Lance does RAGBRAI

RAGBRAI was one of the best weeks of my life 9 years ago. Picture tens of thousands of cyclists invading small towns in Iowa for 6 days (if your town only has 500 ppl, it's a big difference), roadside stands of pork chops on a stick, little church ladies selling pies for .50 cents a slice, beer gardens at every stop and LOTS of corny Iowans (hardy har). There's something about the hysteria that brings out the sweetness and the down-home goodness of the Iowa people. I grew up in Iowa, so I am allowed to admit this.

Anyway, Lance Armstrong is doing 2 days of the ride this year to support his cancer efforts. It's pretty funny that he is being stalked eating pies, drinking a beer, cruising right past and NOT buying watermelon from the Boy Scouts. You can read about it here: http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060727/NEWS08/60727019/1001/NEWS01

Words No Woman Wants to Hear

I have this weird bump on my eye. When I went to see the eye doctor about it, she said it is just something that happens "when you reach a certain age." WTF? I am only 29. I cringe thinking of the number of times I will hear this phrase in the coming years. Yeesh! Anyway, I have a
pinguecula (pin gwe' cue la) which is "a benign, yellowish growth that forms on the conjunctiva. They usually grow near the cornea on the nasal side. Pingueculae (plural form of pinguecula) are thought to be caused by ultraviolet light and are most common among people who spend a great deal of time outdoors." It's not a big deal at all and very small.

God really answers prayers. I had a super fun time last night and met some nice girls at ladies night on the top deck at whole foods. We got a bunch of bottles of wine, plastic cups, manchego and brie, grapes and olives, bread and chocolate and played dominoes. As I said, super fun. Twas nice to talk about bras and beauty products for awhile.

AC: Adventure

Wednesday Musings

I am bored and I just discovered that I really like Cheetos crackers. Left is what they look like. If you are interested, check out your local vending machine. Should I be eating them? No. Why did I get them? Because I made the mistake of ordering from a Greek place at the food court with my sister over lunch and they didn't speak English very well. I wound up with a very small falafel and some cold beans because I didn't know what I was doing.

Weekend in Corpus was great. Stayed up way too late on Friday night after our delicious meal. Got attacked by some blood hungry coastal TX mosquitos all over my body, despite the bug spray. Went to the beach with the kiddos and cooked hotdogs and ate my first chili dog of my life. I was again mystified by the oil rigs in the gulf. When you swim there, you picture fish swimming by with four eyes or something a la the Simpsons. Here is a lovely picture of refinery row which you drive by on your way into town. Ah the emerald city.

I am super duper antsy for this week to be over. Karen's wedding is this weekend in Milwaukee. I talked to her the other day and she sounded so happy and excited, which in turn makes me even more happy and excited for her. We fly in to Chicago on Friday afternoon and then drive up to Milwaukee. I can't wait for DH to hang with the ladies and see my college town. Milwaukee rules and my friends need to spend more time getting to know my man. We are staying at Ang's and hopefully there will be lots of Chick bonding, a la a return to living together in our college days. Can't wait. I am wearing my peach dress and will be either drinking wine or mixed drinks depending on what they are serving. You really should have a drinking plan for each event you attend as far as I am concerned.

AC: Courage

4th of July pics

we had a party on our porch on the 4th. it was our first newlywed gathering:














there were a lot of people on our little porch l-r holly, kim, belinda, gina, kara, alex, jeff, jt and seaj:














let me see your grill was the theme. look at the absolute mastery of the grill this man has:














here are my nieces and nephew at the lake: baby brooke with evan, carly, kayla and avery.