The Saturday-a-Thon!

So Saturday was busy. Friday night around 10 i decided to run a 5k the following morning in Bismarck (2 hours away) So armed with 4 hours of sleep and a bowl of oatmeal, Becky Dee and i headed off at 530ish. (someone forgot to set an alarm)


We got there with time to spare, and I placed 8th out of 200+ with a time of 21:35. (that's 2:01 off my last 5k in Kalispell in 2006. So I was pleased, and sore. Then Rebecca and her parents went to the temple and i prepared my talk for church on Sunday. That is now my favorite place to Read, write, talk about anything spiritual. Can't wait to go inside! We then went to Golden Corral and i un-did all the calorie burning from 4 hours before.


Becky and i went back up to Minot for the elders quorum activity. We did the Zip-line and played some ultimate Frisbee. then we went to Becky's house where she removed rope splinters. (those hurt) it was a long day.

This Morning I was blessed to give a talk in sacrament on the power of prayer, which was fitting since I left my talk at home and needed that power to make it through my talk. But the spirit definitely knew the program because it went well and i said what i fell was supposed to be said, was a good experience. No rest for the difficult to entertain.

I met Satan. And He's in the form of a smoke detector!

I got home at 1230 with one thing on my mind. Sleep. unfortunately, my smoke alarm had other plans. it is beeping a high b flat every 15 seconds. i took it down. Unplugged it from the AC power, unplugged the 9V battery, and expected it to be silent. but no, apparently there is a capacitor in this vile creation that is keeping it charged for 5 hours. right now it's in my car. and I'm going to try and salvage the night. i hope it burns. Devil Device.

Johnny Appleseed and Sakakawea

So, this last Friday, Al, Becky Dee, and I went apple picking on the Rick's Ranch. Then we made apple pie. it was so good. Al was overly excited. (he should be, it was mostly his doing.)
We also made A LOT of Mexican food. Es muy bueno. Rebecacita gracias por hacer para nosotros.
Saturday, we went out to Strawberry Lake for some canoeing. Becky said that Al and I were Lewis and Clark and she was Sakakawea ( that's Sakagawea for you Non North Dakotan folk.) it was a little brisk but still fun. Then Becky and I went out with some friends and watched a really dumb action flic that doesn't deserve mentioning.

"AHHH! A BECKY-NAPPING!"

So Thursday afternoon, I snuck into the Rick's Ranch and stole Rebecca at banana point( I was fresh out of guns and I needed to use my bananas before they went bad).I threw a pillow case over her head and tried to sneak her out. Unfortunately, her mother wasn't cooperating, so I had to stab her with the banana. I took my spoils to the Y for some lap swimming, then we went to an Indie concert at the Red Carpet. It wasn't really our style so we got some cold pizza and smart waters and stopped by a used bookstore. Coincidentally, they were having an open mic night . So we stayed. I returned Rebecca home un-harmed.

Feliz cumpleanos a mi !......

I would like to start out this Birthday blog by giving a visual to my physical transformation in the last 2 years. The first picture is Sep 06 2006, the next is Sep 06 2008. The only difference i see is the hair.


So the activities.....no no fun-tivities! started Friday when Becky and her mother and I went to a Mexican restaurant in town and the waiters surprisingly sang me a birthday song, gave me a sombrero, and rubbed fried ice cream on my face. I let Rebecca try some.


This Morning, Al and Chrissy and I made French Toast. Well, Al slept mostly (I put in too much cinnamon and milk, so mine were soggy and spicy.)


Becky made me Cupcake Birthday Cake. HHHMMMMM HHHHHMMMMM. I almost burned down my dorm room lighting it. but them Cupcakes sure are yummy. Then Al Becky Dee Krystal and I went to Lake Metigoshe State Park and went hiking. Al fell in to the muck crossing a log.


Then we went to dinner with my friends.(left to right; Rob, Al, Becky, Me, Chrissy, Dan, Stephanie, Krystal, Darling, Alex.)

Then Krystal, Al, Becky, and I went to the Rick's Ranch, played pool, watched I.Q. and let off fire works. it was all good fun. Thanks everyone for a great birthday.

Getting "DOWN and DIRTY!!"

So Becky had the urge to get all soggy today, so we set out on a trek of Ricks Ranch. We chased some deer, turkey's, found a frog and a farm vehicle graveyard. All while it was raining. Then we did some gardening, and ate our spoils. Very wet, but very fun.

Yay for 4 Day weekends!

So the Labor Day Weekend is coming to a close and I am sad. I tried to stay as busy as possible, because lately I have enjoyed the active life and I'm not ready to surrender to the boredom that is Minot quite yet.


Thursday night, Chrissy and I set up our hammocks and fed the mosquitoes (as you can see, one was feasting during our picture.)


Friday morning i was awoken by Chrissy and Al who decided to join me in my wee little bed. Al and I went Halfsies on 20 lbs of peaches which we then "jam"-ed, "smoothied", and just ate all 20 lbs. That was fun.


Saturday we went out to Rice Lake and went swimming and had a little Subway picnic. Al needed some motivation to get wet, so being the good friend that I am. I gave him that motivation. I felt quite confident afterwords.

Sunday Al and I went to church, and Chrissy, Al and, I went to Family Home Evening. I won Apples to Apples for the first time EVER!



Monday started out slow but I soon became determined to get out. I decided on a trek to the International Peace Gardens about 90 miles north. It's a Garden that sits on both Canada and the U.S. Symbolizing our war-less relationship, and the largest un-fortified national Border in the world. But no one would bite. So I went by myself, the weather was less than peaceful, and it never stopped raining. But, it was quite tranquil and I enjoyed the solitude. I also saw the World's largest man made turtle. crazy!