You know how you avoid doing something so long that it becomes this seemingly monumental task? That's how I'm feeling about posting something good on the blog. And then you also know about the wonderful feeling you have once you sit down and do your chore, and then you think, "Huh...that wasn't so hard!" Here goes nothing.

Brent Updates:

Brent is excited that he has three days of work left before we leave for Cabo. He's headed to the mall as we speak to buy himself some new shorts since the zipper busted on his two pairs he wears all the time. I also have to add that he's stopping by an alterations place to drop off said shorts because he loves them so much and can't stand to throw them away. Since he's had these shorts since high school I say "Chuck 'em!", but this is also the man who I had to beg to buy new tennis shoes after he'd worn the same pair for approximately six years. I guess it's good that he doesn't like to spend money on clothes, because I'm a bit of a clothes-horse!

Brent's friend Jonathan and his girlfriend, Megan, came for a visit on Friday night. We grilled out, had strawberry shortcake, and played game upon game of Euchre. Here we are:

Another Brent update is that he is running again and still hanging onto hope for the mini marathon this Saturday! If he does it he'll be run/walking, but it's still a great improvement from just a few months ago when his knee was still bad.

Lindsey Update:


I hosted a baby shower for ex-BKD girl Christi last Saturday. Christi is due to have a girl, Peyton, on June 18th. She is that super-cute, all belly type of pregnant. We had a great time at the shower and I believe the highlight was Candy judging the Play-Doh baby contest. She wouldn't let Christi's Prairie Baby win, because as she explained, "You're getting enough presents already." We drank punch from martini glasses with limes (everything went back to the pink and green theme) and enjoyed the Cinammon, Wonderful, Sift-Flour-and-Add-Coffee-Most-Complicated-Cupcakes-In-The-World. They're worth it!!





My classes finished up this week with a group presentation on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was a big hit...the YouTube clips in the presentation do it everytime. Many thanks to Carrie (a blog-lurker) for helping us coordinate the interviews and giving us info for the presentation!


On Saturday we went to Saint Louis with Bob and Big Lou for my cousin Melissa's wedding. All the cousins were there except for my siblings - one stayed put in Denver and the other took his gf to her senior prom.

Baby Fever....
My cousin Jared's baby, Alex, whose wonderful mom brought him over to me so I could get a few baby sniffs. Brent would not partake in the sniffing.

On Sunday morning we drove to Mt. Vernon, where Rob and I were both born, to go to our old church and have lunch with old friends. Brent and I overslept (because we're responsible adults) and we were late for church. Waaaa-waaaa. Wait a minute...that happens every Sunday! Since we were late we were hoping to just slip in the back unnoticed, but no such luck. It's a smaller church, and the pastor says, "I believe Ron and Karen have some guests to introduce!" Hilarious! My parents had really good church friends back when we lived in Mt. Vernon and we saw some of them again for the first time in 18 years this weekend. 18 years...wowsas!

After lunch at the Cracker Barrel we drove the hour north to Effingham to pay Mama and Baleigh a drive-by howdy. No Lori - she was playing in a golf tournament in Carbondale where they will be moving at the end of May.


Just a Sunday afternoon art project - Tiki Masks

MaMa with a Frankenstein mask


In other news, I FINALLY committed to a weekend in Boston with Mel. I found a flight out of Chicago for $129 and nearly fell out of in my office chair (I looking for flights on my lunch break, like any responsible employee would do...). However, I did NOT book right away and by Sunday night the same flight was $284. Phhhhh. Did I not learn my lesson with those Packers tickets on Stubhub last fall? NO! By today there was one for $233, but I'm going to roll the dice for awhile and see what Lady Luck can do.


Alright, I've gone on and on about nothing, I am fully aware. If you're still reading, thank you, blog fan, for patiently waiting for a substantial post and not just a one-liner about The Office.


I leave with this quote from The Office:
"Guess what? I have flaws. What are they? Oh I donno, I sing in the shower? Sometimes I spend too much time volunteering. Occasionally I'll hit somebody with my car. So sue me-- no, don't sue me. That is opposite the point I'm trying to make." Michael Scott

It's Baaaaack!

We are so pleased and satisfied that after a very uncomfortable and un-funny dinner party episode last week, The Office is back in the saddle again!

"Because I'm a catch, and I am not going to be the one who got away!"

A Professor's Last Lecture

Check out this online article and lecture that appeared in Parade this morning. Some poignant life lessons that made me cry...but then again, it doesn't take much. :)

The Lessons I'm Leaving Behind - Randy Pausch

I'm want to try to always be more of a Tigger and less of an Eeyore!

Not to Beat This Thing to Death...But...

I am revising my 7 things. I read back through my list and thought, "Who the heck is that! Those things aren't weird or random at all!" I am actually not that normal. So here is my revised list to replace my super boring, pretty normal, snoozeroo weird things.

1. During the span of my third grade to around my sixth grade year, whenever there was a storm watch I would go down to our basement and hang out there for hours. Like I guess I just thought I was getting a jump on everyone else in my family who would surely be joining me eventually when the big tornado ripped through. I had a beach chair set up down there and would read and read, finishing whole books in a single Storm Watch. Keep in mind that we lived in an old old house and the basement was not finished with a home theater and a ping pong table like these whipper-snappers have today.

2. I started a board game club one summer in elementary school. Everyone in my class was invited, but I think only 2 people came.

3. I've been known to wear a bathing suit under my clothes. It's great tummy control. As I've told Emma before - "Cheap Spanks!" I have gotten out of the habit though, because it's just so darn hard to go to the bathroom.

4. I have an irrational, uneasy feeling everytime I fly, but I love to travel. I've seen too many plane crash movies. When we took the red-eye back from Kauai this summer I just kept thinking about the TWA crash off Long Island since I had just seen a news story about it the day before. After sitting on the runway forever in the dark and then taking off over the dark Pacific, I pretty much had a panic attack and, crying, told Brent that I just wanted to live to see my family again. I think he laughed at me, which is actually the appropriate response to your 24 year-old crying wife when she says "I want my mom!" Haha...sorry Brent :) In my defense, I DID have bronchitis and was probably running a very high, delusional fever.

And with that, I think I'm stopping the list...because I've gone from boring to........pathetic.

Needing a Change...

So as I sit here waiting for my exam to start in T minus 4 hours, I can't help but think it's time for a change. (Yes, I know I should be studying, but I'm trying a new tactic - praying to God to have mercy on my soul. I'll let you know how it works out.)

There are so many things I don't know about, so many current events I remain oblivious to. I think that each week I am going to pick a news topic and blog a little editorial about it. Nothing too controversial, but maybe some things that we need to stop ignoring as we go about our everyday lives. I have to start doing something more than working, cleaning the house (or NOT cleaning but talking about it), cooking, and studying or I am going to go berserk!

If you notice I post one current event editorial and then stop, please call me out. You know I'm bad about following through!

And before I forget, here's a link to the wedding article published in February. Some of you blog friends are in the pictures, I believe. The article is on pages 8 and 9 and continues on 22. 2008 Bridal Guide

(P.S. - That is the first time I figured out how to put the link in the text like that without the entire URL showing. Sad, I know. But I'm happy to enter the 21st century with you all now. It's good to be here.)