn't too exciting.  Which I knew was going to happen.  This day had a purpose.  This day was not for the scenery but moreso for the destination.  So in my car I go and hit the road.  Leaving Helena it was pretty - mountains and hills and scenery.  But it didn't last long.  Ohh oohh oohh and I finally say the Missouri River!!! A lot.  Kept winding around the road that I was on.  For some reason I want to say it was far more majestic at 5 in the morning when I crossed it in Pierre, South Dakota.  But at least I finally got to see it.  It was alluding me my entire time down in the States.  Which is funny as it is a pretty big friggin river. 

Anywho, not a lot to report on this trip in all honesty.  I drove.  And drove.  And drove.  And passed nothing.  It was flat.  It was boring.  And that made for a long driving day.  Finally I get to the border!!! Yay!!!!

And start panicking about what they are going to ask me, what if they search my car, lets not look panicky, everything will be alright.  And I start panicking.  And wait.  And wait.  And finally get to the border.  I was (or thought I was) prepared for any and all questions they were going to ask me.  Until they asked me what my licence plate number was.  Then I froze.  And mumbled something that resembled my forgotten licence plate number.  Apparently it was okay so the border agent took it.  He asked me some questions and then let me on my merry way.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy.  

And I keep driving.  And driving.  And driving.  And not see anything.  I think I was on one of the most desolate highways in Alberta ever.  It was crazy quiet and nothing.  Except rain.  Hit a lot of rain.  A common theme along my drive for the three days.

I finally get to the highway that will get me home and the last three days was all for something.  I pull up, scare the living bejesus of my mom as she was expecting me later and we start the fun process of unloading my car.  And I can finally say I am home.  Some happiness to be back with family and on Canadian soil, some sadness because I loved what I was doing in Hastings and some excitement as for what the world has in store for me.

Day 2 of the 38 hour drive home. This drive: 15:08:212 of rainy weather, mountains and anxiety provoking signs.

Day 2 started with me waking up in Gillette, Wyoming after crashing hard from the night before.  I knew it was going to be a long day as Google Maps projected a 10 hour driving day so I made sure I woke up on the right side of the bed to make it a wonderful day.  And for the most part it was.  

I get on the Interstate and already I know this is going to be a good day (even though I was still having the mountain v. hill argument in my head).  The scenery in Wyoming is friggin gorgeous.  And after looking at a map, I realized that I drove clear across Wyoming so I got to see a lot of its scenery.  From the red dirt near Gillette to all the mountains and forests around Cody, it was awesome.  Which kind of surprised me because usually what I love the most about scenery is water - lakes, waterfalls, rivers, etc.  Wyoming had none of that (which adds more to the beaches of Cheyenne perplexity).  I really don't know how to explain it - hills and valleys of greenness everywhere.  It was one of those moments that I didn't think to take pictures or videos because I didn't want to share it with anyone - this was just for me and my prize for surviving the day before.  It was my happiness to relish in that moment.  

I start getting closer to Yellowstone National Park as signs start popping up advising which route to take.  I will tell you this, when the signs start saying stuff like "Yellowstone National Park Fastest route take Route 16" "Yellowstone National Park Scenic route take Route 16" I start to ask myself what route did I choose and where was I going to end up.  But then I saw the sign that says "Yellowstone National Park Safest route take Route 16", I panicked a little.  I mean, what route *did* I choose when I made my plan?  And the problem with not having gps is if you go off script of a printed off map, getting lost increases in probability.  Which is something I did not want to experience as I constantly told myself I was lost.  Just telling yourself you are lost is totally different than actually being lost.  But I keep plugging along, having faith in my handy map print off and knowing that at some point I will end up where I am supposed to be.  

I am so glad I took the route that I did.  I do not know what the other 'scenic' route was but mine was pretty friggin scenic.  I get off the interstate and start driving, getting closer and closer to mountains and trees.  Something that I love.  I drive through this town called Dayton and I tell myself that I am going to move to Dayton, Wyoming and work in the Crazy Woman Saloon.  HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE!!!!!!  It seems perfect really.  So I keep driving and suddenly I find myself at the entrance of Bighorn National Forest and my car start driving up.  

And up.  And up.  I was driving up a mountain.  A very very high mountain.  And the road was hair pin turns and twists and SO MUCH FUN!!!!  There was little pull outs to take pictures and see how high up you were and it was crazy to look down and see where the road started from and where I was standing.  I think at one point in time an elevation sign said something like over 8000 feet.  It was nutso.  Driving through Bighorn was beautiful and I thought of my brother and how he should go camping here as that would be gloriously wonderful.  Getting near the end of driving through the Forest you have to start driving down (cause you know, going up is one thing, but one has to go down as well) and again, some road signs started to give me a little anxiety.  The sign said "10% grade over 13 miles" so I think to myself, that is nothing.  Then right under that sign is said "sharp curves" and under that one it said "beware falling rocks" and under that one it said "road damaged".  I figured that if we weren't on the side of a mountain the next sign would have said "animals crossing everywhere" for good measure.  

I get out of the Forest and start plugging along, passing little towns everywhere.  And then I hit Cody.  And decide this is the town that I want to live in.  It is totally based and themed around Buffalo Bill Cody and it looks so much fun!!!  I would love to go back and spend a couple of days there alone because you can go on trail rides, I think I saw a stage coach ride or something and the day I was driving through had the rodeo that night (I almost decided to abandon all plans for the day and stay for the rodeo but then figured that hotel rooms were probably pretty scarce).  The town is kind of built on a mountain with a crevice/canyon/river flowing through it.  It was pretty neat.  And right outside of Cody is Buffalo Bill State Park which is gorgeous as well.  And I went through 2 mountains.  Went through.  Not up. Not down.  But through.  It was awesome!!!!!  And passed this huge reservoir/lake and the houses on the hills were magnificent and gorgeous!! Definitely would be an amazing place to live. There weren't that many places to pull over and take pictures but it is definitely a wonderful place to go check out.  

I leave Buffalo Bill State Park and find myself in Shoshone National Forest and again, it is gorgeous.  I went through so many Parks and Forests but they were all so glorious and beautiful.  I am glad for all the signs as I never knew where one Park was ending and another Forest was beginning.  But I was thinking to myself that I was making some good timing and that I would be able to spend some time in Yellowstone and actually appreciate that park.  Basically Shoshone turned into Yellowstone and before I knew it, I was at the gates of Yellowstone and entering it.  

I will have to admit, I was a little let down at first when going through Yellowstone.  I felt like Bighorn, Buffalo Bill and Shoshone were all more foresty than Yellowstone but then when I looked at the map of Yellowstone I realized that there were a lot of little things to look at in Yellowstone, like the geyers, water falls, rapids and stuff like that.  Not so much treed areas but other areas.  So I was content.  For the time being.  My first stop was to hit Old Faithful (which I kept wanting to call Old Yeller).  Traffic was a little busy and finding parking was close to impossible but I finally got there, got out and stretched my legs and walked down to see Old Faithful.  And I made it in good timing as I got there about 10 minutes before it went off.  It was kind of cool to watch and something that I have never seen

before so that was cool.  However, I will say this - Yellowstone has a lot of geysers and if you seen one, you have seen them all.  If the Park was smart, they would put food coloring in all the geysers and make it a game for people to mark off and find all the different colors and when they leave the Park they get a prize for participating.  That would make the geysers a little more interesting.  Don't get me wrong, they are cool but kind of boring.  

After Old Faithful I head up to other places of Yellowstone - saw some natural hot springs, some falls, lots of trees.  There was one point that I was driving down a mountain, with no guardrails, hair pins curves and I thought to myself 'do they not put up guardrails so that people have to be vigilant drivers? Does the lack of guardrails make for less accidents??" I also saw yet another sign that made my heart stop for a moment.  This sign said 'falling rock'.  Not rocks plural.  Just rock.  Single rock.  Does that mean that the entire friggin mountain is coming down in one swoop, in one mass?? Cause that would suck big time.  

I decide that I wanted to hit all the junctions at Yellowstone since I was there and making good timing.  I got up to Tower Falls (WHICH WERE AMAZING) and I hear the thunder in the distance and think to myself 'cool I get to see a rain storm on a mountain'.  Don't ever think this.  Ever.  You may think it would be pretty cool.  But kind of isn't.  At all.  But I still think I can make it up to the last junction which is further up the mountain and on the other side.  So I start treking that way.  And it starts raining.  So I just think to myself that I will slow down but all will be well.  Right when I think to myself that I am driving right into the storm the wind picks up (remember - on a side of a mountain with no guardrails), the rain increases to the point that my wipers can't really keep up (and I am on the side of a mountain with no guardrails) and then it starts to

hail.  That is when I say to myself 'I don't need to see ALL the junctions.  I have seen enough.  All is good' and I turn around. And drive for a bit but then come up to a road that has a gate and that gate is closed.  With a sign that says 'severe weather - road closed'.  So now I am stranded on the side of the mountain with no guardrail while a storm is coming through.  The park rangers were directing traffic to get as far into the mountain as we could and then we just had to sit and wait for the storm to lighten up enough for us to continue on down/up the mountain.  Thankfully I brought a book as we sat there for about 1 hour.  And since I was one of the first ones who got to the gate, I was lucky enough to be parked under some trees (lucky in that no hail was really hitting my car but then I thought that if a tree or branch fell on my car how would that insurance claim go).  It was really pretty but also kind of scary.  And another thought I had was 'my mama would be so proud that I didn't continue on into the storm and actually had the common sense to turn around'.  Once the storm lessened up enough for the roads to be open again, I thought it best to just get out before another storm hits.  And that is when I got stuck behind a car from California who was doing 15mph going UP a mountain.  UP.  Not because that is all the car could do.  No.  Because it was raining.  Which I understand.  But do you how hard it is on a car and one's patience to go UP a mountain at 15mph.  It sucks.  Big time.  I took another hour just to get from the junction I was at to the exit I needed to continue on my way to Helena.  But I finally got out of the park and kept going my merry way.  Which I thought was only going to be another hour or so.  I was wrong.  So wrong.  

Helena was another 2.5 hours away.  And by this time it was already 8pm.  But I figured, what the hell, enjoy it while I can and I did.  I drove through yet another forest  (can't remember the name of this one) and enjoyed a gorgeous Montana sunset.  It was so pretty.  But then it got dark.  And animals started coming out.  That last hour of driving was kind of nerve wracking as it was pitch black, I was driving on unknown roads and I was getting tired.  Thankfully I made it to my hotel and just conked out.  

Overall it was a gorgeous day of driving.  Saw so many mountains/hills, forests, water falls and lakes.  I would definitely do that drive again.  I was in heaven.  And up in the clouds.  And just not caring what was happening in life and being in that moment.  It was a marvellous feeling.  

Day 1 of the 38 hour drive home. This drive: 7:12:17 of me, my car, scenery and my thoughts.

When I realized that I had to do the road trip back home from Hastings as there was a snafu with extending my visa, I was looking at the happiness of going through places that I have always wanted to see, like Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park.  The drive that took around 20 hours to head down to Hastings panned out to be a 38 hour trek home.  But lots of sights were seen and many, many, many thoughts and questions were pondered during the trip.

My first stop on my list was Valentine National Wildlife Refuge.  Now, because my mind is how it goes, I was expecting to see animals and animals.  Because you know, it is a Refuge.  A place they can feel safe and secure and not have a fear of being hunted.  However, I should realize that when one wants to see an animal is exactly when one won't see an animal.  I didn't see a single one.  Except dive bombing birds.  But more about those later.  Driving through the Refuge I was looking forward to driving around all the mini lakes and whatnot that was encompassed in the Refuge but I did not realize that the roads around the lakes were basically dirt paths.  And when one has a car that is packed full, one does not want to get stuck somewhere and that was a fear of mine so I sadly bypassed all the lakes.  Which if you know me was sad because I do love me my lakes and rivers.  So I finally pull up to a lake that I can safely go and see as it was right off the highway.  I pull up and grab my camera and think that I am going to get some really nice pictures of the sun glistening off the lake and the vast hills and valleys around the lake.  Nope.  Enter the dive bombing birds.  THEY WERE FREAKING EVERYWHERE.  At first I thought I could handle them but nope.  When one swooped and almost hit me, I decided it was high time to get the heck outta dodge.  I was slightly disappointed that a) I saw no animals b) I didn't get a picture of sun glistened lake but those dive bombing birds were vicious so I am glad I got out with my life intact.  And eyeballs.

Next stop was Smith Falls in Valentine.  It took me a little to figure out where they were and when I was finally on my way to them, I felt like I was heading out to the middle of nowhere and something bad was going to happen.  I most of the time feel like something bad will happen.  I am a optimistic pessimist that way.  I get out to Smith Falls, and do the 'hike' to the falls.  I was expecting a hike hike (but kind of glad I did not have to as packing and loading up my car twinged something in my old lady body).Get up to the falls and my first thought was 'well they aren't no Nigara Falls'.  Although I have never seen Niagara Falls so I shouldn't be too hasty on comparing the two but I thought they would be better than what they were.  Don't get me wrong, for Nebraska they were pretty good but when I think Falls, I think of whooooshing, splashing, smelling the goodness of water, crystal clear pile of water, etc etc of a water fall.  Over all, it was pretty and I am glad I could say I saw the only waterfall in Nebraska.  

After Valentine was to high tail it up to South Dakota and cut through the Pine Ridge Reservation to get up to the Black Hills National Forest.  Going through the Reservation wasn't too bad.  Some nice sights.  Went through Buffalo Gap National Grassland.  I only saw 1 buffalo and he was at the end when I was turning out of the Grassland.  I would have to say though that this is where I started noticing all the bikes.  And they just got more and more the more north I went.  By the time I hit Hot Springs, they were everywhere.  By the time I got to Custer, they have overtaken the earth.  Like ants.  Ants everywhere.  I think I would have enjoyed the Hot Springs to Mount Rushmore drive a whole lot more if there wasn't so many bikes around.  I swear I passed over 5000 of them.  Dr. Suess could write a poem about Sturgis - bikes of every size, of every color, of every make and model.  Men and female, old and young. Some very very attractive, some not so much.  Humans of every size riding the bikes.  Bikes freaking everywhere.  I am not a huge people person at times and even though I was driving by myself, I was people tired of being just in the same driving vicinity of all of them.  Custer was like the grand central station for them all.  And I was thinking of kicking up to the Crazy Horse Memorial but the line up to get up there was insane.  Stupid bikers.  They kind of ruined a lot of things for me.  I shake my fist at them (now that they can't see me and potentially beat me up).  

So I finally get up to Mount Rushmore.  And almost miss it.  First off, being stuck behind a newly biker is kind of frustrating.  Secondly, be climbing up a mountain and twisty turvy roads at the same time.  And then by the time I get to Mount Rushmore, the line up to get in and to even get in was mayhem.  But I eventually got in.  I told myself that I am coming through this way for a reason and I am not going to let these bikers take away my experiences.  I get into Mount Rushmore and it is pretty fantastic.  I wonder who looked up at the mountain and said 'hey, lets chisel in some faces on this mountain'.  And how much booze was involved in that decision and how many friends laughed at that person with that crazy idea.  But now look at what happened.  It is amazing.  One could go along the Presidential Walk but it involved 250 steps and I was far too hot and tired to do that.  Maybe next time I go through there I will do the walk.  But I am glad I went and saw Mount Rushmore.  It was amazing and kind of inspirational to just sit there and look up at something that somebody created.  Especially back then with no technology that we have now.  I applaud you gentlemen who created that.  

Next up was heading north to Rapid City, bypassing Rapid City and cutting through the Black Hills National Forest to make my way to my destination, being Gillette, Wyoming.  And I hit rain.  Big rain.  Hard rain.  Rain severe enough that while driving through the mountains, there was a sign that said 'Severe Weather Ahead.  Be Cautious'.  The sign might well of said 'Be Crazy or Stupid To Venture Forth'.  Rain plus crazy curves and mountains is a fun time.  And it rained basically straight form the Black Hills to Gillette.  And right when I get on the interstate and was able to actually pick up some speed without fearing of falling off a mountain or crashing into one, one of those overhead signs says 'Wet Road.  Take Off Cruise Control'.  No word of a lie.  The moment I put on my cruise control I see that sign.  Again, I wanted to shake my fist.  Wyoming though was gorgeous.  It has the red earth dirt.  Or clay.  Or whatever it was.  And the rolling hills and valleys.  Simple gorgeous.  

I finally pull up to my hotel in Gillette and I am wiped and tired and annoyed.  Day 1 is finally done and over with and I have 2 more days to look forward to.  I shall leave you with some of my thoughts I had with this drive:

• what makes a mountain a mountain and what makes a hill a hill?  what is the difference between the two? were I going over and through mountains or hills?  who decides what the difference is?
• what is the capital of Wyoming?  (I took a very long pause trying to remember it and then I remembered I have the song Beaches of Cheyenne by Garth Brooks on my ipod so I turn that on and start to listen to the lyrics).  Is it Cheyenne?  That sounds about right.  But why in the song do they say 'beaches of Cheyenne?  there are no oceans around Wyoming.  Maybe a lake beach?  I haven't passed a lake yet though.  But there has gotta be lakes.  So maybe a lake beach is what they are talking about.  But then also why in the song so they say that he is going up to Wyoming for a rodeo?  If they were already in Wyoming why would he be going up to Wyoming?  Unless Cheyenne is at the bottom of Wyoming and he is travelling up into Wyoming for a rodeo, then it makes sense.  I would still like to know where she died though and where this so called beach is in Wyoming.  
• it would be totally plausible if along this journey I meet a hot biker and we decide to get married.  The Sturgis version of a Vegas marriage.  It could happen.  And solve all my problems.  
• are more people going to be making Mount Rushmore's with different faces on it?  Or is it a copyright thing and nobody else can chisel faces into mountains? 
• all these curves are so fun to go around.  Fun.  Dangerous.  Nerve wracking.  But fun.  Makes me feel like a formula 1 racer.  In a Ford Focus.  
• oohh my car tells me when I am hydroplaning.  Cool.  

Work is the best form of birth control for me.........

Lots of people ask me what I do.  Or what my day at work looks like.   Well not a lot of people.  I think when people hear I am a therapist/studied psychology, they don't really want to hear about what I do because they don't want to talk to me for fear of me analyzing them right then and there.  Unless you are my sister who blatantly asked me what was wrong with her.  How do you politely tell your sister she has issues??!!  And it is really hard to explain what my work day looks like as it changes.  I do not have the therapist type of job where I have my clients and all I do is prepare for therapy, do therapy and then do my notes on therapy.  That sounds boring (compared to what I have been doing).  

I am a therapist.  And a direct support professional.  And a supervisor.  And an Administrator on Call. And sometimes I feel like one of the individuals.  I help out where ever and whenever I can and I am pretty sure I have exceeded what my job description was.  I don't even know what that was.  And I have enjoyed all the different roles I have played.  Being a therapist is fun because I get to really learn the individuals and their histories and can smile when a minuscule breakthrough happens.  I loved being a direct support professional as I got to work with staff and get to know them and understand all their duties and what they face everyday they are at work.  I loved being a supervisor because I feel like staff were like 'oh shit, she has the phone' and then they would figure out things on their own because I would not make an executive decision for the life of me.  Working as supervisor, I either felt like I was putting on my batman belt with my phone, the supervisor phone and the radio or I felt like a drug dealer with that many ways to get a hold of me. I loved being an Administrator on Call as, even though it could get pretty stressful and hectic at times, some of the things I was notified about made me laugh and have a 'what the fuck' moment.  Actually, those moments happen a lot when at work.  

For the purpose of this blog and to keep all this HIPPA/HIPAA related, all the individuals will be named Joe.  That way they keep their identity and nobody is none the wiser as to whom I am talking about.  Unless you work there then you will know exactly who I am talking about.  But for you other people who don't have the privilege of working where I do, you will have no clue but will hopefully enjoy my stories nonetheless.  

I do not know how long it was after I started that I got asked to go with Joe to supper with his father so that way we didn't have to hold a staff to go.  I was happy to be asked but if you know me, I think the worst out of everything that happens.  For example, and I am going to jump trains here for a second, the very first time I went to meet some of the individuals, Joe was looking at me and after being told what some of his precursors were, I had no clue what they actually looked like, so whenever he looked at me, I thought to myself 'oh I am going to get punched.  Don't show fear.  Look calm.  Try to duck or dodge if I see a fist coming towards me'.  Oh that first experience was an eye opener.  Nothing did happen that first time and actually nothing has ever happened to me while with the individuals.  Except for getting kicked.  I was kicked once.  But it really wasn't that bad.  But now back to the other train- going to supper with Joe.  Joe has certain stipulations as to his liquids and meals.  Stipulations that sometimes he has an issue with and sometimes he doesn't.  Really hit or miss.  In my mead, he was going to have issues.  In my head, this is EXACTLY how the night was going to go:

• we were going to get to the restaurant and Joe wouldn't be able to have anything to drink.  So then he would get pissed.  And when his food would come, he would be pissed that certain things had to happen first.  And when he got pissed he grabs a knife from the table and starts stabbing people.  And the cops are called.  And I get deported.  

This is how the night actually went:

• we went to the restaurant.  Joe was civil regarding his liquids and his meal.  And redirected well when he wasn't able to have what he wanted.  

So yeah, I totally tend to think the absolute worst.  And at supper all I ordered was toast.  Which I didn't eat.  Because I was too afraid to vomit everywhere due to being so nervous and stressed out about the whole situation.  But nobody got stabbed.  I didn't get deported.  So it was basically a wonderful evening all in all.  

There was another memory that when I was with the individuals in the morning trying to get them up and motivated to get ready for their day.  Some of them are more motivated than others.  One morning Joe didn't feel like getting up and was sitting in his bed all grumpy like.  Somebody mentioned that it was going to be a sunny day and I looked at Joe and started singing 'sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, everything that is wonderful is what it is like when we are together!'  Joe looked at me like I was crazy but a big grin broke out on his face and he slowly started climbing out of bed.  The staff looked at me and asked me what I was on.  But it worked - it got Joe out of bed. People are work quickly realized that I am a morning person.  The first night I helped out as supervisor for 3rd shift, I got in at 2am and was chipper and happy.  Again, I think staff thought I was on something.  

Some days it feels like we are herding cats.  And I say that in the most loving and caring sense.  And this is also why work is the best form of birth control.  Some morning, trying to get everyone up and happy and out the door for work seems like an act of God.  I feel emotionally and physically tired by the time they are all gone.  I would totally be one of those mothers who has a drink once her children leave for school.  Between getting them up, helping with breakfast, meds, prompting some more than others to get out of bed, all the endless questions and conversation and the whirlwind of making sure they have everything for the day, it is tiring.  And I commend staff every day for dealing with that.  I do it at work.  Not at home.  Hopefully never at home.  Again, work is a good form of birth control. 

I will definitely miss hanging with the individuals and having conversations with them as most of the time, there was laughter in those conversations.  And lots of fist bumps and smiles.  And sometimes it was very hard to not just give one a hug if they were having a rough day.   I do not know how exactly to put in words all my experiences while I here, all the stories and conversations I had with some of the individuals that will always stick out in my mind but it was an experience unlike any other and maybe an experience I will not receive anywhere else.  The fact that Joe told me that I am the best female therapist he has ever had, or the fact that the psychiatrist offered to marry me if he wasn't married already, or the fact that some staff have been offering their offspring for me to marry to stay at my job makes me realize that people do appreciate all the help I have been providing.  It is kind of sad though that I realize/feel this way when I am leaving.  

I thank everybody for all the memories, laughter and experience I have received while working there. They welcomed my craziness with open arms and had to explain my craziness to new people as to 'oh she is canadian'.  There were many, many, 'what the fuck' moments but they were usually followed up by laughter to alleviate the stress and tension that followed.  Work will definitely be quieter without me there, that I am pretty sure.  But I will miss everybody there, from the individuals to the staff to my fellow office coworkers.  

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!!!

Well my plan of seeing Nebraska is not really happening very swell.  It seems like my weekends are filled with working (which kind of sucks), helping a coworker study (which is friggin awesome) or me being lazy (which is both friggin awesome and sucks).  I really, really, really need to start seeing more of Nebraska just in case my visa doesn't get renewed.  Which, at this hour on this day, is not happening.  Just a brief update on that - I have an appointment to meet with an immigration attorney on Wednesday to figure out options so maybe after then I will know where my life is headed come August.  Maybe.  Possibly.  Or who am I kidding- even if I get that information I will still have no clue where my life is heading.  

Anywho, I decided to do something that wasn't working or laziness and hit the Omaha Zoo.  I have heard a lot about the zoo and read that it was voted the best in the world.  Yep.  THE BEST.  So I was uber stoked and excited about it and figured it would be a fantabulous day and a wonderful escape. The day came, I woke up insanely early to get to the zoo right when it opened to miss the crowds.  Clearly everyone else in the state of Nebraska thought to do the same idea as when I got there, there were line ups waiting to get into the zoo.  It was mayhem!  I got my trusty map and off I went.  

Overall- the zoo kind of sucked and was a disappointment.  I figured with it being the best zoo in the world, it would have blown my if-I-had-worn-any-socks off.  But it didn't.  I was underwhelmed and disappointed.  Now, don't get me wrong, for Nebraska, it was a decent zoo and I can see the attraction.  But to be the world's best - yeah, I don't know about that.  And maybe also since there was construction and not all the animals were out, that didn't help matters with my overwhelming of the zoo.  

What I think would be awesome is a zoo with no birds.  No winged creatures whatsoever.  And Ma, I totally blame you for that phobia.  Going through the Asia/Africa biodome, I was constantly looking up and checking to see.  And if people in front of me stopped and pointed to something above us, I basically stopped and cowered.  The biodome was pretty awesome though - the greenery and animals (other than the winged beasts) were beautiful.  Being able to see the monkeys just chilling on their trees.  The bats doing their thing.  And the stingrays with gorgeous flowers.  I actually found myself looking at the trees and flowers and rivers and waterfalls over the animals.  It was just gorgeous.  I actually plomped myself down on a bench (or if it wasn't a bench I made it a bench) and read for a bit while in there.  It was hot, yes, but just being in that place with the gorgeous greens and colors was a happy place. 

From there on I went walking.  And walking.  And more walking.  I went to the area that should have/will have the elephants and giraffes and whatnot.  But there was nothing there.  Nothing.  So I just kept walking and found myself in the Sense Garden.  It made me think back to the outdoor rose garden in DC.  Now I am not a gardener, nor do I ever want to be one.  I have no desire to plant flowers or food or anything like that but I will gladly spend time in someone's masterpiece.  This garden was so serene and comfy.  There were nooks and crannies to sit and have some stillness and quietness in.  And ceramic animals kicking around.  It was awesome. I came up to the pond/fountain part which had ceramic flamingos.  And a duck was sitting on the edge.  And at first I thought to myself 'why would they have a ceramic duck sitting there with the flamingos?' Yeah.  Not a fake duck.  It was a real duck.  

The sea lions were awesome.  They were in all their glory, swimming about, barking to each other.  And there as a baby sea lion.  Who was very grumpy whenever its mom left.  Man would it make noise.  But it was so cute.  They were the most active of animals at the zoo so I stuck around for quite a bit watching them.  And the big sea lion, the male I am assuming was so funny to watch.  The way he waddled and swam.  Any animals in water is a friend of mine.  They were just so cute!!!

I am a zoo lover. Most people know that.  I am also a huge aquarium lover.  Maybe more so than a zoo lover as a) it is indoors and b) there is water everywhere.  And I a am a water lover (one of the very many reasons why I loved living in DC).  So when I found it time to hit the aquarium, I was happy.  There was a lot of people but I managed to not let the crowds bug me and just be there.  The penguins were awesome.  

I sat there for over 30 minutes just watching them.  They all have such funny behaviors and personality.  And I think that if a penguin trainer ever wanted to teach a penguin how to dance, they would have quite a show on their hands.  Think of it, the penguins are just doing their thing and suddenly THEY BREAK OUT INTO A FLASH MOB!!! How awesome would that be!!!! Very awesome.  Extremely awesome.  Awesome beyond all words awesome.  I think it needs to be done.  But these penguins did not do that.  They were standing around.  Some were laying.  One had the best idea of laying on the pile of snow.  And lots were zipping in and out of the water, annoying the other penguins.  Man I loved the penguins.  

Then going through the tunnel was quite an experience as I never been through that before.  It was surreal.  Being able to see all the fish and manta rays and sharks swim all around you, being surrounded by all that water, again, I sat down and did some reading as even though there were a crapton of people, it was so relaxing.  I heard the aquarium in Georgia is awesome and now I definitely want to go.  The aquarium was my favorite part of the zoo.  By far.  

Overall the zoo was good.  I liked the National Zoo in DC a lot better and the Vancouver Aquarium way better but for Nebraska, this will suffice.  I do not know if it is a zoo I would go to every weekend as I was sad about the lack of animals I saw but it would be good exercise as you do a lot of walking and back tracking and whatnot but it was not what I was expecting.  But it was a zoo so of course I had to go and check it out.  

 

Welcome to Hastings: population 25093 with a mentality of population 500

It has been a little bit over a month since I have moved here and every once in a while I toodle out and see what this town has to offer so come along with me for a ride and let me tell you some aspects of this town.

I have lived in cities and towns of all populations.  My hometown was only around (and under) 5,000.   From there I moved to Red Deer, which has a population of 98,585.  After Red Deer, it was off to Calgary, which housed a total of 1,149,552 people.  My first stint in the United States was Washington DC, having a total of 658,893 people.  So, as you can see, I have lived and experienced places of all populations.  Both have its pros and cons but I will say that I am a small town, country gal at heart.  And as 'big' as Hastings is, it has a small town mentality.  

I was quite excited when I saw this - I thought to myself 'oh my goodness, a real life, small town type of place, a general store!!! How cool is that??!!'   Yeah.  Not a general store.  At all.  It is a chain type of place.  Not a small town, locally owned place.  Not a general store in the sense of Little House in the Prairie or Corner Gas.  I was highly disappointed when I figured this out.  However, LOOK AT THE GAS PRICES!!!!  And remember, that is in US Gallons.  So much, much, much cheaper than Canadian gas.  It only costed me $20 to fill my car.  Authentic general store or not, I will gladly enjoy the gas prices. And apparently it has really good pizza, which I have yet to discover.  Oohhh on the topic of food, I have learned that chinese food here is different than chinese food up in Canada.  Not in the sense of the taste as that was the same, just in how they present it to you.  For example, I went there and got some beef and broccoli, general tzo's chicken and chicken fried rice.  I get home. all happy with my chinese food (which came about from our leadership meeting and somebody mentioned the influence that pizza commercials have on us and I started wondering why there are no commercials for chinese food and thus my hankering for chinese food was born) and went to open up the general tzo's chicken and noticed rice in the container and just thought that they put some of the chicken fried rice in the container.  That is fine.  So then I open up the beef and broccoli and notice rice in that one.  Again, just thinking that they split up the rice into the two containers.  I open the third (my math skills astounded me as if I thought they split up the rice, what was up with the third container) and notice a lot of rice.  I mean a lot.  Like a full order of rice.  So I look at all my food and notice an abundance of rice.  Lesson here - no point in ordering rice when it comes with every dish.  

Continuing on with the food theme, what the hell?!!  I never would have thought of this combination.  Peanut butter and pickles?  Absolutely.  Peanut butter, banana, honey and bacon?  Oooohhh drool with deliciousness.  But chili and cinnamon buns?  Really?  Apparently this is  a local favorite; something that people have right in kindergarten and is normal for them.  Kind of like moose meat and me.  Or peanut butter and pickles and me.  I should try this combination, I really should, but I just can't fathom the taste buds and the combination of the two.  But, to be immersed in the civilization of living in Hastings I should just do it.  And I shall.  One day soon in the immediate future.  And once I do, I will definitely update you all on what it is like and if I shall spread the word of chili and cinnamon buns.  

This place was sooooooo cool!!!! It is part of the Regional Center which is where Bridges used to be based before they moved into the houses.  Driving around the Center is so weird and cool and scary - definitely an old horror movie scene feel to it.  One day, when it is dark and creepy and eerie and foggy, I am going to head back out and take pictures.  Because I like to see if I can actually have a heart attack from hearing a twig snap or something like that.  I don't know how to explain the feel of this place - even going there in daylight my imagination starts going wild and I imagine seeing shadows in the windows and then screaming my lungs out.  This building is abandoned like most others.  There are some buildings still used but for most of the buildings, they are not used.  Which is scary and awesome.  Because, I mean, this building is deserted and not used.  The road to drive into this building is no longer a road.  And the parking lot is indistinguishable.  That is how old and not used these buildings are.  So, I ask you, if this building is not used and is basically a sitting duck for horror movie scenes, WHAT THE HECK IS IN THE WINDOW???!!! Here is a closer look for you.  

And now my eyes are playing tricks on me as I think I see a face to the right of the hanging thing.  And now I think I won't sleep.  Great.  But seriously, what is that thing doing there if the building is not in use?  And what will I do if I go back and suddenly the thing is gone?  Oohh so many scary things can happen on this property and since I don't have any self preservation, I want to go back at night.  And not sleep for a week.  But think of the pictures I could get at night.  I kind of wish that Bridges was still based out of this center as that would be wickedly awesome but it sucked for the individuals as it was such an institutional feeling (and correctional as well) so it was not a good place for them.  Thankfully I can head to the Center and experience it anyways.   One day I will have a full blown panic attack which will lead to a heart attack from scaring myself.  But I just can't help it.  This stuff is so cool.  

Today I got out of my house (and my kick ass new chair) and decided to go spend some time at the local coffee shop and get some reading done.  It was awesome.  I got a seat by the front window so I could people watch and read and just enjoy life at that moment.  I am trying to get back into reading; I used to be such an avid reader and miss it.  However, I am struggling as most of my books are on my kindle and I am psychologically stunted to read books on my kindle.  I like the feel of a book.  I like the accomplishment of turning a physical page.  Holding a book feels way better than holding a kindle.  I am struggling.  But if a person moves around as much as I do, having boxes and boxes of books sucks and having a kindle with a lot of books on it is very handy.  I don't know what it is though that stops me from enjoying a book on the kindle.  I am going to try to make this visit to the coffee shop a weekly thing.  Take a couple of hours on the weekend and just to chill and escape in a book.  It sounds wonderful.  That coffee shop is definitely going to be a hangout for me.  It isn't Lincoln or the WWII memorial but it is perfect for living here.  

All in all, I am really enjoying my time here.  Most people have the same initial reaction when I tell them I am from Canada; they say 'why did you decide to move to Hastings??!!!' in a very incredulous voice.  I actually don't mind it here.  Sure it doesn't have the funness of DC or a big city mentality (Walmart is probably the most popular known name maybe here.  Or Herbergers.  Which I have never heard of).  The town is a relaxing one.  I think I heard sirens for the first time a couple of nights ago. The pace is slow (but not so slow that it creates road rage) and it makes me slow down in my life and try to enjoy the moment.  And talking to people, Nebraska ha a lot to offer for sights so Hastings will be a good venturing point.  A lot different than DC.  A lot different than Calgary but it is a good different.  But then again, I have always had a small town mentality and not so much for a night lifer or hullaballoo type of gal.  Give me a rocking chair, some tea and my cross stitch and I am in heaven.  Oohh I need a rocking chair.  That is not the chair I got but now I really want one for my porch.  Sipping lemonade on the porch in the summer.  Very southern.  Although I am not really Southern.  More Midwestern.  But I mean I am Canadian, I do not think conforming to a specific stereotype will work for me.  Wow that was a lot of rambling.  

Anywho, I hope you enjoyed your glimpse into Hastings.  I like it here.  Maybe I have finally found my stopping place.  Who knows.  

Love you and miss you all!!!!