The sadness in Omaha

I have thought a lot about the awful tragedy that occurred in Omaha, so I figured I'd take a moment to reflect on it. I don't have anything profound to day, but here it goes anyway. I was baking bread Wednesday afternoon when I saw a scroll across the bottom of the TV screen saying there were shots fired. Since it was a scroll it took a bit to get the whole thing out, and my mind immediately went to thoughts that something bad happened because the president was in our state. However, very quickly learned it had nothing to do with the President's visit. I was saddened to learn the news, and shortly thereafter the ABC nightly news broke in with the news. I couldn't believe it made national news. Very little that happens in Nebraska makes the national news. But when I think of it, had 9 people been killed on a shooting rampage in a mall it would have made the news where ever it happened. I find myself the most sad when I think about the families of those killed, when it is personalized. I even think about the shooters family. Yes, he did a terrible thing, but his parents and friends also lost a loved one. Even with the awful thing he did, they are still hurting.

There are questions on the tv about, what would you do? What could have been done to prevent this? Will you shop in a mall now? Does this make Nebraska look bad? I guess while learning about it, I've thought about what I'd do in a situation like that one, but you never know when the adrenaline starts pumping. It seems like this disturbed man was put into many places that tried to help him. I don't think anyone is to fault here. He was just a sad, disturbed man that unfortunately did an awful thing. I won't not shop in a mall...it happened one place, I won't live my life in fear. And does this make Nebraska look bad? Well I didn't think Virginia looked bad after saddly so many student's were lost last year...why would Nebraska look bad. I think many things look good, like that the emergency responded so quickly...people knew what to do and action was taken. Why would the state look bad? It's not the state's fault. I still feel safe in Nebraska, and would live here any day. I'll even still shop in Omaha!

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones.

Much love all! Much love!

Picture of the Day...

While thinking of loved ones, this is my parents and I in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

A chance of wintery mix!

Wellll welll wellll......

Margret Joanne has informed me (because I've been busy and not looking at the weather myself at all) that I am beginning my new job in the middle of an ice/snow storm. Good times! I've had ice and snow for the past week and I'm plenty sick of it. My worry is that I will be driving to Wichita in this mess on Saturday. Shall be a fun and exciting next few days...it was to begin with, and now this makes it even more.

I'm ready for the winter to stop and it's not even winter yet!

Love

Picture of the day.....

Remember what it was like in the summer....I like this much better!! Come back summer, come back!

When there isn't much to say...say it in pictures

Not much to say today...it's late, I'm tired..and I have a big day of baking tomorrow! Christmas fun, here I come!!!!

Travel Picture of the day....

This is one, of about 15 brides we saw in the middle of St. Petersburg, Russia taking pictures. They all go around the city to all of the tourist sites and take pictures. It's really quite crazy. I've never seen so many brides on one day. It was a friday afternoon. Can you imagine traveling all around a huge city taking pictures while 10 other brides are behind you taking their pictures. Well it wasn't that bad, but there were 4 different couples taking pictures at the church below. The above picture was taken across the street from this church (I forget its name).

50 is warm??

It's winter in Nebraska!
I've never ever enjoyed winter...not at least in the years I remember. I don't enjoy the snow, cold, ice, cold, dreariness, and did I mention the cold? I, unlike just about everyone else, actually prefer to be hot over being cold. So in the gloriousness that is Nebraska...I am back to experiencing the wonderfulness of chilly days/nights etc. Today, however, it almost reached 50, and maybe it did..I'm not totally sure. Regardless, it felt "warm", well relatively. When you can take off your coat and walk around it's a good day. This folks is the reason I moved south for schooling. On the other hand, it's funny how relativeness temperature is. I remember each spring when I was younger (and it of course still happens today), people wear shorts and drive with the window's down at the first sign of 50 degrees. Then in the fall, when it hits about 65, everyone's in long johns and coats! It makes me laugh. It's also funny to see the gradient of tolerances from north to south for winter weather. What Texas people think is bad, Nebraska people laugh at, and what Nebraska people think is bad, Minnesota and North Dakota people laugh at. Reality is in the eye of the beholder...he who perceives it.

I hope your reality is warm and fuzzy! Do you like the cold weather like everyone else, or prefer to have it warmer like me?



Travel photo of the day....

Myself standing on top of York Minster Cathedral. The beautiful building behind me. I was on a foot wide walk way on the way down from the top where I saw spectacular views of the city and surrounding countryside. See it's cold....check out the coat and scarf (it was also rainy, yuck).

Love

Top Christmas Things?

What are your top Christmas things?

My top 5 Christmas things:

5. Decorating for Christmas. I love decorating for most holiday's, but all of the cute things that you can find for Christmas make it so much more fun! I just wish that I had my own apartment to decorate this year. I'm tempted to put up a few things after Christmas just for the heck of it....why not? Yes I am crazy!

4. Seeing family and friends. Since I've been away from home for the past 6 years, it's been difficult to see all of my family and friends. However, the Christmas season usually means I get to see everyone. I am especially thankful for those friends that are also away from home and we get to see each other about once a year at Christmas.

3. Christmas Baking! I LOVE Baking and baking at Christmas is the best! Each year I make bread, cookies, candy (carmels, etc.), snack mix, and the famous Taco Chex. There is more I'm sure, but I can't remember. When I was younger, my mom and I would make 3-4 dozen loafs of bread to give as gifts...its tamed now, as we might make a dozen.

2. Giving Christmas Presents to my friends and family! One of my favorites in the recent years, is surprising my mom with one of my Kristone's creations of my Mother's retirement picture and her nursing pinning picture many years earlier. She was super surprised! I'm excited this year for what I've got people! I can't wait to give it to them, and I've got ages to wait it seems!

1. Christmas Eve service at 11pm on the 24th, because when it's over, it's Christmas. When I was little and still today it's a race to see who remembers and says Merry Christmas first at midnight. Also when I was little it was important to get right home to bed so that Santa would come. I also love the singing of all the christmas carols at church, I'd many times sleep through the service (when I was really young) until the songs, then wake up and sing...say Merry Christmas and go home to bed.


What are your top 5 things?



Daily travel photo:

A beautiful picture of a canel in Copenhagan. Copenhagan, Denmark was a beautiful city! I can't wait to go back! Check out all the pretty colored houses.

It's December....Christmas anyone?

November has come and gone, and I'm not quite sure where it went, but regardless it's December. Well for the first time in ages, I'm just about done with purchasing gifts for friends and family! I LOVE giving gifts for Christmas. I get so excited when I have some, what I think are good ideas for people. A year ago I hadn't even started shopping by the 15th of December, so being practically done by the 1st is pretty good.

Today we put up the Christmas Tree. It has been a few years that I've been home to help put up the christmas tree. I enjoy the family event the Christmas tree is. Now all that is waiting is some wrapped presents. I am a little sad though, because I'm going to get into my new apartment without any of my christmas decorations and get settled after Christmas, so I won't be able to use any of my new decorations anyway. Sad I tell you...sad.

Today's traveling photo:



This is me getting my groove on in Russia. I was picked from the audience at lunch to help play this little instrument up on the stage. It was quite fun! They made other people dance, so I was thankful! They also sang for us. Lunch in Russia consisted of some very weird red soup...caviar...vodka...beer....water(which is what I wanted after walked so much)...and other things...but that's what I remember. I loved our authentic meals while we were traveling. The next Russian song you hear...listen carefully, it just might be me playing the crazy instrument! HA!

Love

Ice Storm 07? Again

If I remember right it was just 11 months ago that Kearney was hit by the second ice storm in 2 weeks over New Years, and it was called Ice Storm 07...but I could be wrong. As I sit here delaying bed (for who knows what reason) I can hear sleet/freezing rain hitting the window. *This is a pretty amazing feat since the window into my room is about the size of a microwave, and half in the ground* I checked before heading downstairs and yes there is ice on the ground and it is beginning to get slick. Could be quite an interesting day tomorrow. The sleet/freezing rain is coming down harder now...and pumpkin is really interested in it, however he can't get to the window.

I find it amazing that last year when the ice storm hit it was hovering around freezing and it was a big issue of where the ice line would be...however tonight it's in the low 20's and we are still getting freezing rain. Thank you, warm air from the south.

Soon I will be apart of the organization that actually makes the warnings like we are currently in....amazing really, and some adjusting it will take. I'm just use to being a sideline person, or a watcher from home. Oh how I can't wait to see what the future entails for me.

With that I'm off to bed. I've been thinking my blog is quite drab...so I thought I'd post a picture from my trip a few months ago. Maybe I'll post a few more, and maybe even write about some of the countries I promised I'd write about.



*Catherine's Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. This Palace was HUGE! It also had some of the elaborate and gaudiest rooms I've ever seen...and I've been to some elaborate and gaudy places. It was awesome though! I love visiting palaces. Check out Catherine's Palace if you are in St. Petersburg.