Things that go bump in the night....

Last night around 9 Jimmy and I were watching tv when we hear very loud booms around the apartment. I mean the noises were HUGE. They shook the walls and windows of our apartment. We thought that since we live near a quarry that maybe they were doing explosives that night. But the noises wouldn't stop. They kept going. It was scary.

We both were running to the windows but could see nothing, no flashes, no fire, no toxic plume.

Being in Apex when the EQ chemical plant exploded made us think that the sounds were dangerous and that we should call the police or something. Are the apartments blowing up? Has a gas line erupted. Has another chemical plant blown up? Is the town going down in flames? What is happening!! What do we do????

Well thank goodness we did not call. The sounds that we were hearing were fireworks, not the store bought NC kind either. These were honest to goodness 4th of July style fireworks going off over our apartment complex. The reason why we couldn't see flashes or flickers of light was because they were right over us. Which is also why the apartment was shaking. It may not seem scary but it was. Imagine hearing all of those noises with no explanation of what was happening.

We are not sure where they came from or who was celebrating but please warn someone next time. I expect them during July 4 but not on August 6.

Go to blonde board Anna and Jimmy......

In the land of Laura Ingalls Wilder

You know you are out west when you pass by an exit that reads, "Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Highway."

Last weekend I traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota with Jimmy for the annual APS conference. We had a great time!! Here are some pictures of our trip.

Our hotel was in the middle of downtown. During the day while Jimmy was attending the conference I would shop and sight see. The sidewalks on some of the main streets are very wide so when the weather is nice many restaurants have dining outside. It was very pretty!!




One highlight of the trip was being able to visit the Mall of America. This is Melanie, Heather and I posing in front of the roller coasters.


Jimmy and I posing for the camera.


Another highlight was the BASF social. We had a great time and were entertained by a lumberjack show.
Can't wait for next year....

Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living.....

I am not really working 9 to 5 but I am working again. That's right I have entered the working world after a two month vacation. I know, I am such a slacker but I enjoyed every second of it.

I started work on Friday and my day went really well. I am carpooling with Jimmy and the commute is only 10 minutes instead of 35. I also get home before 5 so I am really excited about that.

I miss my friends at Duke!!! (Hi...if your reading this!!)

From a big lake to the big river

I wish I knew how to caption my pictures. The first is of us looking over the Mississippi. The second is of the Mississippi. The third is of Effigy Mounds. 4th - Mississippi, 8th - Monona Terrace. The others are obvious after you read the post.

My parents were here for a week and saw quite a bit of southern Wisconsin. They saw Lake Michigan and the Mississippi and a lot in between. They arrived last Tuesday. We had a really fun week.

Highlights:
We did so much it is hard to write about everything so I thought I would highlight some of our favorites.

On Wednesday mom, dad and I toured the capitol and walked around downtown Madison. We also saw Monona Terrace, which is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed building on the shores of Lake Monona.

On Friday afternoon we toured Wollershiem Winery and had a jolly good time, so good we bought a case of wine which allowed Jimmy and I to join the Caseclub...or a nice way of saying the wino club....haha. It was also my parents' 35th anniversary, it was also the winery's. We thought it would be fitting to take a picture with their sign.

On Saturday we went to Milwaukee and since it was raining we toured the Milwaukee Public Museum and my mom got to see a great lake for the first time. Lake Michigan.

On Sunday we went to Wyalusing State Park in Praire du Chien. The park is located where the Wisconsin River meets the Mississippi. We also walked through Effigy Mounds State Park. This park was unique because it contained Indian burial grounds (mounds) and ceremonial mounds in the shapes of bears and birds. The mounds were on a high cliff overlooking the Mississippi.

All in all we had a wonderful time. Mom and dad got to see the Mississippi River and see a small corner of Iowa as well as a very foggy and rainy Lake Michigan. Just think you can see all of this too and much more. Come visit anytime!!

2 days, 4 kids

Over the weekend Jimmy and I took care of his sister's four kids. Sam 13, Jack 10, Ella 6 and Joe 6. Here was the commentary from the weekend.
"When are we going swimming"
"Ella hit me in my privates"
"Ella is on my side"
"Stop touching me"
"I didn't do it"
"Are you peeing"
"When are we going swimming"
"When are we going swimming"
"When are we going swimming"
"Joe sit still, stop hitting"
"Don't push that button, it is someone's doorbell"
"Three strikes and NO ONE will see the movie"
"GO TO BED"

We actually had a really good time with them. Friday night we went swimming at the apartment. Then on Saturday we went to the zoo. The quote about 3 strikes is because Jimmy and I planned a little surprise for the kids but if one of them got three strikes from being bad it would cause the whole group to miss their surprise. Luckily, they were all good and we got to go to Chili's for lunch and then to see WALL-E.

Needless to say that after our weekend Jimmy and I are on quadruple birth control!! haha

New Job.

Just a quick note to post a picture of my new building at UW. I found this picture on their website. I didn't have my camera, imagine that, when I visited my job on Monday. I will post a better one later. The building kind of reminds me of Duke but with red brick instead of slate/grey rock.

I will start on August 1st. I was hesitant to post anything work related since I am in denial that my long vacation is coming to a close in a few weeks.

It is in a great location. It is across from State Street, the lake and the Red Gym, Memorial Union, which are all prime spots on campus.

One of those nights.....

I am writing this feeling absolutely exhausted. Last night Jimmy and I went to bed as usual. Around 1am we awoke to a horrible thunderstorm with very large hail and lots of lightening. I went to the computer to pull up the weather channel hoping the storm was moving out of our area only to find out that it had just started and a huge band of storms were headed our way. I headed back to bed trying to ignore what was outside. Then around 2:15, an ear piercing alarm went off. My first reaction is what is that noise, then my worst fear....a tornado....what do we do??? RUN for the basement!! We grabbed some stuff. I know you aren't suppose to grab anything in these events but I did so very quickly..glasses so I can see, wedding ring, purse, flip flops and a rain coat. When we started down the hallway we got too see all of our neighbors and their pets headed down the stairwell. Everyone looked lovely. Hair matted, sleep wrinkles, glasses, very disoriented.

Well, it actually wasn't a tornado. It was a fire alarm. Glad I had my raincoat. Not sure why I grabbed it in the first place. I guess in my slumber state I figured since it was raining I needed a raincoat. Jimmy grabbed his too. So, now instead of the basement we are all forced to stand in the horrible storm outside. We looked like the news anchors as they forecast a hurricane trying to be brave and weather out the storm to get a good story.

Glad I had my purse equipped with car keys.

Turns out that the roof was leaking and set off a fire alarm on the 3rd floor of our building. We all headed back upstairs and went to sleep. An hour goes by and what do you know the alarm goes off again. Now I feel my college days coming back. In Gardner Hall there was about a week or so that the fire alarm went off every morning somewhere around 2-4am. It got so repetitive that I had shoes, coat and AppCard sitting by my bed so all I needed to do was pick them up and head down seven flights of steps. It was always funny to see everyone in the dorm that early in the morning. (Brings back memories, 7th Floor Girls!!....if your reading this)

Finally, we get to bed around 4am. With all of the excitement I couldn't go back to sleep.

Lesson learned: keep purse and shoes under bed so you can grab them and run, wear wedding ring to sleep