River Update

We've been going to the lake for walks...A LOT.
Riv is not crazy about riding in the car but she's getting better.

All in all things are going very well at home. She did try to eat a Chiahuahua and one of my masters rowers so she can't go back to rowing practice until she'll keep the muzzle on.

She's sweet but a little crazy.

Little Drummer Boy

(the videos don't have sound...bummer)

There is a small music store in Lawrence.

One of Andrew and I's favorite places to spend 30 minutes...looking around.

Today we wandered in and he asked if he could play the drum.

So he did.

He played and played and played. For an almost 7 year old he was pretty impressive.

In the middle of all the drumming his mother called. She could hear the drumming and we had a discussion about an upcoming birthday.

This drum set is headed to Shawnee so one little drummer boy can practice "every, every day".

Shhhh...it's a suprise. He thinks I was just paying for drum sticks....

Spring

= Busy

The New Kid

"I just want her to be happy,"

Kimmy said to me on the phone. Her voice full of emotion.
This is her girl.

She lives with me now.

I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure she's happy.

(and to make sure she behaves...)

The Stupid Grin On My Face

There are some things going on in my life that have put a stupid grin on my face that I just can't seem to get rid of.

Many of you know that I rowed at KU when I was in college. It was probably my favorite time in my life. I loved be a part of the KU Crew team. I loved working hard. I loved winning. I loved rowing.

I went on after college to row at the elite level. I trained and competed with the United States Rowing team on and off for several years. I won a few national championship medals, raced at 3 Olympic trials and made a World Championship team where I had the privilege of competing with some of the fastest scullers in the world.

I returned to Kansas after my rowing days, got a job, began coaching and have always tried to support the KU Crew in any way I could. I cheer their successes, I spend hours on the phone with the coaches after their defeats. We loan each other boats, we trailer together.

Last Saturday they opened their new Boathouse. A long time coming. A beautiful building and a great group of kids and coaches. They asked for a photo of me as I am one of only 3 athletes from KU Crew to make a US National Team.

The photo now hangs in the hallway leading to the crew locker rooms. A place where all the kids can see. Where they can see what is possible.

Humbling.

I just got a phone call from the Crew coach.

They are naming a boat after me.

I'm floored.

And that stupid grin.

It'll be around a while.

(PS...when they christen the boat...you're all invited!)

Bizkit the Sleep Walking Dog

TOOOOOOO Funny

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss

Dedication Of The New KU Boathouse

http://kuathletics.cstv.com/view.gal?id=43484



Check out picture #16.

Here They Are

Krewe of Tucks 2009 - Mardi Gras New Orleans

Here is our Parade. We are the very last float. You can see Gina some at the very end. She's on top next to the front of the last car.
I'm on the other side...
(as soon as I shake this bug...I PROMISE I'll post more)

Stay Tuned

Mardi Gras post coming soon....
(patience people, patience)

My New Captain

Say it with me people...'no adult supervision'.

Seriously though...he's a good guy, smart and motivated and we're having a lot of fun.

Happy Valentines Day

A Little Rock Chalk

Whew.

KU 85 K-State 74
KU was down as many as 16 in the first half.
After losing to Missouri on Monday...a loss today would have REALLY hurt.
20 and 5 on the year and a lot of basketball yet to be played.

Better...And Hungry

Pizza just sounded good. I think I needed something with strong flavor after 3 days of 7-up and saltines.

I ate two thirds of the pizza...in the car before I got home.

I'm feeling MUCH better!

(and Cindy, I hope you are starting to feel better, too.)

9 Pounds

Yep...9 pounds.

That's how much weight I lost while visiting friends in Minneapolis.

(yes, Mom I was in Minneapolis when I was sick. Somehow in the feverish phone call I didn't communicate that to you....sorry)

How? How did I lose so much weight in 2 days, you ask?

Well...I had a wonderful little stomach virus.

Complete system purge you might call it.

Great fun.

Donna had a funeral to attend and I went along to help her drive, keep her company, visit some friends of ours and keep her up all night as I vomited up the roots of my toes.

There was a lot of laundry, quality time on the cold tile floor in the basement bathroom, fever, chills, not much whining as I didn't have the energy for speech and a poop story that is, in a very twisted way, perfect for a Saturday Night Live skit...one requiring hazmat suits. (that's a girl's weekend story, gals!)

I'm home, lighter and trying some toast for breakfast.

We'll see how it goes.

Repeat

Haven't I posted several times in the last few weeks about napping?

Thought so...

So, I have this job. And we've been on a great run for several months. Running a bit during the day and sleeping all night.

And then it stopped.

Abruptly.

Painfully.

I feel like I lose a portion of each 1st day off just to catch up on sleep I didn't get the night before.

I'm not whining. Really.

Just sleepy.

And this sleep deprivation is starting to interfere with my desire to work out.

So.

Here I sit on the couch. Wanting to go take a nap. Needing to go see my crazy little nephew. Not planning to go to the gym.

TOO Much Love?

Okay...so most of you know how many animals are living at my house right now and understand how it happened...so no snarky comments about the shear, mind boggling number...kay?

Yesterday I needed a nap. We'd not slept much at the station and...well, I just needed a nap.

I curled up in bed with my book and my short legged girl Maggie. She mostly sleeps on the floor as she's the only one of the 6 who can't get on the bed without help. I needed some Maggie time.

Soon my boys joined me. Gus at my left shoulder and Jack at my right.

Then Manda's kids wandered in, Cyrus down by Maggie and Tasha on the opposite side.

Rescue decided she didn't want to be left out so up she came...stepping on Jack in the process.

Jack, displaced and looking for a spot, climbed right on top of me and lay down.

At this point all I could think was "I'm so glad they all love me, it's nice to have a warm, snugly body (or several) to nap with."

"But couldn't someone love me from the living room."

Faker

I think Jennifer Hudson just lip synced the National Anthem...
Seriously.

Whispering

I've been Dog Whispering to Kimmy's crazy mutt River.

Kimmy and her boys are in Texas and I've been checking in on River and Bobo. So River and I have been going for walks. She's amazing. Really smart. Only needs correcting once or twice before she get it.

This morning, when I went over to let her out for a while, when I let her out of her kennel...she ran to the front door instead of the back.

I think she's diggin the walks.

Me too.

One Reason A Day Off Is Good

I had the day off yesterday...and today...and the day before yesterday when this fun little job began. I took my camera down this afternoon and took some pictures. There's not much interior work being done due to the dangerous conditions. Lots of standing around watching hose lines and freezing.

The guys are watching the bulldozer turn some of the still burning building over onto itself.

It's crazy cold out there!
There are master streams set up to continually put water on the fire.

And I've been home...nice and warm.

Shhhhhh...sleepy here.

1 car fire
1 four hour barn fire.
3 medical calls
1 midnight, "hey, go take a look at this abandoned car and see if we need to do anything..."

Today...napping.

Be Afraid

After I listened to our new president give his speech I spent the rest of the afternoon with this crazy lady.

We used some power tools and then we had a beer.

Be very afraid.

Good Luck President Obama.

I think you're gonna need it.

I know we need it.

Oh my....I thought I gave up hangovers. Apparently not.

Remind me that the 1st espresso martini is a very good thing. The second should be politely declined and NEVER let them pour that lemony stuff in your glass. It will not end well.

We gathered with our Foodies last night for 4 solid hours of raucous (Donna's word to describe us...inappropriate is...well more appropriate) laughter, yummy, yummy food (can we talk about the twinky surprise) and more alcohol than we needed.

So. Much. Fun.

Dog Crazy

Have I mentioned that I love (LOVEEEEE) the Dog Whisperer?

Oh, right. I have.

So my days at the station have become Dog Whisperer marathons. You see, he's on from 1-2pm and 2-3pm AND on Fridays he's on from 6-7pm and 7-8pm.

And then I get to watch Dog Town.

Where I'd like to live.

Gotta go...commercial's over...

Spoiled

Dogs are absolutely not allowed on the furniture.

Ummm, yeah, right.

Mardi Gras Here We Come

So...I'm going to Mardi Gras.

My sister Gina and I are going to ride on a float...in a parade.

The float has a theme.

Yeah, this dress and some yellow go go boots.

Oh. My. God.

I can eat nothing and must run millions of miles in the next 5 weeks. (like that would actually happen)

This will not be pretty

Tag, You're It

"Let's play tag," I said as we drove to the park.

"Do you know how to play tag?" He asked sounding both unsure and superior.

"Um...Yeah." I replied sarcastically. Like...I was playing tag before your mom was even born.

"Okay, well I'm just gonna go over the rules for you..." He replied.

Little darling...he is so gonna be 'it'.

So...I Got A Life

Okay, maybe it was just for a little while but for the last few days I was kinda busy and some of it was stuff for me.

Yep...that's what I said.

Stuff. For. Me.

Wednesday was a busy day at work and I went to bed early...or...I fell asleep in my uniform, laptop on my lap, TV on. 3 hours later I woke up, brushed my teeth, got a drink, put on my PJ's and laid in bed...unable to sleep. Yeah, like that.

Thursday Andrew and I ran some errands after school, went to the park, hung out a little at his house and then I came home and fed my house wench some dinner. She really likes my mashed potatoes and she'd been up all night with my sick dog so she earned some.

Friday I got up, made some coffee and a list.

And I did everything on the list.

Including a 16 mile bike ride in some unbelievable January weather.

Yesterday was all for someone else but I'll help every time.

And today. Today I went to church and went with my friends Dave and Donna to practice my sad bowling. It's better. But that's not saying much.

Have a good week.

Below Average

My thoughts on bowling.

1. I really suck.
2. It's great fun.
3. I will need to get my own shoes...the whole 'other people have had their feet in these shoes..." eewww.
4. I really suck.
5. We have 14 weeks to improve.
6. Oh yeah...I am not so good.
   

Me reaching for my glass of wine does not mean that I'm about to get up, let you out/in and get you both a treat...

It just means I'm reaching for my glass of wine.

I really need to get a life.

Is it April yet?

Peeeew

Four cats...two litter boxes.

Good times.

Peeeew

"Rescue, are you leaking propane out yo arse?"

I Did NOT...

...just get up and get another blanket so as not to disturb the cat who was laying on the blanket on the back of the couch..

...okay, I did but he looked really comfy...and I was cold.

A Brother

I just found out that one of the guys I work with gave a kidney to his sister for Christmas.

How freaking cool is that.

This Post Doesn't Count

I just realized that I'd posted four times today....must be January.

I need to get a life.

Remind me of this in April.

Smells Like....

I read on the internet that you could get rid of onion smell in your house by boiling vinegar for a few minutes.

You know what...it worked.

Now my house smells like vinegar.

Something Dead

I just gave Maggie a bath. In my bathtub.

I haven't bathed the dogs inside in...gosh, several years. In the summer they get bathed outside with the garden hose and in the winter I PAY SOMEONE. Worth every penny.

But she smelled sooo bad. It had to be done.

The weather was beautiful today and they spent most of the day outside. Maggie spent at least some of the day rolling in something very dead.

It's okay, though, I'm pretty sure the 'something dead' would be the same 'something dead' I saw Rescue eating this afternoon.

I do have the paper towels and floor cleaner on my dresser for middle of the night 'something dead' upchucking.

Just a precautionary measure.

Oh no...the Dog Wisperer marathon appears to be over.

Whatever will I do??

And one of my dogs smells really, really horrid.

It's January and it's 61 degrees outside.

Kansas is so weird.

(And...Janet and Sue...I can now see the floor in the office and I have one bookshelf almost cleaned)

I want to BE the dog wisperer.

(maybe I should watch something else)

oh...

Hi...

yeah, I got nothin...

Because I Cannot Live On Peanut Brittle Alone

I know I said I wasn't leaving the house today but my BFF called and we met for a cuppa. She is, as always, my touchstone. We talked about the year behind us and the year ahead... And since I was out....some groceries were in order. I thought maybe I could sneak in a vegetable or two. Just for good measure.

I am home again...on the couch. The leftover Christmas soup on the stove, doggies at my feet and here I will stay.

Thankful in the waning hours of 2008 for my loved ones, my critters, my health and home. Thankful for my job. Thankful for my Dad's continuing health (we had a little scare today but all is well except a nagging, painful shoulder injury).

Happy New Year everyone...see you next year.

Yawn....

Sorry about not posting picture yesterday. It's the first day I've missed all month....

I spent the day in the car...and when I say 'the day' I really mean the DAY. It's a 9 1/2 hour trip no matter which route we take.

(We had a wonderful time in Texas visiting with the grandparents, aunt and uncles and cousin)

I was going to take a picture of the Welcome To Kansas sign but I couldn't bring myself to stop.

Then I thought I'd take a picture of the boys greeting their parents but I was to busy trying to stand up after sitting for so long.

Then I thought I'd take a picture of my house...maybe with the half unloaded car in the foreground...but I got home, loved on my dogs, patted the cats, talked to Manda and fell unconscious into my bed.

So...I'll take some pictures today...if I get off the couch.

Maybe I'll take a picture of the couch, hmmmmm.

Football In The Dark

With the grandsons of the next door neighbor. Reminds me of a lot of afternoons spent playing with Jeff and Jay Longhoffer....the grandsons of my grandparent's next door neighbor.

We've had a great time and are headed back north tomorrow. See you all soon.

Someone Got An Orange Crate Scooter From Santa