Back in the Game

Hi Everyone!

It has been awhile since my last post, but trust me I have some really great summer Nick memories to share with you all.

One of the most recent experiences I had with Nick really shows off his edgy side. I felt terrible because I convinced Nick to go trail riding with me, but forgot to check the trails for debris and fallen logs. He typically is not a fan of off-roading. From experience, he knows that I often lead him into what he considers danger.

Long story short, Nick and I ended up having to leave the beaten path several times encountering brush, hanging vines, steep embankments, and massive fallen trees. At first he was very upset with me, but it was not long after that he was hollering, "YEEEEEE HAWWWW, I'm Zorro" at the top of his lungs!

I'm so proud of Nick for embracing the challenge that fell into his lap. We can all learn from Nick and remember to take life in stride when unexpected events occur.

Spring Fever

For all of you horsey people out there, the riding season (the enjoyable part where we don't freeze our butts off) seems to finally be upon us! Nick and I have been doing lots of work around the farm and attempting to get the fury beasts back into shape. It truly is a breath of fresh air!

Nick says he's looking forward to volunteering at the spring horse shows again this year. Last spring, I was not ready to compete due to my late return from college, therefore, we enjoyed helping out at the shows. However, this spring I have every intention of competing. I am hoping my incredible groom will find some time to spend with his sister at the events. His enormous friends group gives me the feeling that I may not see him until the weekend is over haha. The independence he portrays is that of a true horseman.

I will keep everyone updated on both Nick's and my show schedules this year!

Check out the pic below of Nick and I jump judging at Otter Creek Farm last spring!

Werewolves among us!

You know that ever familiar feeling that creeps up on you on a Friday?; the one that says you have worked your butt off all week and it's time to go out, get wild, and do something fun! Well, Nick gets that too except his idea of a great night is a LOT cooler than other people’s perception of a picture perfect Friday.

Don't get me wrong, Nick is just like any other twenty five year old man that wants to show off and impress the ladies, although he does this in a much more creative way. No joke, last week Nick asked me to make him look like a werewolf before he went out. "YES! I thought silently, “This was finally my chance to do Nick's hair without him yelling, Stop! I am not a girl!" I obviously took full advantage of the situation. This is how his hair turned out (And yes, I screenshotted my snap chat; I was impressed he let me do his hair in the first place!).

He thought it was werewolf enough. I mean he did run around howling and leaping through the streets, so I assume the hairdo sufficed. Later, I asked if I could shave the sides and make him a "permanent werewolf". "No! Just one time," he yelled. I sadly gave in and agreed. I mean I could always do it in his sleep right (KIDDING)? 

Seeing beyond the Curtain

It is 10:00 pm and Nick, mom, and I just walked in the door from our trip to the Capital in Madison today. It was an absolutely exhausting day, and yet incredibly empowering as well; this is why I simply could not resist sharing with everyone what I learned today.

As some of you know, Wisconsin offers a program for the elderly and disabled residents which provides long term care in a self-directed manner. This program has proved to be highly successful and I have watched, first hand, the benefits it can provide participants. Because of IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct), Nick has been able to participate in many activities in the community. He has been able to choose his own staff and have transportation when other family members were unable to drive him places. Most importantly, he has been able to live at home with his family & animals on the ranch he loves so dearly.

But now, with Walker's proposed budget cuts, the entire program is in jeopardy of becoming completely eradicated. The information regarding what will replace the non-profit program is very unclear. However, there has been talk of Insurance companies aligning with the state government to turn the not-for-profit into a for-profit operation. An option,such as this,will cost more money in tax payer dollars while quality care is decreased. The largest question for many is why a successful program that is currently saving tax payer dollars by keeping participants in the home (instead of expensive nursing/group homes) even belongs in the budget cut proposal. These are huge concerns for the disabled and elderly community and questions that remain unanswered even after our trip the capital today (Boulton 1)!

IRIS is a very sought after program because it encourages participants to "Self-direct" or make decisions that best suit their lifestyle and needs. Today, I witnessed a young adult with cerebral palsy crying with the thought of having to return to a nursing home. I witnessed physically disabled individuals dealing with the emotional distress that they may lose ALL (or what little support they receive) when the proposal goes through. I heard stories of people from all walks of life. How are these people supposed to work to support themselves and receive the care they need?  What will happen to these people and their quality of life? The same cry was echoed through the capital from IRIS participants, family members, and advocates alike stating how IRIS has improved the quality of life [of participants] by providing an independence that has never been experienced before with any other program. Many of us take for granted our ability to choose when we get up in the morning, what we do that day, when we eat, and when we will go to bed. Not all people have this option, especially those requiring care. IRIS provides people with the ability to make these sorts of decisions for themselves. Can you imagine how empowering this must feel!?

After a long day of meetings with senators and legislative representatives, many questions have yet to be answered. The grey areas are vast and only one thing is clear; the budget cut currently proposes that the IRIS program will become obsolete. That is the one true fact we have been given. After spending a day speaking with Senators, I have realized how uninformed many of them are on the negative impacts the removal of this program will have on thousands of people’s lives (Survival Coalition). It is our job, as people with voices, to STAND UP and help those who do not. We can do this by writing letters to our senators, governor, and newspapers. We need to inform the people of Wisconsin that our most vulnerable people are being threatened. Remember these unique individuals did not choose this life, but it was the life they were given. Together, we can create a loud enough voice that the Capital simply cannot ignore.

Please comment below or contact me for more information.

Sources Cited:

Boulton, Guy. "Gov. Walker Proposes Overhaul of Wisconsin's Long-term Care Program." Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel (2015): n. pag. Web. 17 Mar. 2015. <http://www.jsonline.com/business/gov-walker-proposes-overhaul-of-wisconsins-long-term-care-program-b99453054z1-295281591.html>.

Survival Coalition. Survival Coalition Press Release. Madison: 13 March. 2015. Print. http://www.survivalcoalitionwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Disability-Advocacy-Day-Presser.pdf

Flying Without Limits

Nick and I had a movie night yesterday and were laughing as we remembered a very special trip we took together last July. It was for my cousin, Andrew's, high school graduation party in New York. I remember Nick being particularly excited to attend the party because it meant NO PARENTS. He lives and breathes to be his own "boss" and what a great opportunity to do so 1000 miles across the country.

My uncle very generously purchased our plane tickets and in return we were to drive his pickup truck from New York to a place in Minnesota where it would receive some custom work. This was a solid 4 days of Allie and Nick time. There was just so much room for something crazy to go down.

However, the funniest part of the trip for me took place on the initial flight out. The takeoff was pretty typical, Nick style. His eyes twinkled like a kid on Christmas as he reached his hands straight out and yelled "Superman". This was normal for me. I laughed my butt off as the people around us just stared. If those people thought Nick's take off procedures were strange, they were truly in for a surprise with his landing protocol.

Two and half hours later, the seat belt light came on and the flight attendants asked all customers to remain seated as we were descending for landing. This naturally was the opportune moment for Nick to decide he needed to go to the bathroom. He, of course, worked his charm and convinced the flight attendant to let him leave his seat as long as he agreed to be quick. I personally knew “quick" was not in Nick's vocabulary, but he seemed like he could NOT wait.

About 15 minutes went by and Nick was STILL in the bathroom. Seriously, by this point we were "coming in hot" and I could see roof tops and predict the speeds of the cars zooming down the highway.  I was slightly in panic mode imagining Nick getting crushed in the bathroom upon landing or even worse his fecal matter ejecting itself upon the walls. People were looking back in their seats saying "Oh my God! There's someone in the bathroom! Someone needs to do something!" Which was funny, because of all the terrible things that could go wrong on an airplane, this whole bathroom thing was really getting people in a tizzy. Perhaps they were all from Utah and had limited access to the news which would explain their lack of imagination as to "what could happen on an airplane" (the news does do a great job terrifying infrequent flyers with these scenarios). 

Suddenly, I realized we were maybe 1 minute from landing. The wheels were dropping and the runway was in sight. Then, when everyone least expected, Nick flung the bathroom door open, marched down the aisle, buckled his seat belt, just as the wheels touched the ground, never missing a beat. The tension in the air was silenced and our fellow flyers all took a deep breath. I burst out laughing because only in my world did these things happen. "Nick time" happened to be the perfect timing today. I couldn't have asked for a better travel partner.

Princess gone Bad witch

Hello Everyone!!

I am so sorry that I have been depriving you of the abundance of Nick stories that simply must be told. My life has turned out to be much busier than anticipated post graduation, and Nick will be the first person to agree with this statement.  Between working over an hour from home, riding, traveling, pursuing side business endeavors, and my sad attempt at a social life, I have not been home much. Nick has made it quite clear that I am in the DOG HOUSE (which is new for me).

Anyone who knows my family will tell you that, in Nick's eyes, I am the Princess. Without fail, every night before bed, Nick Knocks on my door and says, "Princess, do you need anything?"  Like I said, I am literally the Princess and the luckiest girl in the world for it. It has been like  this since I was a little girl and our poor younger brother often took the brunt of it . For example, when  I was feeling mischievous (my nice way of putting it) I would send Nick to do my dirty work ( aka take baby bro down ). What a nice sister, right? I like to think I have grown up since then. But, it shows how lucky I am to have an older brother who would literally do anything for me (sorry Jake). I could do no wrong in Nick's eyes.

However, times are a-changin and my title has been given to someone else (I'm only slightly jealous... Ok super jealous). This person knows who she is and happens to be one of my best friends. Since I have been gone so frequently, Mikayla has been spending a lot of time with Nick...enough time to earn her the PRINCESS title . That's a HUGE deal you know.

 I'm still laughing  about the public announcement Nick made addressing my demotion. We were all sitting around the lunch table  when Nick looked at Mikayla and said, "Water,  Princess?" Before Mikayla could respond he whipped his head towards me and  grumbled "You can get your own water , bad witch !" And just like that, I became the bad witch. Guess I need to step up my game! There's enough room for two Princesses, right?!