1st Kayaking Experience of the summer

Took the kayak on it's maiden voyage on the Big Sioux River. Beautiful day, great company, some wildlife, family along the shoreline--very shallow water though. Got high-centered a few times. Looking forward to the weekend in the Hills and kayaking on a lake.

Oh, no. What now??

Yep, this is my new kayak. I decided that I needed my own. It's somewhat silly since I have only kayaked one time in my life**. I am jumping on the bandwagon as a few of my close friends all have their own. I didn't want to be left out and have to borrow a kayak. So, today...I find myself a kayak owner. It's a beginner's kayak and it's pretty stable. I am going to load 'er up and take 'er to the Hills next week too. I am excited.
Wow, I such an outdoorsy wannabe!!
**post edit: I have now kayaked 2 times. Today (Monday) hit the river again! I love it!

The Cooper and Iris show

Anticipation...and a little anxiety

A week from tomorrow I will be heading across the state on an adventure. Some friends and I are going camping in the Black Hills. Now, this causes me a little anxiety for a few reasons. The first being that I have only camped one other time in my life. Last August (with the same great folk) I ventured to Yankton and spent one night in a friend's tent. My couple friends are big campers and have everything one would need to camp, or so I am told. This is probably what made the experience fun, that and the weather was as close to perfect as South Dakota weather gets! The people I am heading west with are the type of people you want to do new things with. They are fun and easy-going. I don't have to worry about what they think or feeling stupid in any way. They are good people.
My next reason for feeling anxiety is that it's across the state. What if the weather turns to shit, what if I decide that I am a prissy little whiny brat and want to go to a hotel? Also, the bathroom thingy seems like it's kind of far from the campsites.
The last thing making me feel anxious is that there are going to be about 8 people. That's a lot of people to organize and manage. You see, I am a bit of a control freak and in situations that are new to me I kind of get uptight. I am not really an uptight person, but I have those tendancies. So I pray for patience and the ability to soak it all in.
I am so excited though too. It's been a long time since I have been to the Black Hills and there is so much to do. We are planning on kayaking, doing the Crazy Horse Volksmarch, going out for dinner, and mostly hanging out by the campfire with a beer. I know I'll have fun...I just have to keep telling myself that.
Say a pray for me....and for my parents, they are watching Cooper!!
The pictures are of the campsites we have reserved at the Sylvan Lake Campground in Custer State Park.

Spring into summer

Yesterday, for the first time in about three years, I went golfing. First off, I am satisfied that I didn't injure myself or fall down. I also made contact most of the time, that's right, I said most of the time. I did indeed whiff. Hole #2, I was expecting to hit into the water, but that didn't happen and I whiffed instead. Oh, well.
The weather was cold and windy, it turned to rain and about three hours after we finished hole #9, the sun was out and it was beautiful. Figures, South Dakota weather.
In the later afternoon, I mowed the yard and took a picture of my lilac bush/tree. It's beautiful for a short time.
On Saturday, I also took this picture of Cooper in his polo, it looks like PJ's but it's a polo T.

I suck...

at cleaning. I really do. I live my life, day to day, as a complete and utter slob. My house isn't ever clean enough to invite friends over (I do have a few). I feel terrible. I have a nice little house with a great deck and yard, yet I can't seem to convince myself that it is important enough to keep it presentable. I guess presentable is all I really want.
Two weeks ago, my sister showed up. Out of the blue. I hate that. I swore at her and only allowed her to walk through to the deck. I am embarrassed of the pit I live in. Everyone and anyone that knows me, knows this is how I am so I shouldn't think it's that big of a deal. But I do.
I always feel better after my mother lays a good guilt trip on me and comes over and "helps" me clean and sort through all of the shit I have accumulated. I always say, "I'll never let it get this bad again." And I do. I am lazy. I would much rather spend 3 hours at the dog park, watch TV, read a book, cruise the iTunes music store...basically anything other than clean my damn house.
I wish I were motivated to clean as I go. Some people (probably most) tidy up on a day to day basis so it doesn't get to the point that you dread the doorbell ringing.

Animals...

Here are a couple random shots of my animals as of late. They are a handful...

A little late but...

Went to Las Vegas with my friend from college over a month ago now, but I am lazy and never got around to post about the trip. We left Thursday and returned to town on a very early Sunday morning flight. We traveled with my mom because she has "connections."
Erica and I got to stay at a very nice hotel that we could never afford on our own. We stayed at the Bellagio and ate great food and watched the fountains whenever we wanted! Cramming a lot of sightseeing and beer drinking in makes girls a bit tired, but we managed to stay out until the wee hours of the next day each night.
We say the Volcano at the Mirage, the Venetian and it's extraordinary canals, a big fat Elvis at Barbary Coast, and the pirate show at TI all in one evening. Of course we managed to walk to shoppes at Caesar's too with our 1/2 yard margaritas in hand.
The next day we went through Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden, the Paris and then headed to the Hofbrau Haus of Las Vegas. The bier and pretzels were great!
Friday evening we headed downtown to witness the Fremont Experience. More margaritas and penny slots consumed our evening. On Saturday we were ready to enjoy the pools at the Bellagio and take it easy. Later in the evening we went to the MGM Grand to see Billy Joel in concert. He was great, I sat next to a lady that smelled like old perfume though.
Then we hit New York New York before going back to the room and awaiting our early morning cab ride to the airport. It was a great time, a whirlwind, but so much fun. The weather was perfect and the company was even better. Thanks E!

Roadtrip

Took a roadtrip this weekend to Rochester, MN. This was a long-awaited trip to meet the newborn daughter of my best friend. A baby. I can't believe my friend from way back when is a mom now. Today is Mothers' Day. Her first of many of course.
It seems like only yesterday I was hanging out on her trampoline, we would jump for minutes, then lay down, laugh, tell stories (gossip), jump a few more minutes and repeat. We used to stay up late, we made home movies, watched movies and ate popcorn. We were good kids. This weekend we had this very discussion. Our parents were lucky to have us! We were lucky to have them too.
We didn't sneak out or sneak beer. We just had fun. Good 'ol fashioned girly fun.
Congratulations to my best friend, a new mom. She's a good one, I know already.