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American Nightmare
Many of you have followed my husband Michael and I as we shared our story moving from Texas to Montana for his dream job. But before I jump to the dream job I would like to mention the years of work that went into him getting that job. He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Iowa, he earned a graduate certificate from Penn State, he attended and graduated from field school. He spent about 15 years working in the field and in the office, mostly in Iowa but later in Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He dug holes by hand deeper than he is tall. He toiled in the sun in 100+ degree heat with 100% humidity, cold rain, wind, and difficult terrain. He also gained backcountry experience as he and I backpacked 100 miles of the Ice Age Trail and across Isle Royale to name a few. He spent winters researching and writing extensively to document these finds. All this to say: he was distinctly qualified to serve the public in the role of an archaeologist.
He spent hours detailing his resume and applying for similar positions in various areas before being interviewed by a panel of specialists in the U.S. Forest Service. Then he was interviewed a few more times over many weeks. Then a background check was run. Next a drug test and personality test. More interviews, then finally, officially hired and given a start date. From application to starting work was 9 long months of hoping while we ached to end our life on the road following his field work around so we could settle in a little country home with plenty of room for the animals that I would obviously be bringing along or hoping to acquire.
When we arrived in March in cold snowy Montana we aggressively shopped for a home with enough space for our dreams. The real estate market here is very competitive and prices are high. We reluctantly increased our budget 3 times, while also lowering our expectations from my dream of 10 acres to eventually settling for 1.5. We made a 3 year plan to invest in the home and property then look for something better. We closed on our home in June and the same month I started working for Best Friends Animal Hospital and Urgent Care. I felt really lucky to have found a veterinary clinic so close to our out of town home, but even more excited they had a veterinary rehab program and that I would get to be a part of it.
We stayed very busy, even so I launched my dog training business, RIOTK9, in October. Then I was very pleased to get even busier. Our budget stayed tight, and I invested back into my business and home. It's hard to describe the emotional leap it was for me to start RIOTK9, but I hit the ground running and I truly hope all my clients and their dogs are better for it. I continue to work 60+ hours a week between the two jobs and I am so thankful that Michael can spend office time working from home so he can let the dogs out. Because as you know I'm also training 3 young working line dogs and have another 3 rescue dogs with goals as well and they all live in the house with us. We are working our a$$es off, but if you know us, follow me, you know we aren't complaining.
As a Field Archeologist for the U.S. Forest Service Michael helped repair historic cabins, he trained a a wildland firefighter and helped document damage after forest fires. He built an app to help the Forest track and organize data. He backpacked deep into the mountains for remote archeological digs where he lived out of a tent for days at a time in grizzly country. His education and experience come together for the good of not just the forest, but for everyone who visits it.
Fast forward to Valentine's Day 2025 when Michael's bosses, with tears in their eyes, end his employment. After 11 months of dedication to his position as a civil servant he was terminated before he could arrive out of the probationary period (1 month away!), along with some 10,000 other American workers across the country. 200k workers have been targeted and the terminations will continue. He received correspondence from the OPM telling him that he did not meet the criteria of proving his worth to the American people, and so he was terminated due to his unsatisfactory performance. Which is a complete lie and a slap in the face after he received exemplary reviews from his supervisor. He was never written up. He was never admonished. He surpassed the expectations of the position in every way.
Let's see if I can recap this... a hard working American couple put their blood, sweat, and tears into making a home for themselves with work they could enjoy and be proud of, then the rug was pulled out from under them, putting every aspect of what they have built at risk. That is us. This isn't somebody else on social media, this isn't the friend of a friend. This is us. This is us getting F#$%ed by the president.
I do not want to hear that I should stay positive, or that god has a plan, or that you thought he was only going to fire employees from the IRS.
I've got grit.
Grit doesn't pay the mortgage.
If you are going to feel something for me, for us, I think rage is the most appropriate. That is what I feel right now as I watch our American dream become an American horror story. Michael and I didn't let down the American people. The people and the president let us down, along with tens or maybe hundreds of thousands of other Americans just like us. We are not throwing in the towel, we are fighting for what we have. But we are very likely facing losing our home, my business, my day job(if we have to relocate because we lose our home) and be set back years of work and saving.
Many of you have followed my husband Michael and I as we shared our story moving from Texas to Montana for his dream job. But before I jump to the dream job I would like to mention the years of work that went into him getting that job. He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Iowa, he earned a graduate certificate from Penn State, he attended and graduated from field school. He spent about 15 years working in the field and in the office, mostly in Iowa but later in Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He dug holes by hand deeper than he is tall. He toiled in the sun in 100+ degree heat with 100% humidity, cold rain, wind, and difficult terrain. He also gained backcountry experience as he and I backpacked 100 miles of the Ice Age Trail and across Isle Royale to name a few. He spent winters researching and writing extensively to document these finds. All this to say: he was distinctly qualified to serve the public in the role of an archaeologist.
He spent hours detailing his resume and applying for similar positions in various areas before being interviewed by a panel of specialists in the U.S. Forest Service. Then he was interviewed a few more times over many weeks. Then a background check was run. Next a drug test and personality test. More interviews, then finally, officially hired and given a start date. From application to starting work was 9 long months of hoping while we ached to end our life on the road following his field work around so we could settle in a little country home with plenty of room for the animals that I would obviously be bringing along or hoping to acquire.
When we arrived in March in cold snowy Montana we aggressively shopped for a home with enough space for our dreams. The real estate market here is very competitive and prices are high. We reluctantly increased our budget 3 times, while also lowering our expectations from my dream of 10 acres to eventually settling for 1.5. We made a 3 year plan to invest in the home and property then look for something better. We closed on our home in June and the same month I started working for Best Friends Animal Hospital and Urgent Care. I felt really lucky to have found a veterinary clinic so close to our out of town home, but even more excited they had a veterinary rehab program and that I would get to be a part of it.
We stayed very busy, even so I launched my dog training business, RIOTK9, in October. Then I was very pleased to get even busier. Our budget stayed tight, and I invested back into my business and home. It's hard to describe the emotional leap it was for me to start RIOTK9, but I hit the ground running and I truly hope all my clients and their dogs are better for it. I continue to work 60+ hours a week between the two jobs and I am so thankful that Michael can spend office time working from home so he can let the dogs out. Because as you know I'm also training 3 young working line dogs and have another 3 rescue dogs with goals as well and they all live in the house with us. We are working our a$$es off, but if you know us, follow me, you know we aren't complaining.
As a Field Archeologist for the U.S. Forest Service Michael helped repair historic cabins, he trained a a wildland firefighter and helped document damage after forest fires. He built an app to help the Forest track and organize data. He backpacked deep into the mountains for remote archeological digs where he lived out of a tent for days at a time in grizzly country. His education and experience come together for the good of not just the forest, but for everyone who visits it.
Fast forward to Valentine's Day 2025 when Michael's bosses, with tears in their eyes, end his employment. After 11 months of dedication to his position as a civil servant he was terminated before he could arrive out of the probationary period (1 month away!), along with some 10,000 other American workers across the country. 200k workers have been targeted and the terminations will continue. He received correspondence from the OPM telling him that he did not meet the criteria of proving his worth to the American people, and so he was terminated due to his unsatisfactory performance. Which is a complete lie and a slap in the face after he received exemplary reviews from his supervisor. He was never written up. He was never admonished. He surpassed the expectations of the position in every way.
Let's see if I can recap this... a hard working American couple put their blood, sweat, and tears into making a home for themselves with work they could enjoy and be proud of, then the rug was pulled out from under them, putting every aspect of what they have built at risk. That is us. This isn't somebody else on social media, this isn't the friend of a friend. This is us. This is us getting F#$%ed by the president.
I do not want to hear that I should stay positive, or that god has a plan, or that you thought he was only going to fire employees from the IRS.
I've got grit.
Grit doesn't pay the mortgage.
If you are going to feel something for me, for us, I think rage is the most appropriate. That is what I feel right now as I watch our American dream become an American horror story. Michael and I didn't let down the American people. The people and the president let us down, along with tens or maybe hundreds of thousands of other Americans just like us. We are not throwing in the towel, we are fighting for what we have. But we are very likely facing losing our home, my business, my day job(if we have to relocate because we lose our home) and be set back years of work and saving.
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