Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Scrappy Bloggage :)

Just thought I would share a couple new layouts completed by me recently:

Pup Parade
This one is for a photo swap I did at ACOT. Doesn't this pupster look fake? Totally the cutest. Full credits HERE.





Hanging Lake
I finally was inspired to scrap a few more old photos. Full credits HERE.


Tippecanoe :) I actually did this one right away, cuz I was totally lovin' the photos. Then I realized I didn't even do a camping re-cap. I will...promise. But for now, enjoy this layout :) Credits HERE


I have more I could share.....but I shall save them for another day :)

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Karin & Pat's Wussified Triathalon

It was a fantastic morning - a cool 63 degrees, with a light drizzle. Its a perfect day for a race really. I'd much rather run in that than a hot sunny day! Pat and I biked down to the start of the event (about three miles away), got all checked in, visited with the neighbor peeps and started our 2 mile walk :) We finished just before the first 10K runner did.....it was about 32 minutes or so. I feel like I did pretty well - kept up the pace even through some mild braxton-hicks contractions and the constant feeling of me having to go pee.

Here's a picture of the fabulous finish line :)


It wasn't as big of an event as I expected, but it was a good vibe, and pretty fun. And, we were back home by 9:30AM, already feeling like we had accomplished a lot for the day. It just feels good to get out and exercise, and still have the rest of the day ahead of you, you know?

So now, all I have to do to complete my mini-wussified triathalon is to take a bath :) OK, so its not exactly swimming, but close enough, right?

Monday, June 18, 2007

He loves me, he really loves me :)

Pat and I are officially registered for a walk/race event this weekend. Wanna know what its for?


Totally not Pat's idea (shocking, I know) :) But I think he's awesome for participating and letting me sign him up. I think I've mentioned before that we live in a very gay friendly area - and some of our new neighbors/friends mentioned that they have signed up for this event - and when we were having our condo BBQ a few weeks ago we were talking how it would be cool for us to do it too. But, since Pat hasn't run in a while, and there's no way in God's green earth your going to get this preggo pants to run, we signed up for the 2 mile fun walk. So we still get to support our friends, and celebrate lesbian and gay pride. And we get a cool T-shirt. Here's last year's design:


I don't think we'll be headed to the Pride Parade though - which is on Sunday (this year's marshall is former NBA player, John Amaechi). We haven't had a lazy weekend to ourselves in a while, so I'm sure we'll just chill and enjoy not doing anything on Sunday.

I think participation in this event officially makes me an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgendered) ally. It kind of makes it sound like a super hero or something. Said in my best action movie promo voice "We're part of the Allied Forces - defending the world against evil wrongdoers everywhere." I'm not much of an activist, but its always nice to stand up for something in some way - even if its just a small donation or gesture like participating in a walk. And, as I read somewhere.....just because I'm straight, doesn't mean I'm narrow.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Weekend plans!

We're going camping this weekend! Somewheres in Indiana - Tippecanoe State Park, I think? I've got to do a bit more shopping and packing yet - but I'm just excited to finally spend some time out of doors :) We'll be headed there with Mike O'Brien and his family - and taking a canoe trip on Saturday. It will be strange since I haven't camped in a while without my parents, and they are the supreme campers - their pop up has everything you need in it! We'll just be tenting it, so we'll see what's up. So far, the weather looks good....if not a bit hot.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

WOW! What a weekend!

Whew! We had a whirlwind weekend! We had a great time (albiet way too short) with Danica and Brad, even though the Tiger's lost. No runs whatsoever....only like, four hits or something ridiculous like that. What a bummer. I did get some fantastic pictures though - and already made a great LO! (click to enlarge)


I also took a zillion photos of Seamus's T-ball game, and hangin' out on the deck at my parents house (Friends and Family Oh My!) Saturday, but I'll have to post those later. OH wait - I did test my camera out and take some pics of Kyle playing pool basketball.....check out his mad skilz.....and my mad camera action! You can see the droplets of water!!! (click to enlarge)

The pictures are still kinda blue for my taste, but I haven't figured out how to get all that right on my camera - its still running on auto mode. Those pictures were shot with continuous shoot - 3 frames per second. I LOVE that option!

All in all - it was a great weekend, even though it involved a TON of driving! We even went to church - two weeks in a row - WOO HOOO!

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Nothing beats Jiffy.


I'm speaking of blueberry muffins, of course. There are a lot of fancy schmancy muffin mixes out there, but none satisfy me like the traditional ol' blue box. Have they even changed thier packaging since 1930? Its rather retro. I've eaten them all my life, but it wasn't until college when I found out they were made in Chelsea, MI (one of my roomates' father worked there - so we always had ample supply in the house). Home grown and yummy goodness!


I just had a major craving for some for dinner - luckily I had a box on hand and popped them in - 14 minutes later delectable golden brown goodness arrived and was ready. *sigh* I adore them just out of the oven, with a nice pat of butter in the middle - melty and ready to go in my belly! I already ate three - but I suppose I should be nice and wait for Pat to get home so he can have some too. *sniff* our house smells so good too! I wonder if they have Jiffy Blueberry Muffin in a candle available somewhere......

heh heh :)

I headed to Wisconsin yesterday to visit some customers. Pretty normal day, I must say. This customer took me to the normal "first visit" lunch spot - a local soup and sandwich place called "Baumgartner's" - we had a fantastic lunch.....great beef and barley home made soup and a fabulous grilled chicken sandwich. Then, I was informed that I must take some cheese home with me. Huh? Yeah, that's exactly what I said. But, I figured its the customers' hometown, so he must be proud of it for a reason.

Turns out Green County, Wisconsin is famous for its Swiss heritage and its cheese. The little joint we had lunch at has been around since 1931 - it was quite the treat, really. I bought some Swiss, Monterrey Jack and 25 year old cheddar (or something like that). I had some of the cheddar today - it would have been even more fabulous paired with a great wine....alas, I did not partake in a glass......

I just thought it was funny. Pat O'Brien and I call Wisconsin "Cheeseland" and affectionately refer to its inhabitants as "Cheeseheads" all the time. I found it rather amusing that I actually purchased Wisconsin Cheese!

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Weekend Beautification :)

We had another great weekend in Chi-town :) Friday I purchased my present for making a baby - a Nikon D40x digital SLR Camera! It came with two lenses, a big memory card, and a fancy carrying case too! It wouldn't have been any fun waiting until after September to get it - so now I can practice and learn so when the baby does come, I'll be an old pro!

Saturday we went to see the Brewers play the Florida Marlins (part of entertaining some customers of mine). Fantastic weather, and very beautiful park!

The good guys lost though. There were lots of home runs :) And beer, brats and polka music. There was no mistaking we were in Milwaukee!

Here are a couple of shots of Prince Fielder (son of old Tiger Cecil Fielder...but apparently they are estranged). We had pretty good seats, 19 rows behind third base, but the zoom lenses that I got with my camera were, I must say, pretty darn cool. Not telephoto or anything, but still cool :) Definitely leaps and bounds above my point and shoot Sony! I've still got lots of learning to do about this camera, but so far shotting in auto mode seems to work out OK (Click on photos to enlarge).

Today we spend beautifying our courtyard with the rest of our neighbors! Pat got to plant flowers. He did it so willingly........


Hey, at least you weren't pulling weeds, man.

After the clean up and planting, we had a little courtyard barbecue, and just hung out visitng our neighbors. We met the other couple who was expecting a baby (I've been trying to meet them for a while now). She had her baby 10 days ago! Cute little dude - its strange to think we'll have one of our own in just over three short months........

Time for sleeping I suppose. Maybe I'll post some kitty photos tomorrow :)