Showing posts with label Fun and Unusual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fun and Unusual. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

A New Hobby

Not long after turning 30, I started to get kind of antsy.

I had a harder time with 31 than I did with 30. At that point I started talking about the desire to try new things in my life and find things I'd enjoy that would somewhat take me back to my roots.

Perhaps that's why I get a bit misty-eyed every time I pass a horse.

I went shooting with my brother and dad and to the batting cage with my dad and best friend Tracie on my dad's 60th birthday in Oct 2010. That really got me even more fired up for more new stuff. It was all soooo cool and a great return to my roots!!!!

Now here's the thing... I've talked about wanting to try something like fishing for a while. For some reason it wasn't something we did growing up, but since I'm not near the woods and can't attempt hunting, playing capture the flag with my cousins, etc, I'm trying something I didn't do as a kid but that still takes me back to the country-like living with being outdoors, by the water, etc.

I'd managed to talk about it just long enough that last Fall my dad bought me a starter's fishing book. He also programmed his phone to remind me this May to take a class at a local outdoors store that would be holding classes. While those classes were cancelled for the year, I did learn of their Spring fishing weekend a few weeks ago. I'd been mulling over whether or not I'd be able to pop in to give it all a whirl.

At this point, I knew I wanted to try something new and outdoors-y, and I knew all I had to do was briefly mention it to my dad before he started pressing the subject and encouraging me to go and give fishing a real try.

After all, it's something he's always wanted to do but never did {and is now enjoying living vicariously through me!}.

So I went to L. L. Bean's big Spring fishing weekend where they had seminars, a big sale, and so on. I watched a guy do fly-tying for a while and he really helped me get into it, despite that it was overwhelming. I kept telling him and the other guy standing there that I was a beginner, but it didn't stop them from using a gajillion terms I didn't understand.

I admit I was thankful when I got to walk away from that craziness. Talk about baptism by fire - yipes! As a beginner I quickly learned starting with fly fishing would NOT be the way to go, no matter how much the guys at work talk about this as if it's the ONLY way to fish.


That ain't happening... at least not to start!


After doing some exploring and asking questions at L. L. Bean, I walked away, thought some, and I called to check with my dad to see what he thought and we had a good long talk about it. He said if I didn't end up liking it, he'd even buy the stuff off me. I'm doubting that'll happen, but still it's good to know, thanks dad!

So I went back over, determined to proceed before they closed at 6 for the night. I had an hour, so I thought I was good. But then Carl, their mega-into-it dude started teaching me everything he could in an hour. This guy was more my style as he slowly walked me through teaching me about the spin rod, helping me get the line into the rod, taught me how to tie several types of knots, tested me and had me keep redoing them, and finally ended with a parking lot lesson on how to cast. We barely wrapped up before 6, but thankfully they didn't mind me hanging past closing.

I seriously love that place. When I'm bored or homesick, all I have to do is walk around that store.



I was super excited but my head nearly wanted to explode by the time it was done.

But I still got to talk to my favorite manager there, Michelle, who helped talk me into it last Fall along with my dad, and she helped finalize my purchases, talked to me about going fishing with group outings there, etc. So I felt better and determined.

Next up, learn what to do after catching the fish since all they did was teach me what to do leading up to that point. 

And I bought some goods to get me started! :) Whoop whoop, sooo excited!!!!


To answer some questions I've been getting on Facebook... yes, I'll gladly touch the fish, gut them, do whatever, I don't care... but since around here the only recommended form of catching fish is catch-and-release {too much gook in the water and what not - and yes "gook" is the technical term....}, I think I'll be waiting a long time before I get to explore all that. Besides, I'd probably manage to leave a bunch of bones in there, which would be interesting but not fun for whoever is with me eating it! 

Tim is convinced I'm going to hate fishing since I hate watching baseball because it moves sooooo slowly. Trust me, there's a difference. And no, he does not want to go with me, not interested at all. 

I'm determined to love it but I was hesitant to get my fishing license for some reason. 


But this past Friday night after work I decided on a whim that I just had to do it. 


Now I'm legit! Look out fish!!! 





Monday, March 26, 2012

Taking Out the Trash

My brother and I learned household chores at a very early age.


Back then it was fun.

What happened?!?

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Sunburn

Today we had a spontaneous, wonderful visit from Tim's brother, his wife, and their 4 kids.

It was SO much fun and really relaxing, and it was great to finally catch up with them for the first time since new year's. Granted, most of the time Tim's brother was, thankfully, working hard on our basement room....

The rest of us were outside for the bulk of the 5 hours they were here. Tim spent a good chunk of time putting together his new grill that we got for Christmas from my mom & stepdad, and then also grilling.

I stayed mostly in the shade because I know how sick the sun makes me. Tim didn't watch his sun intake despite that his fair skin burns very easily despite sunscreen, and as a result, yes he got sunburnt. Shocker.

What was really surprising was hours later when we were assessing the damage and saw where the worst of the burn was.


Can you tell he was wearing sandals??

Of course I had to take a pic of him taking the above pic.


Then we laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed.


That's just how we roll.



Friday, March 16, 2012

Motorcycles



Motorcycles by mgink


                        Motorcycles, a photo by mgink on Flickr.



We grew up traveling around the country.

We saw lots of car accidents - and definitely our share of motorcycle accidents. I have flashes in my memory of what I saw along the side of the road with those motorcycles.

So I'm terrified when I learn that someone I love has one.

Terrified.

My dad has had a motorcycle for years, much to my chagrin. But I support his desire to have one in the sense that it makes him really happy and he loves it. But I still would rather not think about it much.

I get that you have to be smart about it, some that wind up in those serious accidents my have done a quick maneuver where they weren't seen by another car, etc. I know my dad is a smart man and he will handle it well. It still gives me the heebie-jeebies though, and I still won't ride on it with him.

So you can just imagine my squeal of delight {ahem} when on the phone last night with my dad, he casually mentions something about his bike and then he says "and your brother's bike".

WAIT!!!! WHAT?!?!??!


Dad very quickly tried pretending he hadn't said anything {which he did not get away with}… but you'd better believe the moment we hung up I called my brother to give him a ridiculously hard time.

And to beg him to reconsider.

I could always count on my wonderful sister-in-law Jeremi to hold her own with Tim and stand strong against personally ever owning a motorcycle.

In what appears to be a serious lapse in judgment or an overload on her brain… she caved.

My dad pointed out that my brother is a solid, smart man who won't go crazy.

I kindly pointed out that we are talking about the same guy who took a pallet boat out on the Mississippi River, and also drove cross country with some college buddies in a car that was duck-taped together, including the gas tank.

Dad laughed and said good point. My brother laughed and reminded me that he's all grown up now.

I'm not thoroughly convinced, but being a dad three times over and a full-time pastor… I suppose….

In love, I told him to just be safe and that I'm glad it makes him happy.

I don't promise to get on board anytime soon though!

But hearing this news excited my husband, thinking that since Jeremi caved, he'll be able to get me to cave eventually.

He can keep dreaming.

I'm not one of those hoity-toity women who won't let their husbands do stuff, but seriously… getting a motorcycle is as far away from my mind as the possibility of me going to the moon.

So if someday I somehow give my husband the go-ahead to get a motorcycle… you all have permission to come check and make sure I'm okay, because it probably means I've fallen and cracked my head open.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Pinterest

I didn't get it at first. I still have trouble explaining it to hubster.

But I'm totally addicted. It's so inspiring!! Seriously, love it.

And there's some pretty funny stuff on there too... like this, which I just can't stop laughing at:


Source: piccsy.com via Pinterest



Mwahahaha! 

Have you gotten into Pinterest yet? Does it feel like just another thing to add to your checklist like it did me? Well, let me say from experience once you get on it, you won't stop! :) 


Thursday, December 29, 2011

Now that Christmas is over...

...I finally found my stash of my favorite Christmas CD's!

I'd put them, of course, where I'd be able to find them easily.

And then forgot where I put them.


They were already in my iTunes playlist, but I didn't have any Christmas CD's for my car except 1 new one and much as I love David Crowder, playing the same one over and over and over was getting to be too much! So now I have them for my car. YAY!!

And yes, I'm still playing them, despite Christmas being over! I have a strict rule of not listening to Christmas music until a day or two before Thanksgiving {helps get me in the spirit of Black Friday shopping!} but once Christmas is over I still play Christmas music {and leave up the decorations in my house} for as long as I feel like it, usually a few days up to a couple weeks. There was one year we left our decorations up until early February! It was fun. :)

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Funny sign

In the midst of our funny pictures around the pumpkin patch/farm place on Saturday, my stepdad saw this hilarious tombstone/sign and decided to have a "dead" look on his face for his picture. I absolutely love it; it cracks me up!!!!

Monday, October 17, 2011

A Local Pumpkin Patch & the Kid in Me

A sneak peak of part of our weekend...

Local farm.
Pumpkin patch.
Corn maze.
Rides.
Yummy fall food.
Kids everywhere.
Picturesque scenes all around...
for the kids. 
I don't have kids.

So I unleash the kid in myself and in my mom.... 





And then I got hungry.


I have no shame.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Denny's New Cheesy Menu

The Denny's new cheesy menu commercial came on TV last night as we were laughing at Ellen DeGeneres's antics on Jay Leno.

In particular, the Mac 'n Cheese Big Daddy Paddy Melt grabbed our attention.... and how I wish I could find a picture of it for you. Instead head over to their website. You've got to see it to believe it.

Here's how our conversation went upon seeing this and our jaws dropped.

Me: "That's disgusting... and yet my mouth is salivating."

Tim: "I'm laughing at it and you're thinking... GENIUS!"

Indeed.


*Note that I received no compensation for this in any way, I just genuinely got a kick out of this and had to share!*

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Away with Summer


This past weekend was considered to be the big farewell to Summer weekend, but for me, Summer went away a couple weeks ago.

When I start seeing school buses, passing through the school zones at a slower speed, getting stuck in way more traffic, and seeing the daylight hours lessening rapidly... I know summer is over.

I feel like I did my best to soak in every ounce of this Summer that I possibly could, given how hot it was. So I don't feel this time like it unfairly zoomed by. While I don't like Summer when it's super hot, I do like the amount of daylight, lighter traffic, flip flops, tank tops, shorts/skirts, excuses to BBQ, chances to enjoy local riverfronts, and so on.

Now it's at that point in the year though where we just know it's going to go up to 90 one day and down to 40 the next. I'm hoping that's not the case, I loveeeee the gradual decline in temps {really, a good month in the 60's would make me super delighted!!}. But thankfully this has been one beauuuuutiful week!!


I am truly super excited for Fall {despite the flare-up in my allergies and the dread of Winter that comes along after it} and the temps that come with it, the gentle breeze, the beauty of the leaves, the pumpkins, the apple-picking and yummy baking, occasional campfires and S'mores, and the feeling of freedom that comes with it.


Ahhhhh, sweet, sweet Fall, how you excite me!!!!


Are you ready for Fall, or are you wishing Summer would stick around a bit longer?

Monday, August 15, 2011

My Crazy Week in Review

I can hardly help but apologize for my previous post. I hate being a downer! :( But I also don't think it's fair to not completely be honest with you about the ups and downs of my life. So, thank you friends for letting me be real!

Okay... on to more exciting things!

Last Saturday I babysat Parker. We had a load of fun together while he was awake. He loves washing his hands, getting out his little red stool, and putting it away when he's done. It is SO cute!


We had loads of fun just hanging out together and playing.



Spent time cleaning closets. No pictures. Trust me you wouldn't want them right now. D.i.s.a.s.t.e.r.

Sunday I fought a nasty migraine headache. All week dealt with bad sinus issues, and messed up weather {but I must admit I'm loving the coolness!}. It's made sleeping and breathing quite difficult!

Monday night I helped friends move stuff by organizing, carrying a drawer through the rain across the courtyard from Annemarie's apartment to Abigail's new one, held open doors, and hung out with Annemarie afterward. {We all work together, Abby's moving to where Annemarie lives now but won't be living in 3 weeks when she moves to WA :(, and Annemarie offered Abby their desk.}


After leaving Annemarie's house, I went to see Brian, Monica, & Parker. We had fun tickling and loving on Parker for the next hour or so. Here he is giving us his insanely adorable laugh! :)


Tuesday I worked from home through a myriad of pain, and got a lot of stuff--I'm so thankful I work at a place where this is allowed!

Wednesday I celebrated Annemarie's birthday with her by taking her out to lunch and hanging out together for a while after work. She's 25 now!


We aren't quite sure how we're friends as I loveeeee chocolate and she hatesssss it. So we split an apple cobbler a la mode at Chili's for dessert and yummmmoooooo!!!! :) That stuff was amazing.


Our final birthday lunch together. So bittersweet.


On weeks like these, I use all the help I can get for dinner!!!


Thursday we said farewell to our wonderful coworker Danny. Tough stuff. We had a little farewell party for him in the morning. It is SO hard to see him gone! But we're praying for his next steps as he trains to be a pastor.




I made some cinnamon rolls for the event. Yum. :)


Our special tea time groupies :) {albeit this isn't even half of them}. We have tea time every morning & afternoon, especially in non-summer months. I don't drink it very often, but it's still a fun thing to be involved in.



Surprise!




A little awkward moment and some quietness from Danny {which says a lot cuz he's not a quiet dude}, and I think he was just feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion, so being the not-shy person that I am {and trying to help him out with the emotional aspect} I couldn't resist saying "Now you know how us women feel at all those showers!"

*laughter* Hey at least it lightened the mood. :)


**I rarely feel awkward with silences, I think comfortable silences or pauses to collect your thoughts is perfectly normal and something we need instead of just speeding through life & conversation. But I feel badly when I can sense that others are feeling awkward, so I tend to run full speed ahead with trying to help them feel relaxed. In this case, after I kept yakking a bit and sensed that it was overkill, I elbowed my coworker Tim next to me and asked him to help me shut up! ;) **



So humble and gracious, you could tell the emotion of the day was getting to him. We couldn't help but give him a gift with his favorite teas, which was a huge blessing to him. We love Danny & look forward to seeing him again when he's back in the area in a year after going through his pastoral training!



Thursday after work, I took a friend/coworker to Chicago's Midway airport. I'm so used to taking people to O'Hare that it doesn't phase me at all now and I think it's fun! This was my first time taking someone to Midway and it's definitely even more fun! It's just longer and harder to get to from where I live, but it's still fun, and I enjoyed the chance to explore another part of Chicago. LOVE it!!



Nice view from the unloading zone!


Danielle & I :)




Friday I had lunch with a monthly group of coworkers and it was a lot of fun! This was a long work day for me, about 12 hours, and afterward I went straight home and crashed. Friday's lunch was really, really great, and I'm so thankful for such a fun group of coworkers! Since our coworker Don had to miss it, the rest of us decided we had to take a bunch of pictures to show him later of us dipping our cheese curds in frozen custard at Culver's. So fun!!





AJ, Tim, me, & Abigail 


At the end of the day, our designers decided to prank our coworker Amy {this happens a lot} who was on vacation all last week. She was raised in a foreign country with missionary parents in her youth years, and loves all things America. But with her additional love of this other country, we just like to tease her about America... and hence:










Saturday, I had an amazing chiropractor appointment. It was soooo nice!! I felt incredible afterwards. Too bad it's always so short-lived. :( But we made some good progress with some other stuff too, and I'll post more about that later.

Sunday, we went to church and heard a special speaker, Pastor Steven Furtick {lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC, the fastest growing church in America}. He's incredible!!! For just this week, you can check out his sermon here. Keep in mind it was targeting our church, so you may not feel like it's totally applicable, but it'll give you a sense of who he is. You're going to be hearing much more of this guy over the next decade, I'm sure of it!


After that, I went to see a movie with my sister-in-law Becca, and then we met up with her 4 kids and played at the mall's play place and enjoyed some pretzels together, just chilling out. I tried to just soak in every moment with these kiddos, they're so special!





Today the big entertainment at work was one I probably shouldn't share in too much detail, but I wanted you to see that even though we work hard and I talk about how crazy it is, we definitely play too! :) This afternoon the guys were trying to figure out a copying issue and it was soooo funny. There were 4 of us girls just standing back laughing. :)


Wow. The end.

You should win an award if you actually read all of this and looked at more than half the pictures!! ;)