Soggy in Wisconsin

In case your wondering what turns a 26 mile trip into a 57 mile trip, check out the pictures below.

See the pump pumping the water back into the "river."

See the houses in the trees. This was/is a neighborhood.

Such a piecefull little river.

These people had a sand bag wall around their house, and it looks like it worked, but they lost their yard and garage. These were all taken in Fort Atkinson, WI.

The next picture was taken in Iowa, north of Cedar Rapids.

I'm not sure how much of that is actually supposed to be river.

Enough water water everywhere....here is a pretty barn in Wisconsin. There are so many huge dairy barns up there.

We're in Kansas now....we left Wisconsin this morning around 6:30am. We make tracks don't we? We'll be delivering in Oklahoma in the morning, reloading and heading to Williston, ND. From there we are supposed to go to Billings, MT, and then home.

Speaking of home....my father-in-law killed a rattle snake IN MY FRONT YARD yesterday when he was mowing. Oh, the joys! I guess Paris and Carlie won't be running around like little wild indians out there. There are lots of rattle snakes in our part of the country, but not in my YARD!!!! Thats against the rules. There was also a really long bull snake in there too. Those are harmless, but I still don't want him in my YARD. Better yet, he was seen slithering out from underneath my house. I guess on the bright side...maybe I don't have mice in the house now. They are always a problem, but I'm thinking if I have a snake den under my house, the mice probably vacated. If I see any snakes that close in, I might vacate the area too!

Seeing the Flood First Hand

Most of you reading this probably watch the news, or at least read the paper, on a regular basis. Doing so, you would have seen pictures and news stories about the extensive flooding going on in Iowa.
Malcolm and I have been aware of the flooding, heard stories from friends who drove through the state, and seen a few pictures as we have walked by TV's at truck stops. However, we haven't seen a lot of the news coverage. We just new it was really bad.
Well yesterday we drove through Iowa. We came out of Council Bluffs on I-80 and about 50 miles east of Des Moines, we got off on a side road heading north. We had seen along the way where the water had been over the interstate in places, where corn fields were still large shallow lakes, and other damages done in places, but nothing major. However, we were not off the interstate 5 miles before we were taking a detour because of a washed out bridge, and immediatly started wondering if it was going to be worth it to save a few miles. Perhaps we should have taken the longer route with more interstate driving.
The detour wasn't too bad, though narrow in one place. And we got to drive through the Amana Colonies (look it up online, it was interesting) and that was neat. I looked them up after we stopped to see what they were. Its 7 little towns that were started by a religious group from Germany in the 1840's. They practiced communal living and continued to do so until the 1930's. I was surprised they lasted that long. Anyway....I got off track.
So we were winding through the beautiful Iowa country side and Malcolm was tired so he went and layed down. I was driving and he hadn't been laying down 5 minutes before I crested a hill, took a gasp, and yelled for him to come up.

He had told me I was going to be driving through a town, but I hadn't realized that it was going to be that big of a town,. What I was looking at was downtown Cedar Rapids and piles and piles and piles of garbage thrown out on the sidewalks. I'm sure you've seen the pictures on the news, because at lunch today we saw Cedar Rapids being featured on Headline News. We drove right through the heart of down town, or what was left of it. I can't begin to tell you what it was like...other than heart breaking. Malcolm quickly jumped into the driver seat and took over because all the traffic lights were out, and we didn't know what we might encounter in the down town area. As it turned out it was a smooth drive through, but oh so sad. There was a stack of about 50 computers in front of one building. Another had piled up sofas. I could go on and on. The water mark on the buildings was high. I just couldn't imagine a city like that flooding. All you ever see flooded are these little "back woods" towns. But this was like looking at a miniatre of downtown Chattanooga.
Malcolm stayed up after that and we both did some sight seeing. We came to Dubuque, IA and saw a huge barge half sunk in the middle of the river and leaning against the bridge support. We stopped and ate and then finished the last 50 miles to our destination in Milton, WI. Along the way we had to take another detour because the bridge in that town was nearly underwater. It was dark, but the city lights illuminated the water and I could see it just barely below the cement of the roadway. Once we crossed the river, our road was closed, so we had to continue on another route, but it worked out ok.
In the end, we probably would have made better time staying on the interstate, but I was glad we got to see the damages firsthand. As we sat at lunch today and watched the news, well I feel silly admitting to it, but I almost teared up looking at the pictures of Cedar Rapids. It was something else to see what we had seen on Headline news. I just can't see how a town gets over something like that.
Malcolm's sister has a friend that lives in Oakville, IA whose dog kennels washed away and last I heard, she had gone to look at her house from a hillside and it was standing in water and leaning to one side. Rachelle told me yesterday that the whole town is destroyed.

Today we are on our way to Jefferson, WI to load in the morning. I guess things up here are bad off too. We're having to take a detour because many of the roads in Jefferson County are closed do to bridges being washed out.
Nothings washed away in Montana yet, that I know of, but we've had rainy day after rainy day and its so wierd. It seems like the weather patterns are just so messed up. No rain for so long, and then we're drowing in it, and I guess Iowa and other areas are having the same experience. You just don't know what to expect anymore.

Sunday morning we were driving through eastern Nebraska. It was beautiful (its my third favorite state in the country). You know those long sprinkler systems on wheels that farmers use in their fields? I don't have a picture to show you or I would, but I think most people are probably somewhat familiar with what I'm talking about. Well we probably drove for 20 minutes or more and those sprinkler's had been turned on their sides, disconected and twisted around for miles and miles. There was also a barn that had the roof blown off and a grain bin that was crushed, as well as a number of trees torn apart. There must have been a tornado or some incredible wind there recently.

Well thats my news to share today. We're loading in the morning heading for somewhere in Oklahoma. Somehow, and correct me if I've got my geography wrong, I don't think Oklahoma is in route to eastern Montana. Am I right? Well, we were here all day before we got this load, so I guess there's not much to be had. I'll just be greatful we got a load, and trust our broker to get us home as soon as he can. Hopefully thats going to be sooner than later.

Favorite Things

For some reason the other day I was thinking about an afternoon in Tennessee when Mom and I watched Opera and she was doing one of her "favorite things" shows. Oh....the envy! She had gone to Macon, GA because that was reported to be the town she was "most viewed in." Non one knew she was coming, and the day before the show, she had gone around town from house to house at 4:00 in the afternoon, and if you the resident was watching her show, she gave them tickets to the next day's filming. And no one knew it was going to be a "favorite things" show, so all these fans not only got the surprise of being in the audience of her show, but they walked away with thousands of dollars worth of stuff. I would LOVE to go to a "favorite things" show.



Well, I may never (probably never) get to do that, but it DID give me a slightly silly, but still fun idea for a blog. Actually I might even make it an installment series. So I snatched my camera and started with what was easily at hand...



I present to you....Sarah's Favorite Things - Beauty

Now don't get too excited. As much as I'd love to, I can't afford to send you all a sample of these items. (wouldnt' that be fun though) And I'm sure several of you are thinking, "Beauty??? Our no fru-fru Sarah who lives in jeans and didn't wear makeup for years is starting with beauty products?"
Well yes, for several reason, but mainly one. Like I said....thats what I had most easily available to me at the moment. But I'm working on the other collections.
SO, lets begin..

I have several favorite beauty products, but I am sharing my favorite three today:

Gucci Envy Me: a couple of years ago when we were in Springfield, MO I wanted a new perfume, not that I remember to put it on that often, and found this. I love it! Rationing it because it was a little pricy, but arn't all nice perfumes? Anyway, if your ever at the perfume counter in your department stores, check out this one. Its really nice! My favorite of the ones I've tryed and had.

MAC eye shadow: they have a whole line of cosmetics, but I've only ever tryed the eye shadows. I like them because they have about a million colors including some really fun ones, and also because you can apply them lightly, but you can also put them on and your eyes will just pop with color. (only for brave and rebelious moments) Check out the teal one! I loved the color. I have nothing to wear it with yet, but I loved the color so I splurged.

MAC has two downfalls for me. The first is the worst...no one in Montana sells it. Fortunatly for me, I'm not limited to Montana shopping malls! The second is they are kind of pricy...about $14 a piece. But if you bring in 6 empty containers you get a free one! (like I'll ever manage to empty 6 of them...maybe in about 12 years I'll have used these up!)

OPI: Yes, your amazed I'm sure, but I DO paint my toe nails and even on occasion, when I manage to have a few, I paint my fingernails too. Here's one of Sarah's Little Beayty Tips for nail biters - even though it looks kind of silly to paint seriously short nails, the bright color catches your eyes as you lift you fingers to your teeth and you remember "oh yeah...not supposed to do that...where's the chewing gum?"

I used to be cheapo nail polish like Revlon and Cover Girl from Walmart. I discovered though, after treating myself to a pedicure in Billings one day, that the OPI polish they used stayed on my toes for a month (I seriously left it on that long....I told you I'm not a big beauty person!) So I invested in a little collection and also discovered that not only does it stay on forever, it also drys faster than my cheapy stuff and so I don't mess it up, which was inevitable with my other stuff.

I discovered at Mom's, that she keeps her OPI nail polish in the refridgerator when I opened it to look for some juice. I was a bit miffed for a moment, and asked her why her nail polish was in the fridge. She said it lasts longer that way, doesn't get dryed out.

Well, I havn't put mine in the fridge yet. Ours in the truck is so small I decided I'd better reserve the space for bottled water and whatever else we put in there to eat or drink, but I'll definatly keep that in mind for future reference. Anyway, I thought that was interesting and thought I'd share that little tip from Mom.

So there you go, a few of my favorite things and tips. Did you ever think you'd be recieving beauty tips from little ole me? Probably not.

Be looking for future installments of "Sarah's Favorite Things."

The Lonely Road

Last night I drove from Fernley, NV to the Utah/Nevada state line on Highway 50. I started at 8:30pm and finished at 3:00am. I wish I had done this during the day so that I would have pictures to share with you.

Along the way I crossed flats of sage country, it is considered the "high desert" I believe. I also wound along mountain "trails." I say trails because I was literally hugging the shoulder of the opposing lane in order to get my trailer around the curve, the whole time praying that no one came along going the other direction.

As I left Eureka, NV I passed a road sign that dubbed the highway "The Loneliest Road in the Country." No doubt it is.

I drove over 350 miles, passing through three small towns (one considered a partial ghost town), 4 houses way off the road, some mining lights off in the distance (Nevada is a huge mining state), and meeting only three trucks and four cars going the opposite direction. Now granted, it was the middle of the night, but I've been on parts of that road in the daytime, and its not much more traveled by light. I certainly wouldn't want to break down out there.

There is no question in my mind that it is the loneliest road I've ever been on, and there was something really peaceful about the solitude, and awing about being able to still drive for hours in this country and never see another living soul, and very little evidence of them either.

Four Fabulous Days

My four fabulous days are over. I'm sitting at a "killl plant" in southern California smelling the pungent aroma of meat and bone meal permeating the truck. Its 118 degrees and though we've lounged around for four days, I'm exhuasted. So I'm going to take myself back to the previous four days and I'll take you with me.

The past four days have been absolutly wonderul. Let me tell you all about it.

One would have thought that it was going to be a really bad weekend. The reason being that we delivered our load on Thursday morning and then learned that there wasn't anything to be had load wise until Saturday morning. That meant two days of sitting, thus making no money. Mark, our broker, did find a pidly little job that involved running a 16 mile loaded trip between grain elevators 70 miles north of us, and told us we could do 4-5 runs a day until Saturday morning. It didn't pay anything to speak of, but it was something to do, and it was better than making nothing, so we accepted it. Mark called to set it up, and they had canceled the order.

SO....we sat in the parking lot of Walmart in Logan, UT all day Thursday. This would normally sound incredibly boring, but for starters we were tired and down troden about not going home, so it was kind of restful for us. Also, we had purchased a couple of movies at Walmart, along with a few other things we needed, and so after a wonderful (and really cheap) meal at a little Mexican resteraunt there in the strip mall next door to Walmart, we lounged in the truck and watched the second National Treasure movie which we had not yet seen.

Friday....we slept in...actually didn't set the alarm clock with is unheard of for us. It was a treat. Even Carlie, our 6:30 alarm clock, didn't go off.

We had a bagel and latte at Starbucks for breakfast....I've had a lot of Starbucks lately, but who can complain about that? Then we came back to the truck and watched our other movie, Tears of the Sun. This was truely a great movie. For starters I'm a Bruce Wilis fan anyway, so it already had that in its favor. It was a great story, moving for me, and had action too for the guys. I highly recomend it. Gist of the story....he is the leader of a special ops. unit that is sent into a waring African country to remove an American doctor from a mission. She refuses to go without the other workers, all Africans, and he is torn between following duty and orders, or following his heart and what he know's is right. I was moved by the movie. It wasn't too graphic, but you saw enough to know what the people of this country were going through. It was ethnic cleansing without a doubt. You really ought to watch it. I'll loan you my copy if you want.

After the movie we went to eat at the little Mexican resteraunt again, because the other option was pizza and taco bell, and we like the little place a lot anyway. So we ate there twice within 24 hours. Who can say they've never done that before anyway?

And then we went back to the truck and I got online to look at Morgan horses for sale, because even though they cost an arm and a leg I imagine I'll get one one day.

It was at this point that Malcolm asked me if I wanted my birthday present. And even though my birthday was still 5 days away, I knew there was no point in resisiting because Malcolm can't hold my gifts for more than a few hours. It drives him crazy cause he wants to give it right now. So, I said sure and he gave me a little box that had these in it:

The beauty is not just the only gift. He'd put thought into it too. They have the little screw on backs, which I had never seen. He knows I have a hard time with always losing the backs of my earings.

And then he asked me if I wanted my aniversary gift, and even though its almost a month away, I laughed and said sure and look what I got!!! He said I could return it if I didn't like it, but who in their right mind would do that???

Its supposed to be representative of past, present, and future.

I love my husband.

Friday afternoon we decided to go ahead and drive up to Idaho where we were loading in the morning. We had dinner at the local bar (because typical of so many western towns large and small...thats all there was), dining on a Swan's boxed pizza (that was the entirity of their menu) and bottled Pepsi. Mmmmm.....Then we watched an episode of CSI...love that show...and went to bed.

They woke us up at 3:00am (that part wasnt' cool) to load and Malcolm drove to Ogden, UT where we fueled and I took over. We stopped in Beaver, UT and ate at a Mexican (get the point that we like Mexican?) resteraunt we frequent there. (is it odd that we have resteraunts all over the country that we "frequent?") Yummy food and the best chips and salsa of anyone...

Then I drove, cause Malcolm was still tired, across southern Utah and northern Arizona on back roads, across a gorge of the Colorado river which was breathtaking, and within 30 miles of the Grand Canyon so you bet I got to see some great scenery.

We were going to stop and rent a car and go see the Grand Canyon because we couldn't deliver this load until Monday morning, but I decided that it really wasn't enough time because it wouldn't have really even been a full day to see it, plus Malcolm was exhausted, and we wanted to stop and shower in Flagstaf and spend the night there because it would be cooler than Phoenix. Plus we still had to drive to Phoenix which was another two and a half hours from Flagstaf...longer for us because we go so slow up and down the mountains.

We arrived in Flagstaf around 6:00 Saturday evening and went to the Little America truck stop there. We like to stop there. Its kind of nicer than your average truck stop. We walked across the road to Black Barts..which as it turned out was a camp ground/antique store/ resteraunt where the wait staff pause in their work occasionally to sing to you. Now you laugh....and I did too at the outbreak of the first song. Actually I think I turned red in embarrasment for them...but as the evening progressed it was actually really nice. We wern't really super hungry (and it was pricy) so we split the rack of lamb. I'd never had lamb before and it was really good! And the "staff" were actually all students of the Northern Arizona University. They took turns singing various types of song while a young gentleman played the piano. I scoffed at first because the setting was like that of an old dance hall salloon...we were in the old west you know...but the first song they sang was "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid, so you can see where I was a bit taken back. None of the music really fit, but after a while it kind of was just fun and enjoyable. The best part was when the waitress checked my ID, and after a pause, with genuine surprise in her voice, said, " WOW You look amazing!" Not feeling so bad about 31 anymore.

Sunday, today.....we slept in again, and then we showered at Little America. And this was a treat because Little America doesn't just provide you with a sink, toilet, and standing shower....they put a tub in there too...a really big tub. Don't laugh~! Seriously, you have no idea....a soak in the tub is unheard of on the road, and I'm not usually a tub soaker, but I enjoyed it this time.

Then we drove to Phoenix and I got to go to Barnes and Noble which you heard all about in the last posting. I had a caramel machioto on ice...not as good as the hot version, but at 123 degrees, I just couldn't stomach the idea of drinking a hot coffee. And then as I mentioned in the previous post, Malcolm sent me back into Barnes and Noble, and even though I had already been in there almost two hours, I spent another hour and a half in there, bought another book even thoguh I'd already bought 4, and had a rasberry italian soda....and I'm just loving my weekend.

Roasting

No I'm not talking about a nice Father's Day grilling...though that sounds nice. What I'm talking about is the parking lot at B&N in Phoenix where we are parked because my loving husband decided to maneuver the obsticle course of landscaped islands designed to keep us out....so that I could go to the bookstore. (he's good to me like that).
I spent an hour and a half in the store blissfully browsing, more like lusting (do you think God considers lusting over books a sin, or was that strickly over people?) over all the marvelous books. There's something about that store.....and I think I have the inside story now.
I had a coupon for 15% off one book, but because I was so brain washed by it all, I forgot to use it. So when I got back to the truck and was putting my purse away I saw the blessed coupon sticking out. Back across the parking lot I go, because a B&N coupon is worth the sacrifice. And when I got in the door to the counter I asked if it was too late to use it because apparently my mind was drugged by all the books. To which the manager replyed..." well thats because we put drugs in the books."
SO....Now I know why I can't resist that store...why I am compelled to stop at every B&N I see and if I can't I feel that some great tragedy has occured.

Anyway, he took my coupon...saved me $3.26!

Back to the roasting part....
Like I said we're parked here in the parking lot at B&N, which is really part of a larger shopping area. Its a balmy (??) 120 degrees.
Oh no big deal....though we abandoned the generator and ideas of saving fuel and have the truck running and all the air vents turned as high as they can go. I wasn't actually sweating (too much) until I got in this vehicle. Thats when I lost my "freshness." Malcolm has decided that the generator duct work can wait no longer, and since we are unable to deliver till after midnight tonight, he hiked (bless his heart cause you know how he doesn't handle heat too well) to Lowe's, purchased the needed pieces, and is in the back working on duct work, trying to make it so that the cool air from the generator reaches us faster and stronger. My husband fascinates me the way he can finagle (sp?) anything into working better. He's a genious.
Anyway, where was I. Oh yeah...
SO we're sitting here in the parking lot, its hot, Paris is thinking (I can tell though she hasn't mentioned it yet) that she wants to go potty. What she doesn't realize is that her little paws will be grilled because the only serface to walk on is ashalt or landscaping gravel. We experience this last year and its sooooooo sad. The problem is in southern CA and western NV. I'll take her out and she trot off to do her stuff. Several feet away she pause to take care of business, and she'll think about snooping around (cause what dog doesn't like to do that...even the ones that are really not dogs at all, but people in little tiny naked (or hairy) bodies), start to walk off and then suddenly (and it was really sad cause last summer she was still so young) she stop and start whimpering and pick up one foot at a time and I'd scoop her up and her little feet would be bright redish pink from the ankles down. Poor baby. Carlie hasn't experience this yet, but I beleive today will be the day.

Malcolm told me to go back to B&N....OMG~~! Riches......so I'm debating doing just that. But the temptation would be to buy more, plus...would it be like the sequel to so many books, and spoil the original? Doubtfully....but it is a possibility. Plus I hate to leave him and the girls here getting in each other's way, only slightly cool, and doing something not fun (this includes the girls because they can't go in the back to play but have to stay up front).

Well...thats us...roasting in Phoenix. Its 4:00 and I need to make a Father's Day phone call, and then I'm going to run away to B&N. I told Malcolm weeks ago that if we ever live in a place where there is a book store near by, and we don't really need a "serious" income...I'm going to get a job at the bookstore. Did you know I worked at a B&N for a couple of months. I won't go into why I left there, but I feel now that I was an idiot to do so. Its a GREAT job!

PS: I had a marvelous 2-3 days previously and I'll tell you why later. My B&N trip was part of it. But I don't have my pictures downloaded yet, and Paris has just made the official annoucement that she wants to brave the roasting pan. I figured it was coming because when I got back to the truck and let them out of the kennel I filled their water bowl...and she promptly emptied it. Oh Paris...when will you learn not to over indulge......she certainly won't learn that lesson from me!

A New Arrival

I am proud (and excited) to announce a new arrival!
Malcolm's dad just called to let us know that our mare, Lajar, has had her foal. And....wonderfully....she had another blue roan colt. She had the same last year, a beautiful blue colt with a perfect crecent moon on his forhead, who looks like he's going to be a pretty good sized horse.
I really excited that this years colt is blue also.

Roan - For those not familiar with colors and marking of horses, roan indicates a coat that is intermixed with white hairs. There are two varieties, red and blue. Red roans have a unique redish orange appearance. Blue roans appear to be varying shades of gray.
There are a significant number of roans in our area, particularly reds, but I have rarely seen any in the eastern portion of the country.

This is an example of blue roan:


This is an example of red roan:

Lajar is a red roan and the stud is a blue roan. Hopefully the colt will keep his color.
As I said, last years colt out of Lajar was blue. Our other mare, Carrie, had a red roan colt who looks very interesting. He is a red roan with black points (main, tail, and last time I looked some on his legs too) Sort or like a bay roan.

I'll post pictures once we get home and I see him.