What Happened to Spring?

About 5 am this morning, the snow started to pound here in Sioux Falls and by mid day, we were down to flurries. In the short seven hours, we officially accumulated just under 5 inches of snow, but temperatures above freezing have already begun to work on the snow pack. I am looking forward to the 50s this coming weekend!

Attack of the Tumbleweeds!

Spring in South Dakota is chalk full of windy days. While you can't capture the wind in a picture, I can show you its effects. In a scene that looks like something from Montana (or the western high plains), I found tumbleweeds all over my yard today. At least the fence in the back yard served its purpose and they didn't make it into the fenced portions (but they sure tried).

Also, notice in the pictures you can see grass!! It is very exciting to see my yard for the first time since December. The view of the yard won't stick around though, more snow is on the way tomorrow night into Monday (what else would it do on my day off?).

Back in the Air!

Where did the February go? It sure seems like winter around here, with over half my yard covered in snow and more on the way this upcoming week (sigh).


Over the past few weeks, I have been traveling around the upper midwest speaking at various saftey seminars. On March 1st, I spoke in Janesville, WI to the Wisconsin Balloon Group. It was great to get back to Wisconsin, despite all their snow (and pot holes). After the talk, I got to spend the night with my family. Before I flew out on my flight on Sunday morning, we toured the Jelly Belly factory just south of Milwaukee. The best part of the tour was the free bag of jelly bellies (Yum).
Kelly and Ashley giving me the look wondering why I brought my camera to PF Changs (YUM).



My mom and my sister sporting their Jelly Belly hats.

Of course, all good things must come to an end and I had to head back to South Dakota sooner than I wanted. My flight into the Twin Cities was good, but I got bumped from my flight. To make a long story short, I ended up spending a lot more time in the Minneapolis airport than I wanted (insert joke here). For future information, if you get stranded in Minneapolis on a long layover, there is a train/tram that will take you to the Mall of America fro 1.50 (can't beat it). Unfortunately, I didn't find this out otherwise I would have headed out and about (not to mention it was a Sunday night).

I ended up arriving back in Sioux Falls in the wee hours of the morning on Monday. This made for a very short night and only set the stage for a strange Monday. When I got home from work, I attempted to check my e-mail but the internet was down. I ended up making a cake for work, and while the cake was baking this is what I saw outside my window...





What the...




For some reason, Novak was trying to turn my neighborhood into a land fill. While the driver made a lame attempt to clean up the trash he dumped, there was just enough wind to blow the trash around the neighborhood. Fortunately, they came back the next day to remove the broken glass...



I spoke at the Iowa Balloonist Association/ Balloons Over Iowa safety seminar on March 7th. It was great to get down there and see all my old friends again. At the seminar I was honored as the newsletter contributor of the year, and also won the crew of the year. Thanks to everyone who has crewed for me over the past two years! I really appreciate all your help!

Some of the gang hanging out at the bar after the seminar.

Kari posing for the camera.

Speaking of ballooning, I made another road trip this past weekend to find drier conditions in hopes of flying. I headed south, and made a two hour flight out of Hartington, NE. I am now singed off to solo again, with hopes of working towards my license by early this summer. Stay tuned....

There were A LOT of livestock and a little bit of thermal activity, so I flew high much of the flight to avoid mixing with either!