Fall Sports Finale!

The Fall athletic season officially ended this weekend at UNI. Granted, there are still some basketball games left in the semester, but Volleyball is over (#1 in the conference, 26 straight wins) and Football ended on a less happier note (not even making the playoffs). They've gone fast, faster than the past two that I have been working them, but there is a whole winter season ahead!

Here's a few pictures of the games, taken by Tim, seeing as though I am in a cement tomb under a hallway between the field and the court. Far far and away from any of the actual fun action. But I saw all of the action on a 6"x10" screen! That should totally count for something....

Throwback Thursday: Big Important Door!

Today's Throwback goes back to the summer of 2003. I was lucky enough to get to travel with a group from my high school to Italy, Turkey, and Greece over the span of three weeks. The trip was over the top amazing. I would say 75% of my top favorite places and things in Europe were covered during that trip. Mostly in Greece and Turkey, but moreso only because the only city in Italy that we covered was Rome.

This picture was taken at St. Peter's Basilica. It's the Holy Door, opened only during the Great Jubilee's, aka, VERY rarely. It's actually even cemented shut on the other side. But the best part of Vatican City, was totally the Sistine Chapel. But silly art historians, no pictures allowed....

Did you know?

Here's some random thoughts and trivia I have gathered over the past 24 hours in my random conversations and happenstances!

-I bought my first pomegranate. I had no idea what to expect, but I thought I might as well try it out. When I cut it open, I was weirded out. I have no idea what to do with it. It reminds me of corn kernels, and then when you bite them, they explode with juice and then you have a nasty crunchy seed.
Needless to say, I have a bowl of pomegranate innards in my fridge and no idea what to do with them.

-Just because the seeds are smaller, it does not make them Seedless Grapes.

-A resident is a doctor that is 1-3 years out of medical school, fellows are 4-7 years out, and the "big wigs that make all the money for doing nothing" are 7 years or more out.

-A good friend of mine left me a voicemail offering me a ticket to RENT in DM this past weekend. COMPLETE WITH ADAM PASCAL. I didn't get in time, nor could I have gone anyway, but nonetheless. Adam Pascal!

-And now for some pretty skies....

A Toads Weekend.

Over the past few months, I have been a mad case of homebody. I would just rather be home and chillin than out and about with music blarin. But this weekend, I went out both nights this weekend. Both til past 1am. Ridiculous.

Now, if you told me three years ago, I would have said that was insane. My last year in Boston, I was usually still up from the precious day when Tim went to work. And now, I am in bed by 11:30. I feel like a sellout.

But not this weekend! I even got to see an old old friend of mine named Joe. Joe busted out of Iowa just like I did, went to culinary school, and has been working as a chef in California ever since. I love the kid. Hes awesome. And everyone knows it.

So thats my story. Now witness the evidence!








Now.. I am off! To go to sleep. Before 11:30 :)

Can this kid phone home?

I have no words. Almost. I am mortified. This is child and parent abuse all rolled into one creepy image. Also, total mom haircut. Eek.

Throwback Thursday: Letters from "Santa"

This week's throwback is my brother and myself so many years ago. Almost two decades. (Eek!) But do take the time to notice how awed he looks at me. I was just that awesome. ;) And recently I received an email from my mother that was too hilarious not to post, so I do so in relation to this Christmassy throwback. It comes in response to an email from my husband adding a book to his Christmas list:

Dear Tim Tim,
Yes, books are good! They expand our world in many, many ways. I'm so happy too to see one on your list that doesn't involve oxen. :) Its only 7 more weeks until Christmas Eve. If you can continue to be a good boy (even into the New Year), I'll see that the elves have this information.
Love, Santa
PS: This year the reindeer would also like you to know that they have changed from their usual diet of cookies and milk to cheese and merlot - should be a wild night!!

Now, I will put money on the fact that as soon as she reads this, I will get a call complaining that it makes her look bad, but really, she is a normal, nice sane lady. So don't think bad about her! (And don't think I am taking it down mom, you are hilarious and people ought to know!)

Is it Thanksgiving yet?

Hippity Hop?

This week's blog hop gives me too many options!! So here's four of varying degrees of answerability, answer what you want to, but I'll love you more if you answer them all!

1) What should I make as a vegetable side dish for Thanksgiving? (I like new and exciting things, so no need to be simple or traditional!)

2) Whats the best thing that happened to you this past weekend?

3) What's your favorite story involving your beloved furry pets?! Extra points for hilarity.

4) What would you like to see posts about here on the blog? (Photos, stories, thoughts, throwbacks, new stuff...)

No really. I expect you all to answer. Nessa has Fringe/ Hero/ X-Men/ Lady Gaga -esque telepathic powers. She can make your brain shrivel to the size of a grape if you don't answer! Ouchees! See? I have proof!

Breathe it in...

Can't you just smell it? My first attempt at a yeast bread. A pumpkin yeast bread at that. I couldn't have been more pleased with how it turned out. If only my house could smell like that ALL the time...

Knowing this was on my counter helped me get through all day yesterday...no really. I am a self proclaimed carb addict.

3eb. I heart you.

I have been going deaf for a number of years now. Not to a degree that is medically concerning, but my phone conversations consist of a lot more, "What?" "Huh?" "Say that again"s. I blame my frequent attendance of concerts. And earbuds. And macaroni and cheese. Ok, maybe not that last one, but still. A pluthera of issues have contributed to my detriment. But on Monday, I only helped it along its course. Third Eye Blind was in Iowa City. I hate that it was on a Monday, and I totally didn't feel like going, but by the time it was time to go, I was pumped. We saw them six months ago to the day, and it was amazing. This would only be the same. It was awesome. The crowd took awhile to get warmed up (stupid Iowa City kids) but eventually we worked our way to the middle and it was awesome.


Third Eye Blind is the band of my jr high/ high school years. And I think saying that says enough. The red and the blue albums are two of maybe four albums ever that I can listen to nonstop, first song to last, without skipping a single song. Love it. Love them. I never saw them perform when they were "popular" and when I heard they were our touring to promote their first new album in six years....sign me up. His voice is just one of those voices, its like I am instantly back in the day (of course a Wednesday). Calming, even when not. *sigh*

Throwback Thursday: Zoinks!

All he needed was man's best friend, a green shirt and the Mystery Machine....

Birthday Bears Bonanza!

We gave my dad his birthday present this weekend. His birthday isn't for over a month, but it was too awesome to contain anymore. As a Chicago-ian, he has an insane love of all Chicago sports. This includes the less than talented Chicago Bears. And for as many sporting events that he has gone to, he has only been to a handful of Bears games in his life. Now, after the weekend after Thanksgiving, he will have been to a handful PLUS ONE.

The kitties helped in the presentation of the tickets. :) Alas, they will still not be allowed to go. Despite Nessa's claim to NEED a stadium hot dog...