Happy Veterans Day!

Thank a veteran today!

And, for all you veterans out there, make sure you take advantage of these offers! Darren and I will be eating out at Applebee's tonight!

Don't Forget!

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is available! Don't forget to pick up your copy.

Ree Drummond's cookbook made number one on the New York Times Best-Seller list. It's worth a look.

Read my earlier post here.

United 1085:The Flight That Wasn't

A couple years ago I went to Saint Martin/Sint Maarten with my family over spring break. We had a wonderful week at a ramshackle house with a gorgeous view. Then our week was over and it was time to go.

Except we couldn't leave.

That would be the sign for our flight. And that little red word you see? It was flashing "CANCELLED" over and over and over again. And so began our journey.


We arrived at Princess Juliana International Airport several hours early, as instructed for our international flight. We stood in long lines to check in our luggage and finally made it to our gate, where we waited and waited. Eventually someone came over a loudspeaker and said our flight had been cancelled.

We found out through the rumor mill what had happened. When the flight had come in an hour or two prior, one of the flight attendants had opened an exit door too early and activated that balloon slide thing that comes out in the event of a water landing. The family and I all agreed we would fly without it, but apparently the airline had other ideas. I have no idea why that balloon slide is necessary, in the event of a water landing you're pretty much dead anyway, although this was in the days before Sully Sullenberger. But I'm betting even he couldn't land a plane in the ocean after it came crashing down from 33,000 feet.

So, there you have it. The airline wouldn't fly us on a plane without a balloon slide thingy, and they didn't have another plane to put us on. We were trapped. In a foreign country. And we were not excited.

Not excited at all.

After a couple hours at the gate we realized we weren't getting out of St. Maarten that night. There was talk of flights to Puerto Rico, since it's a territory of the US. My aunt kept joking that they were sending us to "sunny San Juan." Princess Juliana was highly unqualified to deal with the mess they were in, but deal with it they did. Or tried to.

Severl hours after we were supposed to leave we found ourselves shuffled downstairs to the main level of the airport to wait in yet another line. For a couple hours.

Waiting in line. The first of many.

The airline had our luggage and we needed it back. I have no idea how it could possibly have taken so long, since it wasn't even on the plane when the flight was cancelled. But we waited for hours and eventually were moved into a room a couple people at a time where we shifted about and waited for our luggage to come around on the conveyor belt.

Eventually we got our luggage and were put on buses to take us to our hotel, compliments of United Airlines.

We waited in line again to get checked into rooms, and then we could finally relax, after hours of doing nothing but waiting, waiting, and waiting.

The hotel was actually very nice, and the view was gorgeous. And it was close to the airport.

Eating dinner, again compliments of United Airlines. But really, it was the least they could do after they got us trapped on a foreign island. It's not like we could just drive ourselves home.

We got up early the next day to go back to the airport and wait in line to check in. We got there before the counters opened and were still towards the end of the line.

Everyone was having so much fun.

Finally, FINALLY, we made it through the line and got on our plane, which ended up being a couple hours delayed from our original flight time. But we didn't care anymore. We were so happy to be out of that airport.

So off we went, on United 1078 bound for Chicago.

And we lived happily ever after.

But not quite.

You see, we were about 24 hours late for our connection from Chicago. And, happy day, there were no more open flights until the next day, which we discovered after about an hour in line. Princess Juliana got us the heck out of St. Maarten without worrying about our connections, so now we were Chicago's problem. And, here's a shocker, they didn't know what to do with us either. We could spend the night in Chicago and catch a flight the next day, but with the next day being Monday we all had work and school.

So we did the only thing we could: we drove. But not even that was without its problems. The largest vehicle they had wasn't going to be big enough. We were literally squished in that car with our luggage piled around us. It was a long 6 hours. We arrived in the cities late at night, where I was dropped off at school. The rest of the family still had a 3 hour drive up north.

United Airlines never reimbursed us for the cost of the vehicle we rented, or for the flight from Chicago to MSP we didn't take. But, that's the airline for you.

Needless to say, we survived. It wasn't funny at the time, but it makes a pretty good story now.

my favorite pictures:part 2

Ahhh, the lake.

The End.

Just kidding. I have more to say than that. But really, I could just say that and be done with it. The lake doesn't need a lot of help.

I can't restrain myself though.

The view from our dock on a perfect, perfect day. Too bad it was early May (2008) so it was too cold to wakeboard. Just look at that glassy water! If it weren't for the trees you wouldn't know where the water ended and the sky began.

The lake is definitely one of my favorite places. So calm and relaxing.

It's awesome.

a question for you

A long, long time ago my friend Sarah started a blog. I liked it.

Then I thought, "Hey, I'll start a blog too!" And no one read it. For about a year.

Pathetic much?

In the past couple of months I've had people tell me more and more, "Oh, I saw that on your blog." And I think, "I didn't know he/she read my blog...maybe I should be more careful about what I say." That didn't last long. I'm way less interesting when I'm careful about what I say.

Trust me on this one.

So now, your question.


Just how many of you are out there?

After a year of rambling along without anyone listening, I'm curious how many people actually stop by and hear what I have to say.

It's kind of frightening to think about all you unknowns reading my blog. Especially when I consider the things I wrote when I knew no one read my blog. Oh my.

So, all you stalkers out there (and you know who you are), this is your chance to redeem yourself! Step out from the shadows! Give me a holler if you read my blog and enjoy it. Or if you read it and don't enjoy it. No, scratch that. I don't want to hear from you if you don't enjoy my blog. I only love people who love me back.

Kidding.

But for real, I want to hear from ya'll!

Thanks much.

Why I Love...

...my sister.

Well, I have to. We're family.

Just kidding. I'd love her even if we weren't family. She can always make me laugh. And, since today is her 21st birthday, what a better way to celebrate than show you all these pictures?

Christmas last year. Showing her presents (mini M&Ms and a collander) for the camera.

Lex, I apologize for this picture. And for most of the other ones on here. You can disown me if you want.

At the pig barn at the State Fair, September 2009.

Free bacon chapstick from the State Fair. Sounds nasty; tastes like maple.

Lex in 10th grade. Totally jealous of her hair.

Twenty-six mile beach on Kauai.

At the cabin. Did I mention she loves to have her picture taken?

Kona, Hawaii (the big island). Thanksgiving Day 2007.

Kauai March 2006.

St. Martin/Sint Maarten spring break 2005. I love this picture.

Last Christmas at our grandparents.

The girl loves her Wheat Thins.

I'm not even sure what's going on here.

Christmas Eve last year.

Thanksgiving in Kona, Hawaii.

"I love Kauai"

That girl and her mayo.

Utah, August 2006.

Also in Utah.

St. Martin/Sint Maarten.

Sleeping at Princess Julianna International Airport in St. Martin.

Graduation party, May 2007.

Birch Lake.

Loving the lake.

Rifle opener, 2007.

On the way to Hawaii.

Snorkel Bob's, Kona, Hawaii.

Do you see why I love her?

The Big Island.

Soaking up some rays.

Thanksgiving 2007, Kona, Hawaii.

Como Zoo, October 2008.

Vikings game, October 2008.

Sisters. Prom 2005. And no, those are not matching dresses. Although they do look very similar.

Lex, I hope I didn't embarrass you too much.

Have a very, very happy 21st birthday!