global warming = crazy weather

Deadly Tornadoes Slam Colo., Wyo.

(Charlie Riedel/AP Photo)

Yesterday, Colorado and Wyoming experienced some crazy weather.

The sky was black all day and anyone could has mistaken the time of day to be late evening. Around 1, it began raining very hard, and the tornado warnings were popping up on weather.com. Not long after that, the tornado sirens began sounding, and I called Jason to run to where I work since our apartment is on the 2nd floor of a house and has no basement access. He came, soaking wet upon arrival. Just minutes after he arrived, the wind really began howling and hail the size of golf balls began falling so thick that it felt as though you were staring at a solid wall.

I suppose that is when the tornado touched down in Laramie and wreaked most of its havoc, hitting East Laramie hardest. It tore of roofs, trees, fences, and damaged houses, schools, WalMart and some businesses. Power was out to about half the town, too.

Johnny called me from his school to tell me that their parking lot had flooded and the water was about to reach the doors to his car. He was able to move his car to higher ground, although some of his classmates with lowered cars weren't so lucky and the floors of their cars were filled with water. He said they stayed in their building with the power off for quite some time and that the hail pounding the steel roof of the building was pretty deafening.

After the worst of it passed, we stayed in the building I work in through a few more tornado warnings and finally went home at 3:30 (the University of Wyoming, where I work, was cancelled for the day at that point but open for shelter) when the warnings were reduced to tornado watch. After that, it rained and stormed some more (Harley really does not like thunder but kitty could care less) and it even snowed last night!

that was our crazy day! Today it's sunny with blue sky and puffy white clouds, although I hear that we're in for some more severe thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight.

You can read an article about the storms and see some pictures HERE and HERE. Also, CNN.com has some crazy footage of the massive tornado that touched down in Colorado.

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In better news, this long weekend Johnny and I are going on a road trip! Our primary goal is to go to Mt. Rushmore, but we're making several stops along the way, some of them being: Carhenge in Nebraska, The Mammoth Site, Wind Caves, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Bear Country USA, Big Thunder Gold Mine, Jewel Cave, and the Oregon Trail (we haven't yet decided where to stop).

stay tuned for a wrap-up of our trip!

So, if you didn't know, I was offered a permanent position at the University of Wyoming. The position at the Art Museum is temporary through nearly the end of November (which is sad because I really like it there), and I will then move to the Office of General Counsel at the University of Wyoming. I'm going to be the Senior Office Assistant for the two attorneys and the office in general, occasionally helping with the VP and his assistant. I'm excited because the people are all very nice and welcoming and I'm going to be exposed to a very interesting work environment. I definitely think I'm going to be kept busy and enjoy the position. I hope I can still help out at the Art Museum still, as a volunteer maybe.

Yesterday I made this type of apple pie called Rustic Caramel Apple Tart.

here you go:

It was SO GOOD. I decided I am going to make them for Thanksgiving.





Prep: 20 min + 30+ min chilling
Bake: 25 min

DOUGH
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold butter
6 1/2 teaspoons cold water
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

FILLING
1 1/2 cups chopped peeled tart applies (one large apple does the trick)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon all purpose flour

TOPPING
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping, warmed

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add water and vanilla, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 10 inch circle. Transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. (I didn't do this, just put it on a non stick baking pan). Combine the filling ingredients;, spoon over pastry to within 2 inches of edges. Fold up edges of pastry over filling, leaving center uncovered. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over filling.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. Using parchment paper, slide tart onto a wire rack (I just used a spatula since I didn't use the parchment paper). Drizzle with caramel topping. Serve warm.

Yield: 4 servings.

nutrition facts: 1 slice equals 286 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 226mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 3g protein.

SO GOOD


Speaking of Thanksgiving, we'll be going to visit Aunt Sherry! yay! AND, Meghan and Nick are flying in from Seattle and we're going to have another Thanksgiving with them! WOO!

The best thing about Wyoming: blue skies nearly everyday. LOVE IT!

Tonight Johnny and I decided to study up on how to take pictures of the night sky and we went out and took a few shots. We just stayed on our street because it was so cold (11 degrees!!). Next weekend we are going to the local park and maybe to the only hill in town to take a few.

SNOW! It started around 5ish yesterday I think and stopped for a bit overnight and started up again. It's supposed to snow another 5-8 inches tonight!! then clear M-W I believe and more snow???

We got up at 7 to go to the park and take a few pictures. I need to figure out what to do to keep my camera dry. I just put a plastic bag over it and ripped a hole for the lens. haha.


























I bought myself some flowers last week for getting a job. haha. :P They sure are pretty though! And they've lasted the whole week, which is a record for me.



this is done by turning the lens while clicking the shutter (Katie (Johnny's cousin for those of you who don't know) taught me that wayyyyyy long ago.


Speaking of the job, it's going pretty well. I'm helping in the museum's administrative department but mostly with the development department with planning the Art Museum's fundraising gala. It's a black tie event and over 400 people are going to be coming! I'm pretty excited for it.

well, I think I'll go take some more pictures outside, stay tuned!

SNOW!!!

Johnny and I were watching the Denver news this morning and it's snowing there, so just before Johnny was about to leave for work, I decided to peek out the window and see if it was snowing, and it is!

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!

I think Wyoming has the strangest weather, because Friday it was sunny and 70. lol!

Anyways, that's my update for the morning. I made Johnny take my car just in case...although it seems like it's going to melt as the day goes on.

Yesterday my friend Lauren and I went to Fort Collins. She got a tattoo so I was her support, haha. Then we went to Chipotle, YAY! I also picked up some fabrics to make another purse (well, or a few purses haha) and two GRE study prep books and a digital photography book. We endured thunder and lightning the whole time we were there and on the way back to Laramie, it really sucked and it was quite scary. A few times the lightning struck right above or in front of us! It was difficult to see the road at times and we had to slow down considerably. Also, the roads in Fort Collins quickly flooded along the sides of the roads, it was pretty amazing!

The digital photography book is awesome! I totally want to spend all day reading it and not studying for the GRE...but I need to study for the GRE....The recommended studying time is 4-12 weeks, and my test is in 4 weeks...haha.

fabrics...





that is all!

OH! I haven't figured out how to reply to your comments yet...does anyone know how?