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 We were sad to find that Samantha, one of the dolls we both have, had been archived.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."