Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great! It was so nice to go home and see Mom, Dad, Holly, Grandma, Grandpa, Jill, Mike, Chad, Sandra, Matt, all my friends and Greg's family too. We went to Greg's parents for Thanksgiving lunch and then to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner (see the picture I stole from Sandra's blog, thanks Sandra!!). Needless to say we were stuffed. Seriously, we couldn't move.

We did find time to have a ping pong tournement, and don't ask me how but Chadles won. We went shopping Saturday morning and then to a movie (Fred Claus), which was actually pretty good.
Saturday night was Holly/Phil/Dad/Chad birthday celebration so we went to the Brown Shoe to eat. It was fun, minus the part where I got food poisoning. Or at least I didn't feel good so I went home and went to bed. Seriously, I was not being a grandma on purpose this time!

It's nice Greg's parents only live a hour away from my parents so we were able to scoot between the two pretty easily. We spent some time with his parents and ate more food and I even learned how to play 500.

It was a great break, I can't wait to go home for Christmas!

VT Weekend

Last weekend Greg and I flew to Raleigh, NC to see our friends Kristin and Andrius. We were only in Raleigh for about an hour before we drove north 3 hours to Blacksburg, VA... home Virginia Tech.

We went to a VT basketball game Friday night and woke up the next morning to go tailgating for the VT/Florida State football game. We had such a great time with all of their friends, and were amazed with the amout of school spirit they have. I know all things Hokie. I know their mascot is the Hokie Bird (who has no name), all of the buildings are made of hokie stone, and everyone is hokie crazy.

The Hokies won the game and we ran out on the field, where the best part of the weekend happened. Right in front of us Andrius proposed to Kristin! She of course said yes (after she could speak) and we celebrated all night long. Congrats Kristin and Andrius!! Go Hokies!

Football weekend

The weekend was great, went to Ames to tailgate with Matt and Sandra (who drove all the way from Chitown!) and a bunch of Greg's friends. We even got to go into the game, which they won! We have officially witnessed ISU win their 2 football games this year. First win was over Iowa, and this weekend they beat Kansas State. I totally stole this picture from Sandra's blog (it was cute, what can ya do?).

Last night cousin Rodney was in town for an interview with General Mills, so Greg and I tried to sell him on Minneapolis. It would be so great if he and Jody would move here. I love having cousins close!

No sweets!

Anyone who knows me knows I like cookies. Especially the really bad ones like Oreo's and EL Fudge and chocolate chip and M&M and oatmeal raisin and.... I'm getting hungry.

Well, until the cruise we made a rule: no cookies, no cake, no dessert, nothing out of a vending machine, no ice cream and no popcorn.

I have found the joy in the little things, like pudding. Pudding is delicious. Sorta.

Oh, who am I kidding. I wanna cookie.

Hairdo

Last night was hair cut/highlight night. Usually this is a relaxing 2 hours but last night was I had a very important appointment to make...Grey's was on at 8pm and I just had to be home to watch it. Don't worry, I made it. Crisis averted.

Today I was giving the guys I work with crap because they didn't notice I got 2 inches cut off. One of the engineers said, "Come on, your hair is at least 20" long, so it's hard to notice when you lose 10% of the length".

We're a bunch of nerds and know it.

Workin' Girl

This is how excited I am to be at work today.

Stinky the "pumkin"

This weekend was a great girls weekend. Friday was movie night were we got to listen to Bayley snore, Saturday was hot yoga and shopping, Sunday was yoga again. I'm going to be very flexible one day. Like a pretzel. But not salty like a pretzel.

Yesterday after church I went to the farmers market and bought me a pumpkin. I pronounce it without the second "p" so it sound more like "pumkin". So last night Greg and I carved us a pumkin who we named Stinky. His name is self explanatory. He's a cute lil' guy, his eyes are a little crooked, his nose isn't in the middle and he has about 6 some-here-some-there teeth.

I put the pumkin seeds in the oven, last year at Syd's we baked them for a hour. So I put them in for 20 minutes and when I pulled them out they were burnt. I guess this means I have to carve another pumkin. The seeds are the best part.

End of EDGE

For the last two years I have been part of the Engineering Development and Growth Experience (EDGE) at work. Basically I switch departments every 8 months for two years. We just finished our last rotation and had our graduation last night. It was great. We had a cocktail hour, dinner and presentations.

Let me tell you about the presentations. I didn't have much time to write mine, much less practice. So when I got up there I think I said every activity was "very special". Seriously, I could not stop myself from saying it. The managers were "very special," the work was "very special," the group was "very special." It was like word vomit I couldn't stop.

Whatever. Maybe next time I'll practice my presentation.

I'm on a budget

Bayley and I went shopping yesterday, which was difficult since "I'm on a budget". I went into the stores and tried to buy everything in sight because "I'm on a budget". Really, I'm not on a budget per say, I am just trying not to spend all my money when we're going to Raleigh next month and a cruise in December.

So if you see me spending money, remind me... "You're on a budget."

Hot Yoga

Saturday I went to hot yoga with Bayley and boy was it hot. I think it got up to 100 degrees and I was sweating from places you don't want to know about. We were lifting weights, stretching, doing crazy crunches and holding poses with weird names.

It was a great work out and I wasn't sore until last night.

Last night I thought I was going to die.

Every time I sneezed my ab(s) felt like they were being pulled apart. I of course am going to hot yoga again tonight. Right after I eat some ice cream.

Ain't no thang but a chicken wing

For any of you who missed it, the cyclones beat the goldfinches 15-13. The game was sweet from the hawkeye section where Greg and I sat with his parents. Yes we were "those guys", the annoyingly loud people cheering for the other team. The best part was calling all my hawk friends to make sure they knew the final score. I was just trying to be helpful.

Fun in Boston

This is my 10th trip to Boston since February. Here's some fun thangs that have happened today.

A bunch of suits curiously watched me, my bright yellow backpack and my flip flops sit in first class.

My car (an Altima) has no key. The key hole on the dash was replaced with a giant "Start" button, which I have never seen before. I pushed the "Start" button about 5 times before I decided to use a lifeline and phone a friend. Thank you Jeff Johnson! I got the car started and made it to Quincy.

I somehow forgot my computer power cord and my computer was dead. I had to sweet talk someone in IT to let me borrow one. The guy threatened to charge me if it "grows legs and walks back to Maple Grove." If he wouldn't have said anything, it probably would be walking tomorrow.

Tomorrow I fly in at 3:30 and Greg flies in at 4:30 and then we head to the Iowa/ISU game in Ames! Go Cy, the bird that's a cyclone!

Cucumber Bread

Is it just me or do cucumbers and zucchini look exactly alike?

I bought a "zucchini" at the farmer's market and told Syd I was excited to make some bread. She kindly told me I just bought a cucumber.

So if anyone needs a cucumber, let me know. Cucumber bread sounds nasty.

Sneezing Whiplash

I feel much better now, but have another problem.

Every day at sunrise and sunset I have been sneezing so violently I feel like I'm giving myself whiplash. It's like my cold is trying so hard to leave my body that it is physically throwing itself out my nose.

It's not working. I'm still sneezing.

Sniffle, sniffle

I'm sick today.

It's no fun.

I ran out of kleenex so I had to use napkins. My nose hurts.

Boo.

Ramen-licious

I told Greg I would make dinner tonight so I brought over 2 packages of Ramen. I don't think he'll ask me to make dinner again anytime soon. Bummer.

Dinner Partay

Mike and Syd had us over for a fantastic dinner last week. It was so pretty I had to take a picture of it. My plate is the one with the wine cooler in front of it. Yummy!

After dinner we played a friendly game of Trivial Pursuit, girls vs boys. Here's a picture of Syd and I digging deep to figure out the answer. We couldn't find it.


The boys somehow managed to beat us, but I'm blaming it on drinking too many wine coolers.

Where is everyone

There is no one at work. Usually there are 10 people in my row and I am the only person here. I went out to lunch with Jason and Adam so I know there are at least people alive today. It's so quiet I can hear some guy picking his nose 4 rows away. I think he's digging for treasure. He'd have better luck buying a lotto ticket.

I wish I worked for Ernst and Young today so I could be home drinking Grain Belt.

Who the duece is Pat?

I was looking under the front seat in my car tonight and found a random cell phone. At first I thought I must know the owner of the phone so took a look at the contact list and realized I don't have any friends named Konz, TMoney, Fritch Da Twich, or Luke the Juke. Next I took a look at the text messages, and found out all about the owner (Pat) and his lady (Lindsay). Let me give you a little of the flava.

Pat: Well you just prove to me every time after we have a good time you just do something stupid. Like i wanted to hang out with you but you force me.

Lindsay: No Pat you just want me out of your life and get it now it just hurt

What? Sounds like another episode of Days of Our Lives. I have no idea who Pat or Lindsay are. Do you? I'm giving a $2 reward for anyone who knows whose phone this is. The number is 763 245 4025.

My guess is that someone tried to break into my car and after getting in they realized my car is a piece and decided not to steal it. How's that for a security alarm?

Como say what?

Sunday we went to Greg's work thingy at Como Park where his company outiftted us with free bright blue shirts. We were lucky we look especially hot in the color blue. Dontcha wish your shirt was blue like mine? Dontcha.

Congrats Syd and Mike!

A shout out to my good friends Syd and Mike who got engaged last week. Congrats! I'm so excited for you two!

Fluffy at the State Fair

My sister and I were each given a rabbit when we were young. We both named our bunnies Fluffy. One day, I thought Holly's bunny wanted to go for a walk so I let him out of his cage. He hopped away never to be seen again... until now. I found him at the state fair.

The next stop was the sheep barn where I found this poor guy. A sheep wearing a jacket is not normal. I think it's designer. Maybe Dolce & GaBAAAAAAna. Okay, that was a bad joke.

And of course no trip to the fair is complete without a trip to the cow barn. Greg and I have matching freckles and matching tats. They're pretty mean looking. I think we'd fit in at Sturgis.

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

We booked tickets to go to Raleigh to visit our favorite Hokies, Kristin and Andrius! We're going to the Virginia Tech vs. Florida State football game in November. I love football, and I personally excel at tailgating activities including bags and flip cup. Ahhh... it reminds me of ye ol' college days. Back when it was okay to have $30 in your checking account and wear sweatpants all day.

I hate running

Ali and I are running a 25K in 3 weeks. Which is scary since I haven't really worked out since my triathon. I've been feeding my double chin popcorn and watching DVDs. So this morning I decided to get up and work out.

I ran 4.5 miles and thought I was going to die. I hope I can make it to 6 miles tomorrow, but I may need an ambulance for the last 1.5 miles.

I think I'm going to get new running shoes today. The pair I have I bought with my Mom about 2 years ago. I don't know a lot about shoes, but I don't think it's a good thing when they're worn so thin you can see your toes.

First time for everything

Being 27 years old, it's not too often that I have a "first". I've already had a first car, a first kiss (sorry Dad, I hope you knew that), a first job... But today was a big "first".

Yes, I went to Babies R' US. It was a first.

Don't worry it wasn't for me. My buddy Becky (see hot picture below) needed to run some errands so I went along. I decided there is a whole different world I don't know about going on out there. It's called babyville.

Everything is tiny in babyville. There are tiny socks and tiny hats and tiny pants. They have tiny books and tiny games. But it's weird because I never actually saw a baby in the store. It's like buying clothes for the lochness monster. Do they exist if they're not there?

I'm pretty sure I looked like a football player in an Archiver's store. Lost, but interested. Maybe I'll get a puppy until then.

Beantown

I just got back from a couple days working in Boston, and I've decided there are a lot of things different between the east coast and the midwest.

They're blunt. When I ordered a pop with lunch I was told I "wasn't from around here". Apparently they drink "soda" or "tonic". The only tonic I know of comes with gin.

They're bad drivers. Pedestrians run across the street and I don't blame them. Road signs are merely suggestions to most drivers. Needless to say there is a lot of honking going on. I try to make sure we get a rental car with a mean sounding horn.

They love baseball. I don't get the big deal. Red sox, blue sox, dirty sox. I personally like clean sox.

My date with Matt

I am soooo excited about my date tonight. I have a date with the very dreamy Matt Damon. Yes, he's married and has a kid. Yes, I'm guessing he's about 5'2". Yes, I'm sure he wears a hair piece.... who doesn't? I'm seeing the Borne Ultimatum and I am supa dupa excited.

I can't iron

I had a big meeting today and wanted to look especially nice for work today so I ironed my shirt (shocker, I know). I somehow managed to get the iron a little too hot and melted part of my shirt. Who melts a shirt? Me. My solution is to wear wrinkled clothes from now on.

Pretty pretty pictures

So we had to take a picture for this engineering rotation my friend Becky and I are in, and we had to run a test shot to see how we would look. Becky looks fabulous at 29 weeks prego. We also sent this picture into the Wheel Of Fortune since we think Vanna needs replacing. We would look great next to Pat Sajack.

Just for Kicks

I found another picture of the tri, and let me tell you this one is a hum-dinger. I love running, can you tell?

The hot topic at work today is that the Twix bars aren't deformed and melted coming out of the vending machine anymore! We check them periodically so we were delighted to find the Twix bars aren't soggy today. We need to find something better to do with our time. But seriously, it's a downer to get one cookie and a pile of carmel goo.

I'm fine

Holy cow, you turn on the TV and all you see is the coverage about the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. It's been surreal to see landmarks so close to home on CNN. All of my friends and family in Minneapolis are fine, and I don't know anyone directly affected by the incident.

I received calls and text messages from Iowa, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana.... I feel very loved and special. Thanks to everyone who checked in.

Chisago Triathlon

So Sunday was the big day and I'm happy to say Katie and I survived. We swam 1/4 mile,
biked 20.5 miles and ran a 5K.

If you've never seen a triathlon, here's what the swim looks like. There are waves of about 50 people who start every 3 minutes. We had to swim out and around the yellow buoys. The orange buoys (to the right) were marking the 1/2 Ironman swim. They had to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and run a half marathon. Yeah, not doing that anytime soon. Can you see us? I'm the one trying not to drown.

I wasn't ready for the swim (I had only swam

twice this summer before the actual tri) but the bike felt really good. I'm the one in yellow looking fierce.

The run was not fun and I was tired so just picture me tired and not fun. I know, I know it's really hard to do.

And then we crossed the finish line. My time was 2:10 which was 10 minutes faster than my time last year. Katie did a great job and finished in 2:02. The lady who finished next to me puked, so I was happy I didn't try much harder to finish faster. I hate puking. A special thanks to Jasko-Brink photography and support team for cheering us on and taking some pictures.

Here's us eating food after the race. Get that girl in the yellow some tanning lotion! Cripes I need a tan.

Here's us at the lake after the race. It was a great race and I was so happy to share it with one of my best friends, Katie.

Golfing, a play, oh my!

I was in training on Friday and we had to count off into groups. Instead of the usual "1, 2, 3, 4" we counted off as "lions, tigers, bears, oh my!". It was weird.

Saturday I went golfing with the local golf pros (Gregory, Cousin Rachel, her friend Shawn). Greg and I had a friendly competition with who could have the best round. You'll have to guess who won, I'll just say they had mad skills.

Aren't we a good lookin' bunch? Yep, we sure are.

Saturday night we went to the Guthrie for our last play of the season. I thought it was going to be lame-o, but it was pretty funny. It was called 1776 and it was about getting the Declaration of Independence signed. We went with Katie and Adam and went out to dinner before hand to get ready for ye ol' tri on Sunday. We're pretty blury but still cute. Gosh we're good!

Pedal Monster

Last night I went to a spinning class at the YWCA after work and made up a new fun game. It's called "I have to pedal faster than everyone else" game. It's fun for like 5 minutes. For some reason I'm really competitive in this class and I have no idea why. I think the instructor picked up on this because halfway into the class she got off her bike and got me a paper towel because I was apparently sweating a lot. I call that success.

After a shower I was able to meet up with my cousins Ryan and Rachel for a late happy hour. We all sat around and talked about how good looking and funny we are. That discussion went on well into the night. I'm lucky to have a super fun family.

Beefy Weekend

So, some people who I will not mention (you know who you are) decided not to make the trip down to Iowa for Beef Days. Greg had made plans with some of his high school friends for Friday night so we still drove down, and it turned out to be a great weekend. Beef Days is in this tiny town, Solon, where on one weekend every summer the entire town gets together to listen to music, have a couple drinks and play bingo. My friend Amanda is originally from Solon, so last year she invited us down for the weekend. Solon never disappoints. We played about 10 games of bingo before we decided we weren't ever going to win. At least all the money went to the Solon Optimists Club, so I feel very positive about that.

Cousin Chad has a new boat so Amanda, Greg and I spent Saturday afternoon waterskiing, tubing and tanning (okay, for me it's closer to gathering freckles). On the way to pick up the boat we ran into the Solon parade, and the only way to get to the boat was to be in the parade for a couple blocks. I'm pretty sure the little kids waving at us were disappointed we didn't have any candy to throw. That's okay, we still took the prize for best boat float.

So now I'm back in Minneapolis and the goal this week is to squeeze in a months worth of working out into 5 days. The triathlon is coming up this weekend and I'm excited and nervous. I just hope I'm not the last one to finish. I'm sure there will be some hipster to finish after me. Do hipsters do triathons? I hope so.

Mental Health Morning

So I took the day off since we're driving to Iowa later and I had some errands to run. Turns out I'm watching the Today Show and eating skittles while hanging some pictures on the wall. I'm calling it my Mental Health Morning. I can't figure out if I'm enjoying my morning off more because it's gorgeous outside or because I know everyone else is working. I think it's the latter.

CSC Champions

So the volleyball team I'm on is pretty much the best thing ever. We rocked the playoffs last night and won the tournament. No big deal. We played 9 games last night in the rain and 90% humidity. We were pretty stinkin' dirty by the end of the night (as you can see).

Our team is stacked, Adam/Katie/Jen/Brandon are all really good players. And then there's me.... whenever I hit the ball my teammates end up running in the opposite direction trying to save the ball I just hit onto another court. I like to keep 'em on their toes.

We ended up going to Brandon's place for a bonfire and to check out his sweet new deck. It was a perfect summer night and the perfect way to cap off our perfect championship to our perfect season. The only downer of the night was knowing it was our last game with Adam and Katie who are moving to Colorado. Sad.

Next up: a weekend in good ol' Solon, IA to visit Amanda and hit up Beef Days. The weekend activities include: hale bale toss, horseshoes, vball, bingo and drinking a Pabst or two.

It's all about me

So Gina and Becky both have a blog and I have to admit I became slightly addicted to reading about their every move outside of work. I know all about Madeline's blonde hair and Gina's trip to Las Vegas. So enough about them and more about me. Me me me me. That's what's really important. Just kidding. Sorta.

Katie and I are doing a triathlon next weekend and I'm slightly scared I'm going to drown. Of course I comfort her when she tells me she is scared of the swim but really I'm thinking, who's going to save me? Me. Me me me me. I swear I'm not an only child.

Okay, off to work out and maybe go shopping for a new swimsuit. I figure if I'm going to drown I might as well do it in style.