it's late

Late to us is 10pm, okay?

I saw my beautiful friend in her wedding dress today!! It may have just been a picture in an email, but still! BEAUTIFUL! She is going to be SO BEAUTIFUL!

I love weddings.

sportsman's paradise

I don't feel very inspired to write right now.
I'm tired.
Don't feel good.
Tired.

Yep.
In other news Charlie planned a vacation for us to take in about.... 2 years. Actually 2 vacations. One to a native plants bed and breakfast in Western Louisiana. And another to the migrating birds festival at Grand Isle.
Are you noticing a location theme?

That old man.

Pink Slime

Sick.


"You effectively need to kill 1.5 million more head of cattle in a year to replace the meat that would go off the market from this unwarranted, unmerited food scare," Gov. Branstad said. "That's why we're pushing back on it."


Ummm... #1 that's sick. That really does mean they put pink slime in a lot of things.
#2... why can't we just eat 1.5 million less cows? Why can't we just eat food that is... more real? 
There is definitely a disconnect that continues to grow between people and where their food comes from. Grow some veggies and eat that instead. Come on, people! 


 meat with pink slime





ALSO...
Why aren't things colored with what they're flavored with? I have never understood that. If it doesn't taste enough like Strawberry for people to taste strawberry, then maybe the recipe is the problem and not the food coloring.

I have a test this afternoon

That I do NOT feel like studying for.
Pernkie and Rufus are snoring LOUDLY... it makes me feel very safe and cozy.

Yesterday in one of my classes we had a guest lecturer who talked about how policy changes can really change norms in our country. For instance, taxes on cigarettes and banning smoking in most public spaces has created a very different environment--it is much less "normal" to smoke... at least in public spaces (although smoking has really plummeted in general). We can probably all say, "remember when you used to have to pick the smoking or non-smoking areas of restaurants?" For younger kids, that is something they probably can't believe ever happened. She then asked us to imagine 50 years into the future about some of the food culture that will change. She asked us to "Remember when..." as if we were in the future. Such as, "Remember when schools used to have pop machines?" or "remember when tomato sauce used to count as a vegetable on pizza in school lunches?" or "remember when kids were given PE only once a week and only given a couple minutes to run around outside for recess?"  HA! Or, "Remember when gas only cost $2.00?"

Not just health related, but what other things do you think will change? What will we say to each other remembering back 50 years from now?

wind advisory

I think most of us (who read this blog) are very fortunate. (As far as I know), we all have parents and other people in our lives who love us and affirm us and cheer for us. That is really good because society doesn't always offer that to us. There are set standards that society expects us to live up to, or "look" up to.
I LOVE Public Health. I love the people perspective it puts on everything I learn. Especially in the world of nutrition where I am surrounded by a field that comes across as notoriously... judgey?  At least being the "Food police" is a common label put on practitioners.
I have learned a lot about eating disorders. And things people do (unhealthily) to control their weight. Things like exercising too much (too much being defined as being dependent upon it). Or cutting out food groups. Or labeling foods as "good" foods and "bad" foods. Or not eating enough later in the day/week if you eat "too much" earlier in the day/week. Or, of course, purging, diuretics, or enemas.
I think most people probably feel some sort of pressure to look a certain way or even pressure to dislike something about how they look. I think most people I know feel at least a little pressure to participate in one or more of these weight-control behaviors. Even now I feel like I should come up with something negative to say about myself, because that's what girls do!
Everyone's body is different. Everyone probably has something they don't love about how they look, but I honestly believe that is influenced by what society says it SHOULD look like. What does that even mean? What does society know about my body? (which God so beautifully and wonderfully made?!)
That said, I think we all need to come to a place of freedom. A place where we take care of ourselves, take care of our health, and LOVE our bodies and how we look, but also a place where we don't stress about our thighs or arms or bellies or kill ourselves trying to make something "perfect" (because, again, what is perfect?! That is a definition society has made up!)
If you're healthy, you're healthy! But that requires body health as well as mind health... loving ourselves is a big piece of that puzzle.

camera pictures...

phone pics to come later...

At the Casina

Ready for Adrian to eat!

Gettin' ready...

mmmmm yuuuum!

Love this man

Love these ladies!

In the nook at The Nook

Post-spoon view of Minneapolis

They do amazing things with legos at the Mall of America

Charlie's only favorite part of the mall :)

What a fun weekend!

It was SO GREAT having family here for the weekend. It flew by, and we crammed 4 days worth of things into 2.5 days... but I think it was quite a successful weekend! Our road trip to Davenport to watch Adrian allowed us a lot of good, quality time in the car. I think that was very fortunate. The eating contest was fun and Adrian did a great job! I lost a sweater. Ashleigh snuck into the "casina" with a fishing license and a Sam's card. Yarisa won $0.18 on the slot machines. And Charlie got to stare at lots of maps.

We ate a lot. Pizza. Fro-Yo. Coffee. Gas station food. Quiznos. Pizza. Dairy Queen. Monkey Bread. The Nook. and Starbucks. We love food.

Foooood.

We saw the Spoon. Campus. Downtown Minneapolis. St Paul. the Mall of America! The Mississippi River. And I know other stuff, too.

I'll post pictures later.
Thanks for making the trip up to the great white north!!!!

Oh yeah

I opened up a tab a few hours ago so I would remember to blog before our guests get here! (Yay!) I'm thinkin tomorrow may be tricky.. but I will be spending the day in a car with people who have iphones, so maybe one of them will help me write a short blog before tomorrow is over. 

I'm VERY excited about the Hunger Games tonight. I put it in my calender the very day I found out there was going to be a movie. It's strange that it's already here.  And as soon as Ashleigh mentioned she wanted to come up here to see it, I marked off the whole weekend. Also strange that THAT'S already here. It's kind of scary that we're going to be watching the movie late... but I FEEL like it's going to be so amazing and exciting that we'll all easily stay awake...? Hopefully? The car ride tomorrow may or may not be a different story ;)

It's a very nice Minnesota weekend. Minnesota must be easily charmed by southerners. It listens to our weather requests. 

Warning:

Before reading this blog, you should know a few things:

1. I will ALWAYS ALWAYS (probably) in every blog mention either 1) my puppies, 2) my husband, or 3) most likely both. They're my three favorite people. ;)

2. I love a picture post.

3. I tend to get dramatic in my blog. And I write as if I'm the only one reading it for the most part. Sometimes with probably not enough of a filter.... I think because...

4. ...I mostly write this blog for myself! It's a good way for me to process things and remember little anecdotes (about my pooches or husband). YOU, dear reader, are just lucky enough to peer into my inner workings :)

5. Aaaaaand I'll probably also complain about being busy or school when I'm NOT talking about my puppies. Because....

6. ...I am a big nerd. Ask Charlie.

Lucifer.

Charles just texted me to say he found a den of snakes. and "Dem's cute*".


Ew!!





*OKay, so he didn't say "Dem's cute". He said ":) they are so cute" but who says a snake is cute?! I'll tell you who. A coon-butt. 

coffee

I have some really nice girls in my program. In fact, I really love each and every one of them... they're all different and have different past experiences and different passions... but we're all united around the ideas of helping people and loving nutrition.

Our program shares a strength and a weakness.. it's very involved. There are a million different things you can be involved in... and each of us in the program has a slightly different version of that. Some semesters, everything falls in place perfectly for students, and some semesters are more stressful for others.

This semester, the girls who seem the most stressed actually seem to have the most rooted lives here in the Twin Cities. They are pulled in 300 different directions with family, friends, events, parties, etc etc etc. I DEFINITELY miss people.. but I haven't really had that overwhelming sense of loneliness up here. I know Charlie gets a little lonely sometimes, but I think that's mostly when it's cold outside and the only people he sees are his coworkers... and me. Staring at my computer.  I think it's kind of actually really nice that I'm removed from "real life" while I'm in school. It would be SO HARD to keep up with... everything. There's never a day or week or time when I don't have homework of some sort to do. When I take breaks it's because I choose to. I can't imagine keeping on top of everything here and having a.. life, too! Poor Charlie putting up with me and all this. At least we have two loving (and very needy) babies.

I hope saying all this doesn't make me sound like I don't miss anyone or want to go to one of my homes. Because I can't WAIT to see two of you this weeeeeekend!!! And I am already praying for a summer miracle so I can go to Calen and Ginger's wedding this summer (and maybe even get to stay for a week with Charlie?!) I hate that it's almost been a year! That's just crazy.  I need some more Galbos in my life, too! I'm thankful for some many supportive people in my life!

On a slightly different note... my coffee tastes sour?! Any thoughts?

Family

Yesterday was my sister and her husband's 6-year anniversary.  Nic and Crystal just celebrated 5. And Arisa and Judah, Charlie and I will all celebrate our 3rd anniversaries around the same time later this year.

None of us have perfect marriages; But I have seen perfect love at work in each.

Susan, thanks for always being transparent and honest about your marriage. Thank you for always working to make it better. (Thank you for having such a cute little munchkin!) Here's to 60 more happy years for you two!

Picures and Videos as promised..

 

Notice Punkin's nosedive at around 15 seconds.

And her fall from glory at 8 seconds... aaaaand 42 seconds.

Wait... how did Friskey get in here? I think that's a question the Loups have been asking her for years. She's so sneaky.

They love being country dogs (/people).

I know you can't tell... but here she is sneezing because she is so excited.

Punkin found herself a little mountain so she could cheer Rufus on and not miss out on any of the action.

I'm pretty sure he would have done this all day. AND HE ACTUALLY BROUGHT US THE BALL BACK!

The water was cold, but he couldn't have been any happier.

What a happy, dirty little girl.

Sooo she doesn't look comfy? But I'm pretty sure she was...?

She was being very noodle-like.

Punkin

Here is Rufus snugging with his daddy on the couch. Punkin feels very left out.

So she pouted about it.

This is almost the same picture, but look at Rufus' face!

Someone tell me how it is possible for a dog to shed this much hair EVERY DAY?! I literally sweep this much every day and brush off of him just as much. How is he not bald?

Busy day

Today was very.... "us". It's St. Patty's Day, and Charlie and I contemplated going to downtown St Paul to participate in all the festivities since buses let you ride for free (so you don't have to drive or find a place to park) and it's AMAZING weather, so the parade and everything this year was supposed to be great.

We contemplated it for a while... but. Let's face it. That's not really "us". So we had our own festivious day.

We started by cleaning. Which was actually kind of nice. We opened all the windows and you can hear the birds chirping outside and see squirrels all over the place. And, as Charlie put it, "Minnesotans are like BUGS. They come out from everywhere when it gets warm!" That made me laugh. I must be like a bug, too because I can't get enough of this. 

I think this blog is going to be very long. Maybe I should split it in half? Maybe not. We'll see. 

We then decided that it was Pernkie's lucky day because it's been so warm for so long. BTW... we are having record-breaking heat up here! The last time it was this warm in March it was 1930. And then it was 71degrees. We got up to 79 yesterday! This is apparently May and June weather! If this hangs on till then.. I'm just gonna be the happiest little country bumpkin that ever lived in the Great White North. 

SO we shaved Pernkie and she is SO CUTE. Our little bear in pajamas. 

Charlie and I had a nice lunch together after some more Spring cleaning, and then ran a few errands. Then we took the doggies back to that dog park. I'll post the videos and pictures tomorrow. WE HAD THE BEST TIME! We were the only people there (because the waitress from Dino's left with her boyfriend and dog after we got there.) And we tramped down through the park to the wetlands area. From just 2 weeks ago everything has completely melted and there were ducks and canadian geese everywhere. Charlie found an old tennis ball, so he and Rufus had a great time playing. PUNKIN WAS WILD. I hope the videos show up clear enough for you to see 1) how muddy she was, 2) how happy she was, 3) how many times she slipped, and 4) her one big nose dive into the lake. We had so much fun. 

We came home, bathed the puppies, I painted my toenails a bright blue color (I got myself a new shade to celebrate the weather), and we started cooking. And we cooked everything. EVERYTHING. 

Here, let me show you:

Asian Slaw with Ginger peanut dressing.. it's GOOD! And my lunch for the week.

Chocolate hummus, which is pretty good and going to be the icing for....

Black bean cake!! (I'm sorry! I had to test it out in case it's nasty!)

And Charlie is WILD right now and on a king cake kick, and he is going to make cinnamon rolls outta this

And while we had every dish we own dirty, we thought we'd go ahead and make supper. Charlie even made the gravy from the chicken stock. We worked hard today, and this meal really hit the spot.

Happy to be close to eating.

See? We had a most wonderful day that reflects Charlie and I so well. But if you made it reading this far, good for you! You get 10 gold stars! :)

homework homework homework

But it's the weekend now, and I'm taking it! Maybe. Probably.

Soooo I just found out I'm getting flown out to DC for a big dietetics conference on Public Policy! There's a grant paying for a few of us to go and learn about different policies being discussed having to do with nutrition. I'm REALLY excited. I got an email today saying I need to read like 15 different articles on bills to prepare for it! Eeek!! I do not know much about policy, so it should be a really good learning experience.  AND the farm bill is a big one, so maybe I'll learn a little something for Charlie, too.

I haven't been to DC in..... a long time. It may be cherry blossom season! And I think we may try go do a little sightseeing before the conference starts.

I feel so blessed! 

Beware the Idea of March

I supposed I have to begin my post this way since it is the official start of the annual Ides of March blogging challenge.
I completed one homework assignment today... but am not very motivated to keep going. Probably because I found this beauty:



CHOCOLATE HUMMUS, PEOPLE.

I am definitely trying it soon.  MUST TRY.

Spring Break

I finished my two-day Spring break class learning to design, implement, facilitate and analyze focus group interviews. It was really interesting and I want to conduct one now! Even if it has nothing to do with nutrition! :) Basically, I learned how to lead meaningful conversations! Pretty neat.

Our teacher said that we shouldn't feel jealous of friends who got to go on vacation and get nice tans... because we received something that will LAST! I actually reallyreally want a little tan/slight sunburn... but he's right. Hopefully I'll be able to use this tool.

Unfortunately, now I'm ACTUALLY on spring break and feel like actually being on spring break! Not doing homework. I have a very long list of things I need to get done. Maybe I should take today off and then work tomorrow and Friday. I think I just talked myself into that on my blog. HA.

Risa, Ashleigh and Adrian are coming soon! That means so many happy things! :) 1) I get to see them! 2) The hunger games movie. 3) ROAD TRIP! 4) An excuse to do some fun things in the Twin Cities. 5) A reason to clean my house really, really well. ha. Puppy hair is IMPOSSIBLE. I would swear to you that Rufus should not have 1 hair left on his body. I have never seen a creature shed like him.

The Bachelor is dumb.

Why don't apartments like puppies? Who doesn't like PUPPIES?

spring break

I had a very good weekend. This week is Spring Break except for the part where I have class Monday and Tuesday and a million assignments to do Wednesday, Thursday and Friday!  Yay Grad School spring breaks.

It was another BEAUTIFUL day today. I LOVE NICE WEATHER. Open windows. Sunshine. Vitamin D.

I'm thinking about eating with anti-inflammatory foods in mind... increasing omega 3's... decreasing omega 6's... increasing polyphonols. We'll see how it goes.

Dog Park

SUNSHINE!!!! It was BEAUTIFUL weather!

To celebrate our first day of Spring, we took a family trip to a neighboring dog park. It was very slushy--everything is melting... but we had a REALLY nice time!

Pernk had a great time walking on water

Everything is melting, so we didn't let them go too far out

Sniffing around the wetlands

Winter is coming to an end! Praise Jesus for seasons!

This is old... from our tragic car-malfunction in Iowa... but I thought it was funny!

That was a LONG two days! Our babies were troopers!

March 23rd

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/966511/391/Hundreds-pull-MOA-all-nighter-to-meet-Hunger-Games-cast
wow!! I would have been TERRIBLY disappointed if I had woken up at 4 this morning like I had planned. Fortunately, I turned my alarm off at 2 and decided that I would definitely be too tired to go.

and this is a very poorly written synopsis, but people. Minnesotans are HUGE hunger games fans!
http://www.avclub.com/twincities/articles/hundreds-of-hunger-games-fans-line-up-at-mall-of-a,70642/

It's so unbelievable to me that the movie is so huge and hasn't even come out yet. Imean... obviously I'm VERY excited. And a very big fan... it's just so crazy! I'm glad we have assigned seats on this one or else we might be standing in line the night before just to sit together!

it snowed this morning

what the heck, minnesota?! get with the program.

It's summer everywhere else in the world! well... probably not, but I just want a little sunburn! Is that too much to ask for?
Like I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I am helping the school district I am working with acquire a new dishwasher to replace a 21 year old machine in one of their elementary schools.  I had a meeting Monday morning with one rep and a meeting with a rep from another company on Wednesday. Both meetings went pretty well, and I felt like I held my own (for not really knowing much about industrial equipment). But it was very obvious to me that rep #1 did NOT appreciate meeting with a student intern. He was condescending and tried to give me a "Teachable moment"... (what?!) and emailed me stating he'd like to meet with my adviser to go over the figures he put together. Even though I asked him to get the information to me so I can disseminate it like they asked me to.

I AM just an intern. I know that. BUT my preceptors gave me this assignment. And trust me to do it. And don't really have time to meet with people all the time... they're very busy women. AND the other rep never seemed aggravated or inconvenienced to be meeting with an intern. In fact, he was quite nice to me as a salesperson should be. So I kindly (I hope) let rep #1 know that if he wants a meeting with her he can contact her to set one up, but that I'd still like to get the information I asked for from him so I can put it together like the school district asked me to. Rep #1... I'm not rooting for you to win this bid. You shouldn't treat people differently based on their title. Especially if they're the ones handling the information.

perspective

50 degrees is so nice!! I took off my coat (outside) today!

Also, I need to print a retraction of yesterday's blog post. 

1) We're not under the poverty line. I did bad math.

2) God has provided for us in some pretty unbelievable ways over the last year. You'd think my faith would have grown a little more by now.

3) Before I opened our tax statement, I read a letter from the director of the program our Compassion child in Nicaragua is a part of. Melvin lives in Managua and faces gangs and drug deals and so much poverty and danger every day. So while I may  be frustrated, I need to put things into perspective a little. 

Look how precious he is! His father is a driver, but is not always employed. His mother also does not have work. But he's going to school, making good grades, taking care of his siblings, and loving Jesus. Perspective is a good thing.

Dear United States Government,

Thank you for taxing us so we fall officially below the poverty line.

Instead of right above it.

Really appreciate that.

I don't want to hear it.

Nothing about your nice weather, please.
I'm cold.
But it's getting up to 50 on Tuesday! Break out the bathing suit!

No one lets labs in nice, cheap apartments. Dang.

Yay!

What an eventful 2 weeks for my friends from JBU!!
3 engagements, and all the wedding dates are tentatively set! I LOVE weddings.
I think even more than weddings, I love what weddings mean when they are performed with two like-minded Jesus-lovers. It's a beautiful, beautiful start to a union. A partnership. A marriage. I couldn't be more happy for my friends!
Look at these two!



They are a beautiful, strong couple... and I know God has so many good things for them!

4 weddings over the summer before Fall 2012 semester starts! Eek! (That's excitement and... awe!)

is it March, already?

I found out today I'm helping the school district I'm interning with purchase a $15-20,000 piece of equipment for one of the schools. No pressure. I'm meeting with two reps to talk about it next week. (How does one meet with a rep to acquire a good bid...?)

I made Charlie watch Breaking Dawn part 1 with me tonight because our local Redbox had it in stock for the first time since it came out. It was worse than I expected!! Charlie was pleased with how bad it was, but I thought the movies were getting better each time, and this one was just plain out worse than the first one! They stretched out 2 chapters of a book into a whole movie! And managed to make it boring! And poorly acted, although I know that was expected. I kept telling Charlie what I remembered from the book and he would ask me how anyone who hadn't read the books would have a clue about what was going on.

I guess I'm glad we didn't pay more than $1 to watch it, but YEESH. 

Louisiana Saturday Night.

Even though it's Friday Night.

And we're in Minnesota.

Details.

please?

i'm tired. i also really want your opinion.

would you mind going here? and telling me what you think?