I think I broke it....

My toe that is:

I guess that is what happens when you drop an end table on it from about 4 feet high. Yeah, I didn't mean to do that. We were moving some more furniture of my parents today, working on getting everything in place. I actually worked at moving furniture for about 30 min after I dropped the table on my toe...but once I took my shoe off, I knew it was really broke. Sigh...can't even call in sick tomorrow....I don't type with my toes :)

UPDATE:

Well this morning it was even more purple and swollen, so Kevin and my parents said I should go to the doctor and have them check it out. The Doc did have me get an X-Ray, just in case I had broken it near a joint or broke any other bones on my foot. He also gave me a fancy boot to wear for support. So the final word is that the toe is broken, the big bone at the top of the toe above the knuckle….that is actually good news, since now I just wear the boot, elevate and ice, and wait for it to heal. The other scenario I am sure would not have been as nice.

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes…..US, I love the idea of having a bell, but Kevin already nixed that :(

Super Fun Day

When you live out away from the city, sometimes you need to have a shopping day. That was today for us. So Kevin and I headed out......

First we went to Kohl's. We picked up a few things and when we went to the register, the cashier was talking and we said we had this 30% off coupon at home, but it didn't start till Oct 1. I said, unfortunately we live too far away and we wouldn't be able to use it in the time frame of the sale. So she called her manager and they honored the discount anyway! Awesome! What a great start.

Then we stopped off at Target. I really like Target, but the closest one is over an hour from home :(

Next we headed for lunch...we ate at Hacienda Colorado, (see old post), we hadn't been there since May. YUM!!!

Next we went to TJ Max's Home Goods Store, this is a fun store if you have any nearby. They have all kinds of decorating accessories at VERY good prices. I wish we had our house more put together so I knew exactly what I was looking for. Ahhh, well now I just have to go back :)

Then we went to Office Max, because I was looking for new larger monitor. I wanted something that I can hook to my laptop, but had a really good resolution and large enough that I could look at two documents side by side. I also thought it would be really helpful when do my monitoring of faculty for work. I also have some tech money at work, that I can turn this in for and get reimbursed. I found a 24" monitor, and it had a $50 instant rebate on it....well it didn't ring up with the rebate, because their signage was old, but they gave it to us anyway...Score!

Next was the Omaha Steak store. I had this coupon for a huge combo of meat...it was originally $180 and I could get it for only $60....but it was supposed to be mailed in. So we went to the store and I asked if I could use it at the store and they said "yes". In fact they let me trade out some stuff, for other products. I also got some free steak burgers (yuck to me, but yummy to others), and a set of knives for free also.

As if that wasn't enough shopping, we decided to hit up Sam's and Costco also. I know it is a lot...but remember we have to drive a minimum of 1.5-2 hours one way to get to these stores you have to make the drive count, and we only go every 8-10 weeks, so we try to stock up on the essentials.

So you would think the car is full and we were tired. You are right! But, one more stop for us....Kevin had a gift card at Ultimate Electronics. The gift card was worth quite a bit (a little over $300), and we do need some sound system items for our house...but Ultimate does not carry what we (I really mean Kevin) want. We had looked several times and no luck. So we had talked to my parents and they wanted a surround system, but nothing too fancy, but they didn't know what to pick out. So we bought them one today with the gift card, and then they will give us the $$ to put down on the one that we (again I mean Kevin) want.

To put the new surround system in the car, we actually had to take things out and move stuff around, to make room, and stuff the backseat full.

It was actually a really nice day. The weather was great...it was good to be out and about, do some walking in the big stores, have some time alone, a good lunch, good company, great service at all the stores we were at today....fun....

When we got home, we carried things in, put stuff away...then we had my brother and sister-in-law over for dinner. Nothing too exciting we just BBQ'd some burgers and franks...but it was a good end to the day. Now I am tired, so I think I will head off to maybe read the novel I have been wanting to read.....

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My office?

Since the deck is done (all but the stairs), I decided to hang outside this afternoon. I admit it is harder to work and not stare off into the field...so not sure how much work is occurring.

Kevin sat out here this morning for a little while also, but it was too cold for me earlier. It won't be long and it will be cold all day and we won't get to enjoy the outside.

Our Workhorse

My parents had an ezgo cart at their old property, and so we just recently moved it here to the new house. Kevin and I have been having fun riding it around the neighborhood and going to get the mail. I am sure it will come in handy as we put in our yard, and work around the house, but for now, it is mostly for fun!

check out the hood ornament....my brother's handy work :)

The bed of the cart is very cool, it actually has a little lift bed on it, so you can fill it up and dump it out.

It all came down to this

So you spend 5 years, studying, writing papers, researching, filling out forms, thousands of dollars etc..etc...

You go to defend your dissertation and it all comes down to this check box that says Pass or Fail....all that matters is that the PASS line is marked and your committee signs off on it.

How do you celebrate?

So on Wednesday after I became Dr. Jody, you would think that a big celebration would be in order. You are right! It just hasn't happened yet...but I definitely think something exciting should happen.

Anyway, after I finished up at CSU, we were in the big city of Fort Collins, so we decided to do a little shopping. So first we went to Whole Foods. I love Whole Foods, but there isn't anything like it at all in Fort Morgan. Then we went to a big grocery store, then out to dinner.

Kevin took me to Biaggi's, in Loveland on the way home. I had the Chicken Marsala and Kevin had the Farfalle Alfredo, and then we shared a Tirami Su for dessert. Dinner was good, but I think I was so happy that evening, anything would have been good. The Tiramisu, not so much, that is one of our favorite desserts and we try it every time we go to a new Italian restaurant, we usually rate them, so for the record....this doesn't make the top 10.

Now....on to planning that party.....

Introducing....

Dr. Jody DeKorte!

Yes I did it!. I successfully defended my dissertation today!. I was very nervous, my committee members however, were totally supportive. I have one minor minor change to make to my abstract and that is it. As of today, I am officially

Jody DeKorte, PhD.

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes, and support over the past 5 years. It really hasn't sank in yet that I am done. I guess I don't know any better but to be the student. Now on to bigger and better things....or just to reading a regular old novel :)

Yea for me!

Rocky Mtn National Park

I forgot to blog about our trip to RMNP with Didi. Always a must do when in Colorado...

So of course we went up to the top of Trail Ridge road (hard to believe that on Aug 16th it was closed due to snow). So here is Didi at the top... that is 3685m above sea level for our friends in Europe.
We also got to see a nice herd of Elk in the valley. We probably got to be within 50' of them....
All in all a great day at RMNP...

Already broke the mower...

Last night Doug brought over the ride on mower that we are going to keep at the house. The weeds are getting pretty tall so I thought I would chop them down tonight. Well, I got about an hour into it and then the mower seized up. So Mert and I took at look at it, and we thought it was the drive pulley bearing after checking all the obvious things, like it being out of gas and such. So we called Doug and had him check our work. He had the thing out in about 10 mins (I'm pretty sure I can put it back) and sure enough the bearing were shot and so now we have to get new ones before we can get back to weed patrol.

one stress down.....

two to go....

I did my first ever conference presentation today. It was online...so I sat here in my t-shirt and sweats, with messy hair....but no one could see me :)....but I will share with you all....

Now 2 stresses to go....

1. Next Wed (9/17) defend my dissertation

2. Nov 19, the same presentation as today but live in Las Vegas at the ELearn Conference

These two are in person....guess I will have to spend a little time on my outfit :)

Its a small world

DiDi went home on Thursday. We had a good time getting to know her. We wish her the best and hope to stay in touch.

My baby

So the other night I was laying on the floor and Deogi cuddled up with me. Then when I got up she laid her head on my pillow so I covered her up and Kevin caught this shot. She is not spoiled at all. LoL.