The trip to Pierre last week sucked. I did not want to be there and that was not made any better by the fact that there was no agenda for the participants (drove many of us nuts). In the end, the MH component needed us to be there for a day - two maximum. Instead, we had to sit through dental and medical arguing about how ibuprofen should be issued - not something that was even pertinent to the training.

So, I'd mentioned a "secret project" in an earlier post. Here it is, a slide show looking back at my relationship with Amy. Was a lot of fun putting it together (despite some technical glitches). I posted this earlier on Facebook as Amy's V-Day gift (she also got some chocolate - I needed a back-up in case she didn't like this).




Toughest part for me was picking the music as there were SO many songs that could fit. I ended up putting this together with a couple different songs, but ultimately decided on "You and Me" by Lifehouse; "Ice Cream" by Sarah McLachlan; and "Grow Old With Me" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. All three songs get me thinking of Amy and, of course, "Grow Old With Me" was our first dance as man and wife.

My being a bit tired seems to be a recurring topic in this blog. I got something like 5 hrs. of sleep last night.

Life has been moving on for the most part. As I write this, Amy has Ella at the clinic. Ella had some blood in her urine yesterday and this AM. We're guessing a UTI, but she has not complained of any pain - has gotten up a couple of times in the night to use the bathroom and has had an accident, but nothing consistent and no complaints from her. She also is showing no signs of being ill - maybe her attitude, but I don't think that is because of her maybe feeling sick. I, of course, have gotten some catastrophic thinking going on. Praying that it is nothing and we are somehow able to figure out how to get Ella to take any meds.

Some freezing rain here this AM. NOT looking forward to work tonight - lots of people will be ordering because we apparently have magic vehicles that can get through any kind of weather. In positive Hut news, I am not scheduled to work during the Super Bowl itself, am scheduled to work from open until 2 PM. Will actually be home before the game and will get to watch the whole thing. Similar thing happened a couple years ago. Will miss the tips, but will enjoy being able to watch the game.

The suck will begin on Monday. A "glorious" 5 day, 4 night trip to Pierre. Have to go through training on the new computer system being installed at all DOC facilities. I HATE Pierre and associate it with my time working at the women's pen and being away from my family. I've been told there is a possibility that we may be able to leave on Thursday evening. I'm going to hope that happens. Would put me home around 9 or 10, but would be totally worth it if that could happen. Not looking forward to anything w. the trip - well, except for a surprise Amy said she had planned for me. I was hoping to get my comic books for the last several mos. to take w. me., but the blizzard last week delayed shipping, so the books will arrive while I'm gone. Looking at my schedule for next week, I'm hoping that I'll have in enough time with work and travel that I won't need to go to work on Friday. Taking a couple movies to watch to keep me entertained. Won't have access to a computer to use for anything personal - maybe time to invest in a netbook?

Have been working on a top secret project. Have frustrated myself by making it too complicated and did greatly simplify things. Hoping to have it done before I leave for Pierre, probably will finish it tomorrow afternoon while Amy is out grocery shopping.