Flickr Fun

My creation
Originally uploaded by rbennett1178

Thanks to Corey
The Flickr Game.

THE RULES:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s Mosaic Maker.

And here are the questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. Where did you go to high school?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

My answers:
1. Roberta 2. Chicken 3. Washington 4. Blue 5. Johnny Depp 6. Rum N Coke 7. African Safari 8. Cheesecake 9. Professor 10. Friendship 11. Laughter 12. A pic from my Flickr set

Omaha, NE trip July 1st and 2nd

Adam and I went to Omaha to attend the Olympic Trials for Swimming. We attended Tuesday and Wednesday night finals sessions. We saw World Records broken! Tuesday night Natalie Coughlin and Aaron Piersol set new records and Michael Phelps set a new US Open record. It was great to see how the events take place and everything is on a tight schedule. The crowd was so into it too!
We also witnessed Katie Hoff setting records and basically blowing away her competition. It was probably a once in a lifetime experience and am really glad I got to attend the competition. Makes me pretty excited for the Olympics!
The pics are hard to tell who the people are, but at least I can prove I was there!














On Wednesday we also went to the Omaha Zoo...it was hot, but I love the zoo! We saw the snow leopards eating actual elk legs..pretty great right?? The air conditioning in the IMAX theater was great, so were the sexy glasses!

International Element Owners Club Meet-Columbus, OH

Another geek meet! I traveled to Columbus, OH by way of Chicago to pick up my fellow-geek club member, Trina, for another Element meet. The meet was in the Columbus area this year as all of the Honda Elements are made at the East Liberty Honda Plant. As a group we toured the plant. It was really an amazing thing to see. I had never toured a factory before and was truly impressed with the precision and the dedication to making a quality product. The associates of the plant were friendly and enjoyed having us there. We also were able to see the test track used to determine performance and capability. Neither of these events are usually open to the public, so was great to see.
We spent a lot of time in the parking lot again as the weather was perfect. A lot of socializing, laughing and story telling takes place in the parking lot! Many of the same people I met in St. Louis two years ago were there, so it was a reunion for many. The people of this club are dedicated to making the events memorable and I really love these people. Never in a million years would I have guessed that I'd drive over 2000 miles to hang out with people that drive the same car as me...in a parking lot. But for some reason, as long as I am able to, I will do the same thing over and over!
Then on my way home after dropping Trina at Midway in Chicago, I continued on to my college roommate's house near Milwaukee. Sarah and I don't get to see each other very often but I love every second I get to spend with her. We can not see each other for years and it's like old times...but not the times we lived together, cuz' that wasn't always perfect! I miss her a ton.

Some of these pics are mine, others I stole from my friends on the site.

Seattle and Pics

I visited Seattle in April. A friend from Graduate school and my first job in Sioux Falls, Danielle is going to law school at Seattle University. Another friend, Trina (from the Element Club) lives there as well. So I got to explore Seattle with both of them. It was a great trip. The weather was very unpredictable, there was snow, rain, wind, and low temps, but we still got to see the things I wanted.
We visited great restaurants, I ate at my first Dim Sum restaurant in Seattle's China Town and loved it. I can't find that around here! We also took the Ducks Tour, which is a WW2 vehicle that goes on land and water. A great look at Seattle and some history. We took a ferry across Elliot Bay and could see the skyline through the rain and fog, but barely. Danielle, Trina and I also went to the Experience Music Project, a museum that if I were in love with guitars I would have been drooling the whole time. But it was enjoyable. I went to the Public Market and had a great cup of coffee at the first Starbucks store! :)
We also took an underground tour where more Seattle history was learned. Then we went to Fremont, a neighborhood in Seattle, to visit the Fremont Troll. This was a piece of 'art' that won a contest to be placed under a bridge in a residential neighborhood. Pretty weird but cool at the same time.
I really liked Seattle and can see why the people love their city. I have visited places in my life and when I got home thought that Seattle could definitely be a place I could live. It was a great long weekend.

Almost!

Well the countdown to summer is on. I only have a few weeks left of school and my contract ends the 31st of May! This year has just flown by. I have a feeling that in the next few weeks I will be awfully irritable. I have so much work to do...you see I have a procrastination problem. Yeah, really I do. So I have to do work  now that I should have 3-6 months ago. Impressive I know!

I have some pictures and will write later about my trip to Seattle. Had a really great time. I loved the city. More to come.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

an update to nothing

Again not much new or exciting going on in my world. Work is busy but going well. I can't believe that we were talking about our summer schedules today, this school year is flying by. We all have spring fever though and the kids are definitely getting antsy....Cooper and I are ready to hit the dog park again too. Soon, I think!
Our volleyball team was the top seed going into last weeks tournament, we lost and so we've entered the loser's bracket. So we play again this Saturday night...hopefully to head towards the finals! It's been fun though. I just signed up to play sand volleyball this summer too at a bar in Tea.
I also booked a flight to Seattle in April. I will be visiting my friends Danielle and Trina. I am excited as I have never been there and have heard such wonderful things about the city.

I wish there was more going on to update but...life is pretty monotonous right now!
So...here's a bunny with a pancake on it's head

Ahh!

I got nothing...no real updates. Christmas was nice as always, New Year's was fun (no incriminating pictures) and it's always fun to see my friends when they are home...so nothing too exciting because I am too busy playing my Wii...but I stole this pic from my sister's site because it belongs on mine. Priceless right? I love that kid! :)

Thanksgiving

Yesterday I went to my parent's house to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. Erin, Jeff and Sam joined us as well as a quilting friend of my mom's, Bev. The day went rather smoothly and the food was excellent as always. I love spending time with my family and am thankful we are all in the same vicinity and the chaos of travel is removed.

On Wednesday night I got together with a few of my greatest friends that were home for the holiday and we celebrated my birthday as well. It was fun to spend the time with those that aren't home as much as I'd like.
Tuesday night I also had a pre-Thanksgiving meal with some other friends and their children.

During this season it's time to remember those that we are thankful for. I am grateful to have wonderful friends, a loving family, and all the other perks that not everyone is allowed. To all I was able to celebrate with this week, thank you for your love and friendship...and those I didn't, may you feel blessed and loved each day.
Edit: Also met up with Carol, Kristi and Kelly in Watertown for a quick day of family bonding....these pics prove it right?

Goodbye and Thank you

My grandmother, Harriet, died tonight. Physically, her body gave out. Mentally she has been missing for years now.
I remember the smell of my grandma and grandpa's car when they would pick me up from school. There was always a pillow and a box of tissues in the backseat with me. A list of all the counties, with license plate numbers, was under the visor. The smooth ride in their big "grandpa car" was memorable as well.
My grandma had a wonderful smile and warm eyes, you know the type that draw people in because she was kind and caring. Their house was comfortable, grandpa used to have the TV on really loud and grandma and I would be in the kitchen baking or drawing on dishcloths. I think she knew I wasn't artistic, but dang she'd encourage and cheer me on. She was very talented and offered me opportunities to be creative. She was a teacher by profession and by nature I believe.
Sunday night I visited her with my sister and I remember thinking what a great mother she must have been too because of the father I have. In the past few years she would recognize us less and blankly respond to our hugs and squeezes. Selfishly, I didn't want to see her that way. But she's not only my grandmother, she's my dad's mom. I think of the memories he's shared with me about his childhood and about the examples she set for my dad and it makes me sad for him. Her passing is a blessing...but she's gone now, and that's painful.
Tonight I witnessed some of her last breaths...like she was there to witness some of my first. She cared for me and loved me in a way only a grandma could. How lucky I was/am to have her influence on my life. "Hoddy" impacted many lives and all who knew her understood her warmth and love for people. I'm sad for those that only knew her in these past few years because they never got to experience her as a whole.

Thank you grandma for your love and guidance. Grandpa has been waiting a long time for you.

Grandma's Obituary
a pic from last Christmas

update

Kickball is almost over, we've lost most of our games, but boy were we excited after we won the first one! Oh well, it's still been fun to play. We've opted out of the all-day tourney, probably to let the other teams have a chance...right.
Adam, Craig, Ali and I went camping in Yankton a few weekends ago. No pictures, but we had a great time playing dominoes, badminton, track ball, and a few bumps and sets with the flat volleyball. We also did some geocaching. It was a fun and quick weekend.

What else? I got a new job, same agency new school. I am now at Roosevelt High School full-time, which is great. The people are wonderful and I am thrilled to be as busy as I am. Big change from running between schools.

Had my 10 year High School class reunion last weekend. We had a great, great time. I had no idea I would, but it was fun. We had a decent turn-out, but I feel bad for those that chose not to come, because everyone shared that it was much better than they'd expected. I consumed plenty of keg beer and an occasional shot. Seemed all worth it!
Many of my closest high school friends were home for the party...definitely missed a few of them though :(
Some Reunion Pics

Went to a Geocaching event this morning at the Outdoor Campus. Cooper and I were picked up by Adam and Iris and we went on a cache poker run. I am sure I will win something really big! It rained a bit, but we found the caches, which is better than the last time we cached. Adam and I both had some form of itchweed or something.

Not sure what else to share...hopefully Erin and Jeff will post pics of their new "toy" too...

UNDEFEATED!

Pretty exciting. We are undefeated in kickball, let me be a little more specific. We won our first game, 9-8. I like to use undefeated because it makes us sound good and tough. Not that we aren't or couldn't be, but we just don't know yet. See, most of the people on the team know only one or two other people. Who knew that a CF of people thrown together by two people could offer up a winning team??
I am probably getting too excited now, it is just one win afterall. But I am just not used to winning, so maybe this is gloating. All I know is that if gloating is wrong, I don't want to be right. :)

Kelley Family Reunion July 12-15

So, is it still called a "Family Reunion," when I haven't met most of the family? :) I suppose it is and now that I have met them...it's great to call them family. My parents, Cooper and I headed to Wickiup Village in Spearfish Canyon, SD for the Kelley Reunion. My grandmother is a Kelley and I hadn't met many of my relatives. My family members are spread out over the US...all parts of the country were represented in one campground brought together by blood. It was a very nice weekend, the weather was beautiful and I enjoyed learning about my family...past, present and future.

Oakwood Lakes State Park, SD June 29-July1

Headed out to Oakwood Lakes State Park for our first camping weekend of the summer. The weather was perfect. We swam, kayaked, geocached, ate, drank, laughed, played badminton andjust hung out and enjoyed the company. Got to use my tent for the first time, the size is great, the quality is less than great. But it worked. I didn't attach it to the end of the Element, maybe try that another time.
The park is great and I really enjoyed exploring a new area. I hope to get back there again sometime.

Cooper and Leah

These pics are of Cooper and my friend Lori's Boxer, Leah...just wanted to share!