Extended Weekend

The past two weeks have been busy. I attended the Rube Goldberg Machine Competition again this year (Perdue Univ) and decided to take an extended weekend and see friends along the way. The weekend prior to the competition I was out of town celebrating a friend's birthday. My boss wanted me to make up as much time as possible so the next three days I worked ten hour days, left Thursday morning, got back Tuesday, worked three more ten hour days, and here I am. So worth it and I would do it again. I left Houston early Thursday morning and drove 14 hours to Hannibal, MO, to visit an old Young Women's leader I hadn't seen in 12 years. It was so good to see her and her family and we had a marvolous gab session. It was much too short a visit though. Why does Hannibal have to be 900 miles away?Sara's two youngest, Joy and Lily. Aren't they adorable?!

I also woke up to snow. When I got up the flakes were falling fast and large. This picture is around noon when I headed east. It was 80 degrees when I left Houston and I was none to thrilled about the weather, even though I'd packed warmly. (Also, don't look at the hideous new tags on my car. We both think they are ugly and do not like them.)

I rolled into Lafayette, IN, Friday afternoon, checked into the hotel, ran an errand, and waited for the Texas A&M Rube Goldberg team to arrive. After they checked into their rooms we all went out for dinner and explored the town a bit.

Saturday was the competition and it was spectacular. There were some very creative entries and I enjoyed myself. Texas A&M had the best machine there; this is not a totally biased comment, as I heard members from other teams say so. However, due to technical difficulties they did not place. It was still wonderful to be there and cheer them on.

The machine; isn't it simply grand?!

The team. I'm glad they let me tag along. What a smart and talented group, especially the one in the middle.

Sunday afternoon I headed for Chicago to visit Nancy, a friend from high school. She's in her last year of residency up there and it was good to see her. She was called into work and our plans were thwarted, but I was able to meet her at the hospital for dinner. She lent me a coat of hers and I got to pretend to be a student and check patient vital signs at the nurse's station. It was really cool to hear her introduce herself as Dr. Luo. My Nancy friend is a real doctor!

I left Chicago early Monday morning, eager to miss morning traffic, and attempting to make it to Des Moines by lunch time so I could see my Rain & Hail friends. I made good time and was able to see everyone but two supervisors who were out that day. It was so good to see everyone again.

I then got a desperately needed hair cut at a place that is my second favorite in the country (behind my lady in Montana), then an oil change for my car, and headed to the Newman's for the night. They are the single adult advisers for the stake and they are pretty spectacular. We had a grand evening talking and laughing.

They had this fabulous puzzle on their kitchen table and I highly enjoyed it.

Another 14 hour day of driving got me back home to Houston Tuesday night. It was a grand adventure, and a much needed break from the file room at work. It was wonderful to see old friends and to attend the competition and hang out with the team from A&M.

It was hard going back to work Wednesday, but I went knowing it would only be for a little while longer. What? What's this, you ask? I got a job! HOORAY!! I was hired for the summer season at Great Basin National Park in Nevada. I start the beginning of May. I'm really excited and ready to be out there.