It's been too long

Hello Everyone! It's been too long since I have updated the blog so here it goes. Things have been going well for us here. It's been up and down for me, but Jon remains extremely happy with school and his now part-time job as a cook at The Bunkhouse in Valentine, NE. He ended his spring semester with a 4.0 gpa- awesome! He also took classes this summer and also got...wait for it... a 4.0. He's doing amazing in school and really enjoying his classes. Like I mentioned, he got a part-time job in Valentine as a cook. He really like his bosses and his fellow employees. It's a cute little place right on main street. It's always busy, so time goes by pretty fast.

Work has kept me busy and stressed. I am hoping now the worst is over and we are moving towards some peace, but until then, I remain on edge with my job. The government has yet to select my application for loan repayment, so I impatiently wait for that to go through. Jon and I have had to begin thinking about what we wil do if that doesn't go through as this is a major reason behind us moving to South Dakota.

On a brighter note, my mom, grandma and sister came to visit up this summer and we headed to Rapid City. We saw Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Bear Country among other things. We had a wonderful time and I hope for more memories like that! Jon and I ran a half-marathon in Deadwood the following weekend. The Black Hills are beautiful and we both ran a good race. It was cool visiting historic Deadwood. The pace is a never ending tourist attraction, but it's still an awesome place to visit.

The dogs are doing well and have remained free of snake bites. To be honest, I still haven't crossed paths with any slimy creatures, but Jon has seen a few snakes (one rattler). I'll leave all snake sightings to him.

We bought an above ground pool for the summer, so when the SD winds give us a break and its warm enough, you'll find the Plymesser clan outside floating in our pool. I love it and am very glad we splurged and bought it for ourselves. Nothing like a relaxing float to take the edge off from a long day at work. Jon still cares for some lawns in our hood so when he is all finished mowing, a dip in the pool is just what the doctor ordered.

I hope this message finds everyone well. Keep your thoughts positive in our direction, we surely need it. I would hate to think we came all this way to not accomplish what we came here to do.

Missing you all!
Jillian and Jon

Spring is a coming....Maybe?

Hello! It has been awhile since my last post, but I am gere to tell you this lady has been busy! Work has kept me hopping for the last few months, but it's time to slow down and enjoy the weather....maybe.

Let's start with Jon for once. Jon is doing AMAZING in school. Besides the fact that he loves it, he is the best in all of his classes. Yes, this is my "I hate school" husband who is top of his class! He has great relationships with his teachers and is really succeeding! I guess going to school when you want to really does make a difference.

He is currently on the job hunt. For those of you who knew, he had a brief stint at McDonald's in Valetine, NE but quit after having multiple run-in's with a certain employee who terrorized Jon. In Jon's words "He was a douche bag" (Again readers, these were his words--not mine) We are really considering starting a business up here. Not only for a benefit to us and a project for Jon but also to benefit the community.

We are considering starting a thrift store and are beginning work on a business plan to present to the tribal council. They are the rulers up here. We were told they may even give us a loan to get started. I think the idea of traveling around to get great finds sounds like fun- plus it gives Jon a place to go and something to do that is better than cleaning the house. (Don't get me wrong, a house husband is the way to go ladies)

My job... Yes, I still like it a lot. We are going through a rough patch at work with some patient care issues that came about. I am positive this wil lead to only great things for me and for the hospital. I have recahrged my go-getiveness and have thrown out nurmerous ideas to advance my career and help the hospital/community. We hope to get over to the Winnebago rez or into the Omaha VA after our tour is done here, so anything I can do to enhance the hospital will help. Besides, the community here deserves better than what they get sometimes....

If all that sounds too cryptic here are some details... I am working with management on skin care issues and have already got them to order a line of skin care products that I specifically requested. I am hoping that they will put me through Wound, Ostomy and Continence Certification in the next few months. I would then become the "wound team" for the hospital making recommendations to docs regarding the care of patients with skin care concerns.

Also, I am hoping to become lamaze certified and begin teaching both lamaze and parenting classes. It is one area the rez could really use. I would like to get out into the community to make a difference and this could be it!

The weather up here is crazy...one minute 70 degrees...the next a snowstorm so blistery you can't go outside. Although, I think the snow is gone now and we are headed toward spring in full force. That brings good and BAD things. Lets start with the good: canoeing, tubing, pow-wows, 1/2 marathons in the black hills, deadwood and mt rushomore, trips to Rapid City, stargazing with the most famous astromers in August....Lots of really cool things. BAD things....Rattlesnakes, wind, bull snakes, wind, Rattlesnakes, wind, Snakes, Snakes, Snakes, Snakes, Snakes. I am frightened.

The doggies are doing well. They are enjoying their fenced in yard and actually prefer to spend a lot of time out there. They are stinky, dirty dogs. Don't get me wrong, they would never sleep outside or anything like that, but they love being out. There is a female mastiff (my boss's dog) named Josie and I can't wait for them to meet this spring. I will post the pictures. Eli finally meeting somone his own size! Bailey continues to boss Eli around and it works for them.

Our house sold...finally! I will be so happy to be done with all of that and be able to move on. It closed yesterday, so once oll the final bills and such come around we can be done. I think next summer we will move to Winner, SD to live in a town. They have great little houses there sold for anywhere around 30-50K. It's a little less than 1 hour from Rosebud, but I think it will make a HUGE difference in our life. It will be less work/home and more about a life. They have a "School bus" that picks up people from Winner and takes them to Sinte Gleska University so Jon could take the bus!

I think this will be the end for now. I am sure I could rattle on (on my, did I just say RATTLE?) for awhile. I am tired and this is my only day off this week so I better enjoy it. Jon's 31st birthday is Friday, April 17 so we went to Valentine last nigt for dinner and grocery shopping! I know, crazy right?

We love you all! We miss you all terribly! We are doing just fine up here, but would love being home close to all of you if we could!

XOXO

Team Plymesser

Welcome February!

Hello and greetings from South Dakota!

Life here continues to be good for us. I am still loving my job, I assisted in delivering 9 babies over the past week. It's amazing to see a new life enter this world. I love giving the babes their first bath and introducing them to their moms for the first time. I really enjoy coaching the younger moms through labor. It's a hard thing to grasp when you are 18, but they come through in the end.

Jon has been attending school for a few weeks and is still as motivated as ever. I have never seen the man be so organized. He's almost like a different person! I am so proud! He tells me so many funny stories about class. He says many of his fellow classmates bring their children to class and some have even brought friends. What in the heck? This last week he had two classes cancelled due to founders week, but he missed out on the joy you get when class is cancelled because he drove the 15 miles to get there and there was no note. Apparently they announce these things on the radio here. Who knew?

The dogs are adjusting well, but hate their tie outs. I do too- every morning we have to go out and untangle the dumb things just to watch the dogs wrap them right back up. We bought our fencing supplies this past week so we are looking forward to getting that up right away. We are also purchasing one ton of hay from a local farm to help seed this backyard. It is mainly dirt and the dogs drag in so much of it with each bathroom break!

We are still waiting for cable tv. Direct TV failed to arrive for our last installation date due to "no equipment" and "no installer" How in the world does a company not have any equipment? So now we wait. February 6th is the new date. I am not holding my breath!

Our house in Omaha has yet to sell. We have had two pretty sad offers up until this point. We tried to negotiate with one couple, but it appears they had a set price in mind and refused to negotiate any further. What is sad is the house is so great and whoever buys it is getting a great deal. I can't let it get to me right now. I swear I have an ulcer coming on.

Jon is still looking for a part-time job. Jobs around here are hard to come by- especially with Indian Preference. He has expanded his search to Valentine. Keep your fingers crossed...

We hope everything is going well for you. We will be back in Omaha soon. Looking forward to visiting with everyone and eating a crap load of fast food.

XOXO Jon, Jill, Bailey and Eli

It's cold out here!

Jon's man cave

Laundry area

More Man Cave

Stairs to basement

Master Bath

Master BR

More Master

Hall Bath

Kitchen

Dining Room

Entry

Living Room

Beautful Sunset

Rosebud

Rosebud

Hello everyone! When I woke up this morning, our handy temperature gage told me it was -20 degrees Fahrenheit. That's cold!

I wanted to attach some pictures of our house here in Rosebud. The government provides us with some pretty decent housing for a nice price. I can't complain. However, I can worry myself to death about rattlesnakes- or just snakes in general. This area (especially where we live) is home to many a snake species. I do not like snakes- never have. I especially do not like snakes that have the potential to kill me because they are afraid of me. I have been doing my research regarding snake prevention and hope to get started as early as I can to hope I never meet up with slithery slimy snake. Wish me luck and any advice would be appreciated.

I hope this post finds you well. We are doing well here. Really liking it! We went to Winner, SD yesterday to pick up a package at the UPS warehouse. This extremely customer service friendly facility is open from 5:30 to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. Can you believe that? I hope you get a laugh from those hours! Oh yes, and we dined in at Pizza Hut. When was the last time you dined it at a Pizza hut? Do the words "Book It" ring a bell to anyone???

My job is still going well and Jon is really pumped for school. Just ask him about his basic math course. He can't wait! He will be taking intro to Lakota language and he already started reading the book. It's so exciting to see him so pumped. I sent in my Loan Repayment Paperwork, so cross your fingers that they approve me!

I should go, we are planning a trip to Rapid City tomorrow so I need to do some map plotting.

XOXO
Jillian

Life on the reservation Part I

Greetings from South Dakota!

As I mentioned in our last post, we were lucky enough to have movers to pack us. When we arrived up here in Rosebud, after our caravan was pulled over for speeding, our belongings were already in our home. We were left with the task of unpacking. Oh what fun!

We met the task of unpacking with much energy and tackled most of the house the first night. Saturday, we made a trip to Valentine for groceries and some other items. At this point our dogs were still unsure of why our things ended up in this strange house. They also questioned the yard and why they had to go out on leashes. They have since come around to the res.

I started work and am happy to report I love it! The hospital has such a family and small town vibe, exactly what I wanted. I will be working as an inpatient nurse caring for OB, Labor and Delivery, Pediatric and Medical/Surgical patients. I will also take call and occasional float to ER/OR. Everyone has been so welcoming and I really have a good feeling about it!

Jon got up to Sinte Gleska and registered for his first semester of school! He is so excited and was also met with the same family atmosphere. As I mentioned before, Jon is pursuing his secondary education degree. While waiting for the semester to start, Jon has played house-husband perfectly. He has breakfast ready before work and dinner when I arrive home. He cooks, cleans and does the shopping. What more can a working girl ask for? However, this will come to an end when he begins class and has homework to do.

Back to the dogs....They have met a few of the "pack" dogs in the neighborhood. Bailey's response is typical Bailey- bark. Eli, however, who only wants them to be his friend scares the living daylights out of these dogs. This is lucky for us. They have adjusted to the yard situation and seem to actually like the new digs.

We have some other animals that frequent our neighborhood including: Buffalo, Deer and some sort of quail-like bird. So far, we haven't met anyone but the deer face-to-face, but the buffalo leave a nice, large treat after their visit.

Lastly, let me tell you about the fine delicacy were we lucky enough to eat today. Indian Tacos! These things are awesome. Even better is how you get them... You drive into "town" where a lady, appropriately named "Taco Lady", drives her red and white bus named "Taco Bus" and parks. You approach this full-sized bus where you order is taken, money exchanged and then return to your car for her "signal" to return and get your items. Let me just say- this experience is awesome and the tacos are even better.

Enjoy some pictures from the res. I am looking forward to posting more soon.

XOXO

Jon and Jill