This year I have been working part time in the elections office. About a year ago the county commissioners separated elections from the clerk and recorders office, so a new positon was created for the election administrator. This jobs runs the elections plus takes care of the phone system and computer system. It is an office of one person.
Back in April the election administrator asked if I could help stuff envelopes for the primary election as she had to get her absentee ballots mailed out. No problem I can sit at my desk and stuff envelopes. This is what I get for helping. The commissioners asked my boss and I if I would be willing to help out in the elections office for this election cycle. It was no problems as long as I got all my work for the schools done first.
Gary and I had booked a trip to Las Vegas for November so I would not be available to work on election night in November.
Most of my time is spent entering registered voters into the system and updating voter information. I have access to everything on my computer in my office. Works out well as my office is very quiet and not so busy, so I can get a bunch of registrations entered. A whole different story in the elections office.
As it got closer to election time I worked part time for the schools and the other part for elections. Made for very fast days, especially when we had to get the absentee ballots out. Fortunately we were able to at least prep all the envelopes about a week ahead, then just insert the ballots. It went smooth, only about 150 to get ready at the last minute. Had to get the regular absentee ballots out on Oct. 9.
After Oct. 9, then the elections office had to stay open from 8-5, worked out good. My mornings were spent with schools, then afternoons spent in elections. It was pretty steady the first half of October, then the last half things were really busy.
Three counties in Montana were sued by a group because the counties wouldn't open up satellite offices for late registrations and people picking up their ballots. Big Horn, Rosebud and Blaine Counties were sued in federal court. The election administrator here had to prepare for that so I worked many hours in elections. For the two days while she was in federal court, I worked the office. The judge dismissed the case based on the fact that nothing was proved in court that votered were disenfranchised. The was the week before the election. All that is left is to verify the provisional ballots and get the canvass done.
It sure has been a learning experience and I learned alot about the behind the scenes in elections. Hopefully the county will hire another person for elections (not me).
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Halloween Party
Last Saturday Gary and I were invited to a Halloween Party at our friend Dean & Lynn's. They host the annual Halloween and St. Patrick's Day parties at their house. They live in Rehberg Ranch by the airport. Lynn makes crocks full of delicious chili and we all bring side dishes. I took cinnamon rolls.
We missed the party last year since we were in Las Vegas. Felt bad about missing it but when we planned our trip we didn't think about the party. Lynn felt bad because many people didn't go to her party.
This is a costume party and this year we went low key. We dressed up at tae kwon do people wearing our old uniforms. I took my sais and Gary had num chuks. A few people dressed up. We had a couple witche's, three hippies, a demon, a gangster,a vampire, a devil, a ghost, a leaf blower and one couple came with candies. She was smartie pants and he was dum dum. She had the smartie candies sewed on her pants and he had the dum dum suckers on his shirt. A few didn't dress up.
We had a good time, as always with our biker friends. It is nice to get together during the non-riding season. Many desserts to chose from and all the food was delicious.
I took some photos, but got busy visiting that I didn't get everyone so will have to "borrow" from Lynn. She got photos of the couples but she hasn't posted them up yet.
I decided that next year we need to go out for costumes. The first year we went I was a flapper and Gary was a gangster. I'm floating around the idea of Cleopatra and Marc Antony.
We missed the party last year since we were in Las Vegas. Felt bad about missing it but when we planned our trip we didn't think about the party. Lynn felt bad because many people didn't go to her party.
This is a costume party and this year we went low key. We dressed up at tae kwon do people wearing our old uniforms. I took my sais and Gary had num chuks. A few people dressed up. We had a couple witche's, three hippies, a demon, a gangster,a vampire, a devil, a ghost, a leaf blower and one couple came with candies. She was smartie pants and he was dum dum. She had the smartie candies sewed on her pants and he had the dum dum suckers on his shirt. A few didn't dress up.
We had a good time, as always with our biker friends. It is nice to get together during the non-riding season. Many desserts to chose from and all the food was delicious.
I took some photos, but got busy visiting that I didn't get everyone so will have to "borrow" from Lynn. She got photos of the couples but she hasn't posted them up yet.
I decided that next year we need to go out for costumes. The first year we went I was a flapper and Gary was a gangster. I'm floating around the idea of Cleopatra and Marc Antony.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Birthday Parties
Last weekend we were invited to a birthday party for our friends, both guys had birthdays in October. The Butterfields hosted this party, mainly for them to see their friends one last time before they head off to Arizona for the winter. They won't be back until April.
There were 15 of us at the party and we spent the night at their house. Dale & Kitty always have us stay because of all the adult beverages we drink. Kitty made pulled BBQ pork sandwiches and the rest of us brought side dishes. I make a pasta salad (shells, tomatoes, black olives, green, orange and yellow peppers with ranch dressing) It was very colorful and delicious. Got alot of compliments on it.
Our friend Joan made the birthday cake which was carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Her father owned a bakery in Lead South Dakota so when she bakes it is alot. She bakes her cakes in a casserole pan. The cakes are very thick and so is the frosting. Very delicious.
We all had a good time visiting. While the others went home, 5 of us stayed at the Butterfields visiting and drinking. They had an extra guest as she was in no condition to drive home. We stayed up until 2:45 am and then got up at 7:30 am. Been a very long time since we have done this.
We got home around 10:30 on Sunday morning. In our younger days we would have been going on strong all day long, but Gary and I ended up taking naps during the day. Good thing we don't stay up like this all the time.
Had a great time and our friends Dale & Kitty left Tuesday for Arizona, they did make it safe and sound. They are living in a small town just out of Phoenix. We have been invited to visit sometime in the winter.
There were 15 of us at the party and we spent the night at their house. Dale & Kitty always have us stay because of all the adult beverages we drink. Kitty made pulled BBQ pork sandwiches and the rest of us brought side dishes. I make a pasta salad (shells, tomatoes, black olives, green, orange and yellow peppers with ranch dressing) It was very colorful and delicious. Got alot of compliments on it.
Our friend Joan made the birthday cake which was carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Her father owned a bakery in Lead South Dakota so when she bakes it is alot. She bakes her cakes in a casserole pan. The cakes are very thick and so is the frosting. Very delicious.
We all had a good time visiting. While the others went home, 5 of us stayed at the Butterfields visiting and drinking. They had an extra guest as she was in no condition to drive home. We stayed up until 2:45 am and then got up at 7:30 am. Been a very long time since we have done this.
We got home around 10:30 on Sunday morning. In our younger days we would have been going on strong all day long, but Gary and I ended up taking naps during the day. Good thing we don't stay up like this all the time.
Had a great time and our friends Dale & Kitty left Tuesday for Arizona, they did make it safe and sound. They are living in a small town just out of Phoenix. We have been invited to visit sometime in the winter.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
End of September
Not much happened in September the only thing left was the tae kwon do tournament in Dayton WY. The Sheridan and Cody schools take turns hosting the fall tournament. Sheridan gets the even years while Cody get the odd. This year the tournament was in Dayton at their little comminity building.
We only had two students compete and they were Brandon our grandson and another boy Dominic. Both boys are 15 years old so it worked out. We had to give Brandon a ride as his parents both had to work that weekend. We didn't mind one bit.
The fall colors around here are gorgeous this year so I was able to get some photos on the way down and back home. The colors around Lodge Grass are the best especially along the creek. I had already posted these photos on my picasa site and some on facebook. The photos just didn't get the colors as I got with my own eyes. The leaves are still holding their pretty colors, but now that we are getting cooler temperatures that will change. Won't be long until the trees are bare.
Brandon and Dominic did very well at the tournament, both boys came home with nothing but gold medals. This was a small tournament so a great confidence booster for Dominic. He only competed in forms, we tried to talk him into sparring but he just wouldn't do it. He and Brandon are sparring partners in class so I think that scared him a bit as Brandon is a higher rank. We tried to convince Dominic that he will only compete kids at his level.
Brandon competed in weapons and sparring. It was a small tournament so we got done early. Also we had to get Brandon back home as he had to play in the band later that night.
I just have to get the photo of the boys in the paper. This time of year we get bumped because of school sports. I just have to keep on it.
We only had two students compete and they were Brandon our grandson and another boy Dominic. Both boys are 15 years old so it worked out. We had to give Brandon a ride as his parents both had to work that weekend. We didn't mind one bit.
The fall colors around here are gorgeous this year so I was able to get some photos on the way down and back home. The colors around Lodge Grass are the best especially along the creek. I had already posted these photos on my picasa site and some on facebook. The photos just didn't get the colors as I got with my own eyes. The leaves are still holding their pretty colors, but now that we are getting cooler temperatures that will change. Won't be long until the trees are bare.
Brandon and Dominic did very well at the tournament, both boys came home with nothing but gold medals. This was a small tournament so a great confidence booster for Dominic. He only competed in forms, we tried to talk him into sparring but he just wouldn't do it. He and Brandon are sparring partners in class so I think that scared him a bit as Brandon is a higher rank. We tried to convince Dominic that he will only compete kids at his level.
Brandon competed in weapons and sparring. It was a small tournament so we got done early. Also we had to get Brandon back home as he had to play in the band later that night.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Blog Negligence
It was pointed out to me last week that my Grandmother has missed my blogging and that I am behind on keeping the family posted on the news.
In my defense I have been super busy. So I will try my best to keep up to date.
September we went on the Yellowstone Park Ride with an overnight stay in Chico. The first time we went on this ride was two years ago and the weather was awful, pouring down rain all day long. Couldn't enjoy anything. The route two years ago took us over Beartooth Pass and we entered the park through Cooke City.
This year we had great weather, nice and sunny. The route this year we went to Cody for breakfast and then made our way to the east entrance. There were about 30 of us in the group, had a fun ride to Cody. As we left Billings we took the River Road route to Laurel and had to avoid turkeys. Then about 10 miles out of Cody a fox ran across the road in front of our leader and a couple feet up the road a coyote was sitting on the side. He was hard to see as he blended in with the weeds and such. We ate breakfast at Cassies. We were too large a group to sit together so we were spread out all over, but they did a good job getting us seated and served.
As we entered through the east gate, pulled over to regroup and take off some layers, it had warmed up quite a bit. We made our way to Old Faithful. We couldn't all park together so we got separated here. Had great timing, we only had to wait about 30 minutes before the eruption. We couldn't find the main group and had no clue where they were. Lesson learned get the plan before stopping. The group we were in made it to our bikes and we waited and waited. Figured that somehow the others are ahead of us, we know where our end point is so we made our way to Gardner. Didn't see anyone so we waited at the gas station in Gardiner for 30 minutes and still no one. The guys decided to head on to Chico, took a back road into Chico and it was very scenic. Saw an eagle sitting on the rocks above us.
Our group was the first ones to arrive in Chico and we got there around 5:30 pm. Got checked in and then we waited for the others. They were about an hour and a half behind us. Like I said lesson learned get the plan before stopping and find a gathering spot. Everyone made it safe and sound. The fires around Livingston didn't bother us, but you could sure see and smell the smoke.
Had a great time in Chico, enjoyed the warm waters in the pools after a long day of riding. We ate supper in the bar and Gary and I split a whole order of ribs. They were sure good. Every weekend the Chico bar has live music so we got to enjoy good music. The group was based out of Bozeman and called Six Strings Down. Rumor had it that the lead singer is a grammy winner.
Sunday morning we ate breakfast in Gardiner, which is not an easy thing to do. Most eating establishments are closed and don't open early. We ended up eating breakfast in a bar. It was good, but we had to get our own coffee and silverware. This time we rode through Lamar Valley and out at Cooke City.
We got into Red Lodge around 2:00 in the afternoon. Most of the group went to the brewery to eat, but we decided to just head on home. Had a great time and we already made reservations for next year.
In my defense I have been super busy. So I will try my best to keep up to date.
September we went on the Yellowstone Park Ride with an overnight stay in Chico. The first time we went on this ride was two years ago and the weather was awful, pouring down rain all day long. Couldn't enjoy anything. The route two years ago took us over Beartooth Pass and we entered the park through Cooke City.
This year we had great weather, nice and sunny. The route this year we went to Cody for breakfast and then made our way to the east entrance. There were about 30 of us in the group, had a fun ride to Cody. As we left Billings we took the River Road route to Laurel and had to avoid turkeys. Then about 10 miles out of Cody a fox ran across the road in front of our leader and a couple feet up the road a coyote was sitting on the side. He was hard to see as he blended in with the weeds and such. We ate breakfast at Cassies. We were too large a group to sit together so we were spread out all over, but they did a good job getting us seated and served.
As we entered through the east gate, pulled over to regroup and take off some layers, it had warmed up quite a bit. We made our way to Old Faithful. We couldn't all park together so we got separated here. Had great timing, we only had to wait about 30 minutes before the eruption. We couldn't find the main group and had no clue where they were. Lesson learned get the plan before stopping. The group we were in made it to our bikes and we waited and waited. Figured that somehow the others are ahead of us, we know where our end point is so we made our way to Gardner. Didn't see anyone so we waited at the gas station in Gardiner for 30 minutes and still no one. The guys decided to head on to Chico, took a back road into Chico and it was very scenic. Saw an eagle sitting on the rocks above us.
Our group was the first ones to arrive in Chico and we got there around 5:30 pm. Got checked in and then we waited for the others. They were about an hour and a half behind us. Like I said lesson learned get the plan before stopping and find a gathering spot. Everyone made it safe and sound. The fires around Livingston didn't bother us, but you could sure see and smell the smoke.
Had a great time in Chico, enjoyed the warm waters in the pools after a long day of riding. We ate supper in the bar and Gary and I split a whole order of ribs. They were sure good. Every weekend the Chico bar has live music so we got to enjoy good music. The group was based out of Bozeman and called Six Strings Down. Rumor had it that the lead singer is a grammy winner.
Sunday morning we ate breakfast in Gardiner, which is not an easy thing to do. Most eating establishments are closed and don't open early. We ended up eating breakfast in a bar. It was good, but we had to get our own coffee and silverware. This time we rode through Lamar Valley and out at Cooke City.
We got into Red Lodge around 2:00 in the afternoon. Most of the group went to the brewery to eat, but we decided to just head on home. Had a great time and we already made reservations for next year.
Friday, September 7, 2012
My Dream
This is my dream. Since I have my motorcycle endorsement I want to be able to ride and Gary won't take me out. He did once and that was at the school parking lot. This is the Harley Davidson Dyna Switchback. Have to save my pennies or win big in Vegas.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
End of Summer
Hard to believe that summer is over and we are headed into fall. We did quite a few road trips for people who weren't going anywhere this summer.
In June we went to Deadwood for the annual Gambler's Run with our HOG Chapter. As usual ran into rain on the first day as we were headed to Deadwood, but this year had beautiful weather for the rest of our stay. This year I won the "leather" coat that is always given away on this ride. That was not the case, I ended up with two cloth coats. I wasn't going to pay for something that I "won".
We did several poker runs this summer, two runs took us over the Beartooth and Chief Joseph highways. Gary won best poker hand on one of the rides and he won a $150 gift card to the Harley dealership.
Had the big 3/4 of a century celebration for my Mom in Meeteetse in July. Had a great time with family. All three of my kids were together which had been 5 years since they were all here. The end of July Gary and I went to Deadwood for a weekend get away. Didn't win any money but had a good time. This time we played tourist and got to see some of the Deadwood sights.
We did make a quick trip to Idaho Falls when we took Robert's motorcycle from Meeteetse to Idaho Falls.
Now we are gearing up for our fall and winter trips. In November we are going to Las Vegas and in January the three of us are going to Hawaii.
In June we went to Deadwood for the annual Gambler's Run with our HOG Chapter. As usual ran into rain on the first day as we were headed to Deadwood, but this year had beautiful weather for the rest of our stay. This year I won the "leather" coat that is always given away on this ride. That was not the case, I ended up with two cloth coats. I wasn't going to pay for something that I "won".
We did several poker runs this summer, two runs took us over the Beartooth and Chief Joseph highways. Gary won best poker hand on one of the rides and he won a $150 gift card to the Harley dealership.
Had the big 3/4 of a century celebration for my Mom in Meeteetse in July. Had a great time with family. All three of my kids were together which had been 5 years since they were all here. The end of July Gary and I went to Deadwood for a weekend get away. Didn't win any money but had a good time. This time we played tourist and got to see some of the Deadwood sights.
We did make a quick trip to Idaho Falls when we took Robert's motorcycle from Meeteetse to Idaho Falls.
Now we are gearing up for our fall and winter trips. In November we are going to Las Vegas and in January the three of us are going to Hawaii.
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