look what i found out!

Question: What is America 's first line of missileinterceptor defense that protects the entire United States ?
Answer: 49th Missile Defense Battalion of Alaska National Guard.
Question: What is the ONLY National Guard unit onpermanent active duty?
Answer: 49th Missile Defense Battalion of Alaska National Guard
Question: Who is the Commander in Chief of the 49th MissileDefense Battalion of Alaska National Guard?
Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska
Question: What U.S. governor is routinely briefed onhighly classified military issues, homeland security, andcounter terrorism?
Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska
Question: What U.S. governor has a higher classifiedsecurity rating than either candidate of the Democrat Party?
Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska

Check out my blog from Sunday, "9 days...and counting", a couple of posts down.

the little guy with pinkeye

Finley has pinkeye. What a yucky sickness! On Sunday he woke up with a little bit of redness in his eye. I really didn't think anything of it until later that day. We went to church and he went to the nursery. After the first service though, I went down to look in on him since we were going to be there for all 3 hours of church. His eye looked really red and a little swollen then. I decided to take him out of the nursery and just keep him with me. While we were there for the other services, his eye got progressively worse. On Monday though, it cleared up, didn't look red and wasn't gunky. I canceled the doctor appointment I had made for him. Then came Monday night. His eye got really bad and he had a fever of 103. Poor guy must have felt so bad, but he still played with Matthew and I for an hour dancing, laughing and climbing over us. Tuesday morning I took him in and he was diagnosed with pinkeye. He has to have 1 antibiotic drop put in each eye 4 times a day for a week. This will be a really long week. He hates the drops and tries to knock them out of my hand when he sees them. He's even run from me when he knows it's time. Boy, he's a fast learner.

Speaking of a fast learner. He got a hold of a Q-tip and was trying to put it in his ear. I had no clue he'd know what to do with it. I nudged Matthew to watch and just as I did, he found his ear canal with the Q-tip. He didn't push it in far at all, but you should have seen Matthew and I both jump to get it out of his hand!

when grandpa was here

Finn had so much fun with Grandpa here. They played in the morning and evening when Dad was here. He loved riding on Grandpa's shoulders and was very, very interested in that weird hair on his face. Sometimes, he didn't know what to do with it...touch it or just stay away from it. =) I loved watching them play and wrestle on the floor. What a sad time it was to say goodbye to Dad on Friday. It was nice to have him be able to stay for over 3 weeks though. I'm already looking forward to next beet harvest when he has already said he'll be coming back. We miss you, Dad/Grandpa! Can't wait to see you and everyone at Christmas!

Finn and Grandpa at the bus station in Fargo.


So sweet...


Finn at Bible study on Wednesday. All of the other kids were out in the living room playing and I noticed Finn wasn't with them. He had found this game of Mattea's in her room and was just playing by himself. I'm glad he can keep himself busy and find things that he enjoys doing on his own. It is really fun to see them all together though playing with each other. =) He and Mattea like copying each other....mostly stomping and making weird grunting noises followed by giggles and laughter.

Finley likes to act like he's talking on the phone. I guess he's seen this a few times. It's really funny because he doesn't just stand there talking on the phone, he moves around...just like Mommy. =) Of course, the reason I have to keep moving is to always attempt to find reception somewhere in the house!

More of the same. When he puts it up to his ear he says "hi". Dad thought this was really funny.

9 days...and counting

I've never wanted to use my blog as a political forum. As you can see from the name, it has nothing to do with politics and it was created solely for Matthew's and my families to keep up to date with Finley. However, it is because of Finley that I now have to speak out and make sure that I reach as many people as possible to hopefully educate on some pretty scary issues arising this election.

I hate politics. I hate the media and I have come to realize that it is mostly because of the media that I hate politics. We would all have to agree that the media is so one-sided that it's no wonder Obama/Biden are doing well. I think we can clearly see what happens when Biden is asked the 'hard' questions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjX8wQPMADk&NR=1. We can also see that he is surprised someone in the media would dare to ask him the hard questions. He laughs in this clip...not because something is really funny, but because he's nervous. The Obama campaign then refused anymore interviews with that station.

People are no longer thinking for themselves and fact checking. If all you have done is watch the evening news, Obama/Biden would seem like some really nice folks willing and able to give them some much-needed tax breaks. Why is it that the media will not cover anything negative on Obama/Biden? Does the media not know that in Cook County (Chicago), they have a sales tax of 10.25%? Their public schools are also the worst in the country...and this is where Obama is from? Sadly, money is the main reason that people are voting for Obama and many of those people are Christians. Christians have strayed so far from Christian values that they too are in need of looking to who 'says' they will give them more money for the main reason of their voting choice. We no longer buy only what we can afford. We buy what we want, when we want it and in the back of our minds we know the government is there to bail us out if we need it.

Does the media even know what partial birth abortion is and what it entails? They should show this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_W75zh1j2I&feature=related. This is actually a very 'benign' clip compared to what is out there. Get on youtube.com and search for partial birth abortion. There are clips of them live. Maybe these clips are what need to be shown to everyone voting for Barack Obama since he is in favor of abortion and partial birth abortion. He says that he trusts women to make this decision with their family, doctors and clergy. When did God hand over that right to make the decision of a baby's innocent life? Is there any defense for infanticide? Check this out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYRpIf2F9NA&feature=related.

Can the media not see that Universal health care does not work? Hawaii just dropped their child universal health care program because of deficits.
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hLmnk2nJW1GlWETxZ5EknjKJCYgg
"People who were already able to afford health care began to stop paying for it so they could get it for free," said Dr. Kenny Fink, the administrator for Med-QUEST at the Department of Human Services. Matthew, my husband, went to college in Canada. He got an ingrown toenail and called to make an appointment with a doctor. He was going to have to wait 2 weeks for an appointment and then wait for a separate appointment for surgery. He called to his PCP in Fargo and was back in the US the next day for his appointment and had the surgery needed. His friend had gallstones and needed his gallbladder removed. He too was on a waiting list of 2 weeks for an operation. I worked for a PA whose mother lived in Canada. Her diet consisted of lettuce for 1-1/2 weeks while she waited to have her gallbladder removed. This PA also said that she never left her mother's side while she recovered for fear of infection because with universal health care, waiting lists go up and doctor and nurse pay goes down which equals a decrease in quality.

Regarding Obama's relationship with Jeremiah Wright, he was a member of Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years. Jeremiah Wright officiated Obama's wedding and baptized his two daughters. I'm glad that Sarah Palin has something to say about Obama's former pastor since McCain has stated that he wouldn't touch that subject. Only when video was released of Jeremiah Wright making anti-American and anti-Semitic statements did Barack Obama denounced his pastor. Are you telling me that after 20 years in his church that he had never heard Jeremiah Wright speak out like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJB-qkfUHc&feature=related. There are many videos like this just on youtube.com.

This brings us to William Ayers, co-founder of Weather Underground terrorist group. Barack Obama's advisers said that they were "certainly friendly". They served on a charity board together and worked together on various projects in Chicago. Bill Ayers hosted one of Barack Obama's first fundraisers in his own living room. McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds asks a good question. "If Obama didn't know in 1995 about the bombings Ayers was responsible for, when did he find out -- because Obama was promoting Ayers' book in 1997, serving on boards with him until 2002, and trading e-mails and phone calls with him as recently as 2005." Ayers has said he doesn't regret his Weather Underground activities.

This really is just the tip of the iceberg with regard to Barack Obama. I urge you to check out these sites I've listed and then get on the Internet and do your own research. It's so much more powerful when you see and hear the story firsthand.

"don't back over the blades!"

I've been hearing this in my sleep. If you were talking to the bosses about rotobeating, you were sure to hear this phrase. You could ask, "what kind of oil do you use in this John Deere 7810?" And they would reply "15-40 diesel...but don't back over the blades!" The blades are what cleanly cut off the tops of the beets. When you stop in a field and have to back up for any reason, you must make sure you lift the rotobeater and blades (two separate levers in the tractor) or else you can bend, break or chip the blades or, worse yet, bend the whole rotobeater.

Enter October 19, 2008. I forgot to turn the PTO on at the beginning of the row. Not a huge deal, but it meant that I had to back up and start at the beginning...about 25 feet back. I backed up and then hit mud. So I pulled forward and tried to use a little more momentum to get back to the beginning of the row. I got a little further that time, so I pulled forward again and put it in reverse. This time I went even further and then heard two popping sounds. The 'mud' I was hitting was the blades stopping me. This is when I turned around to see that the blades were down. Not only did I back over the blades, I did it 3 times! I literally had heart palpitations. I had heard that you get fired for backing over the blades. They are expensive and damage can be done to the rotobeater. All of this was going through my mind as I got out of the tractor to tell my boss. Not only was I going to have damage to the rotobeater, I was going to have triple the damage! I didn't even look at it...I didn't have to. I knew I was finished. When my boss saw me walking toward him, he immediately looked to the tractor and then all movement stopped. I don't remember much of what happened after that. I don't even remember telling him. I remember walking toward him and seeing his face and the next thing I remember is him telling me that we had to replace 3 blades and 2 cylinders. He was actually 'pleased' with the damage considering what it could have been. He told me not to stress out about it because he had backed over the blades before, his brother had done and it and his Dad had backed over the blades in that same field. Whew! What a relief.

On the second day of beet harvest, my mom and I were in the tractor together still trying to get the hang of it. We were in a very challenging field with weird angles...in the dark! We were both fit to be tied and so stressed out. When we finished the field, I called my boss and pretty much said, now what? He said, "You're finished". I said, "We're finished"? My mom, sitting 2 inches from me was nodding her head. I thought we had done such a horrible job that he was firing us already. He didn't even give us a chance! Mom was excited to be getting fired (that's how bad it was for her). He then clarified that we were just finished with that field and we were supposed to move to the next field. Doug (the boss) took the rotobeater to the next field. He told me to get his truck (the brown one) and bring it to the next field. First of all, I've never seen the boss's truck. Secondly, it's dark. Thirdly, where is the next field? He left and mom and I were left to find the brown truck (we had 3 choices) in the dark and get it to the next field. I found a truck and we thought it was brown. Now to find the field. Mom jumped in my car and I jumped in the truck and we started driving. I knew the field was north of town so we started driving that way. All the while, I'm looking in all of the fields trying to find our rotobeater and still wondering whose truck I was driving. I'd hate to show up in the wrong field with the wrong pickup! We did find the field and I did have the right truck. Doug has no clue we had so much trouble getting there.

Despite these horrible experiences, I'm so happy I drove the rotobeater this season. We finished today, just in time for the rain tonight. Matthew's crew had only 60 more acres, but they didn't finish in time. They will have to start back up after the ground dries. Here are some pictures and videos of the end of our beet harvest.

My last set of rows for the season. What a nice feeling that was.


One last picture. See you next year!

A video of my last set of rows. You can see what has been rotobeated (the lighter green) and what rows have already been lifted (the darker rows). You can also see a truck being loaded by the lifter.

Remember how clean these rotobeater tarps were at the beginning of the year? Not any more! After 3 weeks, the dirt has piled up. You can also see a jack rabbit has lost his home. There have been thousands of mice, at least 2 skunks (one of them Kristen, my sister-in-law, ran over while rotobeating) and many rabbits (one I ran over) who have lost their homes.

Video of the beets being lifted and dumped into a semi. Everything looks simple and easy, but the truth is, there are many steps to lifting and dumping. When the semis and trucks pull up to the lifter, there is a rope hanging from the side of the lifter. The semi driver has to watch that rope to make sure that his truck doesn't touch it. If he does, it means that he's too close to the lifter. Then he has to line himself up with the lifter driver. They start dumping the beats. When there is a pile big enough in the truck, the lifter blinks a light and the semi moves up a few feet, all while they are going about the same speed. They do this 4 or 5 times to fill the truck. So, if you are ever driving down the road next to a semi, try to get about 4 feet from the side of him, look in your side mirror to make sure you are not too close or too far away, go the same speed as him and then move up a few feet and continue this for about 10 minutes. After having tried both jobs, I think I'll stick with the rotobeating. =)

diaper dancing and an indian

We call this first video "going crazy". At night before bed, he gets so tired that he claps and dances all around.

Grandpa was chasing after Finn in this video. Every time Grandpa tries to get him, Finn laughs and tries to run away.

Grandpa put one of Finley's blocks into a sock and made a game out of pulling it out. Even when he can't pull it out, he thinks we should clap for him. =)

A very short video of Finn dancing in his Indian outfit.

the night grandma left

Mom had to leave to get back to work early Tuesday morning, so Monday night was her last time to see Finn until Christmas. She read him books, played with him, got him dressed and ready for bed and then cuddled with him. It was sad but so sweet to see. It was always one of my favorite things about her visiting...to see my mom and my son together, loving each minute they had.

Here is Grandma reading Finn one of his favorite books, Dr. Seuss's ABC book.


Playing on the floor before bed.


Happy picture.


Goodnight and goodbye kiss to Finn from Grandma. I know Finley would love to see Grandma walk in the back door now with her big smile and hug for him and I can't wait to see them together again at Christmas. Thanks, Mom for taking care of Finley for me while I was out working. There isn't anyone I would rather him be with.

misc pictures

Here is a conglomeration of pictures while Grandpa and Grandma Stabley were here together.

Finley having cold cereal for the first time.


Liking his Rice Krispies.


Not feeling very well that afternoon...not related to the cereal. =)


Grandpa was teaching Finn how to rub Grandma's feet.


He's too young to be grossed out by the toe-bending thing (ask Mom).


Finn plopped right down in Grandpa's lap and started rubbing Grandma's feet.


Eating...who knows what.


After eating an Oreo. Daddy would be proud. =)


Finley on Grandpa's shoulders at the Olive Garden.


Grandpa held Finley for most of the time while we were waiting to be seated. He loved it....Finley that is. It doesn't look like Dad is too upset about it either, though.

let's see, when did i last have the car?

Yes, there was a time when my parents were here that this question was asked. It was on a morning when the whole beet crew had been moved to a couple of new fields throughout the day and night. When we move fields, all of the drivers grab a car and take it to the new field until all of the cars, trucks and tractors are moved. Only at the end of moving, we were down one burgundy Saturn. Dad got home from his 16-hour shift with no car and mom was not happy. He sat down at the table and asked the most hilarious question. "Let's see, when did I last have the car?" This is a question you usually ask when you've lost your keys or your glasses, but no, Dad lost the car. We went to all 3 fields that it could possibly be in with no luck. Finally, we went back to the shop (2 blocks from our house) and there was the Saturn sitting all alone. No one knows how it got there, but we figure it's the new lost and found for extra cars. =)

You should have seen the relief on Mom's face when she saw her car.


Mom was so happy she bent down and gave it a kiss.

4...the magic number

As many of you know, my parents came up for the beet harvest with the understanding that Dad would drive a beet truck and Mom and I would drive a tractor. Dad is still driving the truck and...well, Mom wasn't too impressed with the tractor driving. It would have worked out and I know she could have done it, but I left her alone in a field that was just being opened and there was a lot of pressure put on her all at once. I really regret doing that because it set the stage for the rest of the time here. I was able to take some of her hours because she stayed at home and watched Finley for me and Dad still drove his truck, but mom didn't want to try the tractor anymore. In her defense, besides the fact that she was left alone in a tractor in a hard field, she hadn't been in a tractor since she was 10 years old. Tractors may have changed a little since then. =) I learned to enjoy driving the tractor, but I wouldn't have been able to unless Mom had stayed to watch Finn. So, thank you, Mom for wanting to spend time with Finley, doing the laundry, and cooking and cleaning. You were a huge help and it was so neat to watch you with Finn. Those were my favorite times while you were here. That and our many games of Cribbage! =)

So...back to the magic number of 4. When rotobeeting, you have to enter the field with your front right wheel in the 4th row. Harder than it sounds when sometimes all you can see is a field of green. I think you can see the rows pretty clearly in this picture.


The semi in the picture is being filled with beets from the lifter. The lifter is the tractor and machine that lifts the beets out of the ground and loads them into the trucks. On our crew, there are 2 semis and 3 beet trucks (the red one in this picture).


"Name That Row!" That's my new game sometimes when I'm out driving. Can you find row number 4? I was opening this field which means there is no row 4 to go by. The farmer that I'm working for "marked" this row. Wanna know how he marked it??? He pulled back a few green leaves from the beets and then pulled up 2 beets and layed them on the ground. Mind you, the whole field is full of green and white! Now, I would have been able to find it a lot easier if he were to lay out carrots or use flags (like they're supposed to). Nope, I have to find the green and white in the field of green and white. =) I'm getting better since I know how many rows to count over, but boy, those first fields were tough!


This is what it looks like from behind when opening a field. This implement is pulled and powered by the tractor and it cuts off the tops of the beets.


Opening another field. I have about 2 inches on each side of the front tires before I start running over beets and jumping off of the row. If that happens, the tops don't get cut off. If I'm not able to fix it, EVERYONE behind me knows that I made a mistake and sometimes the beets won't get picked up.

it's laundry time...mom's in heaven!

My mom enjoys doing laundry. Yes, I said, enjoys. This works out really well for me when she comes to visit. She just stayed with us for 2 weeks (not long enough) and I didn't have to do one load of laundry while she was here. She found out that there's a little helper here too. Finley put all the socks with the shoes at the back door.



Finley was helping do laundry by putting the socks with the shoes. We walked into the kitchen and saw a big pile of socks with the shoes. He keeps telling Grandma to say "Deese" for the socks but after she doesn't say it in time he just starts throwing them at her. (Can't wait forever) Ha! =)

Finley thinks it's so much fun to "play" with Zodie. He tries to tip her over while she's in the basket and she starts to get a little testy. When he pulls the basket onto the floor, you can almost hear Zodie growl, "This means war" and the fists start flying. Finley thinks Zodie's playing when she starts batting at him, so why wouldn't he bat back? You can tell though that Zodie is less than thrilled with this "game" of Finley's. I'm sure when she climbed into the warm laundry basket, she wasn't thinking she would end up on the other side of the living room. =)

visit from gma and gpa stabley

Mom and Dad got here on a Tuesday evening. Finley heard the back door open and we sent him to see who it was. He met them at the back door with a smile. That was really special to see.



Here they are greeting him together. He went right to them and wasn't really shy at all.


Very cute picture! They were both so happy.


Dad reading to Finn.


Dad reading/singing "Row, Row, Row your boat". Finley really likes the singing books. I don't mind them and sing them to him often but Matthew doesn't like singing them so he hides the books under the couch. =)

fargo fun

A few weeks ago, while Matthew was away at a conference in Minneapolis, Finn and I went to Fargo for a night to see Denae. We went out to eat at Applebees and had a lot of fun. Finn likes Denae a lot and she's really good with him. The waitress brought him a balloon so Denae tied it to his wrist. He loved the fact that he could make it bounce!




Crawling in the window and still playing with his balloon.


Finn and I.


He was such a character that night and made us laugh a lot!