What Is She Doing?

Being an idiot in St. Louis' first Idiotarod!




What it is? It's a 4 mile race through downtown St. Louis with checkpoints where challenges will be performed.

What's with the cart? The race is executed with a cart and 5 team members. Each team has a theme for which the members dress up and decorate the cart. We are the Sorta Sheep.

Why are people doing this? It's a fund raiser for Operation Food Search. Please go to the Virtual Shopping Cart, and when you are at the check out, be sure to list "The Sorta Sheep" as the company. [Remember those grade school fundraisers everyone hated...yea, well, they're back!]

I still don't get it... I don't know how else to explain this to you, but here's a shot with help from the organizers: "Downtown St. Louis Idiotarod, which pays homage to the Alaskan tradition of the Iditarod in which dogs pull a sled and musher across the Iditarod Trail. Our event is similar, except replace the dogs with people and the sled with a shopping cart, put it in downtown St. Louis, and add a heavy dose of weirdness"

Wow, this really sounds like something you'd do! You are right!! I've been envious since I heard about in New York where a friend participated. I was beyond happy to see it finally arrive here in St. Louis! My team mates are Amanda Sutter, Amy Henke, Dave Ulrey, and Chris Trowbridge! Wish us luck!

A Necklace Made Me Cry

I got a package in the mail today. An unexpected package is almost always good! I looked it over to be sure it was safe. As you likely know, I'm paranoid enough to believe someone would mail me anthrax in an effort to murder me. Little does that person know, all they would have to do is send me some Blue Gatorade with cyanide and the problem is essentially solved! Anyway, off course here...mail...package...me. I noticed the package was in eco-friendly holiday shipping paper. While no name was on it, I recognized the address, Lami, St. Louis. Aha, my dear friend Kelly sent me a package.

Do I open it, do I not open it...what to do...gah, OPEN IT! Inside was a ribboned and wrapped box. I couldn't wait. I know, I know, I should have waited...but I couldn't, I was too excited! Inside was a beautiful necklace, and exactly the kind I like. A bronze colored simple but beautiful necklace!

It of course brought tears to my eyes.

So to Kelly, who may or may not read this...Thank You. Thank You for making me happy, for making me cry, for my gift. Mostly, thank you for being You!!

A 2 Mile 5K Run

Today I ran what should have been my second 5k. Turns out we only ran 2 miles. No one knew the actual route we were supposed to be taking and so we all aimlessly followed the runners before us taking the wrong path, thus not actually running the full 5 kilometers we were predestined to go!

You might be wondering why I would wake up early on a Sunday to go out and run in 20°F weather (or -6.7°C for those using SI units). It was for a cause, the Arthritis Foundation. It wasn't my idea, in fact, I would never encourage those with arthritis to go out into cold weather and run. Both running and the cold irritates arthritic joints; for this I can speak first hand as both of my knees have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Again though, I agreed to run with a friend who in the end was unable to make it for very understandable reasons. I did have two people with me though, my teammates Andy and Amanda. Andy was top runner in his age bracket; all three of us won raffle prizes as well. So despite the route error, it was all in all, a decent morning!

Proposed and Actual Routes Taken

I should at least have one more picture to come (of me and my crew). Oh, and for the record, I was under 23 minutes for the 2 miles I ran...so getting better I dare say!

PostScript ... My Team including Amanda Sutter, Steph Spann, and Andy Sutter (shown with all of our prizes)

NaBloPoMo Day 30 Post 30 - You Thought I'd Had Enough Did Ya?

It's here! Today is the last freaking day of my "post-a-day"! I never thought it would get here!

Funny to me, is that I plan on doing it all again next month! Well, sort of...

I was reading on Twitter this morning [Twitter's my new BFF] when a tweet came through from @adampknave about his blog. To cut to the chase, here is an excerpt [though I highly encourage you to read the whole thing here]...

"[...] This holiday season, whatever you celebrate, is a rough one for a lot of us in terms of money and stress. Instead of gifts I propose this:

Take the time to write the people closest to you. Send them an email, or a letter in the mail. Tell them how much they mean to you, and why. Share some history. Remind them of why they’re so close to your heart. Maybe they don’t know, maybe they do, either way a reminder is a magical thing. Thirty of them. [...] That’s it. Think of the effect it can have on the people you love, and frankly, on yourself.

Thirty emails. We can all do it. Join me.

So, Mr. Adam P. Knave, I'm in! I'm going to write! [Except, I might do 31 since there are 31 days in December, but I'm with ya anyway!]

How does this have any effect on you, my only reader? Well, on occasion, I will be sure to share some of these people, the histories, and letters with you.

So stay tuned, and maybe, join in!

Words...
keep steppin':To move on from something bad.
Christmas creep:A phenomenon where the Christmas season starts earlier and earlier each year.
skillets:Closest friends [very fitting for today's topic]
UDI: Acronym for "unidentified drinking injury". Random bruises, aches, and pains one pick up when one is drunk but can't recall exactly how it happened [yea...]

First 5k!

I ran my first 5k today. I am really proud of myself because I only ended up walking at most an 1/8th of a mile (5k is about 3.15 miles). What is more impressive is that I ran it with Riley and Bella. Riley (who actually ran with Amanda) would pull this off without a doubt, he's agile! But Bella with her short nose and legs, I wasn't too sure. When we run our normal 2 miles, she's pulling me back and randomly sitting when she feels like, MID run! I am so proud of her!

We ran it in 37m42s. I know it doesn't SOUND impressive, but for me, it is! I run a 15 minute mile, which is slow. So I totally rocked this time!

Now, off to devour leftovers. NOM NOM NOM!

I Really Am Twisted, Here Is Why . . .

I found these comics today. I didn't get through all of them yet. Here are a few I liked...

I relate...


Pretty much feels like all of my social interactions...


Dad...


I fucking love my shoes...


It's never enough, probably never will be...


I want to go, why won't you all let me go... (oh wait, the water)


I have nightmares about green water, and I laughed at this...


I wish this was true...


Rarely is it the thought that counts...


I laughed at this...


I have a shield around my heart for this very reason...


You have to go with your first thought...always like your first answer on a test...

Go check out some more at asofterworld.com.

Word...
geeked:

1. Stimulated or energized.
2.Mind totally blown from excessive use of an upper.

More Things To Get Me By...Life Lessons

I got an e-mail today from coworker and friend Christine. It was about author Regina Brett and her 45 life lessons.

I looked her up and was able to find her blog...if you want to see the whole thing, it's there...but here I will highlight and comment on a few that I see fit!

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
[Life is shitty, in fact I rarely think life is good. It's disappointing, it's heartbreaking, it's hard; sometimes all of those things make life worth the struggle because the reward is amazing...for every sucky thing there is a great thing and to every story there are two sides. My point, stop bitching, we're all stuck!]

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
[Always been one of those "One day at a time" girls myself]

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
[Your job might be cool, and you might work for a cult, but that does not mean you need to sleep at work]

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
[Fuck this, argue to argue, be passionate about something!]

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
[They will make fun of you later, they might even take a picture of snot coming out of your nose]

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
[Ain't this the truth?]

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
[I think a person should make peace with their past because it's right, but if you need a selfish reason to get you to do it, then yes, do it for your future!]

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
[I really think we all have a purpose where we are. Your role in life might be to make people smile while that other guy is there to be smart. No one has it all, and if it appears they do, they are going fucking mad in their head]

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
[Yea, if you can't tell your friends, you should be disappointed]

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
[I am so ready for the superbug you don't even know! Fuck yea]

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
[...don't forget to tell people so it's not secret]

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
[yea....but then again, there is nothing wrong with comfy]

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
[This explains SO much!]

24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
[This is a big fat lie, see number 1. Reality is that you might have a great plan in your head, but there is some one (your mom, your friends, your employer) that doesn't want to let go so you stay around...you might be miserable but you convince yourself that since its smart or logical it will make you happy, but ultimately, you just want to run away from RAM and be a librarian]

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
[Another big fat lie. Time heals nothing, our bodies heal us and our mental capacities allow us to ease the suffering (tangible or not)]

37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
[I think that as long as you tried and you let those you love know it, it really is all anyone else could ever ask for!]

40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
[I hear it, I say it, I am sad that I will never be anyone but me]

42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
[You might be the one thing that makes someone elses day]

SheepDay

Today is going to be about sheep! It's going to be about sheep because I like sheep! It's also going to be about sheep in an effort to keep my mouth shut about other things! Grrr kind of things! I do however have a quick question before I move on...is there a word to define eavesdropping with the eyes? And by this I do not mean "to spy"...so, what is the word? If there isn't one, I'll be making one up!

Sheep video by people I do not know, except two of them are twitter cohorts @ibificus and @frankiep


A picture from the lovely Kelly Schmickle


This is a sheep at my desk!


A party sheep from Skweak


A picture of a picture of Irish Sheepeses


[Added later in day]
My dream job listed on sheet of paper I was doodling on while my boss was at my desk!



Words...
paper stack: Money
go Huxtable: To settle down, find a good job, and start a family.

Amazing Carpentry, Where Do I Get One Of Those?

A couple of videos that reached me by e-mail. Amazing stuff! I want to know where I get the walking table!




Please pass along, if anyone knows who I can credit, please share!

Tad Stressful

So today was a tad stressful for me, some details I will spare you. The whole idea of today though, was that I had loads to do, no real time to get it done, as well as waiting for a call, missing that call, but then catching that call later to get not great news, but much better than expected. Now, I need to get going, but I have a tip for you, a word for you, and positive note!

To reduce anxiety, keep a journal to vent. At the end of every entry, write something positive!

My positive note is that someone [Amanda] got me socks. I needed that! Thanks! Socks are one of those little things that get me by. Like music. Ah, Rancid.

Word...
break your crayons: An expression used when something makes you very upset or sad, or ruins your whole day.

Cute Wedding

This made me smile on a day when I need everything I can get to smile . . .

Comics & Quotes

Just wanted to share stuff that made/makes me laugh . . . I love the people I know for it is they who keep me laughing!

This Thoughtful Comic

Some Quotes:

DAM SAFETY-
Crystal: What do you teach in the dam safety class?
Amanda: Well . . .
Crystal: Oh wait, "If it breaks, hold your breath"!

ON BEING MUGGED-
...a conversation ensues about being mugged for diamond earrings for which my response is, "just shoot me you jerkwad and you can pull the earrings out yourself after I fall over dead"! Later, when saying bye to Amanda, I told her that if I was found dead in Dublin/London/Glasgow, she would then know I said a similar phrase...

Amanda: Steph, they don't have guns there
Steph: Oh, right, okay, then I'll say ... uhm ... well ...
Amanda: Bludgeon Steph, the word is bludgeon, that's what they do there
Steph: I love it! "Go on jerkwad bludgeon me to death"!

Books and Psycho Killer

I have to report that yesdterday, I slept like a dream! I'm not sure if it had to do with the fact that I'd stayed up too late the night before; or if it was due to the fact I worked out at the gym for 2.5 hours; or if it was due to the yoga class I went to that really got my muscles good and stretched. In any case, it was exactly what I needed.

I just heard Psycho Killer (it played through on my iPod). I like that song, a Talking Heads song I always forget about. Odd though, singing fucking French. Speaking of French; I love that in the book Fool, by Christopher Moore, Pocket the fool will say "Moi?", "in perfect fucking French". If you read the book, you'll see what I mean. It's catchy!

In terms of books these days, I have a stack of borrowed books to get around to; for example, I have the Twilight series (which I expect to be cute, but perhaps not the best source for literary enticement) and I have another series of books Eva lent me that I can't even recall. I also have a small group of books that I bought but still haven't gottent through (either because I can't get interested or because I have gotten around to them).

And still yet on books, I did buy a David Sedaris book. After reading Moore, I am just really into wanting some good satires. There are only a few books left by Moore that I have not read, and to be honest, I want to drag them out for as long as I can. It's dissappointing to find an author you really enjoy who happens not to have a ridiculous amount of books to read. So anyway, if you know of any good satire authors, or really ANY good books, please send your suggestions my way! Please!

Anyway, so I'm dressed cute today, well as cute as I can make myself. I have a party for work this evening. It's the A List '09 Party! Very exciting! I'll be sure to report later!

Word-
weapons grade: Better than the rest, of higher quality.

City Garden, Where They Grow . . . Odd Things?

Today for lunch Crystal, Christine, and I went to City Garden to check out the coolness. It is very true that engineers think in terms of practicality and function rather than appearance and oddness. I am one of those engineers. However, before an engineer, I am a devout oddity. I appreciate art. I appreciate the rare. I really appreciate this park. It is both functional, unique, and exactly what we needed in St. Louis! Yea for a new place to eat lunch and people watch!!

Wind Sculpture, Two Different Angles
Weird Animal Carrying A Geometric Shape
Sexy Lady Walking [Just for you Amanda]
My Favorite Sculptures [Maybe Anywhere]
Steel Sculptures
Bunnies
Me And The Odd Thing!

My Dictionary

I've been told by a few random (and some more specific) people that I tend to use words that appear to be "made up". Now I admit that I do have a whole vocabulary of words that I use that are probably not in any dictionary. One for instance is "hippie-fied". Or another for example is "bloggy". There are however words that I love to use that happen to be real words (believe it or not)! I thought that you, my loyal readers (thanks to all three of you), should have the benefit of seeing a small list of my favorite words, real and fake! [I have placed a link with each word that may or may not have anything to do with the word, it's just fun this way]

facetious: One my all time favorite words first noted in my brain by They Might Be Giants (stop squirming Mike). It means to be funny as opposed to being serious, as in, to joke with another. I tend to use it when asking someone if they are making fun of me rather than making a compliment!

idiosyncrasies (alt: idiosyncratic): I first heard this word on the History Channel when in high school and made a mental vow to use it at every opportunity I could. I have a feeling that instead of that mental note, the one that actually got interpreted by my brain was "become as idiosyncratic as often as possible". Oh well, you can't win them all. This word is meant to define an peculiar characteristic. As in, "Stephanie's usage of user-created words is very idiosyncratic making her a one of a kind writer'! [On a side note, I tend to leak sarcasm far too often]

onomatopoeia: a previously blogged term, I like to say this word. It may have nothing to do with a conversation at hand or a song I am listening to; it's just fun to say. It is defined as the word used to define/describe/verbalize a sound. For example, the word oink is defined as the sound a pig makes "oink".

bloggy: a word to define my mood. I do not say that I feel like writing or that I am inspired; I choose to say "I feel bloggy".

percolator: A toaster for water.

obsequious: Another TMBG word (I mean it Mike, STOP squirming). Say it, OB-SEE-KWEE-US, see that was fun! It means to be subservient or submissive.

REVITized: To describe the transition from a two dimensional drawing into a 3 dimensional object.

eff: a shortened version of Fuck. Why shorten by only one letter? F looks unfinished.

sheepeses: Multiple sheep. Duh!

Jeepers Criminey: Okay, so this is more of a phrase, but I like it indeed. It's beats the heck out of shouting "mother effer", "Jesus Christ", or "Fookin' Fiddle Sticks".

EEEEEEEEEEE

RANCID: "Last One To Die" video