Observation

So, I have noticed that when Mizzou wins, the Rams lose and when Mizzou loses (only twice) the Rams win. Sucks for the Rams! Mizzou has 2 (perhaps more) important games left, so i can tell you that the Rams are going to lose on 11/30 and 12/7, count on it.

Thoughts

* Really enjoying Mizzou football, may even forego Cardinals tickets after 2009 and pursue Mizzou FB tickets
* wonder if i will even have a chance at the 2009 All Star game tickets this yr
* Tired from this weekend, need to sleep!
* i wish Katie and her fam lived in STL
* really enjoying my new part time job at the YMCA
* thinking about Shonda's wedding a lot and my part in it
* thinking about all the changes recently (people moving, marriages, babies....)
* what will my Christmas card be this year?
* why did my church directory pic have to be so ridiculous?
* When will I ever be able to paint my house?
* What is going on with the economy and what does it mean for me now and long term?
* why is it so hard for people to NOT SMELL BAD? (metrolink experiences)
* i would like to get some mums and pumpkins for outside my door again this yr, but am scared to because my stupid neighbor boy smashed my pumkins last yr.....
* i would like it to be just a little colder than it is right now
* SO glad the cubs went down so fast in the playoffs
* why are my co-workers so loud?
* i really like the color sweater i am wearing today (bright red/ pinkish)
* it has been like 6 days since i have seen my youth group girls, i miss them
* the food at Pujols 5 is really not good. i need to remember to not eat there again
* there sure are a lot of birthday in october!
* i like to read blogs!
* i REALLY want Mizzou to win the national championship this yr, wonder how likely that is?
* i love this time of year!
* i like pizza
* i am REALLY excited about going to Cracker Barrel with my parents and grandparents tonight, i LOVE it there!
* i liked doing "Christmas in September" with my cousin Sam (she did really well with my gifts!)
* wish i could leave work right about now.....
* must start listening to our next book club book (trying book on cd this time)
* need to make pumpkin something and soon!
* need to send baked goods to Stu and Katie T soon
* cannot wait to hit the farmers market this weekend

=)

for Danielle

Ok girl, here goes, I will update. Since Marta's birthday, I have been busy! The weekend of the 20th, my family moved my dad's parents in to an Independent Living place in O'Fallon, MO (I have secretly been wanting a reason to drive ALL the way out there.....NOT)! It is good to have them closer; 30 min away is better than 4 hours away. The weekend of the 27th, the youth group had laser tag from 9-midnight on the church property. I was there to help "referee" games. Let's be honest though, all I really did was sit around and talk with Johanna, Rebecca and Shonda (WEDDING!). That night, I had 7 girls spend the night at my house and we went apple picking the next morning. I squeezed in a QUICK nap and then went to Taste of STL with my adult friends! PARTY WEEKEND! I needed another nap on Sunday just to recover. Pictures below!

A very special birthday

I helped Marta celebrate her 17th birthday last night with Johanna and Megan. We went to the Chocolate Bar in Lafayette Square and had WAY TOO MUCH FUN! We laughed so much (at one point I thought I burst something inside myself), ate a lot, and just generally had a blast! I am SURE we were a mystery to the other people in that evening, but oh well!

the Cheese plate!

Decisions, decisions.....

Birthday girl!

Some of the dessert.....

Marta and Megan

Johanna and Amanda

Johanna and Marta

Megan and Amanda

silly girls!

silly sisters

Marta wearing a few of her new presents

the group

I think I have a problem

This happens every 2 yrs; sometimes in the winter and sometimes in the summer. I stop everything and cannot even focus unless it is concerning the Olympics! What is this?! I have been this way as far back as I can remember:

I remember in 1992 (Barcelona) the US basketball Dream Team, and Shannon Miller in gymnastics

I remember in 1994 (Lillehammer) being obsessed with Tanya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan and the whole knee fiasco....because, you know, I too was going to become an Olympic ice skater (my parents laughed, this made me sad). Dan Jansen, Bonnie Blair, Tommy Moe and Torvil and Dean.

I remember in 1996 (Atlanta) watching swimming on a tiny TV in the office of the veterinarian I worked for and when Amy Van Dyken won her golds, I cried, a lot. Then again when Kerri Strug landed her second vault on ONE LEG! that still gives me goose bumps!

I remember in 1998 (Nagano) living and breathing Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan.....

I remember in 2000 (Sydney) when Rulon Gardner won something with weights or wrestling (i did not say i remembered it WELL), and first seeing Michael Phelps and Ian Thorp (the torpedo)

I remember in 2002 (Salt Lake City) Sarah Hughes winnign gold in ice skating, total surprise...and the whole thing with Canadas Jamie Salle and David Pelletier and that ice skating judging fiasco....

I remember in 2004 (Athens) really seeing Michael Phelps get going on the medals and having a crush on most members of the US mens swim team

I remember in 2006 (Turin) NOT STUDYING WELL FOR GRAD SCHOOL MIDTERMS to watch Joey Cheek and Apolo Anton Ohno speed skate and Bode Miller ski, Shaun White (The Flying Tomato)snowboard, Sasha Coeh ice skate...

Now, in 2008 (Beijing) I cannot stop watching swimming and gymnastics and I am just so proud of team USA and Michael Phelps....I think I still have a crush on the mens swim team, namely Michael Phelps. We are less than a week in and I have not slept more than 5 hrs a night since it started. I think from now on, I need to take vacation during the Olympics!

Here is to Vancouver in 2010 and London in 2012!!!

To catch you up.....

It all started with July 4th with the gang at Kirkwood Park. It was such a great atmosphere and the fireworks were amazing! it helps that i can walk home from the festivities too....

MK hamming it up for the camera!


we played LOTS of cornhole and explained it to almost everyone there that night!


SC and EK (6 weeks before she was due!)


The next weekend I spent some time with my BFF KN and her kiddos; C and L


After that, it was a River City Rascals game with the youth group


sisters at the game


more of the gang


The end of July brought CJ's birthdat at Funtacularganza. Naturally, nothing but a skittle cake would be sufficient!


August started with a Cards game with SC, SW, and AL (and another one the next night with my cousin, but i do not have any pics of us from that game!)


Making sure AL got the TOTAL St. Louis experience the night of the game


And after a trip to KC last weekend with and to visit college friends (and again, I do not have the pics of this), I am home to watch EVERY MINUTE of the Olympics!! Hope you are all doing well!

Cardinals game

I had the chance to take Marta to a Cardinals game last night, we had a blast and met some (cardboard) baseball players!

We win!

Mulder is back after about 2 yrs on the DL!

marta and me

marta and izzy

My week at RYM

They say it's your birthday!

I had to get older, it's just how things work. So, for this special day, I took the day off work, spent most of it with my parents and brother in Old St. Charles having lunch and tooling around. Then, after some cookie cake at mom and dad's, I went home and took a nap (my gift to myself). Off to youth group for fun and games and a SURPRISE party with cake, presents and cards (and 2 birthday poems)! THANK YOU all so much! You helped make my day VERY special! (pics of family time to come - they are on brother's camera).

The cookie cake from my family!

Johanna and me, while the youth were playing a game
My cake from the youth group!
M really liked it!
Charles and N, on a sugar high
Who else would you possiby want to spend your birthday with than these two?
For those of you curious, i am celebrating the 5th anniverary of my 24th birthday! ;)

Ode to Amanda

This was written for me while I was gone by my dear friend (and dance partner) Marta:

Amanda You Rock
I love you like i love my Socks
You are in Boston
My name isn't Austin
You are like my Diet Coke
You are a good Folk
Amanda is going to marry Mr. Bourne
Why do Unicorns have horns?
I really like your face
You are my ACE
Baseball connects us
i like to ride the bus
You remind me of Jack
Your sweet dance moves do not lack
My eyes are sad
They miss you and are mad
I will see you soon
We can eat with spoons
I Missed you on Sunday
But will see you Wednesday
I have to Go
my happiness is low
I miss you so
can't wait to reunite
Alright?
-Marta

A little over a year ago.....

Cougar was put to sleep after being mine for 15 of his 17 yrs. Still not quite ready for a new cat, someday........

What is it about this picture.....

that makes me want to throw up? HOW long have we been waiting for Mulder to come back? Are you kidding me? Did Mulder get his arm chewed OFF by a dog or something? This ice job seems a bit much after about 2 innings in a minor leage ball game. Is he really expected to come back to the majors? really? Also, I read that our old pal Matt Morris was released from Pittsburg and retired yesterday. Is he that old? Am I that old? What is happening?! Next thing you know, the sky will fall down!

The rainy day trolley tour

Don't ask me why, but I chose the nasty, rainy day to take my trolley tour. So, the pics are dotted with rain drops, I was soaked with them! We went all over Boston and Cambridge. There were 6 movies filming in Boston while I was there, including the following famous people: Sandra Bullock, Bruce Willis, Kevin James, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, and that's all I can remember. Also, I learned that Boston is 75% landfilled! We saw these fish guys below repairing their nets, the place where the fish comes in and gets sent out, the place where the Declaration of Independence was FIRST read in Boston (there was a water main/ gas pipe situation right there, hence the construction equipment), the weird looking building was where the police station in Departed was filmed, the steaming kettle, and more! All in all, it was such a great trip and I cannot wait to go back!