on eating our way out of kirksville

We are so blessed.

As our last day in Kirksville is nearing, I've been overcome by the nostalgic lump-in-the-throat. upon leaving this town 2 years ago, I felt genuinely sad to be graduating from Truman and wished that i didn't have to leave K-Vegas. Well, i got my wish about a year later. But surprisingly, i just wasn't all that excited to move back. I had officially gotten over the grieving stage and now, coming back, I thought I would just feel old and out of place. I felt as though all of my friends had left and in my mind I had already moved on. However, even though a lot of my classmates were not around, the families that I had grown to know were still here, and I forgot just how welcoming, kind, and loving they were. I love hanging out with the couples and friends that we have that are our own age, but there is also something special hanging out with older married couples and their families, being surrounded by pure family joy and wisdom is special and I love soaking it up.

It is sad, though, that now that it is our last week here, we are just now trying to get together with all of our friends. I don't know why we didn't realize that we should've taken advantage of the opportunity to hang out all year, but it never really sinks in until the end. So, needless to say, this week has been jam-packed with the great people in our lives and I think I'm still on a friend-high right now.

Saturday, we went out to a potluck at the Mann ranch. The Manns and Magruders have meant so much to my entire family. My mom taught the mom (Laura) piano lessons when she attended school here and Laura was an incredible woman who welcomed my brother and me the minute we started school here. She would invite us into her home for these AMAZING meals and conversation. Her kids were great and I had the opportunity to babysit them several times.

Sunday night, Jamie and his wife Karen took us out to eat at La Pachanga and they are SO FREAKING COOL (they both have a double-doctorate - one in poetry and the other one in awesomeness). I want to be them when I grow up: down to earth, funny, and extremely nice. Ps. Thanks, Google Images, for helping me find these profile shots. You're the best.



Last Friday's dinner, Monday lunch, and Thursday dinner was spent with Dr. Jesse and John and well...I can't even sum up what they mean to us. Brad and I experienced heaven whenever we'd go there.

They would fix us these elaborate, delicious meals (steaks, salmon, sushi, etc.) and I would have to hold back my groans of delight whenever I took a bite. This, coupled with the fact that some of the best conversations I've ever heard happened at their house, makes me miss being in their presence already.








The past Monday my boss, Nancy, hosted a going away party for me at her home where we ate BBQ, yummy cake, and played Quiddler (I am in love with word games). I will definitely miss my co-workers.

Tuesday night consisted of a large gathering of fellow Truman students/friends: The Jones', Jared, J-Mo, and Mike. It was great to be gathered around the table with them at Il Spazio, discussing everything from politics to puke. This is why I love these people.

Wednesday night we were treated to an amazing home-cooked meal by our newlywed friends, Chris and Marie. Chris used to work on the Hill in St. Louis, so you can only imagine the Italian goodness that we experienced that night. We loved their company and I'm pretty sad that we're leaving, just as we're getting to know them better.

on some food for thought

on getting a cat

I have been an avid fan of dogs* my entire life. Not only did I subscribe to "Dog Fancy" magazine at the age of 11, I would also look in the back of said magazine and order all of the free catalogs I could (the catalogs would range from gourmet doggie treats to hand carved urns for your beloved pooch).

But, as much as I was a dog-lover, I was an even bigger cat-hater. Equating the feline species to Satan's helpers was so natural and I used to say that if I was old and unmarried, I would be a "dog lady" - never a "cat lady". Cats seemed spoiled, sassy, and conniving. I felt as though when they rubbed your leg, it was never a sign of affection, but a sign that "you should feed and/or pay attention to me right now or else I will claw your furniture and your eyes to shreds". Dogs, on the other hand, would do anything for you and ask nothing in return. They are not out to get you or your family members (Lady and the Tramp, anyone?).

So what happened? I found a cat I liked** and there was a warming of my heart similar to that of when the Grinch feels the Christmas spirit. In a split second, I was transformed into this giddy little girl with my old speech impediment, wooing ovew the wittle gwey kitty.

So needless to say, Brad and I are considering getting a kitty (specifications must include: 1. girl, 2. de-clawed). We are unsure as to what we'd name it, but here is the result of my brainstorming:

Matisse, Elle, Bella, Principessa, Frida, Amelie, Sasha, Mia, Simone, or Cat Stevens

I think Cat Stevens is winning right now.

*When I mention dogs, I mean a real-sized dog. None of these "toy" sized things...I file those in the same category as cats. Basically, if I could accidentally step on it and kill it, I don't consider it a dog.

**I also found this, which sealed the deal:

on the creepiest ice cream truck i've ever seen

I usually find ice cream trucks a bit shady, but this one took the cake, so I grabbed my camera to document it. The video doesn't quite capture the music as well as I had hoped (they obviously had speakers that were too small to pump out the music at the seller's desired volume, resulting in a very scratchy, distorted 'It's a Small World'). It did, however, do a great job of showing off how we have to use duct tape to keep the screen door together. Awesome.

This video cracks me up because we went from being totally scared of it, to Brad at the end saying "Stop it! Go stop it!". hahaha. Well played, ice cream man, well played. Your creepy tactics brainwashed us just like you wanted.



After taking the following footage, we ran outside like a pair of sugar-deprived 5 year olds. Once outside, I could see the neighbor kids pouring out of their houses with a look of pure joy on their faces. It kind of melted your heart to see it.
I guess ice cream trucks aren't all bad (but my voice on-camera is. yucky).

on a video that's loud, fast, and 68% funny

pretty entertaining...

on utilizing redbox

For those of you who have not yet heard or taken advantage of the magical redbox, just call me your savior (in a non-blasphemous kind of way). Redbox is a machine located in selected businesses that dispenses new rentals at the low price of $1 per day! It's really great (and 3 dollars cheaper than Movie Gallery).

Disclaimer: If you have a local movie business in town, please support them. However, we are only surrounded by movie rental chains and I have no qualms about not stepping foot in their store.

Pros:

1. You can look up your local redbox online and reserve your movie, therefore guaranteeing the movie of your choice upon pick-up.

2. It's mega-cheap.

3. They provide you with free codes via email and text message if you sign up for the newsletter online. I honestly can't remember the last time I paid for a movie.

A few free codes for you (click on the 'promo code' option before check-out):

FLAGIT

DVDONME

BREAKROOM

BIGMAC508 (McDonald’s location)

GIFT2GO

6TK2A3

REDBOX (New customers)

SMITHS16

MILLER

MEMORIAL

HYVEE (HyVee location only)

JM17RS

Cons:

1. If you don't reserve your movie online, it might be slim-pickins once you arrive. They usually don't have mass quantities of the popular ones, but Waterhorse seems to be readily available each time...weird. I guess people don't like fantasy lake monsters like they used to.

2. The wait in line can sometimes be long (especially on the weekend). But the process is pretty slick (push of a button and a swipe of a credit card), so hopefully the people in front of you know what they want ahead of time.

3. For some redbox renting, you have to step just inside Satan's Palace (McDonald's), so please do not be tempted by the pictures of sundaes and the smile of Ronny D. IT IS EVIL. JUST RENT YOUR DVD AND RUN.

ps. Today is free float day at the Kirksville A&W!!! Go between 2-8 to get yours...we plan to!

on the flooding of iowa

Recently, there has been some nasty flooding happening near my hometown. Some of the footage is so surreal, that I can't quite grasp it. MY stomping grounds is on the news, MY friends, family, and community members are and will continue to be affected by this. Mom just emailed to say that dad's office is being evacuated, as they think it will be taken over by the flooding, soon.
I really wish we were already moved into our Iowa City apartment, helping with the sandbagging. I feel so helplessly stuck down here...


(You can see the music building in which I attend classes, is in the right of very last shot on the video, across from the bridge)

on office productivity

this is what i do at work.

if you are one of the lucky 2500 selected Truman alums who will receive one of these surveys, pleeeeeeease fill it out. if not for truman, then do it for me. i really don't want to have this mind and hand-numbing activity end up in 2500 trashcans.

on selling our amp

If you're interested in buying a large amp, let me know!

We're downsizing.

on giving my husband his yearly buzz

those clippers were one of the best investments we've ever made...

on denying that i have a problem

Thanks to the confrontation/intervention from a concerned relative (who was afraid I was waking up at ungodly hours to get my "blog fix")*, I have found where I can change my time zone preference from pacific to central. This correct time shout-out is for you, Morgan :).
Hopefully, it will no longer look like I'm getting up at 6:00am**.

*I'm thinking an A&E "Intervention" episode about a maniac blogger may not bring in the ratings like the crack addicts do....

**There is NO WAY I would have the ability to type and/or think that early. The "blogging" comes after sufficient amounts of coffee and boredom.

on the worst part of getting your eyes checked

having to look into the machine, knowing you will receive a puff of air into your eye. I HATE IT.

Seriously, I had THE worst time yesterday. At my hometown opthamologist, I at least got to look at a lovely hot air balloon; however, Kirksville plays the game differently. They are so hard core that they make you just stare at a piercing green light, telling you not to blink while they take their sweet time with whatever they are doing. You never know when the puff is coming, but you still have to "open your eyes as wide as you can". I've seen the tv show "24" and I feel like this is some kind of torture that they could use in future shows.

My eye would start twitching in anticipation and each time she'd send the puff-of-death, I'd completely jump out of my seat, getting just a bit more embarrassed each time. I finally had to hold onto the bottom of the chair (no joke) and have her countdown before she did it (which worked better than the sneak attack, but also made me feel like I was 5). I think I only jumped a little and she got her awful glaucoma test in.

And then I had to do the other eye.

On a happier note, we watched "Ghostbusters" last night. GHOSTBUSTERS = CINEMA GOLD.

on appreciating art

During my 1 year hiatus from school, I've taken about 1-2 classes each semester to keep up with my music therapy program. For the summer, I've signed up for an online course -- Art Appreciation. After getting over my initial frustration at having to take a humanities course (apparently going to a liberal arts and science university didn't help me out with this requirement), I've come to realize that I truly enjoy studying art history -- especially modern pieces. I've been googling a few artists and found some pretty entertaining stuff. If you'd like to know what I've wasted my time on for the last 5 minutes, click here: http://www.jacksonpollock.org/ and create your own jackson pollock-esque work, via computer mouse!

It is my goal to finish the course before I have to return the textbook on the 10th (not having to pay $90 for a huge artbook is a really, really good incentive to get things finished early). Since the end of May I've completed the reading assignments for the entire book, wrote a paper, and I took 4 tests in a row yesterday (including the final). Now I just have to finish my scrapbook assignment over van Gogh and I'll be officially appreciative of art!

ps. a quick shout out to Amy and her mom for finishing the dam-to-dam half marathon this past weekend! Brad and I had a great time watching the race and then eating our way through the weekend with her amazing family!