A Baby Rabbit...Give Me a Heart Attack!?!

...aww, what a cute little bunny rabbit, right? NOT! Matt calls me out in the yard on Tuesday night to show me a little bunny nest. I go look, "Aww! So cute, let me grab the camera." I run inside to get my camera and come back, snap this shot then the freakin' things LEAPS up runs in a crazy circle and takes off across the yard!?!

I'm freakin' out running around in my pajamas (yes people I get home from work and throw on some PJs) and socks, AHHH!!!! I'm asking Matt, is it okay that he got out? Keep the dogs away! My heart is now beating 90 MPH...so then I was like screw this...and I headed back inside. So word to the wise, watch out for the crazy bunnies in your yards.

Really? A Hysteroscopy...

...so Friday evening I had to work so I didn't get home until about 9:30pm. I pick up the mail, thumbing through it and see a bill from the doctor's office. I open it up and see that I owe $215 for a $1,900 surgery!?! First off, the date listed, I was out of town. Second, it was for the doctor in the office that I've never even seen. Third, it was for a hysteroscopy and I&D absess subcut. I had to google the first one and I don't even want to know what the second one is all about but I'm pretty sure I would remember if I had these things done.

Let's rewind a couple of weeks...I had some blood work done at the doctor's office on a Monday. I called Thursday because it had been past 24-48 hours and hadn't heard anything. They respond, "Let me see if I have the right patient...is your birthday X-X-XX?" Um...no, that's my sister-in-law. Friday AM the nurse calls me to tell me that one thing is a little high but the doctor will call me in 1-2 days (keep in mind this is the Friday before my birthday). Sweet! Something's wrong with me but you're not going to tell me and its Friday so 1-2 days really means next Wednesday. Thanks-happy birthday to me! After googling myself crazy and self-diagnosing, I call the office back to give them some information they'd been waiting on. I get transferred to the nurse I spoke to earlier who YELLS at me like I'm a small child. Cue tears for the next hour of my life...

Monday, I come home from work and the test results are in the mail but guess what? No phone call!!! So I call back and I'm just like, "Look, I know you're sick of me but I got these test results so before I start googling again and think I'm dying can I talk to someone, anyone and have them explain this to me? Well, anyone except Nurse I Yell Rudely At People Like They Are Young Children?" The doctor calls me back within an hour, explains the test results then I explain my issues with her staff. 1. Giving out birthdays where all I had to do was say yes and get all the info I wanted and 2. Your rude nurse!

So back to Monday, I call and get transferred to the billing office. This lady was really nice, because of course she hadn't had to deal with me yet. Then she sees, oh I see the note here, this is supposed to be billed to XXXX XXXX...really? Isn't that ANOTHER violation of doctor-patient confidentiality? So anyways, I was right, I did not have a hysteroscopy or that other scary word done but now starts the battle of dealing with my insurance company and explaining it all to them...

Delta Gamma Run for Sight...

...hey all you STL Bloggers!!! May 2 is the 18th Annual Delta Gamma Run for Sight. I did this race last year and although I was majorly out of shape and sucking wind the whole time, it was a great scenic route! So...I'm calling out all the STL Bloggers, they have a 5k and a 2 mile fun run/walk...so whose in with me??? It'll be a great time and maybe a little breakfast afterwards. What good is working off all those calories if you can't celebrate afterwards!!! Anyways, email me if you are interested. We have to be registered by April 24. I'm excited and I can't wait!!! Hubs, kids and other family members can run/walk with us!

Did I mention that fellow STL blogger, Jennelle is running this event??? All the more reason to go out and support her!

Where Have I Been???

...I'm here! I promise I am! Life just really hasn't been that interesting to blog about lately. Let's see though what have I been busy doing...running, working, serving cake, dealing with wrong billings, and looking for a new laptop. WHAT?!? Okay, I'll explain...

*Running-yes, I've got my big 'ole butt up and moving and I've been on a running training program. This is a good thing because I haven't lost a single pound in the past 3 weeks so thank goodness I have this running program or I would have been done. I did squeeze my big 'ole butt into a pair of pants that were TWO SIZES smaller!!! Hubs checked everything out and approved so that felt good!

*Working! I've had to work the past two Saturday mornings at 6am...its nice to have the time off during the week but I sure did enjoy sleeping in this morning.

*Serving cake-yesterday, I totally forgot about Matt's cousin's baptism-oops! So we went to church at 5pm service and when it was done, his aunt asked, or ordered, us to go to the hall downstairs and start the coffee and uncover the food. Matt's mom came downstairs and was about to serve the cake when I went up and offered to do so. She objected at first then I told her, "Star, I really don't know anyone here so I don't mind...go visit!" She then gladly let me take over as I won the hearts of a couple old men when I slid them an extra piece of cake with lots of icing.

*Wrong billings-I have to wait to deal with the office on Monday but I'll be posting about this later this week...it's a doozie I tell ya!

*Searching for a new laptop-yes, after only two short years, my laptop is dying on me. Not so much the laptop as the screen. I can faintly see when it gets to the login screen but then it's pitch black...so sad! I've had it looked at and was told it would be between $100-$150 to replace the screen. So I'd rather just take that money and put towards a new laptop rather than replace the screen...so if anyway knows of any good deals on laptops please send them my way!

So, I'm here, I've been around...just not doing anything too exciting! Hope you all had a great weekend!

Menopause the Musical...

...this past Sunday, my mom, my MIL, SIL, aunt-in-law, cousin-in-law and I went to see "Menopause the Musical" at the Westport Playhouse. This was my third time to see the play, my mom's fourth time and everyone else's first time. Let me just tell you that even if you haven't gone through "the change" it.is. HILARIOUS!!!

If this play is ever in your area, grab your mom, aunt, grandma and go see it. I gave it as a Mother's Day gift one year and she LOVED it!!! Let me know if any of you have seen it. Enjoy!

Happy birthday Kristal!!!

The New Truck...

...sorry when I posted about the new truck, I forgot to include a picture! This isn't the best but it was cold and raining when I finally remembered to take this pic on Sunday AM. It's a 2008 Ford F-350. As I said before, I really like that it's not white because I can pick it out in a parking lot.
Seriously though, this thing has no steps. I have to grab the "Oh Shit" handle, lean back and CLIMB in. I told Matt if I get any fatter, I won't be able to get it, he'll have to give me a boost. He's going to go price running boards this week...thank goodness!

My Momma...

...came in town on Friday night. Matt had to work so we had a nice relaxing girls' evening. First stop pedicures...ewww, this pic makes my feet look fake, but my the ped was awesome! I need to get some color on my skin.

Then we headed to Old Navy where my momma bought me two pairs of workout pants and told me Happy Easter! After that we grabbed some Roly Poly and headed home to watch some tv. Saturday she had to go to Tan-Tar-A and we went to Springfield. She came back Saturday night and stayed out our house to watch the doggies. When we got home at 4 in the morning, I found this on our kitchen table:

Do you see the blue G on there? Katie got it for me and I think it looks good there. Momma also cleaned our kitchen and got us a few groceries including 100 calorie Mr. Salty Chocolate Covered Pretzels!!! (I also love the yogurt covered ones too). Thanks Momma for taking care of me!

To The Land of Brad Pitt...

...all you Missouri bloggers know this but did you know that Brad Pitt is from Springfield, MO? That's where we went yesterday to visit our friend Beth! I've known Beth since 7th grade when we had band class together and she sent me a note with her split ends. I love her!

Anyways, what's a trip to Springfield without Bass Pro Shop (and this is also the only place I remembered to take out my camera-oops!)? Here's Mattie on a pink 4-wheeler...in all honesty, I think he really wanted it!

They had a real life alligator or crocodile there!

These are alligator gahr and these things were HUGE!!! Like longer than my whole 5'4 body.

Matt taking out the big grizzly bear!

After Bass Pro, we headed to Fox and the Hound to play some pool. Waitress not so good, good times with friends playing pool and watching basketball, very good. My good friend, and prom date, from elementary school came out with his fiancee. We figured it out and it had been 8 years since we'd seen each other-wow!?! It was funny though because he's a local DJ but Beth and her boyfriend didn't know. When it was mentioned they were like, "Wait...you're Mike the Intern? OH!!!"

We headed back to Beth's apartment in the sleet and yucky weather. Matt started to freak out that he might get called in to work so at midnight we packed everything up and headed back to the STL. It was 4am when we got home. Now it's Sunday at noon and my hub is still in bed. It was a fun, whirlwind like you wouldn't believe trip but good times as always!

Woohoo!!! An Award...

...thanks to my good blog friend, Adie, who has seriously been a Godsend here lately. So thank you Adie for the award and for being an awesome blog, fitness friend and shoulder to lean on.

The Rules:

*First, you have to tell your readers ten things about you they may not know, but that are true. *Second, you have to tag 5 people with the award.
*Third, let all the people you've given the award to know they've gotten it (comment on their blogs or something).
*And, finally, make sure you link back to the person who awarded you

My Ten Facts...hmm...
1. I tore my ACL my senior year of high school. I went to prom in a knee brace and graduated on crutches.
2. I didn't get my first kiss until I was something like 17.
3. Although I am very type A, I am not a neat or clean freak-that's Matt.
4. I have worked in one field my whole life...since I was 16.
5. I wish I got to take more vacations but that little thing called money keeps me from it.
6. Hubs thinks I'm negative, I like to think of myself as a realist.
7. Because Em asked and I love it so much, an Elvis Pretzely is a scoop of vanilla custard with pretzels on top covered with caramel and hard shell chocolate-LOVE IT!!!
8. I love watching 48 Hours, Snapped, Law & Order, CSI...it worries hubs.
9. I used to be scared of dying but not so much any more.
10. Sometimes I question things...things I shouldn't...but I do.

My Tags:
1. Paula, a new blogger in the community
2. Faith, she's a cool chick
3. Amanda, who cracks me up and now I just picture her wearing a mascot head
4. Jennelle, a local STL blogger that I just recently found
5. Amy, another total sweetheart whose been awesome to me

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday Tidbits...

...thank goodness it's Thursday!!!

*Yes, thank goodness it's Thursday but whew-what a weekend ahead of us! I'm tired already! Saturday AM work, hopefully leave for Springfield by noon, see some good friends then up and at 'em on Sunday to be back in the Lou by noon. Then going to the Westport Playhouse with my mom, MIL, SIL, aunt-in-law and cousin-in-law...it's like a mother-daughter afternoon. Then dinner after that then back to work on Monday. I think I say this every weekend but I'm going to need a weekend to recover from my weekend!

*Why is it that every time Matt uses/borrows something it winds up broken? His dad made this comment once when we firsted started dating and the more we're together the more I see it. He used my lunchbox the past two days so this morning when I get up to throw my lunch in it, I'm pissed that the lining is tore and basically it's a pointless bag now because it won't velcro shut. I ask him about it and his response, as it is most of the time when this sort of thing happens, "It was already like that." Um...I packed your lunch so I'm going to call BS on that! Grrr...

*Hubs got poison last Wednesday and because in his words, I'm "unpleasant to be around" when I have poison, he has tried everything possible to make sure I don't get it including sleeping in the guest room. I've really enjoyed sprawling out over the bed, watching what I want before bed and snuggling with the puppies. Over the weekend, I did start to miss him. Then on Tuesday night, he comes into the bedroom about midnight and gets in bed covered head to toe with pants and a long sleeve shirt saying he misses me. Again, I'm going to call BS because he just made the comment earlier in the night that the guest bed was killing him (it's a good mattress just really soft...one night is about the max I could handle on it). Then last night, he comes home from work after complaining all day that he doesn't feel good and he thinks he has strep throat (umm...hello! If you think I'm "unpleasant" with poison, just you wait until I have strep throat, you'll find a whole new definition of unpleasant) and crawls in bed with me. Not a problem except that he's all up on my side of the bed! So most of the night I was awake trying to push him over an inch or two so I wouldn't fall out of the bed!

*I did a hardcore workout on Monday and my body has been sore ever since. Finally this morning, I feel like I can actually move again but guess what! Same workout today as Monday!!! It felt good to be sore because I knew I'd worked out hard but it was also painful.

*At work they convinced me to play in a golf tournament (they needed a couple more to complete the second team) and I'm really nervous! I mean with the Stair Climb there wasn't much skill, just walk up stairs until you're done but with golf!!! I keep telling them to put me on the bad team...there is a prize for the worst team!!! At least this will give me something to do the next few weeks because I have to go to the driving range and practice a little. OH! When I golf, I only use my 8 iron and putter so this should be very interesting.

*I used the excuse that it was my birthday week last week and didn't work out or diet so I was pretty happy when I stepped on the scale yesterday and I hadn't gained any weight (I didn't lose any either!!!).

*Silky's opens up today for the season!!! I'm going to have to wait for a really good workout day to splurge on an Elvis Pretzely...I love those things!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your kind, sweet, encouraging words the other day. I promise one day I will blog all about it but when I do, I'm thinking about going private so I've got to sit on that for awhile. Anyways, that's it for this random Thursday!

Definition of a Cougar...

...To me when I hear the word cougar used to describe a woman, I think of a hot older woman that does not look her age. This past Saturday, one of Matt's friends brought his cougar with him to the dinner event. Everyone has always called her a cougar and we referred to her as the cougar all night (not to her face) but she did not meet the criteria stated above.

Monday I had a dentist appointment and can I just say that I love my hygienist...she is hilarious and we totally see eye to eye on all things non-teeth related. So as she's cleaning my teeth, she's telling me about her latest love interest and how he's a younger man, 12 years younger than her (this is just the kind of patient-hygienist relationship we have). I then told her about the cougar from Saturday night and how she didn't meet my definition. Then I look at her and say, "I hope this doesn't come off as lesbian-ish but I would say you're a cougar, you meet the definition." She was very appreciative of the compliment and took it in the non-lesbian way it was meant. So tell me...what is your definition of a cougar or am I the only one out there that thinks of these things?

PS
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Tired of My Happy Face

...sorry friends, but I'm tired of putting on my "happy face" for this blog and acting like everything is hunky dory when they aren't. I created this blog to be able to vent about things and to discuss things that I found interesting but I keep finding myself questioning if I should write about certain topics. I debated for days to post "The Great Debate" because I didn't want to offend anyone but I went for it. My birthday wasn't wonderful, grand or great but I didn't really say that because I didn't want to come across as a Debby Downer.

There's some stuff going on in my life right now that is very hard to understand and accept and indirectly effects my entire life...my mood, my marriage, my health (both mental and physical). I can't escape it, it's there all.the.time and if its not then there's always something there to remind me of it. It's frustrating, it's depressing and it's just there. I want to talk about it, discuss it but I can't because I really don't know anything and do you know how hard that is? To know something yet at the same time know nothing at all and to feel like no one is in your corner to help you out? It sucks...just sayin'.

I'm know I'm not dying, the pups are good, Matt is good, we have a house, we have our jobs so I know, "get over it," right? That's what I was told constantly throughout my wedding planning process and I did, I got over it and I regret just getting over it. And this time, I'm not just going to "get over it." So there, I've said my piece, I've put aside the "happy face" for today...I'll try to make it return tomorrow and have a happier post. Thanks for listening.

My Two Favorite Things...

...here is my birthday card from my co-workers. My two favorite things combined...doggies and firemen!!!! LOL...they know me so well.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes! It was really just another day...maybe a post one day will explain it but thanks to all those out there that were thinking of me. Here's to 27!

It's My Birthday!!!

...yes, it's my birthday so don't worry the countdown is officially over! I am the big 27...3 years away from 30. So far my birthday hasn't been TOO bad, actually pretty good with just a couple minor hiccups. Yesterday I was off work all day which was very nice because I woke up with a nasty, horrible sinus-cold-ugh!!! I had a run in with the nurse at my doctor's office which if I ever get to talk to my doctor, I WILL be mentioning but that's a story for another day.

Mattie took me to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory where they forgot to seat us then gave us the most awful, crabby waitress ever! But service aside, the food was oh so good as usual. We split a piece of cake and we are both sharing it again for breakfast this morning. We were supposed to go see a movie but after dinner, I could barely hold my head up so we went home. Like I said in my post on Thursday, Matt tries...really hard but it just doesn't pan out. We had a "plumber" come do the plumbing in our hall bathroom (haven't had a tub since June) so Matt decided he'd run me a bath even though there's no walls or anything else done. So I step in the tub and Matt yells at me from the basement, "Get out! Get out!" Apparently, the "plumber" didn't do that great of a job and it was leaking. So I just put on my pjs and I was in bed by about 7:30...like I said, he tries...really hard. It's the thought that counts though, right?

Before I sign off to start my busy actual birthday (set up for dinner auction this AM then typing the program this PM then actual dinner/auction tonight!), here is our first picture together from my 23rd birthday celebration.
I'm not thrilled in this pic because I don't believe in taking pictures with boyfriends, every time I had before, we broke up and I really didn't want to break up with Matt! Excuse my crazy outfit/hair/earrings...I thought it was cute at the time, now...not so much. But here we are now, 4 years later, still celebrating. Thanks Mattie for celebrating with me!!!

New Truck..Finally!!!

...as of Sunday evening, Matt finally has a new truck which means...NO MORE CARPOOLING!!! I know some of you out there LOVE carpooling with your husbands and I am just.not.oneofthem! I love my husband but he is the worst morning person in the world and sitting at work waiting for someone to pick you up well after hit 8 hours when you are thinking of 500 things you COULD be doing, well...it's just not as glamourous as it sounds. So more power to all of you that love carpooling, it's just not for us although we did enjoy saving the money.

I knew when the old truck sold that we were gonna fight, we were gonna battle when it came time to buy a new truck. Why? Well, because Matt is the wisher in our relationship and I'm the dream crusher. Matt sets his hopes high and I set mine realistic. Matt says, we can afford this and I point out that we can afford it if we give up this, this and that. Matt says his price range is this, I say it's $5,000 less than what he states. SO as much as I wasn't enjoying carpooling, I was NOT looking forward to shopping for a new truck...AT.ALL.

We both agreed that we wanted to have the new truck purchased by March 8. Originally we said March 1 but when I found out I was going to conference last week, we pushed it back a week because why would we need two cars when one would be sitting. I told Matt to find 2 or 3 trucks that he wanted while I was gone and this past Saturday we'd go look at them, I'd crunch numbers and we'd purchase. Matt threw a fit because he wanted to walk in, find the truck he wanted and walk out...not dilly dally for a couple days. Fine, whatever, at this point, I don't even care...go buy your truck, he's making the payments, not me, right?

So I'm gone and he goes to look at trucks but doesn't find one he likes. Thursday night he casually mentions that he might have found one on Craigslist, which is totally NOT his style to Internet shop. I ask questions and he says he doesn't want to jinx it and he'll tell me about it when I get home....okay...so Friday I get home and turns out he finds this truck in DALLAS!?! So we're going to buy this truck without seeing it!?! Hmm...

Fast foward to Sunday because the logistics are boring but to summarize, it's his "dream truck" and yes, we paid $1,000 over HIS price range but the monthly payment is in the range of what I was okay with it...some compromise, right? The truck was being delivered sometime Sunday, kind of the like the cable guy-you know, we'll be there between 8-5. Well, my birthday dinner at his parents was supposed to be Sunday night at 5 and the guy hadn't gotten here yet!?! Matt calls and agrees to meet the guy at our house at 6:30pm.

We get to his parents' house and Matt goes to the nursery with his brother to drop off the work truck and his sister was going to give us a ride back to our house because hubs couldn't plan in advance. During dinner, Matt's mom looks at me and says, "Why do you have to be home by 6?" Hmm...good question, Matt, thanks for letting me in on that. We'd been trying to keep it a secret because we hadn't even seen the truck yet and were a little concerned about the whole situation. I look at Matt and he stares at me blankly...what am I supposed to say? I tell him, fine go ahead and tell them in which his sister is really excited and his parents are skeptical since we hadn't seen it...the whole reason we were trying NOT to tell them until we did see it.

So we head home and his sis stays to wait to see the new truck. The guy arrives around 7 (so we didn't really get to look at it too much in the dark) and Matt goes outside to meet him. I hang back in the house because I know he'll be mad if I'm all up in his business but his sis heads out so I join. The guy is telling Matt all about it and I'm trying to listen closely then Matt climbs in the driver's side and his sis climbs in the backseat. The dealer guy jumps in the front seat and closes the door. My heart sinks...I'm left in the cold, dark front yard outside the new truck. I head back inside to hide my disappointment. I know this sounds silly and petty but this was OUR first major purchase (minus the furnance), it was our first married vehicle...I wanted to be the first, the first one to sit in it with him, the first to go on a ride, I wanted to share that excitement with him...just me and my husband and that moment was hijacked. Gone...shared with someone else all because I was trying not to be the smothering wife all up in his business and trying to give him space. UGH!

So the dealer guy leaves and then Matt, his sis and I go on the first drive to his parents. His family freaks out over the truck loving it and go for a ride around the block. Then his brother comes in and says to Matt, "We're totally going out Wednesday night in your new truck." His mom says, "No, Alyssa is doing something with Matt on Wednesday." I'd just finished telling her how Wednesday was my only free night this week. His bro then goes on to QUESTION what we're doing and blah blah blah...I snap, I can't handle it anymore, he questions everything. Hi, hello...I'm his wife, remember me? The wife, me? So we head back home, the whole new truck moment ruined for me but I try to let Matt enjoy it. I'm so glad this whole truck ordeal is done and over with but I'm even happier that Matt got what he wanted and LOVES his new truck.

Sorry for the kind of Debby Downer post but I had to get that all out. I think the new truck is pretty too and I'm happy that it's dark blue (midnight blue in my mind) and not white so I can pick it out easily. OH! Did I mention that it's a manual which means I won't be able to drive it? Which is totally fine with me because this thing is HUGE!

Happy Friday everyone! P.S. Tomorrow's my birthday!!!

Thursday Tidbits...

...random stories for a random Thursday (well two days before my birthday!).

*I was doing so well with not having peanut butter for Lent until last Friday. Matt went into the bank and grab back out with a Reese's cup for me. I opened it up and took on bite then remembered-NO PEANUT BUTTER! Before I even finished chewing, I'd spit it back out and hand the other half to Matt shouting, "Eat it! Eat it!" Matt was so confused but, of course, he just ate it. Then it clicked for him, "Oh babe! I'm so sorry! I didn't even think about it having peanut butter!" I nodded, "I know, me either but Jesus saw me and He doesn't like it!!!" Since then, I've been back on track...whew-close call!

*Got my I-Touch...LOVE IT!!! I could do without all the High School Musical that got downloaded on it but beggars can't be choosers!

*Monday night I went to dinner with Katie at Applebee's. Aside from the good conversation and good friend, we both ate off the 550 calorie menu and we were both very happy! I had the Asiago Peppercorn Steak, maybe too much peppercorn but that's just me, and she said she really enjoyed it. I asked the waiter and as long as you don't make any substitions that the entire plate is under 550 calories!?! I had the steak, the steamed veggies AND potatoes and they were all delicious!!!

*Holy crap! Tuesday I was cleaning out the pantry when a can of soup fell and landed right on my fingernail. That thing hurt like a b***h!!! By the time I realized what happened and looked at my finger, the fingernail was already purple. I hope it doesn't fall off because that'll totally gross me out.

*Matt tries...he tries really hard but he just can't ever get things to pan out. Saturday night we're going to the Fair Dinner Auction so we're going out on Friday to celebrate for birthday. He kept telling me all last week and this week that he had something planned. Then last night, he was like, I think you're going to like what we're going to do but I don't think you'll want me to spend that much money. His plan was for us to go to the Fox and see August: Osage County. So we decided not to go because of the cost. Then he told me he called the chiropractor to set up our massages on Friday that we got for our wedding (a year and a half ago) but the massage lady doesn't work on Fridays. He called Cheesecake Factory to make reservations, they don't take reservations. So see, he tries, he tries hard but he's just not a planner, that's why he married me, that's what I do best. I think we're going to wait it out at Cheesecake Factory and then maybe go see a movie, depends on the time PLUS I had a weird schedule this week so I think I'm off on Friday!!!

*Okay I know you all are probably totally over me discussing Master the Met but I thought you would enjoy these pics taken by the photog on the LAST FLIGHT OF THE STAIRS!!!

Yes, I am incredibly pale...I told you I felt like puking and here's the pic to prove it. Don't mind the 80's bandana...it was a team thing.

Here's me fakin' it for the photog, I was really thinking, "Get that freakin' camera out of here!"


Enjoy your Thursday all...only 2 days until my birthday!!!

Master the Met: Firefighter Style...

...Terrance is the guy who talked us all into doing this and then his two firefighter friends, Angel and Adam joined our team. They decided to do the firefighter portion in all gear...an extra 50-60 pounds! These guys were HARD CORE...some of the other firefighters just did it in their gear with tennis shoes on and not their oxygen tank, these guys did it in their BOOTS and OXYGEN TANKS!!! WOW!!! If you're my Facebook friend, you'll notice I took a pic of their boots with the caption, "Real firemen do it in boots."

So here are the guys in half their gear. Left to right: Angel, Adam and Terrance

Angel, Adam and Terrance...cute guys, right?

You would think they were freakin' celebrities! Women of all ages wanted their pictures with these guys!!!

I told them next year that we were going to charge money for people to get their pictures taken to donate to the American Lung Association! We tried to get a team pic of us gals with the guys in their gear and some lady wouldn't get out of our picture!?! I said to her, "Hey! You're not on our team!" She responded, "It's okay!" Can you believe that???

Angel afterwards giving us a thumbs up!

Thanks Terrance for getting us involved with this event. It was a lot of fun and the eye candy was great! ;)

Master the Met...

...I did it!!! I Mastered the Met! And let me tell you that every single step of the 1,000 that I walked...SUCKED!!! BIG TIME!!! But I felt so awesome (well, after recovering) for achieving it and I had a blast. This event raised over $330,00 for the American Lung Association!!!

Here is our team minus Adam. Go Stairway to Heaving!!!


Here is the Metropolitian Building where me and my team climbed all 42 flights of stairs.

There were 10 of us on our team...7 co-workers and 3 firefighters. Our firefighters climbed all 42 FLIGHTS IN THEIR FULL GEAR!!! (I'm making another post just about them). Here I am trying on the helmet and jacket...whatcha think? Maybe I have a future in fighting fires? Nah...

April, Amy, me and Shelley boasting about Mastering the Met!!!

I must admit that when we got our bib numbers, I was beyond thrilled because mine was my birthday 313 (which is in 5 days if anyone is counting)!!! I was rocking out to some "Electic Avenue" on my way there and really the most stressful part of the day was driving downtown, now I remember why I always take the Metro when I go to Cards game.

Here is a step (no pun intended) inside my mind during the race:

Start line: AH!!! Time to do this!!!

Floor 5: Sweet! Floor five already!!! I'm rockin'!!!

Floor 8: *Shelley, the marathon runner, passes me* Awesome, I held my own for 8 floors.

Floor 15: I must be halfway there, tell me I'm halfway there...*looks at wall* crap...

Floor 18: Okay, halfway there...

Floor 19: You are soooo NOT halfway there.

Floor 21: I love the number 21 but how in the he** am I going to do this many more flights...again?

Floor 27: What have I gotten myself into? There's no turning back now though...

Floor 30: I think I'm going to puke...

Floor 31: What would I puke? I haven't eaten anything today. Don't be a wuss! You CAN.NOT. puke!!!

Floor 32: Seriously, I'm going to puke...where's the trash can?

Floor 35: Don't puke, don't puke, don't puke...

Floor 38: How much further????

Floor 39: Where's the freakin' finish line?

Floor 40: Shoot me now!

Floor 42 *smiles for the photog* Can I puke yet???

So there's a look inside the mind of a climber! FYI-I did NOT puke!!! When I finished though, for about 10 minutes after I thought I was going to and O.M.G. my ovaries hurt soooo bad!!! I thought they were going to fall out or something!!! But it was definately worth it for the feeling of accomplishment I felt (after the puking feeling went away and my ovaries were feeling back to normal).

Body feeling wise, my legs surprisingly didn't hurt at all. It was all my chest and lungs!!! Saturday afternoon, I felt like I could go running or skiing (yes skiing, I was jumping around doing that at my house) or something (of course, I didn't) but geez, I felt like I had smoker's cough all afternoon.

I climbed all 42 flights in 13 minutes and 36 seconds, slowest of my team, but I did it!!! When someone got hurt, sick, or "went down" the building alarm went off so I feel that since the alarm didn't go off when I was climbing, that's a big accomplishment! I raised money for the American Lung Association so all in all, it was 14 minutes of agony but it was definately worth it. I did forget where I parked and wandered around the parking garage until some co-workers found me and we drove around until we found my car. What can I say? I was excited when I got there and forgot to look to see what level I parked on!

Tomorrow I will be posting about the firefights on our team so tune back in!!!

Awww...They Missed Me!!!

...my co-workers couldn't stand the thought of me being gone so they introduced a "replacement" me. Isn't she lovely?
The "replacement" was made of everything at my desk...a bag of volleyballs, my jacket and even the red Cardinals helmet-no I don't wear that when I am at work. And please disregard my bulletin board behind my desk that looks like my high school locker with all those pictures up. What can I say? I like to be surrounded by family and friends! So thanks guys for missing me!!!

Phone Call...

...So last week I was at conference in Tan-Tar-A. On Wednesday, I had to be up at 5AM to meet a co-worker and head to the conference. That night, I'm barely able to keep my eyes open and I lay my head down on my pillow when...my phone rings. It's hubs, I had already talked to him earlier and said good night. He never calls just to talk so I knew he wanted something. Here's our convo:

Me: Hello?
Matt: Hey babe, I just wanted to see what you're doing.
Me: I'm about to go to bed.
Matt: Oh, okay...
Me: Everything okay? Did you need something?
Matt: Well there is one thing...how do I know the alarm is set?

I just started laughing and when I told my co-worker who was rooming with me, she thought it was funny too. Funny how husbands don't realize what they have until we're gone for a day...

Rumor Has It...

...that I'm getting an I-Touch for my birthday (which FYI is only 8 days away!!!)!!! I'm soo excited! When I first got into working out about 4 years ago, I spent $60 on a cheap MP3 player and it's lasted me pretty well. Nothing is wrong with it but when my dad asked me what I wanted for my birthday and he denied my request for cash flow (because he knows that I'll just put it in my savings account and won't spend it), I had to come up with something. Hmmm...an Ipod? So I sent in that request and within an hour my sister calls telling me all about the I-Touch and I was sold not to mention TOTALLY excited!!! Music AND the Internet-watch out, I'll be harvesting crops ALL DAY!!!

So Haley is planning on making a playlist for me which I've been told will include Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus AND the soundtrack from Thirteen Going on 30. My current MP3 player has the following:

*Just Add Water (a local punk/skater STL band from years ago...big fan in college but they've broke up now-this is the kind of workout music I like best)
*Britney Spears-Lucky
*Bare Naked Ladies-quite a few songs by them
*Jimmy Buffett
*Jodie Messina (are you catching on that my playlist is all over the board???)
*Tech 9-KC y'all!
*Trina and the list goes on...

Obviously, this music is all over the place and it goes very upbeat to totally slow.

What other songs should I put on there? I'll primarily be using this to workout so I need some pump me up, push me over that last hill, make me feel like a rock star music!!! So please comment with songs I should invest in for my new I-Touch!!!

The Great Debate at Our House...

...is about religion. I know this should have all been discussed and worked out PRIOR to marriage but we got hitched at a winery so it didn't. You would seriously think we're like polar opposites when it comes to this but we're really not. Hubs is Lutheran and I'm Methodist. We can't agree on a church to save our lives...it.is.FRUSTRATING!!!

Hubs grew up Lutheran, went to school Lutheran, knows no other religion than Lutheran so he's 100% stubborn and will not even blink at the thought of learning something new. His family is Lutheran, his friends are Lutheran...everyone but his wife. His wife is Methodist. My big beef with Lutheran is that they don't let me take communion and the way they word it in their bulletin is very misleading but that's another story for another day. I believe that if you confess and repent of your sins then you are welcome to take communion. His church believes the same BUT you also have to believe the Lutheran religion to take communion. So every holiday, I sit all alone in the pew, waiting for everyone to come back so I can slide out or move my legs funny so that they can all sit back down. They do let me get ashes though so that's nice of them.

About a year ago, Matt and I "agreed," or so I thought, to find a church together that was "our" church that we could start attending and raise our children in. We found a church we both really liked last spring but then summer rolled around and he ended up working every weekend so we quit going. This fall rolled around and I was ready to start going again only for hubs to say, "Okay, I'll start going to church again but to MY church." I asked him what had changed his mind and he admitted that he just agreed to find "our" church to make me happy.

Needless to say, we didn't go in the fall. So now Matt has started wanting to go back to church but only at HIS church. He said he didn't feel it was fair for me to ask him to give up his religion. I don't remember ever asking that, I just asked that we find one together. But, at the same time, since he's refusing to budge on going to any church but his own, why should I have to give up mine? I know a little bit about his religion and there's that communion aspect that I don't agree with so why would I join his church when I don't agree with it? He told me I could go to my own church if I wanted too but I want to go to church WITH MY HUSBAND!!! I want US to find a church together!

I'm not 100% not budging from being Methodist as long as I find a church that I can agree their beliefs. FYI-I'm not knocking any religions here just stating that I have different beliefs. The great thing about America is that we have that right to pick what religion we belief in.

So anyways, this is the great debate around our house...happens every 2-3 months.

Karate...CHOP!!!

...a big shout out and thank you to Amanda over at It's Blogworthy for the Master of Karate and Friendship Award!!! I never even told her about my mean karate chop but we're just on the same wavelength. Please hop over to her blog and check it out-this girl is hilarious!!!

The rules are simple, write SIX things that you are a master at and then give this award to SIX people who are the Master of Friendship. So here goes, SIX things I'm a master at:

1. I am the master of making room for my dogs. Seriously, I have to make room for them in bed every night, I let Emma sit beside me as I type this, I always leave them enough room in the car when we travel and the funny this is Emma is the smallest weighing in at 60 pounds!!!

2. I am the master of randomness. Probably 99.9% of my posts are tagged as random but come on, who doesn't love a good random story!

3. I am the master of harvesting crops. Yes, friends, I've admitted it but I am addicted to Farmville and I usually harvest crops daily.

4. I am the master of mood swings, ask my husband. I can be in the best mood in the world and then I notice the picture if off center and its like WATCH OUT WORLD!!!

5. I am the master of taking 10 minutes to tell a 10 second story.

6. I am the master of blowing things out of proportion (see #4) and ask my boss.

Now for the Masters of Friendship.

1. Although we don't comment too often on each other's blog, I have to nominate my girl Kristal who has been one of my best friends since 7th grade.

2. Adie who is helping me along my weight loss journey this time around. Her positive comments keep me on track every day.

3. Angie who I just met almost exactly a year ago but I feel like we're old friends. She always makes me feel so welcomed where ever we are.

4. Cece...what can I say? This girl and I relate, we just get each other!

5. Britni-while I started off as her boss four years ago, I would definately say we ended up as friends.

6. Amy-we've only commented back and forth but I feel like she's an awesome woman and friend.

So there you have it! FYI-I will be out of town for a conference today-Friday so I'll spend the weekend catching up on blogs after my stair climb Saturday AM-wish me luck!!!

Olympics Recap...

...okay, let me grab my hair tie box that I wrote my Olympics recap notes on...got it! Okay, here are some of my thoughts now that the Olympics has ended:

*Apparently the dress attire for the Winter Olympics is spandex and the dress attire for the Summer Olympics is no pants (think gymnastics, swimming, track).

*I guess Spiderman hit all the bobsledders on the butt for good luck because they all had a spider web on their butt.

*Lindsey Vonn, I'm sorry for you fans of hers out there, but she is just on my last nerve.

*Apolo Ohno (when I say his name, I really want to say Yoko Ono) is like supernatural and unhuman. His face is always so smooth looking and I think he wears that bandana over his ears to hide his pointed supernatural ears. Oh and the guy is great (and I'm a fan now) but he never wins gold...I think so that people won't think he's supernatural. Sorry Apolo but it's not working.

*Olympians only date other Olympians. So if you have a major crush on an Olympian (and I may have a small crush on Apolo but being that he's not human AND I'm married, it would never work despite this rule) then you should start working towards becoming an Olympic athlete so you've got a chance.

And that my friends is my recap of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

UPDATE! What the crap??? All my comments from 12/16-1/18 have been deleted!?!? Any ideas? This happen to anyone else???