7 Quick Takes: My week in a nutshell

It's been a week since I've visited you Blog. I didn't forget about you - it's just been one of those 'blink and it's over' few days. The positive? I didn't blog at work all week and was way more productive! (Wonder if this says something about you time-suck internet? Maybe). Also good? Andi's been home at a decent hour lately, so when he's here I try to make a conscience effort to shut the computer lid and devote my attention to him. Spending time with my hubby is always a good thing.

So let's catch up on this week, seven quick takes in my bubble as of late:

ONE
Have you seen the Bachelor this season? I'm not necessarily a fan of the show, but learned this week that a girl I went to college with is one of the bachelorettes this season! She's also the cousin of my old college roommate! Watch for Elizabeth from Imperial, Nebraska -- let's hope she wins (or at least gets a hometown date! How cool would it be for her to take the Bachelor to Nebraska)?

TWO
Warm air, sunny beaches and quality time with my honey is on the horizon! We're booking a vacation over Spring Break in March. Haven't decided where we're going yet but thinking somewhere in the Caribbean or Hawaii. Somewhere without spring breakers which may be hard to find that time of year, so we'll see. But a vacation is in sight which is good news any way you slice it!

THREE
Just another day at the office!

We're starting a new customer rewards program at work on Tuesday. And it involves a monkey - that is the JAMonkey. I was a little unsure about this program when it was introduced to us a few months ago, but now am excited for something fun and different at work. My student interns are super excited about it. I thought I'd have to beg and plead them to get in the monkey but they're actually fighting over who gets to do it! Should be interesting ...

FOUR
It was a super busy week at work the last few days. I had the opportunity to conduct several trainings for our full-time and student employees on Thursday and Friday. I absolutely love presenting but it's so draining. All the preparing, prepping and actually being "on stage" presenting with energy and confidence. Good experience though, and I hope a few more people learned about our environmental programs on campus.

FIVE
My new tv show addition? Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Have you seen this show? I can't believe the destructive effect drugs has on people. It's sad and scary .. and like a train wreck you just can't stop watching.

SIX
Speaking of tv ... what in the world is happening to NBC and late-night talk shows? I'm a Conan fan all the way here ... I liked him before when he was on Late Late Night.  Fight on Conan!

SEVEN
And finally ... my heart goes out to all those affected with the tradegy in Haiti. I can't even imagine what those people must be going though. It's times like this you wonder why God makes these things happen. But it gives me stregnth to know He is with all those people and they're rebuild better and stronger thanks to all the generous donations around the world.

How do you handle problems?

At the risk of getting too churchy on you all, I wanted to post about something I heard today that I found both interesting and comforting. It really made me think about life and why things happen the way they do ... so read on, k?





Still with me?







Ok, good!

So, the church Andi and I go to features 'sermon series' every few weeks where we review various sections of the Bible. Sometimes there's a tie to the time of year (ie: Christmas) or other times it's just walking through different books of the Bible and talking about how it applies to our lives. We started a new series today in the book of James and specifically talked about problems, and how we react to them.

We all have problems, right? We worry about health, or money, or fertility, or loneliness or whatever - ultimately we all have times where things just don't seem to be going our way. And when things don't go our way, we often ask God "why is this happening to me?" ... "am I not a good enough person?" ... "what did I do wrong to deserve this?"  James:1 tells us problems are inevitable. They happen to everyone and the only thing you can plan on the fact that life is unpredictable.  But we also take comfort in knowing that God only gives you as much as you can handle. And there's a reason He's giving you this challenge: to better develop your character. God can take the biggest challenge in our lives, give us strength to get through it and then make us better for having experienced it. And, ultimately, we shouldn't ask God "why is this happening to me?" but "what do you want me to learn from this experience?" ... "what are you trying to teach me?"  All we can do is pray and trust in our faith.

A little heavy for a Sunday post? Maybe. But I felt so comforted hearing this message. Life's bigger than what's happening today, what problems or challenges we might be facing. Tomorrow's another day and a better, brighter one at that. Thank God for that!

Sometimes, it's the little things

Today I made a fantastic discovery, deep in the dark quarters of our basement. A discovery that will surely change our lives forever (well, at least the next few months for sure). But first, let me start at the beginning...

Two years ago, Andi bought me an electric blanket for my birthday. I remember something like "blah blah blah ... it's waaaay to cold here ... all I want for my birthday is an electric blanket" and he finally got me one. I was ecstatic. It was even a high-tech electric blanket with controls for heat on each side of the bed. (We, too, have the classic man is always hot / woman is always cold debate in our house). So after receiving the blanket, I excitedly put it on our bed and used it daily ... almost refusing to turn it off because it was so nice and toasty. Andi had to peel me out of our bed, literally - if I could have spent every waking (and sleeping!) moment in our bed, I surely would have.

And then?

You guessed it. Much whining ensued by my husband "blah blah blah...it's too hot...you never get out of bed and sores are surely in your future" (OK- I made up the last part!) until I finally agreed to take it off our bed. I stuffed the electric blanket in a tote somewhere in our basement and forgot all about it.

Cut to winter 2009/2010: I swear it's colder this winter than it ever has been. Maybe I'm just getting older and turning into an even bigger weeny. But even Andi's freezing which makes me think the weather is frightful. Two nights ago we were laughing about it; Andi wore to bed wool socks, his warmest sweatpants, a t-shirt and hooded sweatshirt. I wore wool socks, slippers, sweatpants, longsleeve shirt and a stocking hat (OK, the hat was just to be funny). We joked that babies are probably rarely conceived in Minnesota during the wintertime because it's too damn cold to take your clothes off! Ridiculous.

And then today, I remembered the electric blanket. Ah yes, the glorious electric blanket! How could I have so quickly forgotten? After some digging, I found it folded ever-so-nicely in the basement. I put it on the bed, along with some fresh flannel sheets. When Andi comes home tonight, he's going to be so happy. And this time, I think he's going to like it ...

You're wishing your life away

Ever heard this saying? Sometimes I feel like I do that - wish my life away. So excited to skip ahead, I forget to smell the roses along the way. I thought about this saying a few times over the weekend as I was having fun with our couple friends on new year's eve, or while I was getting a much-needed massage on Saturday with some girlfriends.  Why can't I enjoy where my life's at today? I should soak up all the fun we're having as a newlywed couple; flying by the seat of our pants, traveling where we want, eating out every night if we feel like it, having money to buy all the things we think we need.  All this will change someday when we have a little one.

But I can't help myself for wishing that day was tomorrow.

So another new year's resolution I'm destined to break: slow down; soak up life to the fullest; enjoy being married to the best husband ever. Think I can do it?

Hockey Tourney - Duluth

Today was our last day in Duluth and the second day of Andi's pond hockey tourney.  After the boys left at the wee hours of the morning to setup for the tournament, the girlfriends and I slept in, went to lunch at Pizza Luce and then headed to the site to check out the event.

I am so proud of Andi for pulling together such a cool tourney! Ten teams participated in the event and over 200 people stopped by to spectate. Two Duluth news crews were even there to cover it.
Here's a few photos from our day:

Twin Ponds Ice Rinks

Me - Bundled up for the freezing Minnesota outdoors

Andi & I (with the city of Duluth in the back drop)

Charlie - Andi's partner in the event
(next to the pimp event Ranger)

These are Charlie's boots. Think it was a little cold there?

Yep folks, that's ICE

Derrick & Ellie

Only six more weekends of tournaments for Andi ... which isn't so bad. By the time he's done with this event, it'll be spring!

Here's to Health (and Beer)

This morning when we woke up in Duluth it was -22 degrees. That's right, -22 degrees without wind chill. It's unreal why we CHOOSE to live here. Andi was up bright and early to get to his event site and kick off the first day of the open play hockey tournament. I was worried for him (and the rest of the players) because it was so cold ... at what point is it not OK to be outside in temperatures like that? In Duluth - it doesn't seem like temperatures matter. No one was phased and Day 1 of the tourney was a success. Or so Andi says ... cuz us girls were at the spa!
My friends Ellie, Sarah, Kendall and I decided to hit the spa while our boys were freezing their behinds at the event. We arrived around 11am and each had massages/facials/pedicures which was an all-day affair.

Sarah & Ellie waiting for spa treatments

Kendall getting a pedicure

After the spa, we went across the hallway for beers and lunch. Super healthy, we know. We had a great time catching up, telling stories and nourishing our very relaxed bodies. The poor boys, meanwhile, we're frozen to death and wrapping up the event.

Tonight, we went to dinner with the entire group (hockey guys and all) and then hit the hot tub afterwards for one last beer. Once you're married you're definitely not out to impress - this was Andi's attire to the pool. Very sexy ...

Just another night in Duluth ...

Tomorrow we're braving the cold for Day 2 of the hockey tournament. Brought my snow pants, boots, scarf, hat, gloves and the warmest winter coat I own. Hope I'll survive ... and the event goes well!

Happy New Year!

Well, it was an interesting New Year's Eve celebration for sure.
We spent our night in Duluth with our friends Derrick & Ellie, Brian & Melissa, Charlie & Katie and Josh & Katie. After much consideration about what to do, we opted for dinner at Hell's Kitchen which was just across the street from our hotel in Canal Park. The restaurant was slow and we had our own little party room which made it feel as if we had the whole place to ourselves. Food was good, cocktails were flowing and we laughed loud enough for everyone to know it was New Year's!

Derrick and Ellie sipping martinis

Andi goofing around inside a skeleten statue outside the restaurant

After dinner, we contimplated where to go to ring in the new year. There were plenty of options, but none of us wanted to risk taking a cab home (and waiting 2+ hours for the seven cabs that run the streets of Duluth). We asked what the closest bar to the hotel was (considering it was 2 degrees outside and we weren't up for a marathon walk home in 3 degree weather) and the answer? Saratoga Strip Club.

...and so we went to the Toga. Pretty seedy; felt like a VFW inside but we took it for face value and bellied up to the stage for the show. We had a great time actually; it's easy to have fun wherever you go when you're rolling with a crew of 10. Shortly after the clock ticked midnight, Andi and I bailed and walked back to the hotel. The rest of our friends continued on to another bar about half a mile down the road. Last laugh this morning as everyone else was hungover and Andi and I felt great.

So it was definitely a different kind of New Year's. But fun none the less. Here's to 2010 - may you keep the adventure alive!