My name is Colleen and I live in a big city. I have a normal job that I could do anywhere in the world. I love it! It makes me laugh and cry and keeps me young. I get crazy excited over little things, but at that rate, I get crazy annoyed by small things too. That is pretty much what this blog is all about...the fun and not so fun. Enjoy!
I promise, I have not forgotten to blog, there has just been a lot going on around here. Ok, so not really a number of events per se, but just a ton to think about and contemplate.
Not sure if it has been mentioned here, but I have the greatest job! Not only because of the day-to-day activities and the people I work with and work for, but because of the HUGE opportunities to grow. This year alone I have had an incredible chance to hear, meet, and interact with such diverse people. Not because of their race or faith or language, but because of their stories and strength and passion. I have been exposed to issues and possibilities that I could not have dream of even in my wildest days. There is so much in my head and I struggle to make sense of it all and get it all out. Some of it makes sense one day and then the next is a complete jumble. On Monday I want to save the world from all suffering and Tuesday I find myself complaining because the fairies did not fold my laundry while I was at work. Before work I am in tears because my birthday (a big one) is just around the corner and it scares me. On the way home, I am motivated to research and help with a global issue that effects people domestically and internationally. It just seems like I am living in a juxtaposition that has me spinning in circles.
So, as you can see, I am writing. I am drafting posts. You will see some of them soon. I promise.
Today is the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Aggie Bonfire. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember ignoring a random phone call around 3:00 in the morning. I remember annoyingly answering a 5:45 phone call from Sis who was getting ready for work hours away. She asked where my boyfriend was and, half-asleep, I told her that he was out at Build. I woke up quickly when she told me that Stack had fallen and early reports were that there were students dead. I remember moving quicker than I had in years to throw on some pants and literally ran across campus to my friends’ dorm. I dated a guy in the Corps all 4 years of college, and he and some members of his outfit were among my closest friends. I was reassured that he was fine, and in fact never went out the night before thanks to an early morning test. Other members of the outfit were not so lucky. A few saw it all happen, some were on Stack itself, some were walking injured, a few were hospitalized, and one gave his life. Everyone dealt with it differently. I guess we still do.
Like I said, I remember it all like it was yesterday. I will spare you the details of hospital visits, trips to the MSC, memorials (campus wide and in small groups), the stream of phone calls to and from anyone and everyone whom we loved, liked, or only once knew. One thing I will forever be grateful for is the fact that Dad had a speaking engagement on campus with the Aggie Fellows Program the next day. Despite it being cancelled, both he and Mom drove down that morning and sat with me at Sweet Eugene’s while news continued to come trickling in from a wide variety of sources. They brought me almost every paper that covered the tragedy. I still have them all. I still have my candle from the vigil that night, one from the Midnight Yell before the big game, and one from that year’s Muster. I still have the ribbon that stayed on my coat throughout that fall and winter. I have the receipt from the flowers that I took to the site early one morning. I have countless pictures of those two weeks. Through it all, the Aggies, far and wide, were a family. We stood together. We stood in remembrance. We stood for those who no longer could. We stood for the Aggie Spirit for it is a “Spirit can ne’er be told.” We continue to remember.
For those 12 individuals, for those 12 Aggies, I will call "HERE" today and always.
This video is a bit more uplifting. Jeff's Yell Leader speech, President Bush's remarks, and the comments from Dr. Gates at the memorial are all poignant. Plus, the game highlights remind me of when the Wrecking Crew was present, Jamar Toombs was at his best, and the beast that was Brian Gamble.
This weekend is my last three day weekend for a while and I am determined to make things happen! Nothing really specific but I just thought that I would throw that positive energy out into the world. The "to-do" list has just grown too long, the paperwork has piled up, I am behind on chores, and I miss my friends and the "scene" in my area. I decided not to get bogged down by all of the things to be worked on and just simply say that this weekend? This weekend, things will happen. Good things!
For months, if not years, I have been swearing up and down that I would start a real workout program. It was attempted many times and at the most lasted 3 days. I tried running, weight lifting, and stupid “programs” I found in magazines. I set goals and made plans, but through each brilliant idea the same fact came flying at me…I HATE working out!
Randomly, I decided to detox myself from fast food on August 20th. Those that know me are aware of the fact that I eat from a fast food restaurant at least once a day. It is bad. I know. You know when you eat somewhere too much that it does not sound good anymore? Well, that is what I did with the no less than 30 fast food places within 5 miles of my house. Gross. I know. Oddly, that little detox has gone well. Only once a week is fast food day and it must to be a “smart” choice. It is working.
Motivated by food success, a personal trainer was selected and the new “attempt to workout” date was chosen. 09-09-09. Simply because if you turn it upside down it is 666 and well, let us be honest…
Day 1 – Survived the first step…getting into my sports bra. I even managed to do it without getting winded. Baby steps people. Ok, I am not really that out of shape, but pretty close. The gym was CRAZY! So PT told me to take a brisk walk/jog and stretch. 20 minutes and 2 miles later I was done. This is so doable!
Day 2—I had to go into the gym. Great. I have never in my life been in a gym to use equipment. NEVER. EVER! I have no idea what the machines are used for, much less HOW to use them. PT makes me warm-up for 5 minutes and then asks me, “what do you want to do?” I look at her perplexed. “Do you want to do upper body or lower body?” I tell her I have no idea. Her response? “Great! We will do both.” My response? Great.
At one point I was doing this pully down thing (that is a technical term by the way) and I tell PT it was not comfortable. She said okay, 5 more. I said no! it is not comfortable now. Five more later, I am Jell-O and that was only the first thing we did. Great.
Long story, but I have no idea what I did in regards to equipment I used and reps and stuff? Not a clue. All I can say is that I worked on a few machines, used some free weights, a step thingy, equipment that used my own body weight, and some abs stuff on the mats. I felt the burn and totally thought I was going to die during and after it. At one point I look at PT and she has a huge grin on her face. She laughs and says she can see my muscles quivering under my clothes. No crap, lady! It has been 11 years since I worked out. ELEVEN YEARS!!
Good news is…I got out alive. Bad news is…she is making me go back tomorrow. Great.
I have to say that I was proud of myself for trying absolutely everything she asked me to do. I never said “I can’t” or “there is no way” or anything of that nature. I may just be able to do it this time. The new leaf has started to turn. And trust me, I can feel it!
This weekend will be filled with afternoon naps, football, a nap, friends, and a birthday for Sis. :) Too fun!
I am so, so excited that college football has started back up! Crisp fall days and a little pigskin is the best time of year. To top it off and make it even more fantastic is the fact that the Rangers are still playing pretty well. It is going to be a good three days!
My friend Amanda recently adopted a new baby bundle of joy. Her mother-in-law made a statement about him becoming a dancer. That made me giggle because I remember MANY nights of spontaneous dance parties with Amanda in high school. What do I do with these memories? Why, spend some time with YouTube videos of course. I came across this one and instantly thought, WOW! why can I not date this guy? There are some great moves in here, but 21 is my favorite. And 99 and 100. And 56. And ...
Anyway, which one is your favorite?
P.S. - I am impressed if you got through the whole thing. Here is the link to a list of the songs used. P.P.S. - Play 6 word along with Cate...
Again, I have been MIA. The month of August has been filled with me working (A LOT), a vacation to the beach, some great music, friends, and fun. I promise I will get back into a blog groove soon, hopefully in the next week.
Well, it has been over a month since I went to visit CL in Seattle with Julie and her Mr. – does that help you put a bit of perspective on how far behind I am in my posts?! GEEZ!
Anywho, it was an absolutely fabulous trip (minus the first couple of days) filled with all the tourist type things I wanted to do/see and a few surprises too!
I flew through LAX and because of weird diet glitches that cause SEVERE migraines I grabbed some Wendy’s in the airport. Fast-forward to Seattle where CL met me and we went to meet the Julie’s at Red Robin. I thought my biggest problem through the week would be curbing headaches, but NOPE! I wake up the next morning with a HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE case of some sort of food toxicity. YUCK! Long story short, I ended up in urgent care on a couple of liters of IV fluid and put on a strict liquid diet for 5 days. Not that strict because I went for a hot dog 2 days later. Thank God for the (at the time) recent iPhone purchase to keep me entertained in bed.
The next day was spent in bed at the hotel watching WAY too much TLC and the movie Sleepless in Seattle. How ironic. CL did take me for a car tour of Alki Beach (from the movie), which was super cool.
Because I was yucky, I missed the day everyone went to the Mariners game. Tear! CL generously offered to take me on the tour of Safeco Field for my first “healthy” outing. It was really one of the coolest things I have done on a vacation. I am now a huge fan of ballpark tours. CL even liked it and she says baseball is “stupid and boring.” How are we friends you ask? We are friends because she would do things like take me on that tour. (I will spare you the 86 pictures I took of the park and give you only two.)
We also did the whole Pike’s Place Market thing and saw the flying fish. The flowers and goods are far more interesting. We saw the VERY FIRST Starbucks. That seems really important to some people who enjoy coffee so I took a picture.
We went to the top of the Space Needle and saw Alki Beach and Pier 70 (where Real World Seattle was filmed) and some lake where Bill Gates lives. Did you know that he does not allow ANY Apple products in his house?! That means his kids cannot have iPhones or iPods. Is that not child abuse to force your kid to have a Zune?
We saw the Experience Music Project building and then went in it to find Michael Jackson’s Motown 25 outfit. Hello! Sparkle Glove! He died while I was up there and you remember this post about my love for him, so this was awesome to see. Cool guitar sculpture in the EMP
Some Hendrix guitars
They had a Jim Henson exhibit complete with Muppet fur walls. They were so soft. Some poor kid totally got my food yuck after this picture was taken.
We went to Snoqualmie Falls. Basically, beautiful. If it was not so darn cold up there I would totally want to cliff dive and swim the falls. I did not take the “half mile” hike down to the edge of the falls – remember…IV fluids. Next time. We went to some pier/shopping area (sorry I forgot the name, CL!) and among other things fed seagulls. Those things have no fear! I, on the other hand, have a lot! It scared me every time and was followed by me hysterically laughing.
We went to Jimi Hendrix’s gravesite. It is randomly at a little cemetery in a Seattle suburb and has absolutely no markers leading you to it, but CL is super tour guide and knew just where to go.
CL even gave a few sewing lessons to Julie and me. Julie made a great little bag and apron, and I made a dress for Bea. Since she does not appear on the blog, here I am modeling it as a shirt. I have since added some embellishment and need to take an updated picture. To finish it off, I got a lovely view of Mt. Rainer on the way home.
Thanks for hosting and guiding CL!! Thanks to all three of you for nursing me back to health and making me laugh through it all. Good times! Start saving for Summer ’10! BlogHer NYC?!
We went to the top of the Space Needle and saw Alki Beach and Pier 70 (where Real World Seattle was filmed) and some lake where Bill Gates lives. Did you know that he does not allow ANY Apple products in his house?! That means his kids cannot have iPhones or iPods. Is that not child abuse to force your kid to have a Zune?
Cool guitar sculpture in the EMP
Some Hendrix guitars
We went to some pier/shopping area (sorry I forgot the name, CL!) and among other things fed seagulls. Those things have no fear! I, on the other hand, have a lot! It scared me every time and was followed by me hysterically laughing.
CL even gave a few sewing lessons to Julie and me. Julie made a great little bag and apron, and I made a dress for Bea. Since she does not appear on the blog, here I am modeling it as a shirt. I have since added some embellishment and need to take an updated picture.
To finish it off, I got a lovely view of Mt. Rainer on the way home. 
