Bockfest 2009

Only in Minnesota would 7,000 attend an outdoor event in February with one sole purpose: to drink beer. It was the 22nd annual Schell's Brewery Bockfest event last Saturday. It was 18 degrees. (around zero with the wind chill) We waited in line for 45 minutes just to get in the gates. Once in the gates, it was still another 30 minute wait just to get a beer. A very cold beer at that. Although the day was fun and I saw lots of old friends, it just finally hit me that it may not all be worth it. It's cold. It's expensive. And it's packed full of people. I think next year I'll be waiting at the bar for all the bockfest goers, nice and warm with no wait for my beer.

Of course, it wouldn't be Bockfest without a Deer Bong & a Bear Bong.

Counting down...

I officially have 17 days left in Iowa. There are a few things I will miss...and there are many things that I am so excited for in the next couple months.

I will miss:

• My coworkers at Hawkeye. Many of them have kept me sane for the past year. I know that when I come to work, I always have someone to talk to.
• Waitressing at Eggy's. If I wouldn't have started working at Eggy's last July, I would have missed out on meeting a lot of great people. I am never excited to go to work there after working for 8 hours at Hawkeye...but the second I walk in the door, I'm happy to be there.
• The crazy things my roommate says...and how she mis-pronounces everything. It cracks me up every night.
• My insane Iowa City friends. I don't see them much these days...but they will be missed.

Well, I thought that list would be longer. Looks like I'm ready for some change.

I cannot wait for:

• The beach. I have loved the beach since the first time I saw it. I love knowing that I will be able to look at it everyday.
• A different schedule. I'm saying goodbye to the 8 - 5! I will be able to get up, get errands done, get a work out in, eat some lunch and then start working. I think I will love it!
• Being with Cory everyday. He knows how to calm me down if I'm stressed and make laugh no matter what the situation is. He is spontaneous...which not many people in Iowa seem to be...and I need that in my life!
• Always having something to do. I get so bored here. And being bored is something that does not mix well with me.
• Making money. I haven't gotten 'ahead' since I was in college.
• Being HAPPY!
• If I like working for APX this summer...I will more than likely have September through March off work. (to travel!) That's like early retirement. I think it will also be a little bit like heaven.

March 13th can't come sooner! ♥

Dark, Dark, Dark.

Two weekends ago, I decided to dye my hair dark again. My 'super blonde' hair just isn't super blonde anymore. I am finally dealing with the fact that I now have dark blonde hair. (sigh) I figure that by dying it dark, I got it all to one color (instead of the four colors that were previously mixed together). I'll gradually put some carmel highlights in it and mixed with the sun in Florida (which usually turns my hair very blonde) I'll eventually get it to my natural color. I'm sick of the salon!

However, I inspired Cory to dye his hair. On Valentine's day we stopped at Wal-Mart. Cory wanted to dye his hair grey. (weird) Thank god they don't make grey hair dye. Instead he picked black. It really didn't make a huge difference...just made his hair look a little thicker. Let's hope it calmed his urge for different hair. I like his just the way it is.

Moving to the BEACH!

In less than two months, we'll be moving to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida! Ft. Lauderdale is about 30 minutes from Miami...right on the coast in southern Florida. I am so excited that we're actually moving to the beach! It'll be a hot summer...but hot is good...and if we love it there, maybe we'll stay for the fall and winter. Who knows what'll happen at this point. Now...I just need to keep my fingers crossed that we actually get a condo on the beach. That would be the icing on the cake.

Dad: Remember how I've wanted to go to the Florida Keys since I was about 3 years old...? I know it all started because I wanted to find the Beach Boys there...but I'll give up on that dream. However, I think a trip there in the fall is definitely in order.

Downtown Ft. Lauderdale

San Diego? New Zealand?

The original plan for next winter was to head to San Diego, rent a little condo on the beach and hang out for 6 months. Not too shabby. Cory and I have been getting excited about this idea everyday (especially the really cold days) and we thought nothing was stopping us from heading to San Diego in September. Well...of course, another idea had to one up the one already in progess. A 56-day adventure trip to New Zealand and Australia...instead of San Diego. It wouldn't make much sense to head to San Diego, move in to a place for 2.5 months, only to pack up and leave the country. So now we're torn. Just San Diego? Just New Zealand/Australia? San Diego with just a short trip to New Zealand? Ugh. Decisions, decisions. I'm not complaining...they are both amazing opportunities. It's just so hard to choose!

A little more about the trip: it's called the New Zealand & Australia classic. If you go to this link... http://pacificchallenge.org/?page_id=18 you can read all about it. It's a group of about 20 people...ages 18 - 30. Some people in the group are getting college credit, others just do it for fun. Each day includes different activities...mountain biking, hiking, swimming with dolphins, sea kayaking, sky diving, relaxing in hot springs, etc. It almost sounds too good to be true. But then again...so does San Diego.

So I need a little input. What would you do?

New Zealand...

San Diego...

Moving. Again.

Cory and I will be finding out next week where we're moving to for the summer. It sounds like Long Island, Philadelphia and Little Rock are in the mix...along with a few other cities. For awhile, I was annoyed every single day due to the fact that I had NO idea where we were moving to. Now, I've realized a few different things:

1) We'll only be there through the end of August.
2) I'll be working A LOT while we're there.
3) When I'm not working...I'll be with the person who makes me happiest.
So really, we could be in the sticks of Mississippi and I'd have a smile on my face.

So although different aspects of the location could make the summer a little better...I'm just happy to have the opportunity for another move, free rent and a good job.

Our new home? Let's hope not.