Meet the Nephews

Kara just emailed some pictures of the boys. 

Little Cale was sick...he's still cute! He'll be 1 in November.

I won't crack any "cute, fat baby" jokes. Kara hears those enough. :)

Look at this little man, Connor. He'll be 4 in January. :) 

This is definitely my favorite! Hahaha :D

REAL summer!

I am DONE-zo with my online class. Now it's time for some REAL summer! :)

I just turned in a bonus assignment (which I reeeeeeally needed), and I am DONE studying for the summer! Now, all I've got to worry about is what I'm going to take to eat/drink on this weekend's float trip. I'm leaving in about 5 hours, so I'm going to pack my bag, go to the golf course, hit up walmart for food and beverages, and head to J-Ville to pick up my home-fry, Kels! 

Look for pictures soon! and hope for no storms! I should probably add a water-resistant camera to my list for Wally World...

Mamma Mia! It's almost Friday.

I'm watching Mamma Mia! right now. They're singing "Take A Chance On Me". I've seen it a bunch of times, but I still enjoy it. Oh, the sidewalk just broke and now they're playing in the water. How fun. ANYway,...

I went to the dentist yesterday. No cavities, yay. The lady that cleaned my teeth said the last time she did so, I was 4-years-old, and I gagged when she sprayed the water in my mouth. I found that funny, because from what I can remember, I've never truly had a problem at the dentist, except for maybe when I had my first cavities filled or something. I had about 20 when I was younger; I hated brushing my teeth. Gross, I know, but I hated the taste of toothpaste, and loved eating spoonfuls of sugar...literally. 

I golfed before and after my dentist appointment. It was nice out yesterday, not really sunny but still warm. I also enjoyed a fish filet sandwich from Mickey D's, which I hadn't had in probably 5 years.

As for future plans, I work today at 2, and hopefully will have someone to work for me at 6 because Dirt Divas have a softball game at 6:30. I have to take my 2nd test for my online class tonight at 8, and turn in a paper tomorrow for a bonus assignment, then this class is OVER! This weekend I'm heading to STL for a float trip, which will be glorious. I'm picking up my roommate, Kels, and then we're meeting a bunch of our club volleyball girls and heading to a cabin, then floating all day tomorrow. I guess it's a 9-mile float, so we'll be there all day! And it better not storm, like it's calling for! Anyway, I should work on this paper before I even think about the weekend...

Spry July

Why does it seem like July has come and gone already? I swear, last weekend was the 4th of July and all of a sudden I've got August booked with trips, weddings, work, and back to school planning. Where has summer gone!?

Anyway, I've been slacking (once again). My hiatus from blogging lasted a bit longer than I planned due to my busy-beeness (word? Now it is.). This past weekend was the long-awaited and dreaded State Elks tournament. It ended up not being so bad, apart from a few long-hour days and COLD weather. What's with Christmas in July? I showed up to drive the beer cart Friday morning at 8 in shorts and a t-shirt. My lips were literally blue by noon. I ended up changing into jeans and a fleece sweatshirt and still was freezing! As for the hours, I racked up 29 hours on the beer cart all weekend. The seniors and super-seniors played on Friday, so the beer drinking was kept to a minimum, hence, tips were lower, but Saturday...*long, plummeting whistle*, no complaints on tips! The younger crowd was definitely generous.

A few highlights from the weekend tournament:

1. Offered numerous drinks, took a few, including a SoCo Hurricane, which is heavenly. If you have not tried one, it is like drinking SweetTarts. The "Man In Black" that bought it for me also gave me a SoCo & Lime t-shirt, which I gave to Jason.

2. Saw a man with a hangover. And by hangover, I mean his stomach was hanging over his belt. He was wearing what I've been told to call a "fat boy shirt", one that buttons up all the way, and his stomach was clearly visible below the shirt. Probably the grossest thing I've ever seen.

3. OK, it wasn't at the tournament, but Sunday when I left the tournament, I saw a man pulling out of a gas station with his windows open and a chihuahua standing on his shoulders. When telling my dad this, he said the chihuahua would probably get sucked out once the guy started driving fast. I thought that was funny, haha. Funny padre.

The infamous Emden Homecoming was also this past weekend. I went Friday around 8:30 when I got out of work and met Jason at the Bulldog (bar, if you recall earlier post). We grabbed a corndog and fries and played a couple games of Bingo before resorting back to the beer tent at the Bulldog. It's always interesting to see who shows up; it's usually a lot of people I haven't seen since last year's Homecoming. Nevertheless, a good time. Saturday was more fun, though. Karaoke was a hit. I realize now that I never really did my own song. I just hung around whoever had the mic and rocked out if they handed it my way. Around 2AM everyone thought an MJ tribute would be a great idea. It was quite fun. Blaine, a kid from my high school class, and I did a glorious version of Billy Jean. Ask anyone there, it was terrible. It's hard to sing "hee hoo na na hee ha ow" off the teleprompter when tipsy and moon walking. Sounded easy at the time. 

All in all, a great weekend, but I'm glad to be into this next week. I had the day off Monday, so I golfed with my friend, Marilyn Wheat, who is about 60 years old but looks 45. Yesterday (Tuesday) I worked 7-2 and it was slower than molasses. Brent and I played 15 holes after I got done working and it went decently. Tomorrow I have a dentist appointment, in which they'll ask me how often I floss, and when I tell them truthfully "maybe once a week" they'll punish me by making my gums bleed. I'll let you know how that goes.

Oh, Head Coach Nick had a softball party/cookout for our little Legal Eagles team, and we got our team pictures back, so here's that. Turned out alright! The girls look cute and well-behaved but don't let them fool you. They're crazy, wild animals that should be kept on leashes. OK, not really, but they are crazy.

For fun, I pulled out a picture of me when I played little league. Look at this little slugger! 

I think I was a little young to play actually. I might've just been trying on my brother's hat and wanted to be official, "taking a knee" and all. 

You Got Me, Twitter

I was doing well. I had avoided checking out Twitter all summer. I wasn't even interested in it. And then, I just happened to go to the website 10 minutes ago, and now I'm "tweeting". I don't know how long it will last, and I'm not sure if anyone I know is on Twitter, but I'm there! 

I didn't do much all day. Woke up around 10:15 and had some quiche. Laid out in my hammock for about an hour, got too hot, and came inside to watch TV. I was watching Wall-E when a wasp scared me out of the living room, although he was flying about 15 feet above me and was no real threat. I don't like to associate myself with large, stinging insects. 

I drove my cousin to her friends house and decided to get some golfing in since it was on the way. I practiced some chipping and putting and hit some range balls. There were a bunch of people playing a practice round because of the State Elks tournament that's going on this weekend. It starts tomorrow and I'm not exactly psyched for it. I am, however, psyched to make some dollars. I'm really hoping the day flies by; I'm on the beer cart, and it's like watching paint dry when no one wants to buy anything. I'm guaranteed to be there from 8AM until 5PM, so there better be some nice bills in my pocket before I leave! 

I have a Dirt Diva game tonight. The season is probably coming to a close. We've had quite a few games. I'm pretty confident we'll pull out a win; the team is really meshing lately. I mean, the most meshing a slowpitch league can do! Anyway, that's at 6:30, so I've got an hour to find something to do. I should be researching the current U.S. economy for my bonus assignment in Intro. to Financial Management. I'm not exactly looking forward to writing an essay over the current economic situation. I'm not into analyzing politics and financial things; or anything that deals with government for that matter. It's not my cup of tea. Maybe I'll just write on the topic of "how this course will affect my future". I feel like I'm taking the easy way out, but maybe I'll find some cool stats on how the economy and financial management affect the visual communications field. I'm sure there's stuff out there. 

Speaking of research, I've been going to www.ted.com a lot lately. You can listen to cool talks over all kinds of topics from all different kinds of people. Some of the talks are really boring and lame, but you can find some good ones! I watched an interesting one about a woman illustrator. Her name was Maira Kalman. She was very "whimsy" and off-the-wall, but she had some interesting comments to make about her lifestyle. She doesn't seem to mind that she's not the most intelligent person; she likes who she is and is happy going with the flow of her lifestyle. Anyway, to watch the crazy woman, click here! I'm sure you could find something you like there, too.

Yay for Rain!

So, I didn't end up having to work today. Of course, I should've, because I just laid around all day and watched movies. Jason finally got off work, so I'm at his house bugging him to entertain me now! :)

Boo, work.

I'm am 100% completely opposed to going to work right now. I switched a kid the opening shift for the closing shift (because I had no excuse not to) and I'm absolutely regretting it. I've been laying around the house all day - such a loser, I know. I've been watching movies when I should be golfing before I go into work. I just can't get motivated knowing I'm going to be there until 8pm to close everything down. Secretly (although not anymore) I've been wishing that it would just start pouring all morning so I wouldn't have to go in. However, it's just cloudy, so there will be golfers needing my (un)assistance in the pro shop. Guess I'll get to reading that new Communication Arts 'zine that came in the mail a week ago. Maybe I'll grab an iced BK Mocha Joe before work; that might cheer me up. :\ 

Boo, work. I don't like you.

Argh! Me Miss the Windy City!

It's been a couple days since we arrived back in the Burg from Chicago, but I had a golf outing (which we won) on Monday, so I'm just going to have to blog about the trip today. Basically, Liz arrived Thursday night and I forced her to sit through one of my slowpitch softball games. We then hung out with a few of my friends and watched inappropriate videos on the internet - always fun. 

Friday, I gave Liz the grand tour of Hartem High - I was able to stretch the normally 2-minute long tour to about an hour due to people we met throughout the hallways and rooms that were working there. I used to work in the summers at the school. Horrible job - just doing maintenance and cleaning every piece of furniture in the entire school. 

We finally got on the road to Chi-town around 11:30. (We read in a magazine that there was a pirate exhibit going on at The Field Museum. We later found that pirates were the city's main summer theme.) By the time we got to Chicago we were hungry, so we found our hotel (The Wit), and headed to Rainforest Cafe for dinner. Such a fun place to eat - it was quite humid due to the rainforest surrounding us, but it didn't matter. Fun was had by all. We checked out an art fair while there, which was pretty cool. We also were able to score some Jersey Boys tickets for the next night. I'm obsessed with them, so that made my night!

Saturday we shopped a bit in the morning. We hit the American Girl store, because what girl doesn't want to go there? We were sad to find that Samantha, one of the dolls we both have, had been archived. Apparently, even American Girls can die. :( We left the store. After shopping some more, we ran back to Gold Coast Hot Dogs and grabbed some Chicago Style dogs before heading to Mary Poppins. The show was really good! I expected it to be quite cheesy, but I really did like it (minus the obnoxious girl that sat next to me and asked her mom a question about every line in the show). I couldn't believe the kids in the show that played Michael and Jane; they were so good at their parts. They had everything down from their lines and songs to the dances and expressions. I was impressed! 

After Mary Poppins, we wasted time deciding what we were going to do next, and ended up grabbing a bite to eat at Elephant & Castle, a nice little pub style restaurant a block from our hotel. Liz and I broke from my family's big group to head to the Bank of America Theatre to see Jersey Boys. Just as the first time I saw it, it was amazing. Honestly, the plot of the story isn't that great - just the story of how the guys were in and out of jail and debt, trying to make it big as a band. The music is what really makes the show. I just have a thing for Frankie Valli's high voice and the Four Seasons' dance moves. Overall, it was glorious. We grabbed some appetizers and drinks at a bar afterwards with my mom, aunt, and cousin.

Sunday we headed to Navy Pier, which is just a pier with lots of shops, restaurants, and a giant ferris wheel. Liz made a Build-A-Bear panda and we walked along the pier. What really topped the trip off were a couple of women dressed as lady pirates. One had a guitar and they were trying to create 50 "sea shanties", or songs. They sang me a song about coloring with the world's largest crayon, and Liz a song about riding a dinosaur, which got a dirty, if you can imagine. As we were leaving, we saw four pirates coming towards us. We wanted a picture with them so I greeted them with "Ahoy, mates!" Their reply, "Argh, she speaks the language!"

As I posted in an earlier blog, I knew I would miss the Windy City once we left, and I do. Back to working at the pro shop another week and working on the golf game. Summer is absolutely flying by, I can't believe it. On the bright side, only 2 more quizzes, 1 test, and a bonus project due in my online class! 

Chicago, here we come!

The last day of Jr. Elks is tomorrow. No wonder I can't sleep! Ok, so I'm not that excited for it to end, but it will be nice to be able to focus on my golf game for the rest of the summer, rather than that of the little tater tots' that don't really care if they hit the ball straight or in the hole for all that matters. It was nice for a while, but like every good book, it had to end. Tomorrow at noon I will watch those kiddies run to the pool, and I will be free! My plan is to head straight to the links and play, play, play. 

Sometime tomorrow I've got to squeeze in a workout on Wii Active. Jason's grandpa got the game for his grandma, and she said she'd never use it (although she did this morning, and said never again) so I decided to try it out. I always used to think those games were for people who weren't active in any other way, so I thought it would be easy for me. WOW, was I wrong. I made my profile and started a 30-day workout and have been doing my workouts on high intensity. I honestly am working out, to the point of fatigue! I can tell it's really working; I've already been checking out my hamstrings in the mirror, and I've only done it 4 days! (They hit the lunges hard.) They give you rest days and goals and tell you how many calories you've burnt. I don't think it matters that right after my workout I have a soda and a chocolate pudding cake. 

Another plan for my Thursday is another slowpitch Dirt Diva game. They're so much fun, even though they're not that intense. The real excitement is after the game, though, because my dear friend, Liz, is coming to the Burg! We've got a trip to Chicago planned for the weekend. We're seeing Mary Poppins with a bunch of girls in my family and hopefully Jersey Boys if we can score some tix Friday! Should be a grand weekend. We're staying at The Wit Hotel, which looks very modern and fun. (Just look at it!)I love Chicago and never want to leave when I'm there. I imagine this time won't be any different! So much to see, so much to do! Fun, fun, fun. Can't wait! Gotta get some shut eye! I'm sure there will be plenty of photo opportunities for next post, so check it out!

Slacker

Alright, so I've been a blogging slacker. I've been semi-busy. I'll start with the Fourth of July. 

It ended up raining the entire day. If you recall, I had the day off from work, and was planning on golfing all day and hanging out outside, possibly cooking out with Jason. Well, Jay and I ended up just laying around the entire day, being lazy. A few of the Burg crew came over and played shuffleboard, pool, and cards at Jason's for a while. Instead of the glorious cookout that was planned, I had pizza rolls and breadsticks, complete with a Diet Coke. Jason had soup. I know, random. It was fun, though. Nice and laid back. We went to the Bulldog (Emden's bar) later for a few beers. I danced around with a red, white, and blue boa on for a few songs before Jason and I decided we'd just go crash early and skip the party that night. We attempted to watch the movie Fracture but it kept skipping and so we just passed out around 10:30. What losers we were that night. We laughed about it the next day.

The next day I had to work the beer cart at the Elks at 8 in the morning. It was so gloomy outside and kind of cold, so instead of looking forward to getting a tan while driving the ole' beverage cart around I tried to stay warm with a sweatshirt on. It was kind of slow, even for a holiday weekend, so I didn't make a ton of tips which is kind of a bummer. Anyway, that was that day. I think I played golf in the afternoon.

Yesterday I played golf with this little old lady, Marilyn, at the Elks. She's like, 62, but she looks about 46, and that's pushing it. She's so funny, though. If she hits a bad shot she says things like "Oh, shoot!" and "Darnit! That was not where I wanted it to go! Oh well!" Anyway, it was fun. Then I had a Dirt Diva game that we tied 8-8. Bummer.

We watched Fracture last night, finally. What a good movie! Very suspenseful. It keeps you wondering what's going to happen and how the problem is going to be solved. I definitely recommend it. Anthony Hopkins, I'm convinced, could truly pull off a murder and get away with it. He's such a creepy and convincing actor...gotta love him!

Anyway, goin' to church! and by church, I mean Jason's house. Catch ya later!

This One's for You, Jess!

Finally busted out my half/argyle-y vest! Took a picture after work for ya.

Freedom Fries

Well, here it is again. 

July 4th. 

As I look back through my calendar to last Fourth of July, it looks like I was doing the exact same thing as I am this year, and that is...working. I'm splitting a shift with Brent, because who wants to work 7 straight hours in a pro shop on a holiday anyway? Most places of work are off for the day. Not mine. All of those people off work want to get their golf in because of that same  reason. Hence, my name on the schedule from 5-8 pm. It's only 3 hours, so I won't die. It's supposed to storm all day anyway so I'll probably be done early. No complaints!

I think Jason's going to cook out tomorrow, which sounds wonderful. Better than those fries I had at Wendy's today. As I was eating them, the term "freedom fries" dawned on me. (Click to Wiki that.) That was so ridiculous of US conservatives to change the name of french fries to freedom fries. Terrible idea. As they tried to make the term more American, they almost ruined the American feel of the food. Although it's unfortunate that the French didn't support our invasion of Iraq in 2003; changing the name of french fries isn't going to stick it to them. Throw the Statue of Liberty back at them, that would make a greater impression than changing the name of fried potatoes. 

Anyway, that was kind of fun. I'm watching It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Such a great show. I just watched "The Gang Finds a Dumpster Baby". Season 3, Disc 1. If you've never watched it, I recommend this episode for sure! 

Country Youth Classic Update

I forgot to mention the second day of the Country Youth Classic at Weibring. Definitely better than the first day - considering I wasn't golfing the first day. I shot an 84 yesterday. Putting well really is the key to shooting well. I feel inspired once again to watch some good golf movies and continue improving the old handicap. Just for fun, a list of my favorite golf movies, complete with tagline:

#4 Tin Cup: "Golf pro. Love amateur."

#3 Happy Gilmore: "He doesn't play golf. He destroys it."

#2 Caddyshack: "At last, a comedy that bites!"

#1 The Greatest Game Ever Played: "Everything begins with a dream."

Celeb deaths...what?

So what's going on with all of these celebrity deaths? I've been known to bust out the moon walk numerous times, so I must pay my respects with a blog to MJ. I picked up the People magazine today and MJ is all up in there...literally, 50 pages of articles about him, not to mention the amount of pictures. However, poor Farrah, maybe 6 pages. I understand her death was expected, but still, I feel like she's being a little overshadowed. To add to the list, Billy Mays! Who would've guessed. Just crazy. I'm not normally into celebrity drama...but 4 deaths (forgot to mention Ed) is just too much to go by without a comment; I guess I felt compelled. 

I worked Jr. Elks this morning. It's a program for Elks members' relatives - kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc... The kids, age 7-12, come to the country club Thursdays where I work and golf half the morning, play tennis the other half, then eat and swim in the afternoon. 

The kids were all "jacked up on Mt. Dew" as Ricky Bobby's son would say. I'm pretty positive 3 children were almost seriously injured under my supervision. It's not that I wasn't paying attention to them and telling them what to do; they were so spastic that one second they would be standing nicely to the side watching a tee shot, the next second they're bending down to pick up a dropped Starburst right behind the other kid's backswing. I don't know how many times I yelled "stay behind [insert name]'s ball while they hit or else YOU'RE going to get hit". Today was just a crazy day - last week they were good little kids. Must be the weather. It was abnormally cool today; I think they had extra energy that the heat normally sucks out of them. Only one Jr. Elks Thursday left! 

Oh yeah, had a Dirt Diva softball game tonight. We won 13-3. That's what I'm talkin' about.