Have it your way...

I got the shock of my life today at work--in a good way. It was really funny actually.

and so the story begins....

as most of you know, we have been really short handed at work lately. Because of this i was forced to move to the Segregation unit and help for the last two months. It has been hell! I didn't want to move, and my unit team didn't want to let me go. It was a big fight at work for a while--the Seg. unit wanted to keep me for good, and my unit team wouldn't let me go. Needless to say, i had to go help for a while. Today was my last day on Segregation--and i couldn't have been happier.

As the day winded down, i decided to move my manuals and books back over to my old office--so that i wouldn't have to do it tomorrow. But, when i entered my office this is what i saw. 

An entire office--wallpapered with McDonald's bags!!! 

I was in shock. I think  i even yelled out loud, "What in the hell--OMG" Apparently they have been saving these McDonald's bags from a fundraiser we had a few months ago. 

If you look close at the photo, you can see at the top--a Banner made from bags that says "Welcome Back Sarah"

They also made a slip cover for my chair out of bags. If you count about 5 bags from the left--you might notice a few bags that look like they are out of order--well that would be my chair. 

They also covered my garbage can in bags! The only thing not covered is my tower for the computer. 

Then they took a photo for me--so that i could show you guys!! I still can't believe it. I left it like this for now, we will see how long i can stand it. 

I  actually had work under there somewhere!! 

Its too funny!! 

In return I made them some cookies and a veggie pizza! They are the best! I am so glad to have moved half way across the country and found some really cool people, who have my best interests at heart!! 

Home.

Just a quick one to let you all know i survived my week at the Academy :)

In fact it was so much fun! Incredibly hard work, but a blast!

For the first time since moving here, i really feel like even though i have had to sacrifice so much--that this was the right move for me. And more importantly, i feel like i am in the right place at this point in my life!

The good vibes are flowing!!  :)   Hope you all are doing fabulously!! Miss you guys like crazy!

Another Week...

at the Academy that is.

Tuesday morning, I leave for the Academy again. 

Bummer.

I have to attend a training with my boss--for the Dept. of Ed Class that I have to facilitate at work. I guess the training is pretty intensive, but it should be interesting. 

Ginger has to spend another week over at her friend Soma's house--I think she really enjoys it though. I am just hoping they don't destroy anything this time. 

As a "thank you" for watching her, I made these cookies.

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies! 

I don't even like Cheesecake, but I love these cookies--they are so yummy!!

I got pulled over the other day-- apparently police in WV can clock your speed when you are  coming up from behind them--they must have eyes in the back of their heads.

 It wasn't embarrassing at all, when he asked where i was coming from and i responded with,  "Prison"

Not only did he claim that i was going 56 in a 45... I got new insurance cards this week and didn't put them in the car. Nor did i ever get that Motor Vehicle Inspection sticker...

He only gave me a written warning--i think he felt bad that i work in prison, because he stood and asked me questions about it for like 10 minutes. I was like, c'mon buddy--there is a cold one waiting for me at home. Just kidding about that last part, but really. 

 The only problem now is that i have to try and find time next week to get to the police station to show them i have proof of insurance and got a MVI sticker--the only problem is that i will be gone Tuesday-Friday and Monday is a holiday. 

What holiday you may be asking????

Well, its West Virginia Day! 

A paid holiday off for State Employees--i am just hoping that someone will be there, otherwise i don't know what i am going to do.  Lets hope they don't come and arrest me at the Academy, cause that wouldn't be embarrassing at all. 

How much is that doggy in the window?

Not many of you know this, but since moving away from home--i have saved two different dogs lives on two separate occasions. Its like I am the Mountain State Dog Whisperer or something. Where ever I am, dogs in need find me. Or maybe i am like that kid in that old Bruce Willis movie where the kid sees dead people--I just see doggies who are going to be dead, if i don't help them. For reals. 

Story #1: The Dangling Yorkshire...

A few Saturdays ago, I headed North over an hour to get to the mall (ridiculous-I know!) When I returned home, i grabbed my bags and started walking to my apartment when i could hear a puppy barking. The bark was tiny, and so i thought it must have been someone's new puppy or something. I headed into my Apartment, which was sweltering hot...so I headed to open the doors to the patio--and thats when i saw it.

The neighbors whose patio faces mine, had let their dog out on a leash attached to their deck rail. Well, the little Yorkshire was small enough to fit in between the railing posts. The little thing had jumped up and down and back and forth enough times that she had got her long leash all tangled up--she then went to jump down to the grass again, and the leash wasn't long enough! The poor little doggy was hanging herself. I throw my stuff down and rush out of my apartment to save the doggy! I got her untangled and back on the porch without the people who live there noticing anything. I don't know if they even know to this day that the dog had gotten herself all tangled up and was strangling to death. 

They are weird people, so I don't plan on ever telling them. They recently had three adults and some children move in with them--you can hear them yelling and arguing all night long. I secretly think they are drug dealers or something. 

Story #2: Little Allie Girl

Today, when i came home from work I saw this little cute puppy running around the back yard. I didn't recognize her--and she wasn't on a leash. So, I went to assess the situation. The sweet little thing came running up to me and was all excited!! I looked around and didn't see anyone--so i picked her up and brought her inside.

Her and Ginger were running wild, having a blast. This little doggy was tiny and fluffy with a little curly tail--her tag said her name was Allie. So, here i am chasing Allie, who is chasing Ginger--who thinks this is some kind of fun game. Not Fun. I finally catch Allie and call her phone numbers. No one answers at either number. 

Okay--now what? Just keep the dog? What the hell?

So, i give it a few minutes. Allie and Ginger are playing--and I finally get ahold of a woman. She says she isn't home, but that she lives in the townhouses near here, she says her fiancee is home. So, I take Allie out on a leash and walk her home.

I can see a guy standing out in the street in front of the house that she belongs to. When we get close, he just keeps starring--then he goes, "Allie? How did you get out?" Like she is gonna answer or something. He tells me that he must have left the front door open, and thats how she got out. 

Ummm....what an idiot. 

You think they would have offered me something--I gave their dog a free walk! 

Just Kidding... a little.  :)

Sunday Adventures.

This Sunday, Ginger and I took the trip to Spruce Knob, West Virginia about an hour or so from our house. This post will be photo heavy, I hope it doesn't slow your computers down too much.

A little backstory-- Spruce Knob is the highest elevation in West Virginia at 4,863 Feet above Sea level. The Spruce Knob lookout, is the summit of Spruce Knob Mountain-- and is the tallest mountain of all the Alleghenies'. It also features hiking trails, picnic and camping areas.

We had a good time. It really was breathtakingly beautiful.

This is a photo I took while driving, this is about 5 minutes from my house...

It was a cooler day, in the mid 70's and as you can tell--it was overcast for most of the day. The clouds in the photo look worse than they were. This is due to the fact that we are really high elevation here, and so the clouds are much closer and tend to look scarier than they really are. 

I stopped along the side of the road to take this photo and the next one. 

I took that one, just to show you guys how the roads are cut into the side of the Mountain. 

On the way there, we passed through the town of Seneca. In Seneca, there are these really pretty mountain cliffs. We stopped and snagged a few photos. The sun was really bright behind the mountains, so they are hard to see. They are really beautiful in person.

You can actually climb these mountains, but you have to pay to have a guide help you. This is something that I want to do while I am here. 

Pretty soon we were headed up Spruce Mountain to reach the summit. I stopped to take this photo. 

We call these, "Kiss your ass" curves. They are ridiculously sharp. I wasn't kidding when i told you all that driving in the mountains is insane.

We stopped at one lookout that was about half way up the mountain.

Ginger got out and stretched her legs a little bit. It is hard to see in the photos, but those shadows are the layers and layers of mountains that you can see. 

In this next photo--I know its really hard to see. Its almost like a Where's Waldo, but if you look at the bottom right half of the photo, just above that close greenery you might be able to see some opening in the mountain and some whitish spots. That is a little town down there. In person you can see all the little houses, its really cool--and it gives you some idea of how high up you really are. The mountains are all so covered in trees and foliage, that you can't really tell where you are. When you can see things like houses, it really gives you a perspective. It also makes you a little scared, because you know if you slip or fall--you are going to tumble all that way. 

As we kept driving up to the summit, we saw these run out in front of use. I took this photo for Jerry and David.   :) 

A little mamma and really tiny baby deer ran out in the road a few hundred yards in front of the car. They trotted down the road in front of us for a good 1/2 mile before they veered off into the wilderness. The information sign at the top of the mountain said that deer, bear, mountain cats, porcupine, skunk, and other types of wildlife live on the mountain. 

We finally reached the top.

We set out down the trail to the observatory, and then to the different outlook points. I was hoping that there would be some other people on the trail, so they could take a photo of me and the dog on a lookout, but no such luck. I kept hearing people, but the forrest was so dense that i never actually saw anyone else. 

This is the observatory. 

This is the best photo that i got from the top of the observatory. These photos really do not do it justice--When i got up there i was blown away with the stunning views. It truly is gorgeous.

Ginger loved it, she was running around wild. I think maybe the altitude got to her head. haha! she got thirsty and found a little patch of rain water to drink.

We saw tons of funky and beautiful plants and bugs. 

Can you guess  what this is?

It is a wild strawberry. I wish i would have had something to lay next to it, so you could get to see how tiny it was. If i had to guess, i would say it was about the size of a dime or smaller. It was the tiniest little red strawberry i have ever seen. 

I don't really know what kind of bug this is, I think it must be some sort of beetle. The colors of this bug were really vibrant and pretty. 

For the rest of the photos--of mountain views, bugs and plants, check out my facebook page. 

I can't wait for some of you to visit, so i can take you all to see these amazing views!! 

Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia...

If ever you get the chance--you must watch this movie. You must also call me after you watch it, so that i can give you some inside scoop on the White family of West Virginia.

Just a little warning, you will be offended by this movie. It is crude, vulgar, and often times rude--its also not kid friendly, obliviously.




Here is a little description of what you will be getting to witness as you watch this epic documentary...


Tucked deeply in the hills of the Appalachian Mountains, the White family lives an existence more like something out of the Wild West than modern-day rural America. The legendary family is known as much for their disturbing and excessive ways as they are for their famous mountain tap dancing legacy, which includes living legend Jesco White (star of the PBS documentary Dancing Outlaw). From MTV Studios and executive producers Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine (Jackass), this edgy and often hilarious look into a dying breed of American outcasts exposes the powerful forces of corruption, poverty, and West Virginia's environmentally and culturally devastating coal mining culture.

Julien Nitzberg follows the Whites over the course of one year to document their tangled history, intelligently weaving a jaw-dropping portrait of a family that will live on in infamy. From stabbings and attempted murder to drug trafficking and a child custody battle, the Whites run the gamut of 'drama.' Nitzberg brings humor and levity to the White's shocking lifestyle, but he is quick to ground us in their cyclical, brutal reality.




It is sort of like a train wreck or a horrible car accident--even though you want to, you just cannot look away. 

Country Roads, Take Me Home...

To The Place I Belong....

Well its official. I am now a licensed and registered West Virginia State resident.

I got up early today and made my way to the DMV before work. In order to get my driver's license and new plates for my car. Sad Day.

I took some photos to commemorate this horrible day.

The before shot....

Got to love that beautiful blue license plate. :) 

Here is the after shot...

Ugly gold and blue.

In West Virginia--you register your car for 2 years!! Which i thought was weird. You also only pay a flat rate for registration--unlike Minnesota, where you pay for how new or old your car is. 

You also only get one plate--for the back of your car. Everyone here has a "vanity" plate on the front, I am thinking i need to find a Minnesota vanity plate for the front!  :)

Plus, in WV when you get your license--they take your fingerprints and they make your driver's license right there, and you walk out the door with it that day. Which was kind of nice--no paper license to carry around for weeks!  On a positive note, i actually like my Driver's License photo--it turned out pretty good! 

All i need to do now is get my inspection sticker. Each year you have to take your car to a mechanic and they have to check it out and make sure it is "safe" to drive on the Mountain roads of West Virginia. I have 10 days to get that done--then it will be really official. 

When i was at the driver's license station, there was a woman standing next to me finishing her paperwork. She overheard that i was from MN and all that jazz. She started asking me questions, about the weather (on a side note: that is the first question everyone here asks me. "How cold is it there." Like its the Arctic or something.) Anyway....I turned to look at her while she was talking and all i could notice was that she had not one tooth in her whole mouth! NOT ONE!! She would not stop talking either--I kept trying to keep myself from starring at her toothless mouth as she kept smacking her gums. The look on my face must have been pretty good. 

Good Grief.