p.s.

Dear Katie,

In my next life, I'm going to be organized. I will be punctual and follow through on things I said I would follow through on. If I say that I will deliver your birthday gift to Mandy when I see her in Grand Forks for Nate's wedding, I will actually do it. I will not forget it in my suitcase and find it nearly three months later and then pack it up to mail it. When someone moves, I will make sure to get their new address right away so that I do not have to wait for someone to answer my facebook status in order to send them a package. I am deeply sorry for being such an unreliable gift deliverer.

Your Friend (at least I hope you still consider me your friend),
Chelsey

p.s. I would really like you to move to Oswego and be my neighbor. Just remember how much fun we had over 4th of July weekend. I know you are thinking it had a lot to do with Jim, Alex and Kos being around, but it didn't. It all had to do with how much time we spent together. That could be every day. This has possibly crossed over the creepy line, but I don't care. Especially since you don't even read my blog. If you lived by me, you wouln't have to. I would just walk over to your house and tell you.

p.p.s. I totally get why you want to move to St. Charles.

rock and roll

thoughts and musings:

i hate clover. hate. clover. hate. i spent the better part of 2 hours pulling it and then trying to suffocate it with mulch. fingers crossed i will not have to do this again. ah the perils of being a homeowner.

t-4 days until our visitors from kansas arrive. anticipation and excitement are high.

my car broke down today. i'm not sure what happened, but there is an abundance of fluid on my garage floor where my car was before it moved 2.8 feet and then died, so i'm guessing it has something to do with that. ah the perils of owning an old automobile.

i love wimbolden. it is on my life list to attend. i will wear white and a big hat.

mike turned 28 on Wednesday and we had a bar-b-que wherein we made WAY too much food. Subsequently, Mike and I have been eating leftover hamburgers and hotdogs all week. Nothing sounds less delish to me than a hamburger at this point. The birthday boy enjoyed quite a number of miller lites on wednesday and felt very sleepy. I photographed accordingly:

Happy Birthday, love.

I recently returned from a Minnesota trip which included 2 weddings, 9 puppies, 3 trips to the cabin, a much needed hair coloring, lucia's birthday, a trip to camp, and hanging out with my best bud, rocky. She enjoys to take photos of herself on my camera, so I feel that others should feel the joy of viewing.

you're welcome.

fin.

Why Not? Well...

Last "weekend" (meaning Mike's weekend, meaning Tuesday and Wednesday) Mike and I journed to his homeland. We hadn't been in Minot since Mike's little brother's graduation, so roughly a year. For the most part, I like visiting my in-laws. There is always a ton of delish food, usually prepared on a grill or in a rib smoker (yum) and an endless amount of alcoholic beverages served throughout the day. In fact, I usually refer to an upcoming trip to Minot as a 3 day bender (actual number of days variable to number of days of trip).

In fact, this trip was staring out swimmingly. Mike's extended family drove up from Bismarck on Tuesday night just to join us at the Bar-b-que and Mike's questionable cousin actually shaved off his mullet and didn't stare at my chest, so aces. We were having a great time, chating and drinking and watching Mike's little cousin (Mullet's son) pee his pants twice in front of everyone. Smooth sailing, right up until someone (read: my father-in-law) decides to start talking about politics. Now, perhaps it should be said that my in-laws are turbo I-heart-Rush-and-my-gun Republicans. In the past, I may or may not have gotten into some ill-advised 'discussions' about politics before I understood that discussion and dissention of Headrick opinion are not allowed. So I guess what I am trying to say that everyone knows that I am a turbo bleeding-heart-not-just-voted-for-Barack-but-contributed-to-his-campaign Liberal and subsequently they all kind of don't like me. In the interest of keeping the peace, and let's face it at my husband's insistance, I have taken the policy of keeping my mouth shut during political discussions and/or changing the subject and/or flat out leaving the room when I can't take it anymore (this is where that whole 3 day bender thing comes in handy). Suffice to say, this goes against my upbringing and general nature, but really is best for all involved. And let's face it, indirectly being called a "Communist" five or six times is pretty mild compared to what's been said to me in the past, so the weekend was pretty successful on this point as well.

Highlights include: My mother-in-law and I getting pedicures, Erica, Anthony, Brayden and Easton showing up, the gravy at Speedway and this little gem, a fine version of the National Anthem/O Canada:



Lowlights include: aforementioned political bashing, the kid who wouldn't stop screaming the entire flight from Minot to Mpls, and the possiblity of either mike or I throwing up on the flight from Mpls to Minot. I won't say who did or did not throw up, but it was me.

In conclusion, I am just over-joyed thinking about our 7 day Bender in November. Lord knows I'll need the booze. Anyone want to come join the fun? Tara, get ready.

run, run rudolph

So I've taken up running again. Not because I like it, but because I have to do it to retain any suitable level of fitness. I have mixed feelings about the running. When I get good at it, and let's be honest, I'm using the term "good" pretty fast and loose here, I almost like it. I get a kind of euphoria when I'm done and a great feeling of accomplishment when, say, I've finished running 13.1 miles without passing out. When I am bad at it, as I am now, I hate running with the fire of a thousand suns. The irony of Mike's incredible level of running fitness comparatively to my uber poor level of running fitness is not lost on me. At one point Mike could not run a full mile without stopping to walk while I was buzzing by him with gusto. Therein lies the most frustrating thing about running, if you don't continue to run, it's like you never did.

That being said, last night, after a grocery trip to Target, Mike decided we needed to go to out on a run before it got too dark. I decided we needed to eat dinner first, both to quench my hunger and as a secret ploy to not have to run. After some tasty turkey sandwiches and some crispy raw veggies, we were off. 3 min into the run it started to rain, but only slightly. The further we got from home, the harder it started raining until it went from a drizzle to a pour. Mike, who it should be said is a little off mentally since he started his training, is loving the rain, talking about if he could ever run a hundred miles in one day and having a great time. I on the other hand, am barely breathing, burping up broccoli and fighting nausea. We finally make it home and I am mostly soaking wet, which is to say that because of "the shelf" only the top of Barack's head is wet, and completely exhausted. I am feeling a small amount of personal accomplishment, but no euphoria. But on a positive note, a hot shower has never felt so good.

Stupid Mike

Future Jim

I forgot to mention that at Mike's half marathon I saw future Jim. If in fact future Jim takes up bicyling and enjoys the touch of spandex to his skin.


You're welcome.

The Plight of an Iron Man

As many of you know, Mike is training for the uber-insane Iron Man triathlon. He has subsequently signed up for many smaller races as part of his training. The last week was bookended by two substantial races. The first was accompanied by a super fast trip to Mo-town for the 25th Annual (2nd Tri) Tinman Triathlon. Some may remember this as the same tri Mike and I trained for last year which got snowed out. We departed on Friday at 1:23 P.M. and arrived in Morris a short 8 hours and 15 minutes later. Mike woke up early and headed for the pool. My family all showed up for the festivities. Here's the breakdown of the race: 1100 yard swim, 19 mile bike, 6.2 mile run. Mike finished the swim in 18 min. Here he is biking: 1 hour 10 min.

Here he is at the finish. Took him 53 min to run the 10k, nothing to sneeze at if you ask me.
I don't have any photos of the swim. Someone forgot to bring her camera to that part. In total it took him 2 hours and 23 min. Way to go Mikey!

Last Sunday Mike ran his first half marathon. He has been living in my shadow for the past year and a half and had to do one of his own. I may or may not have been taunting him that I have run farther than him. I consider taunting to be one of the pillars of a good marriage. Needless to say I reminded him that if he didn't beat my time of 2 hours 12 min. he would never hear the end of it. Here he is at the start of his half.

This race took place in a city park that was an old farmstead and had these really sweet barns. I have a somewhat unhealthy obsession with photographing barns, but I won't bore you with all of my barn photos, just this one with a runner in it. He ended up finishing in 1 hour 56 min. which of course, obliterated my time. See, taunting works :)

In conclusion, I haven't done anything blog worthy in the past week, unless you count pouring wine at a festival blog worthy. Therefore, I live vicariously through my husband. His Iron Man plight is indeed inspiring. I hope many of you can make it to cheer him on September 13th in Madison, WI for Iron Man Moo!

Trainwreck Sue

So one day Mike comes home and mentions that we are invited to a going away party for one of his fellow controllers. Naturally, I am excited at the opportunity to get out of my house and immediately agree to attend. He then told me it is at a French cooking school downtown Chicago. Now, agree or disagree, that's a strange place to have a going away party, but I was intrigued and we decided to attend.

We made arrangements to ride the train downtown with another couple and a psuedo couple who both single and work at the center. Mike and Ryan (single psuedo couple member) decide to get a couple giant soporos for the ride down. Other member of the psuedo couple, "Trainwreck Sue" (real name protected for obvious reasons to follow), also brings a mixed drink on the train.

Here's some background on Trainwreck Sue. I have only hung out with her a handful of times, but everytime I see her she is a. fall-down-drunk and b. with a different guy. That is until she had a baby. Now every time I see her she is just fall-down-drunk. She had a DUI and therefore always tries to pawn rides off people. She is very loud, very argumentative and very annoying. Needless to say I was jazzed that she was along for this evening. Ok back to the train.

So Trainwreck Sue proceeds to get drunk in about 30 seconds. She is screaming a story at us the whole train ride downtown. She is also very upset with Mike, Ryan and I for not coming to pick her up. It should be stated that she didn't call for a ride until 20 minutes before we left the house, and we don't live next door if you get my meaning.

Two very headache inducing train rides later, we arrive in the French Food School neighborhood, about 45 min. early. Natch, we head to a bar to tie one on before cooking time. At this point, Trainwreck Sue, who is also from MN, decides to have a discussion with me on why the Timberwolves suck so much. And by "discussion" I mean lecture and by "with me" I mean I was present being yelled at.

Fast forward to the cooking class. We meet up with the rest of the couples and start cooking. People are having fun, catching up, paying attention learning to cook and taking some pictures. Trainwreck Sue thinks it would be a great idea to hold up some rather large butcher knives to people's throats for some awesome pictures. Of course the people with knives being held to their throats by a drunken crazy are less enthused.

Despite her loud and intrusive outbursts, the rest of the cooking goes fairly smoothly, that is until one of the sous chefs clanks on a pan and alerts the entire group (who included about 10 random strangers) that she caught someone smoking in the stairwell and there is absolutely no smoking in the Frenchy Food School. Did I mention Trainwreck Sue likes to smoke?

So we sit down to eat and the Brie tort with leeks and bacon is to die. I could have done with out the salmon stuffed pastry dish but that is neither here nor there. Someone starts talking about a previous dinner party that took place about 2.7 years earlier right after Mike and I were married. Trainwreck Sue looks at me and starts yelling, "I remember that you were SO pretty and SO thin THEN." Over and over. Awesome.

So it's time to go home and everyone who has separte transportation gives us the "good luck" face. We decide to take a cab to our second train rather than wait out in the cold for the first train. The cabbie has to pull over twice because Trainwreck decides to light up in the cab after repeated warnings from everyone in the cab. We get to our train home and approximately 10 min in T. Sue is transported to another car because she is yelling at a boy across the train that she will "fucking choke him" because he was smiling and laughing. The "train police" tells us that if she comes back to sit with us she will get kicked off the train. If we try to sit with her, we will get kicked off the train. No problem there, we tell ol'train cop. The entire car watches and reacts as she falls flat on her face exiting the car to her "jail car."

10 min. later she's back in our car and we are all pleading with her to go back to where she was. She sits on the lower level and starts chatting it up with some creepy stranger who, against all odds, is trying to get in her pants. Miraculously, she does not exit the train with him and we make it back to our stop.

You may think, man crazy night, glad it's over, but you'd be wrong. We are saying our goodbyes and Sue starts stumbling to her car. She is so drunk at this point she can barely keep her eyes open. We convince her to ride home with us and come pick her car up with the morning. The whole car ride she is prattling on about how no one would come pick her up and what horrible people we are blah blah. Then, halfway to her house she says, "Oh, we've got to go pick up my son." REALLY? I protested because I obviously don't have a car seat in my car, she she says, "It's no problem, when I take a cab I just hold him in the back seat." Awesome.

Turns out it is only two blocks from the sitters to her house. We get to her house and I am amazed that she can even walk while holding her baby. I am panged with terrible guilt for even leaving her alone with her kid at this point, but what do you do? She is so pissed at us for not picking her up she is screaming at us and then just stumbles into her house. Sweet, see you again never.

Until...I get a message the next morning that she left her purse in my car with her keys and phone in it. Reading between the lines, I figure out that I am supposed to bring it back to her. Not wanting to risk another back seat baby ride, I convince my friend, Jon, to come with me to drive her car to her house. When we arrive she's all smiles. No recollection on what a huge douche she was the night before. I say a quick "you're welcome" and get the hell out of there. On the way home, Jon looks at me and says, "You Nordic people are weird."

Annnnd Scene.