The Last Three Weeks

The new name is still coming, but it's been a flood of happenings back in the US of A. So many in fact, that I'm going to list the events and write more later.

1. I hung out in a Sports Bar on my first night back and saw some major business stooges.
2. The 25th Annual Maple Syrup Fest at the Indian Creek Nature Center went on. The weather was fantastic and I got to practice my interpretive skills while talking about Pioneer methods for sugaring.
3. I talked at CR's Daybreak Rotary Club. Fun group.
4. Mom, Dad, and I ventured to Cantril, IA, and enjoyed shopping in an Amish general store where you can buy anything under the sun.
5. I caught up with random friends and dogs (who don't have fleas).
6. Dan left for a month long trip to Europe, the Mid-East, and Africa. We liked to say Mom and Dad got one kid back safely only to have another go abroad.
7. I got a new cell phone and it's amazing.
8. Cedar Rapids now sells some New Belgium brews. This is a big step.
   
9. I began the journey west to much emotions about leaving home and heading home.
10. Carly greeted me with open arms in Lincoln, NE. We had fun meeting her grad school friends and I was reminded of how ridiculous grad school is. I was also reminded of how amazing micro brews are.
    
11. I made a marathon trip across the enormous state of Nebraska and arrived in South Dakota.
12. Matt showed me around Rapid City, including the Firehouse restaurant and treated me to some home brews.
13. Jewel Cave had free cave tours so I went spelunking.
    
14. Matt arranged a tour up behind Mount Rushmore's heads. A view few have seen.
15. I unwisely decided to try driving in hopes of clearer roads west. The result: I crashed my car by Sundance, WY. I am fine, however, and the car is in the process of getting fixed.
16. Matt picked me up from Sundance and brought me back to Rapid City.
17. I learned what State Troopers do and how to run the sirens in their cars.
18. I rode in a tow truck and learned what makes a good, high quality tow truck.
19. I found some advantages of only having liability insurance including cheaper tows. That's about it tho.
20. A waitress named Bobby at the Aro in Sundance asked if I was a hitch hiker while the other waiters and waitresses correctly assessed that I had wrecked my car. The funny thing about the waiters and waitresses was all the young ones were emo. How does that happen in a little town?
    
21. I reconnected with Sandi, Dave, and Grandma O. Fox the cat seems to be okay with my presence.
    
22. Matt and I explored downtown Rapid City, SD, including stopping at the Nature Conservancy to visit Bob, getting Matt's haircut at his ridiculously cool salon called the Factory, walking Art Alley, drinking coffee, exploring Prairie Edge, and checking out the random counter culture shops like Ernie November and Global Market.
23. We walked to the Stratobowl and learned how people fly weather balloon-esque balloons there because it's a perfectly protected valley so it's not very windy.
    
24. I had the best St Patrick's Day ever which involved good company, corned beef and cabbage, green beer, car bombs, fooze ball, pool, AND getting jiggy with it.
25. Yellowstone has kindly said that I can start work pretty much a week late since I crashed my car.
26. I'm reflecting about the loss of my capability to put two and two together.
27. Matt and I learned how very white we are. Check it out: Stuff White People Like
    

Welp, that's the short and narrow of it. Probably there will be a few good posts about this in the not so distant future. In the mean time, enjoy contemplating the busy few weeks of America I've been enjoying.