busy busy

So, last week when Allison and I went on a hike we saw those two buffalo. We thought that was really something special and crazy. Turns out, buffalo roam down at Ghost Hawk Park all the time! Allison, Jamie, Tim and I along with Gus and Whoop went down to the park yesterday for a walk and saw these two mischievous 'flos hanging out. It's still crazy to me! Jamie, from Rhode Island, wanted very badly to approach the buffalo and to pet them. After we strongly advised her against it, we noticed the bison were moving towards us. I announced to my friends that I didn't care what they chose to do, I however would be waiting for them at the van. With that, I moved very fast to the top of the hill to a safe place and waited.  

 Jamie, observing the buffalo.


After our afternoon outing, I attempted to take a photo with Whoop. I already have a plethora of him, but none of the two of us. He was too impatient for the self-timer to go off, so I wasn't able to catch a good one. Perhaps sometime when I have a friend or family member around I can con them into taking one for me!

This morning I went to church. The sermon covered the importance of Love and how if we were to follow the Ten Commandments, we would be giving our all to show love. It was interesting and very fitting for a lot of my recent thoughts. Yesterday I wrote my speech for Tricia and Tony's wedding, which is next weekend (!!!), and was thinking a lot about love. My past relationships and those that I have learned from such as my parents, my brother, my friends and family, etc. I love sermons, such as this morning's, that really touch on real life topics--when they are applicable to all people of all ages. It's so refreshing to have a pastor who really just lays it out on the line for you. Although it can be entertaining and somewhat unprofessional, I feel very comfortable at my church here in Rosebud. 

This week I have a lot going on. I am nervous to leave my class for the first time. Wednesday afternoon I have CORE Reading training in Mission and will be missing half of a day. Thursday I have taken off the afternoon and all of Friday so that I will be able to be in Minnesota for all of the wedding festivities! Of course I would never wish to be anywhere else, but I am struggling to cope with the thought of leaving my classroom in the hands of someone else. I have no idea why I am having these feelings, my full-time aid will be my substitute teacher and she has high expectations of the kids and knows how everything operates in our room--it's still an eerie feeling. 

I am not sure what I'm going to do with Whoop either. I have friends here that I could leave him with, but I feel that four days is a long time to leave him with someone. I may bring him to Vermillion and have D&D's neighbor girl feed and walk him. He's so incredibly calm and perfect, I know he won't be a bother to anyone that I leave him with. 

It's odd the anxiety I'm having about leaving my kids and my dog. I'm becoming that person I used to make fun of. I guess it's situations such as this that show me how I actually feel about my little snot-nosed 6 and 7 year olds and my canine.

Well, I suppose I should get to planning the next two weeks. I know that I won't have any time to plan the week of October 31 because I'll be having such a great time while home so I'm going to attempt to do it this week!

I hope all is well out there for each of you. If you live in Minnesota and are reading this--I can't wait to see you in 4 days!!!

whoopi is here!!!

Well, how do you do?

 Profile view.

 Whoopster lounging on dad's (very missed) couch.

So, I took the plunge and committed to a 30 lb lab/poodle mix. He is a neutered male that is housetrained and absolutely perfect in every way! In the words of my Aunt Pooh, "After him, you'll never be able to settle for any man!" No truer words have ever been spoken :) 

I drove to Rapid City on Saturday to "meet" him. It was total love at first sight! We clicked right away, and the volunteer at the Humane Society told me I was very lucky because "Joey" was quite the catch. The volunteer gave me some background info on him and said that he had been surrendered by his original owners because of financial and landlord issues. "Joey" had been adopted within days of his original surrender by an older woman. This woman returned him within two days, saying that she didn't like how he followed her everywhere---wait a tick, what is it exactly that dogs are supposed to do if not follow it's master around? Well, anyway there had been multiple people that called for information about him, but luckily I was the winner winner of that chicken dinner! 

I re-named him Whoopiman Cuddyer Smidt, and he goes by Whoopi, Da Whoop or Whoopster. What can I say, I love me some Whoopi Goldberg and had already named a rez street dog Cuddy (after my favorite Twins player). Although his name is semi-feminine, I do not give a rats pa-toot. After all, he is a freakin' poodle! 

Every conversation I've had with dad since Saturday has centered around Whoopster. He keeps telling me what a bad idea/habit it is to let him sleep with me--I figure it will keep the cost of heating down. Muahahahahaha!!! Plus, who could resist that face?! I mean, really!

buffalo!

Yesterday evening Allison and I went for a hike. Before beginning our hike, we stumbled upon two buffalo. Just hanging out at a local park! It was quite the sight to see. I don't know if I've ever seen buffalo outside of a national park and/or zoo. It was actually terrifying. We got as close as we saw fit, took a couple of pictures then headed back the way we came. Aggravating not one, but two buffalo is a certain death wish. So we continued on our hike--what beautiful sights there are to see! We gathered a bunch of sage and then went for a scenic drive. [Not a guilt trip] I wish I had some company to share these sights with--the fall colors are to die for, and the air is so perfect and crisp! After Allison dropped me off back at home, I ate a honeycrisp (thanks, dad!) and reflected on what a perfect day I had just had.

Big news in the J.Smidt house-- I will soon have a roommate! A male with curly black hair who is nice to children and animals and is potty-trained!  Saturday morning I will be going to Rapid City to pick up Whoopi (currently Joey) from the humane society. I am very excited! Click on this to see him: WHOOPI !

I received an e-mail from Ali today with this link: ABC News 20/20
If you have no plans, tomorrow (Friday October 14, 2011) evening there will be an episode of 20/20 on ABC during which Diane Sawyer follows the lives of some youth from Pine Ridge Reservation (the neighboring reservation to Rosebud). I find it interesting and hopeful. If you have time, try to catch it!

Dakota Days

This past weekend I went home for D-Days. It wasn't half the fun that it used to be, i attribute this to two things: 1. I am old and 2. Paulina wasn't in attendance. 

I hadn't planned to attend, but decided that a three day weekend would be nice spent at home. So I went. I left Friday after school and arrived right around 8:30 pm. Mom, Dad and I spent some time hanging out. Then Ali came from Sioux Falls, Sarah and Cameron came over and my old roommate Bethany stopped by. It was nice having some quiet time at home to talk and catch up with them, rather than the usual loud bar scene in which nothing gets accomplished other than alcohol induced reminiscing. Saturday morning Ali and I watched the parade from the lawn of Concordia Lutheran. It was nice seeing so many church members. Though I was pretty tired, I appreciated all of the kind smiles and greetings. Ali and I then got ready while we waited for Colleen to arrive from Sioux Falls. We all went downtown for a couple of beers. Sadly, I didn't see any of my friends from the School of Education. It was a good time none the less. Saturday evening we returned to Mom and Dad's house where we sat out at the fire pit until the wee hours of the morning. Sunday was spent going to church and hanging out with my parents. We went to see the movie Moneyball. It was super long, but I really enjoyed it a lot. In South Dakota we celebrated Native American Day with no school, so Monday I drove home to Rosebud. I stopped in Yankton to have lunch with my good friend Amber. It was great meeting her new puppy and getting to spend an hour or so talking. I miss her a lot.

A woman who had worked within the school district passed away late last week. Because she and her husband were/are both employees of the district and very well known throughout the community, we did not have school today so that anyone and everyone could attend the funeral without penalty. I attended the funeral with my friend, Allison. We felt it appropriate, and I am very happy that I did attend. I saw some students and many employees of the district. Events like this remind me why I am here. Seeing the support of so many people, whether family, friends or complete strangers is something foreign to many people--but not here on the reservation. This is something I truly appreciate. 

I have been in the market for a dog since I moved out here. I have had a couple of leads that have come to a quick hault. I think I have found one though. I will keep you all updated.

The Hills Are Alive!

I just returned to Rosebud from a great 28 hour trip to Hill City, SD! My friend and former roommate, Allison, ran the half at the Crazy Horse marathon. We left Saturday morning, stopped at Wall Drug, then in Rapid City to eat at our favorite restaurant, went through Keystone and Custer and landed in Hill City. We camped in the back of her minivan on a dirt road in The Hills. It's amazing what a change of scenery can do for a person! Allison is a person with an incredibly positive attitude and a fun personality. We had a blast!

 Backyard at Wall Drug

 Everything Prehistoric in Hill City, SD

 Sharing my milk shake with a pig in Hill City, SD

Allison and I on a walk on the Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills of SD

The complimentary shampoo and conditioner from our "hotel"! (I found these in the back of Allison's van as we were setting up our sleeping quarters and thought it was hilarious.


Last week school was fine. Nothing too new in the 1st grade world. I am going to attempt to write more regularly so that I can share the silliness that happens on a daily basis. To be completely honest I had been planning my lessons from day-to-day, which made it hard for me to keep up with the blog. Now that I am lesson planning and handing them all in on Monday mornings, I will have more free time in the evening.
I have been cooking a lot, lately. After having roommates for the past 6 years, it's hard to cook for one person. Grandma Shea has always been a huge advocate of freezing things, I have fallen into this and find it to be so helpful! I know that probably sounds stupid--like, "duh Jacque, you're just figuring that out?!" But I mean more along the lines of freezing pre-portioned meals to take to school for lunch. Who'da thunk I would be that organized :)

Green peppers are 3 for $2 right now! I've been having a lot of stuffed peppers, which I don't think I could ever get sick of!

kyle & britt's wedding.

One week ago today, two of my dearest friends got married... to each other!
What an awesome, fun-filled weekend! Kyle is my one and only friend from growing up that I have never had issues with. He is the most caring, generous, compassionate and good looking male friend a girl could ask for. We met in elementary school, became friends in middle school, best friends in high school and stayed close all through college (he went to USD too).
When I went to visit Ali overseas in the summer of '09 I was gone for a month. The night I arrived back in Vermillion I went over to Kyle's house where the weekly Sunday Funday yard games, BBQ and beer drinking festivities were taking place. I was surprised to see two girls that I didn't recognize. Ryan and Kyle greeted me with hugs and excitement, all the while I was distracted by these two girls who looked a little frightened by me. I was introduced to them and didn't think much of it. Later that night, we all went downtown together and I had a better chance to talk to these girls. As it turned out Britt had started working at Leo's, a local sportsbar that a lot of our friends worked at, and Kayla was her best friend. They had started hanging with the boys the weekend after I had left for Europe. As we talked more, and I got to know them I realized that I liked these girls. As the days and summer nights went on I came to find out that Kyle and Britt had been hanging out. Vermillion terms for dating, but not really dating, but you're actually dating... I was 100% sure yet about this girl, but trusted Kyle's judgement. One night, soon after discovering that the two were hanging out, Kayla (Britt's best friend), told me that the reason they were initially apprehensive when I arrived home was because Ryan and Kyle had told them to be careful around me. That if I didn't like them, they would know it. Also, that if I didn't like them any and all friendships/relationships would most likely cease to exist. Lucky for Britt, but more so lucky for me I totally took to the fashionable small-town girl and her crazy best friend.
Kyle proposed last August, after they had been together for just over a year. They are the perfect case of "when you know, you know". I am so excited for and proud of my best friend and his lovely bride.
Kyle called me in February to ask if I would be a part of their wedding by reading a bible verse. I was bowling with my roommate Jamie and had just had my first beer in almost a month. I was buzzed and entirely too honored and started crying on the phone! It is so difficult to have so many great friends of the opposite sex-- when it comes to wedding time, traditionally you are not really welcome. Well, anyway, I was so honored beyond belief I clearly accepted the request. I read the passage Colossians 3:12-17. What a wonderfully perfect scripture reading! After the wedding we went back to the hotel, which had the reception hall attached. We had a beautiful dinner, amazing company and one of the most fun nights on the dance floor in the history of mankind.

  Kyle & Britt.

  My boys (Ryan and Kyle) & I.

 College girlfriends!

inservice.

Today has been an all day inservice at my school. We had staff gatherings this morning and afternoon, followed by grade-band meetings, then classroom work-time. I have not been able to focus at all. Here is a photo of me. Sitting on my "big rug". Seeing life from the angle my kids see it from.