Ooooook.....

I'm guessing none of you (all one of you) aren't too terribly upset with my lack of posting. If you are, don't worry, I was doing much cooler things than you. A quick recap of the last six weeks of my life....which have been about the best six weeks of my life. They weren't lying when they said your 30's are awesome. I'm really having the time of my life.

Recap: Easter, kickball, pub golf crawl, more kickball, Death of a Sinkhole, custom koozies, kickball, summer kickball, birthday: parts 1 through 10, kickball playoffs x 2, brass bands, new bike, Strongbow and Goldschlager, anticipation of Mexico, Mexico coming to fruition, questions answered, new abode (in a month), the return of old habits, the creation of new ones, and the kicking of bad ones, cherries popped, homemade daiquiris in the quarter, bars with swings, no pants summer, flipcup, flipcup with Boone's Farm, flipcup with Four Loko, more kickball, truck pool, slip n slide, beach parties, plotting of the future of awesomeness.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Don't hate. Find something awesome and do it. I am.

Kisses!!

Before you go....

....and start feeling sorry for me, and all my lame-o posts recently, I'll be here in a month and a half. Beach time needs to happen, stat.

Eeeeeeeeek!!!

Only one more day in 2010 and my last post was Thanksgiving?!?!? Let's fix that, shall we?! Here goes my quick recap of my life since turkey day.

We finished up our fall kickball season a couple of weeks ago. I had a an absolute blast playing, and discovered that I'm actually pretty decent at it. Apparently others thought so to, as I was nominated for Rookie of the Year, as well as Most Improved Kickballer. I didn't win either, but it was nice to be noticed!

I did managed to fit in almost two weeks off of work, and took a little trip to see my fabulous relatives in Austin, TX. There was much eating and drinking and being merry. We ate like kings, had an amazing spa day, got in a bunch of golf and laughed like it was going out of style. I got to finally meet their two kids, Zoe and Mickey - they're Papillons, not actual children. It was great to catch up on life with them, and to have a nice relaxing week away from reality.

The last day, I headed down to San Antonio to see a couple of friends. It had been a few years since I'd see Senior and his wife, so I was super excited to see them, as well as their house, pets, and the life they've made for themselves. It was awesome to catch up with them as well, and I'm super thankful they opened up their home and their life to me. It better not be several years before I see them again!!

Christmas was....well....different. I complain a lot about the stress of the holidays, and my general disdain for any holiday that occurs after 11/1. The runaround of where I'm going to be and when, what to wear, finding the perfect present, etc. Every year I complain about it, and yet finally, this year, when I don't have to be anywhere at any specific time.....I missed my family. I missed seeing my nephew's face, I miss showing up late to my aunt's and not being the last one there (or even the most hungover), I miss the sound of wrapping paper being torn off the pile of presents under the tree.

That isn't to say that I didn't have an awesome Christmas, not by any stretch. There was a pickup kickball game arranged, but unfortunately it was too cold, and only a few of us showed up. We went to the local Chinese joint after cocktailing in the street for an hour or so. Then it was off to the bar.....where I discovered that about the only way you'll get me to drink egg nog is by making a White Russian out of it.

There were a couple of White Elephant parties over the last couple of weeks - my favorite gift that I ended up with was a wooden box filled with Boone's Farm, 4Loko and Miller High Life. Talk about a kickball care package!! I got to see a couple of old friends, and have made some more new ones. All in all, the last month has been an awesome blur (as evidenced by my lack of posting here).

It's been a year of ups and downs, learning, exploring, leaving, joining, experiencing, eating (which needs to stop!), shaking things up, calming the soul, tearing it up, picking up the pieces. It's been crazy, it's been amazing. I wasn't sure how I could top the summer of awesome of 2009, but I think I've done it. And I'm so thrilled to see what 2011 will bring. Well, everything except for the tax bill I'm certain to have. Eh, I guess I can't have it all just yet. :)

California Dreamin.....

Yup, I'm in Cali. Hoping that my travel day on Sunday will allow me to get y'all caught up on the last few days of my parents visit as well as a recap of this AMAZING training class I attended.

I'm a little annoyed the sun isn't out yet, but guess what? I'm in SoCal and you're not.

Superfastrecap

SofastImaynotevenuseproperpunctuationorspacing.

Who am I kidding?! You and I both know that would drive me insane.

So. Um. After the Vikings game...where do I begin? St. Practice Day? My new fourth favorite day of the year (it's 6 months from St. Patrick's day if you didn't figure it out). Also, if this particular St. Practice Day was any indication, I most definitely need the practice. Then there was the St. Practice recovery day. Then there was Vikings football and a most pleasant surprise.

Then, one of my oldest, most awesome friends, Jen came to town. And I didn't get a lot of sleep for a few days. There was a random kickball game that we played in. There was the eating of good food (ok, so that's a given). Then a breather night. And yet another night in the Quarter (somehow I managed to stay off Bourbon Street). A scavenger hunt birthday party. An introduction. A continuation. More football. The start of a new kickball team. And Krav.

I'm exhausted just typing that. Future outlook? Lots of work, more kickball, more Krav, a visit from the rents, a training class and mini-vacation....and....well....hopefully. :)

Not homeless!

Lease has been signed and delivered!!! I have a key! To an apartment! To my apartment!!! How flippin cute is this entrance!?!?!?

For those of you that have seen it, I KNOW how PERFECT my couch WOULD have been. It saddens me to a high level that I didn't bring it with me. It was TOTALLY a New Orleans couch. Not as much as the news of the U2 concert postponement, but greatly saddens me. But, we're being upbeat! Shuffle is reading my mind today, I'm excited to have my own place (as much as I love room service and our housekeepers, living at the hotel has begun to get old), to decorate it and make it my own. I'm excited to discover the neighborhood and hang pictures. To buy bar stools for the super cute breakfast bar. TO HAVE A DISHWASHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It really is the little things in life, friends. This one is huge for me, and I'm beyond excited. Work is going well; I have my first clients and I'm almost comfortable around here. I did have to cancel my trip back to Minneapolis in June however. The U2 concert was the reason the trip was planned in the first place. I'm ultra bummed out because there were plenty of other kick ass things I had planned (girly golf outing, Twins game, possible road trip to the Dave Matthews concert, spending time with an angel - in every sense of the word). But mostly missing out on the opportunity to spend a week with the people in my life that I love the most and my new nephew. He still hasn't arrived, but now I have to wait another month to see his sweet face. And when I'm back in August, I'm only back in the cities for a couple of days, so I know I won't get to see and touch and hug and kiss everyone that I want to. It will still be wonderful, and I'll get to meet and welcome a beautiful newborn to the family, I just wish I had more time.

So, having said that, I will be in Minneapolis on Wednesday, August the 4th, and Monday, August the 9th. Save the dates, peeps.

Possibly the worst news ever....

Ok, so that might be a bit of an exaggeration. I just read that Bono (of U2 fame, for those that have lived in a cave for the last two decades) injured his back prepping for the upcoming tour and had to have back surgery.

The last time U2 came to Minny, I bought a ticket the day before the show for $125. I sold it the night of the show for $300. Anyone that knows me knows I have few regrets. This is one of them. When I heard they were coming back, come hell or high water, I was going to be at the show. I bought into the fan club so I could get presale tickets and I did. 2 GA tickets.

I bought my plane ticket yesterday. YESTERDAY. 6/25 - 7/4. So long as the concert isn't delayed more than a week, I will still be able to go. If it's rescheduled for any time after 7/3, I'm fucked. I know this is karma messing with me and I think it's bullshit. If I don't get to see them, the universe can go fuck itself for all I care. I KNOW I shouldn't have sold those tickets, but don't punish me like this!!! Please!!

Also, I wish Bono a very speedy recovery and truly hope it's nothing serious. Aside from enjoying their music immensely, Bono is a humanitarian in every sense of the word. I may not agree with all of his political views, but the man wants to make the world a better place. And he puts his money where his mouth is. I have mad respect for him and hope that he gets better soon.

Or discovers cortisone shots.