It could have been worse.

Well, the Steelers lost. But, considering our lack of experienced players on the field, they did an ok job. Dennis Dixon did all right for having only thrown one pass in the NFL prior to starting against the tough Raven's defense. So, I can't be too unhappy, in theory.

Monday was a typical day out here. Jeff went to work at 8 am and I started around 10 am. I had the lovely job of cleaning out all of the rotten food left in the Jammer dorm. Thanks a lot end of year maintenance crew. Then I headed over to the hotel for some painting. We painted all day of course and are now back in the comforts of our cabin. The weather was less than desirable today. It was 35 degrees, but the windy was blowing so hard that the snow stung our faces. I suppose it's just the beginning though.

Here are some pics that Victor took. He is an awesome photographer! If you are interested in any of the photos, I will give you his contact email.

A Tough One to Beat

So, we survived Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving. It has all of the good food and company of Christmas without all the stress of gift giving. Plus you get the Macy's Parade and lots of football. What more can you ask for?

So Friday, Victor and Allie came to visit. Let me first say we had the best time EVER, and it would be next to impossible to beat. On that note, if anyone wants to come out and visit and try to beat the good time they showed us, give it a whirl. So, we met Victor and Allie at the gate to let them in. They brought their Wii, so we had a good ole time playing. We played Wii fit forever and also some bowling, then we played Hearts. Hearts is actually a really fun game! Afterwards, we went over to the hotel to do a bit of ghost hunting and exploring. It was the perfect night. The stars were out, which is pretty rare out here. Victor got some amazing photos of the mountains and the hotel. He is such a talented photographer and has promised to share some photos, so i will post some when I get them. We spent a couple of hours in the hotel, checking out rooms and trying to scare each other. When we left, we came back to the cabin, and I started heating up leftover Thanksgiving dinner. Allie brought an awesome pumpkin pie! YUM! We played another round of Hearts in the meantime. At one point, Jeff stepped outside to glance around and heard wolves calling. So we all jumped in the car to get a bit closer. We couldn't see them because they were on the other side of the trees and up the hill a bit, but it was amazing listening to them. There was a very high pitch barking and howling, so we are not sure if it was a pup or not. I am going to look into it. It was just so cool listening to them. They were so close! When we got back, we feasted on the leftovers (finally!) and played DDR. we played DDR then Wii until 4 am!!!!!! Holy crap! Needless to day, we are a tad sleepy today.

Today we hiked up to Red Rock Falls. The falls are about halfway iced over and absolutely beautiful. It was a very nice hike, except for the cold wind in our faces. The lake on the way to the falls was even iced over, so we were able to walk on it. We led Victor and Allie out of the gate and are back at the cabin. Jeff is half asleep on the couch. Later we will eat more leftovers and more than likely call it an early night.

Happy Holidays!

Whoa, Wednesday was a busy day. I stayed at the cabin while Jeff went over to the hotel to work. I baked bread, baked dinner rolls for Thanksgiving, baked a pumpkin pie ( I know, Suzy homemaker), did a couple of loads of laundry, and readied the cabin for Victor and Allie's arrival on Friday. Jeff spent all day painting at the hotel. He didn't even come home for lunch, so he could come home early. It was a nice day, in the the lower 40's, and the sun peaked out a bit. The ice on the lake is slowly starting to melt again. I just want to be able to go fishing!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Jeff and I woke up in the morning and quickly got addicted to the show Cake Boss on TLC. I know, we're pathetic. For the record, Jeff put the show on. There was a marathon on all day, and all the football games were TERRIBLE. So, we watched A LOT of Cake Boss. It's a pretty funny show about a very Italian family who runs this ridiculous cake business. Entertaining. So, throughout the day we cooked our Thanksgiving feast and played cards. We had a feast! Here is a list of the feast: turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, butternut squash and apple bake, corn, cranberry sauce, rolls and honey butter, and pumpkin pie. And, there is only two of us! But, Victor and Allie will be here on Friday to help consume the leftovers. As a side note, why does the turkey take so much longer to cook then what the instuctions say? GRRR! After the feast we watched the Giants get their asses kicked. What is up with the Giants this year? Then at half time, we played some DDR, and then we went back to football. Shayla called, YAY!, and then we went to bed early in a turkey coma.

Today, Victor and Allie are coming!!!!!!!!!! I'm super excited to have some company. Hopefully

the weather will stay nice!

I love to paint!

Well, I am still recovering from the Steeler's loss to Kansas City. I'm sure KC fans are still in shock themselves. I'm trying to get over it, but things aren't looking so good for us Steeler fans. We have some pretty important injuries (Palamalu, Aaron Smith, and Kemoeatu) , and let's face it, Ben doesn't play so good after a concussion (this is his 4th since 2006). Hopefully Tomlin can kick those Steelers into gear for the game Sunday night! We can't lose another one. Especially since we now have the same record as Pete's Eagles.

Anywho, Monday Jeff and I went back to painting. It is miserable work. I'm not even kidding. There is absolutely nothing fun about painting. If you disagree, you can come out here and paint. I am also losing all hope that the hotel is haunted. First of all, it just isn't logical. Second of all, the more time I spend over in the hotel the more I doubt the haunting stories. The building is always making crazy noises, which yes can be spooky, but it is a very old building, and the wind blows here constantly. There is a crack or crevice in just about every wall so the wind whistles through the building quite a bit, but that's it. No ghosts, as of yet anyhow. Now this doesn't mean that I wouldn't be scared if I were alone in the dark parts of the hotel because I would be. But, that's because I am a wuss. So back to reality. Jeff and I finished our painting for the day and headed home to feast on steaks and butternut squash. Yum! The night ended quietly when our satelite went out, mid-movie of course, and we retired to our room to read our books. Seriously, what do people do without TV these days?

Tuesday began. Still no TV. This threw off Jeff's routine entirely. Here is the routine: 7:06 am -wake up. 7:08 am - turn on Live with Regis and Kelly. 7:08 am -8 am - watch Regis say stupid stuff, eat breakfast, get dressed, and go to work. (I am lucky enough not to get up until 8 am when I hear the car pull away. hehe) At 10 am I headed over to the hotel to help Jeff plug the snow holes around various doors then paint. We worked until 1 pm then came home for lunch. Still no TV. Seriously, Jeff and I don't know what to do with ourselves. So, we head back to the hotel, paint some more then come home at the end of the day. Oh yeah, Jeff got the TV fixed. Now it's official, we don't have to talk to each other anymore. Just kidding everyone. Well that is all that has happened today. Now I have to go cook dinner, so Jeff won't starve to death. Until next time...

P.S. Someone send us a postcard for crying out loud! P.O. Box 648, Babb, MT 59411 JEEZE!

Absolutely Unbelievable!

How the H%$@ did the steelers lose to Kansas City??????????????????? Unbelievable! Anyway, enough with the depressing conversation. At least we have a better record than the 49er's. For those of you who don't know, Jeff was a little cocky about his 49er's at the beginning of the season. He bet me that they would have a better record than the Steelers going into playoffs. Whoever's team has the worst record has to drill the hole for icefishing using our hand augar. Hehe. I am also happy that we have a better record than the Eagles because I know Pete would be giving me a REALLY hard time if they were doing better than my Steelers. We need you back Palamalu. You're the man! Seriously.

Well, my last blog was on Friday. The temperature topped out at 48 degrees. Damn, how the weather is so fickle here! Jeff and I got another good chunk of wood chopped. I feel like the pile is never going to end. Is anyone interested in coming out here to chop the rest of our wood for FREE? Then, Jeff taught me how to play hearts so that we can play when Victor and Allie come to visit in a week.

Saturday, the weather was cold again. The max temp was 30 degrees. YAY! Despite the cold temp, wind, and snow, I took a stroll around Swiftcurrent Lake. There was quite a bit of snow. It was so quiet and peaceful out there. The only thing I heard were the trees creaking in the wind. Then, I spent a few hours working on my blog and lesson for the third graders this week. Jeff watched some football and played video games like a man. We feasted on some chili and cornbread, watched a couple of movies, and called it a night.

Which brings me to the misery of today. Both the Steelers and the 49er's lost, so Jeff and I are quite depressed. BOO!

The Week Flew By!

Wow, this week just flew by! Tuesday was nice and warm. It reached 46 degrees. Unfortunately, it was a rainy and windy 46 degrees. I went over to the hotel in the afternoon to help Jeff. Jeff replaced some door jams, so we had to go around and putty in the holes and drill out that thingy that the doorknob clicks into. You're jealous aren't you!

Wednesday, it turned back into winter. I have only myself to blame. Tuesday, I was cursing the rain and said I would much rather have it snow. So it did! Jeff and I got some more wood chopped. I've had enough of this wood chopping thing! Jeff works four 10 hour days, so he only went in to work for a couple of hours. The rest of the day, we hung out inside. We watched a movie, then began our beer brewing task. It took a few hours to brew the beer, and now we have to let it sit for 3-5 days. Then, we have to do something else to it that I don't remember at this time. Eventually, we will bottle the beer, and it will sit for a number of days that I also don't remember at this time. Anyways, the point is that we should be drinking our beer around Christmas time. We hope. And, we hope it's drinkable! So we brewed our beer and played some cards. I finally beat Jeff! The end.

Thursday was a day from hell. Jeff began on his room list which consists of lots of PAINTING! I hate painting. I went over to help Jeff after lunch. He went around taping the places that needed painted, and I started painting. It wasn't so bad at first. Not until I got to the room with the bathroom that needed the ceiling in it painted. Have you ever painted a ceiling? It's horrible. My neck hurts, and I had to scrape paint off of my face last night. Not to mention there is an old bathtub that takes up most of the bathroom, so there I am, balancing on the edge of the bathtub, straining to paint the ceiling. Oh, and to top it off I have to go back today to do it again. One down, two hundred and some to go. YAY! Don't you wish you were me? I actually can't even complain. Look where I get to live all winter! So, after work Jeff and I tryed to scour ourselves clean. Then, Jeff made an awesome plate of nachos as a reward, and we relaxed the rest of the night.

Today, I am getting ready to head over to the hotel to help Jeff with...you guessed it...PAINTING! I'll let you know how it goes. Oh and it warmed up again. 47 DEGREES! Can't the weather gods make up their mind.

Damn, It's Windy!

Well, Jeff and I were able to escape for the weekend! We made it up to Lethbridge, Alberta Saturday. There was an international beerfest in Lethbridge Saturday night. It was not exactly what we had expected. It cost us $10 to get in and then about $2 for every TEENY sample. Nonetheless, we had an ok time. We met a couple of guys who told us about a blues band playing at an old firehouse cum restaurant/bar down town. They were kind enough to drive us so we wouldn't have to walk. First, we went to a water tower that has been made into a bar. It was a neat place for a drink and some appetizers, but it literally took us 30 minutes to get our drinks. Afterward, we headed to see the blues band. The service there was equally as terrible (is it like that everywhere in Canada?). There were four of us. Jeff ordered a bottle of wine and the poor waiter for some reason brought us 3 wine glasses. Hmm? Then, no joke, he set the bottle on the table then said, "Oh, I guess you need something to open that with." WHAT? And, this was a "nice" place or was supposed to be. He then took the bottle away, opened it behind the bar, then put the cork so far back in that Jeff had to use his teeth to get it out. WOW! Anyways, we again had a pretty ok time. Why is it that everytime you go to Canada you leave feeling like you got ripped off?

Well, sunday we left the great country of Canada and headed to Shelby, MT where we found a bar to watch the Steeler's game at. (What the hell Roethlisberger? And, when will we get rid of Jeff Reed for someone who can 1. kick the ball and 2. TACKLE the runner on a punt?) It was an awesome little local bar and by the time we left we had eight dinks bought for us. Needless to say, we will be back in the spring to cash in some chips when we break out of this place. FYI: it's called the Alibi. Then, we stopped at the grocery store on the way home to get some much desired fresh produce.

Today, the wind is insane! We are getting gusts at 60 mph. Jeff went to work like a good boy and I stayed home (hehe). I did get some stuff done though! I skyped with the kids at the elementary school in PA and wrote my blog and assignment for them for the week. I also made some french onion soup. Jeff and I have been craving french onion for a while now. And, finally I put away all the extra cans and food on the new shelves that Jeff built. Jeff is home now, so we are relaxing. We're going to watch some football and maybe play a game. I'll post some pics tomorrow. I'm not that motivated to do it now. Sorry bout that!