Finally, I huge break in the weather! We went to bed last night in sweltering heat and even had to leave the swamp cooler on when we went to bed. But at some point during the night, the heat wave broke and our cool mountain air was back. We were back in the 50's this morning and it stayed cool all day, high 70's.

This evening, it is even raining a little and is nice and cool at 72 degrees. I felt so much better without that oven of heat hitting me.

Dan and I were both able to take naps this afternoon. Dan had Physical Therapy this morning, so he is really sore tonight, but I think it is helping. I have a busy day tomorrow with a CPR class starting at 8:30 am (what was I thinking!?) and a doctor appointment.

We are having a special church service tomorrow for a gospel group that is coming into town, so we won't be having our regular service on Wednesday.

Time to go rest some more.

I went back to bed today after I got up to take my 6am pills. I got back up around 7:30 am and Oz and I went outside to feed the birds and do some watering before it got too hot.
Since I sorted so many pictures yesterday I was able to start working on scrapbooking our photos from our New Jersey/Atlantic City/Manhattan October 2001 trip. This time I sat at the table instead of the floor. (I'm not as young as I used to be I guess). I knew I was going to run out of a couple things so I ran to the scrapbooking store. It is so nice that they moved to our side of town.

I was still working on the scrapbook when Dan arrived home at 10pm.

I was miserable as I had not rested all day. But once I get to working on a project I have this nasty habit of becoming obsessed with it. But, I did stop once Dan got home.

Dan was so excited. He had a wonderful trip, learned a lot, and had fun. He is looking forward to going to the National Convention in October, it is being held in New Orleans. If you are wondering what we are involved with here is Dan's website: www.bign.com/dhalferty

Well, church is tomorrow and we are both dog tired.

I got up at 6am today, as usual to take my pills. But instead of going back to bed, I stayed up and watered the yard, fed the birds, cleaned the house up, ate some breakfast and started attacking my junk room.

I rested like a bum from about 11am to 3ish and then started sorting photos and sorted photos and sorted photos........Finally around 11pm I had had enough of sorting photos. My butt and back were sore (I was sitting on the floor sorting-the animals thought it was great). I headed off for bed totally tired.

Today we got up early and saw Mom and her husband off. We had breakfast with them and then watched how they fold down their "A-liner". It was very easy. They are heading for North Dakota now. And yes, Mom and I got the kitchen done!

I went to my first ever dermatologist appointment. He burned off several spots on my arms and hands just in case they were a pre-cancer lesion. I didn't really enjoy it and my spots itch terribly. (yes, I'm whining)

I rested the rest of the afternoon. Dan is getting ready to go to a regional conference in Denver for Team National. He is very excited as he is going to meet the CEO of the company, who is also a Saved Christian and makes sure that everyone knows it. Very cool guy. So, Dan will be leaving like 4:30am and will be back on Saturday around 10pm. That will give me a chance to rest-up while he is gone.

I'm starting to get run down. With having Mom here, going to the airshow for two days and going to church yesterday before and after the airshow, I'm starting to get really tired. My blood pressure is slowly dropping. It has been going to the 80's and 90's almost every morning.

But, the important thing to remember is that not only was I able to go to the entire airshow on Saturday, but I also made it to church the next morning and went back to the airshow and then back to church.

Before I started my new pill, we would have never even considered going to the airshow.
We did have to plan ahead. I took my camelback (a water back pack with a spigot hanging over my shoulder) I wore a huge straw hat, two gel neck coolers (neck ties with special cooling crystals in them) brought ice soaked wrist bands, Sunscreen with SPF 50, an umbrella, a long sleeve shirt and I bought a special shirt that wicked the sweat away and kept the shirt dry (it worked really, really well.) I know I would have gotten way to overheated without all of those above measures.

Wings Over Wyoming Air Show, Day 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Air Force Thunderbirds rock!!!! What a rush to see so many jets in the sky, flying so close to the ground. Definately an earplug day. They do some of the most incredible formations, tricks and the sounds of those big jet engines are incredible.

We saw a lot of the same demonstrations as yesterday with the addition of the Thunderbirds and instead of the P51 demo, we saw a AD-4N Fury demo.

The weather wasn't near as good today and they even had to stop the show for awhile to let a front pass through. Then they were back up again, but it got really windy.

The traffic getting into the airport was incredible, it was backed up for miles. They were so backed up that they stopped charging for parking just to get people in faster. The attendance count for Sunday alone was 15,000! There were cars from 5 different states and from counties all over Wyoming.

I sure hope they have another one next year. Dan has already said he wants to be a volunteer! The volunteers had the coolest T-shirts!

I already had it bad for WW II planes, now I've just got it bad for planes. Poor Dan. Well, I guess it's better than having pictures up of 1/2 naked men!

WOW!!! We went to the airshow today! It is called, Wings over Wyoming and was it ever awesome. My batteries died on my camera so I didn't get very many pictures. I'm so glad that we are coming tomorrow.

Today we saw:

The U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team,

The Firebirds Aerobatic Team-it was a two ship show, and I really, really enjoyed them

We saw a USN Legacy flight where they had three planes from different eras all flying together in the skies (an f-18 Hornet, a FJ4 (that is a Fury fighter that was specifically designed to fight the MiG 15 & 17's) and an AD4N Douglas Skyraider----very cool formations to see all together.

The P51D Mustang Demonstration was totally awesome, the sound of the engine as it went by just brought chills down the spine. I think I did manage to get some on the ground pictures of it.

The Wyoming Air National Guard's C-130 did a water drop demonstration, I had never seen a drop done up close. It was so hot out on the tarmac that we all wished they would have missed the runway and dropped it on us!

One of my favorite demonstrations was a mock dog-fight between the FJ4 Fury fighter and the the MiG 15 & MiG 17. It was soooo very cooollllll!!! They had really cool narration to go along with it, like a play-by-play, described the maneuvers, tactics being used, etc.

Another huge favorite of mine was the USAF F-15E Strike Eagle Demo team. Holy Smokes the coolest thing about watching all of the jets, is that they are so quiet and then boom, they pass you and those jets and the noise just blows your hair back, what a total rush!

The USAF, not to be out done by the USN, conducted their own version the legacy flight done by the USN, only they call it the USAF Heritage flight. Now, this one really got Dan. An F-15 Strike Eagle flying side by side with a P-51. I was quite impressed myself.

Then came another favorite of mine. The US Navy F/A-F18F Super Hornet Demonstration. GET OUT THE EAR PLUGS and tie your hair down tight, cause these boys can really kick it!

I loved the airshow and was so excited that I was able to stay for all of it. The attendance for today was about 6000.

Tomorrow, the USAF Thunderbirds are the show headliners. WHEW WEE! I'm so excited to see them.

My Mom and her husband were planning to leave today but we are having a big airshow this weekend so they decided to stay and we are all going on both days!
Plus, Mom said she can't leave as we hadn't finished up spring cleaning the kitchen yet...

My dentist appointment went well yesterday, no cavities!

Very hot here. We are used to it cooling down at night being at a higher altitude and all. But, that hasn't happened so much the last couple of days.

I'm having a terrible time with the heat. I had another episode at the rodeo and then another one on Sunday afternoon when we were having a cookout. The thing about the cookout is that I stayed in the shade the whole time and still I over-heated.

I've not been feeling so well this week, really dragging. I'm still busy doing things but I'm so tired. It's probably the heat and the very hot winds.

Dan said I was pale all day today.

He is doing okay. He does his physical therapy exercises in the morning and continues to ice his knee 2-3 times a day.

I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. Just a routine check up.

Well, it's been a long day. Stay cool everyone, if you can!

I made it to my eye doctor appointment yesterday and was met with good news. It seems that the new drug I'm on is making a difference in the eye problems I had been having. My accomadation is now working again and I don't need to wear my bifocals (I had progressive lenses). My overall vision has also improved, I still need glasses for driving at night and seeing far off. This is so cool. So, I'll try not to loose my new glasses. I should get them in 7-10 days.

I was able to go in and audit some charts for a little over two hours yesterday.

My Mom arrived yesterday. They are staying at the Ft. Casper Campground.

Tonight we are going to the Fair and Rodeo. Yummy! I just love fair food! It is so very bad for you, and so very good for my taste buds! We get to watch Clint again in the Saddlebronc event tonight. I sure hope he does better than what he did in the CNFR.

Saturday we went to see the new film, Pirates of the Caribean. It was good. Sunday we made it to Sunday School and Church. We went out to the Chinese Buffet for lunch. I was so tired and so was Dan.

After lunch we headed home and both took naps. We went into town for the evening service and then we headed out for supper with a couple from church, we had a good time and didn't get home until almost 10pm. What a long day, but a good one.

Monday I vacuumed the house, changed the sheets, watered the plants and did several loads of laundry. I was feeling good. I friend of mine was in town for a short visit and was staying at her daughters, so they invited us over for supper. I brought my oven roasted vegetables, they had halibut that George had caught in Alaska. It was so very good. We had a wonderful time, but another late night :) I know, I'm setting records for myself left and right.

Tuesday morning Dan had his follow-up appointment with his orthopedic surgeon. He has not been doing so well. Even had his knee go out once and has had to start icing it again because of pain and swelling. The doctor started him on Celebrex qd, Physical Therapy, and a hinged knee brace. He will get the knee brace and start PT on Friday.

After Dan's Dr. appt we headed downtown to find a place to view the parade. You see, the first official day of the Fair and Rodeo is kicked off by a Parade through downtown. This tradition has been going on long before I moved here. It is simply called, "Parade Day". Business usually close until noon, even some banks. People skip out from work both with and without permission from their bosses :) It truly is a city wide event. Each year I have been able to stay a little longer. This year, I was able to stay for all about a 1/2 hour of it. (It is usually a 2 hour parade, that is not counting the extra hour you get there to set up your lawn chairs.) I would have stayed longer but I got way too hot. My clothes were totally drenched and Dan wasn't hot at all! Oh, well. But, I did make it to Parade Day!

We are definately going to the rodeo on Friday as a friend of ours is entered in the Saddle Bronc event. Our favorite rodeo announcer, Hadley Barrett, will be here all week along with our favorite rodeo clown, Leon Coffey. They are both regulars at the NFR and Leon was just in town to help with the CNFR. So, it should be a good time had by all.

My mom should arrive on Thursday, so they will be going with us to the rodeo, if they want to.

Today I started out great, but then as soon as I ate I was running to the bathroom. Hopefully, it will be all over with in one day and not go on for two weeks like the last time.

Tomorrow I have an eye doctor appointment. For the first time in my life I have totally lost/misplaced a pair of glasses! I can't find them anywhere. So, I'm wearing my glasses with a three year old prescription. Not a big difference, but it is the principle behind it. I can't believe they are gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dan keeps saying they will turn up, but it doesn't help me now.

Wednesday Dan and I went to town to buy groceries. July 1st Wyoming put into effect a 2 year hold on food sales tax as long as it is not prepared. That part is a little confusing. If you buy a bagel at the bagel shop and eat it there, they have to charge sales tax. If you get the bagel to go there is no sales tax, but if they put a knife in the bag with it, then they have to charge you sales tax. Doesn't make any sense to me, but that is how the newspaper explained it. But, we bought a roasted chicken the other day and they charged us tax and we didn't take a knife or fork! So, it is way to confusing to figure out. But the bottom line is, for the most part, we have no sales tax on groceries.

We spent way too long shopping and we were both terribly exhausted by the time we got home. Dan's knee has really been bothering him, not doing as well this week as he was a week ago. He is really limping again and I'm not sure why. He has also started icing his knee again.

I've been totally drug out this week. I've been a little disappointed, but I was pretty sick last week and I usually need to give myself a week or so to get my groove back after a flare up and that flare up was quite dehydrating. It's just hard to feel bad, when I've been feeling so good.

I still haven't gotten to Dan's pictures to download them but I will.

I pray that tomorrow I will feel better, I really need to get some things done in town.

Dan came home last night, very tired, but full of stories and adventures. He saw so many of his friends from high school. I was beginning to wonder if he was coming back :)

He took a lot of pictures, so we will have to see what he has.

Yesterday and today were non-running to the bathroom days!!! Yeah!!!!

Happy Fourth of July to everyone

Good Morning everyone! I'm still alive and kicking. I made it to church yesterday morning, but not Sunday School. Then 4 of us ladies went out to lunch (and 4 kids). Carla and Kelly's husbands went to Upton to fill in for a vacationing pastor and Mrs. Adams decided to take yesterday off from the usual family dinner and joined us. It was a great time and I managed to eat something. I wish I could tell you that it stayed with me, but it did not. But, at least I tried.
Dan is having a great time in Nebraska. He is seeing guys that he use to rodeo with and always seems excited whenever he calls in with a report. He called this morning first thing. They were on their way to see the slack. (For my non-rodeo readers, this is the events that they don't have enough room for in the regularly scheduled rodeo performance. It usually occurs early in the morning or sometimes early afternoons, depending on what time the actual rodeo is scheduled .) His Dad has asked him to stay for a couple more days and Dan is torn. I told him

I'm doing quite well managing all of his chores and am actually enjoying the time outdoors with Ozzie and the cats. He wavered a little so we will see what he decides later.

I feel pretty good this morning. Max is having great difficulty letting me sleep until 6. He starts harrassing me about 5:15. He is very, very difficult to ignore. He is both vocal and physical in his attempts at waking me. Ozzie is most polite and realizes the cats go first in the order of feeding in the mornings. Poor guy gets no respect.

I'm slowly working on purging piles in the office. It's amazing what kind of stuff gets saved for mysterious reasons. I thought I was a paper pack rat until I met Dan. Whew, he gets so attached to papers. Have you ever noticed that if you leave a small pile of papers unattended over-night, they multiply by morning?