Wowza!

Ok. So I finally have a minute to breathe. Or two even. I've been literally going non-stop since my parents arrived here three weeks ago. It was absolutely wonderful having them in town, and it was super sad to leave them for the left coast.

I had a great trip to California - haven't been to LA in at least 10 years - learned a lot at our class, saw a TON of beautiful scenery, saw some good friends I haven't seen in ages, ate really well and only embarrassed myself once (all blame goes to Rob and tequila). I'd forgotten how gorgeous the mountains and the ocean are in Cali. Our training class was at the Newport Beach Marriott, and when it was over, I took the Pacific Coast Highway all the way up to LA from Laguna Beach. I've long said that my next move will be to the Big Apple, but I might have to detour to live in the mountains.

I ate my weight in In 'N Out burgers, had an amazing meal at Rivera (I highly recommend olive oil poached lobster served with melon cubes and a green chile gelee), saw the Hollywood sign, the building where Michael Jackson is buried, took a lovely drive down and up Mullholland, drove past the Chateau Marmont, and finally up the PCH to Malibu. Dear god there are some AMAZING homes with stunning views in southern California. I want an address on Mullholland Drive. There were a couple times I literally had my breath taken away. Thankfully I didn't drive myself off a cliff.

I would love to say that when I got back from my vacation that I was refreshed and ready to get back to work. In fact, the opposite happened. I walked back into three large groups checking in on successive days, a client meeting with my first social function in years (read = lots of work), and an ambush of sorts. I'm really hoping it gets better, and it's seemed to in the last week or so, because really, it needs to. I also need to take a crash course in letting the things I have no control over go and not worry about them.

Our fall kickball league has started and we're now 2-1. Go Team America!! Voodoo Fest is every bit as amazing as I've heard. Darkness Day was an absolute blast (more on that separately). I miss my friends in MN and my family terribly. And that's pretty much it. Same old, different day. At least it's cooled off in the big sleazy.

This is what happens....

When I forget to post already written blog entries....from 10/4.......

In true impulsive form, I will be back in the TC for less than 48 hours for one of the best beer events of the year. After having my Facebook and Twitter feeds jammed with Autumn Brew Review and Surlyfest updates, I said no more. I'm not missing another one. So sayeth the brewer.

See you drinkin'.

I'm back in the Big Easy now....if you didn't see me, your loss. You'll just have to make more of an effort when I'm back next time. 11/14 at Stub and Herbs, I think.

100 random facts....

1. I'm a terrible liar.
2. I have incredible beginner's luck.
3. My nickname (name) is in reference to my father's favorite Stooge.
4. I do 95% of my shopping online. I hate shopping with the exception of the grocery store.
5. I could eat Thai food and gyros every day of the week and never be sick of them. And ice cream..
6. I don't intend to reproduce.
7. If I had $5 for every time someone said "oh, you'll change your mind about that", I'd likely be retired by now. Without kids.
8. I have clown feet.
9. I want to join the mile high club.
10. I never thought I'd have any use for e-mail on my phone, but I cannot live without my iPhone.
11. My favorite painting is "Nighthawks".
12. Skydiving is the coolest rush I've ever had.
13. I'm a sports freak.
14. I've never broken a bone.
15. I've given up on trying to impress people.
16. Flying bugs and birds terrify me.
17. I've been on TV, the radio and in a movie.
18. I don't think I can count the number of famous people I've met.
19. I didn't used to get along very well with my mother, but it's gotten much better.
20. My father is one of my best friends.
21. It takes a very long time to get to know "the real Me".
22. All of my closest friends could blackmail me.
23. My favorite food is anything of the Mediterranean variety.
24. I do not have a Minnesota accent. I am starting to acquire a southern one though.
25. I am the only child of my parents. My siblings are amazing.
26. I take exceptional care of my hair.
27. I think Krav Maga is the hardest thing I've ever attempted.
28. I can't do anything cool with my face, like raise one eyebrow or roll my tongue.
29. I sleep on satin sheets - one of the best purchases I've ever made.
30. I own my dream shoes.
31. My favorite photo of myself is my first day of kindergarten. My second favorite photo...well, you'll see it if you're lucky.
32. I have zero artistic talent. Stick figures are impossible for me.
33. My left hand is pretty useless for anything other than typing.
34. I'm usually extremely shy, and my job forces me to be outgoing. Alcohol also works.
35. I still sleep with my baby blanket.
36. I dream of beating Ken Jennings and Eddie the Blind Guy on Jeopardy. I'm undefeated at Jeopardy on PS2.
37. I will bet on anything.
38. My underwear always match my bra.
39. I can go over a month without doing a single load of laundry and without wearing the same outfit twice.
40. I love cats but am extremely allergic to them.
41. I share a b-day with George Clooney and Sigmund Freud.
42. I'm claustrophobic in elevators, sleeping bags and crowds of people.
43. I refuse to write with a pen that's any color than black.
44. I have slept in my car on more than one occasion.
45. I have a beer named after me.
46. I have a 36" inseam.
47. I miss Phil Hartman.
48. My favorite color is blue.
49. I buy a different kind of cheese every time I go to the grocery store.
50. I have developed a serious case of insomnia since moving away from home.

51. I knew within a week of working at my first hotel, that this was the career I wanted.
52. The best thing to do when I'm mad is leave me alone.
53. I hate people that don't know how to drive.
54. Slow people also irritate me.
55. My favorite band is DMB.
56. I snore. And talk in my sleep.
57. I've never camped out for tickets to anything, but I have camped out for beer.
58. I can do an impression of Apu. And that's it.
59. I love to cook.
60. I interrupted MC Hammer's dinner at Glamorama.
61. I'm not nearly as witty as I would have you all believe.
62. I was born a blonde.
63. I will get liposuction someday.
64. You can tell how drunk I was the night before by how many times I throw up the next day.
65. I have a Magic 8 Ball in my office. You can tell if it's working by asking "is Moe going to hell?".
66. I have made it halfway through my list of places to go before I die - Ireland has been checked off, Greece remains.
67. My favorite song to sing for karaoke is "Copacabana".
68. I've been on the Jumbo-tron at the Metrodome (both football and baseball), the Target Center, Target Field and the X.
69. It perturbs me when people say they'll call you back, but don't. I am frequently guilty of this.
70. I want to throw someone else's steak at a cyclist and I want to throw a Molotov Cocktail at an abandoned brick building.
71. I refuse to spend more than $50 on a shirt, but will cough up $300 for shoes without batting an eye.
72. I'm extremely shy - ISTJ.
73. I have two collections of shot glasses: One for places I've been and one for places others go.
74. My goal is have them match by the time I die.
75. I'm the nerd of my friends.
76. I have managed to buy one thing and one thing only at Target.
77. I may be the only female on the planet that doesn't crave chocolate.
78. I am deathly afraid of never being able to ski again.
79. I walked around the set of 'Days of Our Lives'.
80. J-Lo is my guilty pleasure.
81. My idea of coffee is a double espresso.
82. I have been classified as a flirt.
83. Cranium is my favorite game.
84. I do not own a TV.
85. I dance better alone.
86. If I could take back one moment of my life, it would be the moment I sold my U2 tickets right before the show.
87. As much as I enjoy being single, I miss the little things about having a boyfriend.
88. I've worn a coconut bra and grass skirt - it's a funny story.
89. One of my many nicknames is "Fun Moe". $1 if you get the reference.
90. I hate Jaeg, but love Jaeg-bombs.
91. My favorite bar is Brit's Pub.
92. I tried out for "The Weakest Link".

93. I've mastered the recipe for lemon ricotta pancakes from Hell's Kitchen.
94. Apparently I am the reason Surly cans Coffee Bender.
95. My "list" includes more women than men.
96. I miss being able to see stars.

97. I'll rarely admit it, but I'm a closet romantic.

98. Selling everything I owned that didn't fit in my car was one of the most freeing moments of my life..
99. I would fail miserably on the Atkin's Diet. But I'm going to try. Have to look hot for sister's wedding
100. I have the most amazing friends and family anyone could ever hope to have.

Not to brag or anything.....

But it's pretty effing sweet to have a beer named after you (it's the first limited release one). They made it for me for my going away party and apparently brought it to a beer festival in Madison, WI. You may have heard of it. Hope you enjoyed it. :)