Growing up...

This month has been quite the roller coaster, and life has basically hit me in the face with "you are now an adult" and I've had to deal with a lot of issues I never really wanted to. Some I may not have dealt with in the most adult ways~a few tears, some pouting, denial, etc. But others I have handled in a way I was not sure I would have been capable of just a few years ago, I've stepped up, made tough decisions, and taken on more responsibilities.

Its funny, when I think of myself, in my head, I still see this college aged girl who has no cares in the world, life is easy, and I have no real worries besides how to or who is paying my bar tab that night. Life has a way of waking you up from that illusion whether you want to or not. Sometimes its your friends getting married, getting divorced, or having kids. Sometimes its your parents asking for your opinions on big life decisions, your older siblings depending on you to tell them the truth or its yourself paying your mortgage, medical bills, and car payments.

I have had a few friends who have had babies recently, and my initial reaction is always, "god I am so not ready for that" or "really? Are we old enough to have a kid" but then when I sit back and think about it, I realize I am a lot more capable than I usually give myself credit for. Now, don't get me wrong I am not going out and having a baby tomorrow. Not even close actually! I still want to go out with my friends on weekends, I still want to go to cougar football games in Pullman on a Saturday, I still want to pick up and travel when the urge sets in. But if this month has taught me anything its that when I/we are ready we'll be able to do it, and I'm not as scared as I once was (still a little scared though). Little by little I am growing up.



PS: Jim if you are reading this go ahead and BREATHE! I'm not on the baby track, yet...maybe just thinking about lining up for it;)

Shhh-don't tell Jim...

With Jim's summer break looming on the horizon (its probably more far off for him to think about than it is for me) I have been starting my yearly mental honey-do list for him to take on. Now don't get me wrong I do try to help him as much as possible and I accomplished everything on my list last summer so its not a one-way street. But the reality is he does have the summer off and there is more time for him to get the big things done that I cant do on just the weekends (and he's got muscles, which usually come in handy for our projects). Also, don't feel too sorry for him as he gets to golf as much as he wants during the summer and, for the most part, I don't say anything about that...so its a fair trade off at least in my opinion, he may think otherwise :)

This summer has a lot of BIG projects looming-some we have been putting off for awhile now and others have crept up in my head in recent weeks. I'm not sure if we will get to or even have the money for all of them but here is the list I have come up with thus far:

*finish the back patio (started the last week of summer last year)
*redo our roof
*build a front porch/or fix the front steps (whichever is cheaper)
*reorganize,paint,decorate master bedroom
*decorate 2nd bedroom
*finish downstairs bedroom
*clean/organize laundry room
*clean/organize/decorate office
*get carpets professionally cleaned
*look into kitchen upgrades

Now like I said not all of these are Jim's jobs. For the most part the ones inside will be mine and the ones outside will be his (with the help of good friends and brothers who also have summers off). Also a lot of it will be a process throughout the summer as we save up money to start and complete each task. Some will inevitably be pushed back to later in the year when there is more money, time, and patience and some will be moved forward as needs for certain things arise. Things like a working roof and an entrance to our house that is not crumbling at our feet are my highest priority but also the priciest so I guess we will just see how everything pans out. My goal now that I have written this all out for everyone to see will be to keep you all up to date on the progress we make along the way. And show how much of this list we actually get thru by the start of football season in August.

Team Magdalene...

Please consider donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help find a cure and so my neice, Magdalene, can live a longer life!
http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/dsp_DonationPage.cfm?walkid=6811&idUser=368149

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pows and Wows...

The idea for the post came from my friends (Fuller and Stone) while I was on my random road trip. I love it so much and can't get enough of it so I thought I would make it a regular topic, once a month or so. Its a great way to remind yourself whats good in life and really that the bad is not so bad after all. And its fun! So without further ado here are my first ever Pows(bad) and Wows(good) of the month of March:

WOWS:
Wow-Dawn got Married! It was a BEA-U-TIFUL day in Seattle
Wow-I got to spend some quality time with some of the best gals I know, in Seattle.
Wow-March=March Madness
Wow-I got selected as a participant on a cross country radio contest to watch the Zags play in Buffalo
Wow-I got a free trip across the country
Wow-I got to watch 5 b-ball games in person for free
Wow-I competed for cash prizes along the way
Wow-I knocked 3 more states off of my list of states visited, one unintentionally (Michigan) and the two others on purpose (Ohio and Pennsylvania)

Wow-Seeing Niagara Falls in person!
Wow-I learned I was not nervous at all and actually I LOVE being on the radio :)
Wow-I travelled with AWESOME people!
Wow-I have the most amazing husband for supporting this trip and boss for letting me take the time off

Wow-Buck the Bear=BEST.MASCOT.EVER!

Wow-I had so much support from friends, family, and complete strangers on the trip

Wow- I WON :) hahaha-actually Jordan and I are both winners, but I just like to say that.

Wow-Katie Fuller coming into town this weekend, and Mrs. Myers being back from her honeymoon safely.
Wow-Eating at the first establishment to serve Buffalo wings (Anchor Bar) and eating at the place with the best buffalo wings (Duffs)

Wow-Mini Bowling=greatest bar game. EVER!

Wow-Expanding my musical horizons thanks to Jordan, Slim and Anthony.

Wow-Getting my new Droid

Wow-Getting to say I'm a pretty big deal now and having something to actually back it up with-haha :)

POWS:

Pow-Slim ditching us on the road trip back

Pow-complete and utter sleep deprivation

Pow-getting a cold from travel and lack of sleep

Pow-Driving non-stop from Buffalo-Spokane

Pow-Not getting to see my fave gals all together in one place for a long time!

Pow-Not getting my droid till after my road trip

Pow-no vacation days this summer because of random road trip (totally worth it though!)

Pow-Buck the person!

That's pretty much all I got up to this point. As you can see my Wows far outnumber my Pows and it will be my life goal to keep it that way from now on. If you missed any of my adventure you can check out the official blog at http://www.slimsbigadventure.wordpress.com/ for pictures and videos. Hope you all are having WOW days!

A big THANK YOU...

Hey Guys, well we are getting down to the nitty gritty of this drive and I’m not sure how much longer I will be able to stay awake so I wanted to make sure I got this post out before I passed out. I really just wanted to thank EVERYONE who has been a part of this crazy/awesome adventure. Jay, Kevin, and Slim for picking my application and KXLY broadcasting group for allowing us to do something like this. It really was a once in a lifetime experience and one that I hope to never forget. I also want to thank my boss, Bob, for letting me miss this much work and basically saying I know how rare an opportunity this is so we will figure it out and allowing me to go! I am so grateful to work where I do and with the people I do for covering me while I have been gone. See you guys soon! Of course, I want to thank my hubby, Jim, for being just as excited about this chance as I was and for being supportive while I was gone. I love you!

Most importantly I want to thank all the members of the Zagoneer. Slim and Anthony for driving us all over this country. Jordan for keeping Slim distracted and entertained and for throwing the sweet beats all the way to and from Buffalo. Kat for being a great roommate and a great sport about how everything went down. The way you handled everything shows your true character (ps-dont let the haters get you down)! You ALL made this trip what it was and with other people it could have been an entirely different experience. So thank you for being such fun, outgoing, adventurous people. I will never forget this or you-and hopefully we can reunite somewhere down the road again.

And finally to all the followers of this blog-Wow!!! Thanks for all the support,comments,texts and phone calls. If we were able to keep you half as entertained as we were throughout the past 7 days I would call it a success. It’s amazing to think that so many people were listening to us and reading what we had to say so hopefully we did not disappoint! It really was a once in a lifetime experience and hard to put into words how much fun I have had; i tried my best to convey the experience here and I hope you all can tell how appreciative to everyone I really am.

Until we meet again,

T-out

Lowlights and Highlights of Day 3....

Lowlights

40 minute detour which included indiana to michigan to indiana (with time zone changes) and driving in a complete square.
60 mph speed limit
just missing Lebron in Cleavland
Highlights:

Waking up to a BEAUTIFUL Chicago skyline
Better odds in on-air competitions
FINALLY leaving Chicago!
Taking away Jordan's whitecastle virginity
Jordan figuring out "who has the hat!"
Figuring out the back seats recline after 3 days in the car
Taking a 40 minute detour thru Indiana and Michigan and Indiana
Aforementioned detour leading to Harry Buffalo Bone (where the bartenders get drunk)
A private jewelry showing for Slim at said Harry Buffalo's
Having AM1000 take us from Chicago all the way to Ohio (also John Thompson's commentary)
$19 in change with Sacacajewa gold coins from the toll booth
Paying 9 of the said coins back to the toll troll within a half hour
DJ ;azy J laying down the fresh tracks i.e Anya Marina (Google It, peeps)
Tara the gas attendant and her devil spawn children
T money drunk dialing Katie Fuller and Slim talking to her about her "friends"
Meeting a "world-renowned" sports journalist who hates the zags but somehow loves cornhole?
Sending picture texts and getting to finally talk to Theresa's husband, Jim.
Less potty breaks, more potty humor (T-bone is SO crass)
Drunk dialing T's friends and telling them they are "live on the air with Jay and Kevin"
Reading everyone's hilarious comments!
And its only midnight...more highlights, less lowlights to come!
LIFE IS GOOD TODAY

Day 3 on the Big Adventure...

Lots of Drama today as we left Kat behind in Chicago. She went out with her boyfriend last night and never showed back up at the hotel. SOOO out she goes! Oops. Check it all out on the official blog www.slimsbigadventure.wordpress.com and leave me a comment when you do!