My Kind of Town...Chicago Is

Lee and I are back from a great trip to the Windy City. We left Wednesday, May 28 and came home Saturday, May 31. I had a seminar in town for work, so we decided to take a few extra days and have ourselves a mini-vacation. I have been to Chicago a few times in the past, but Lee had never been there before.

We stayed at the Club Quarters members-only hotel at Wacker and Michigan in the Mather Tower. IU is a member, so we got a great rate in downtown Chicago. The room was a bit small, but it really didn't matter because we weren't in it that much. They also had an interesting bottled water dispenser. Bizarre!

When we arrived on Wednesday, we settled in the hotel and then put on our walking shoes. Since we were steps from Michigan Avenue, we walked the famed Magnificent Mile. After a quick change, we also went to see Wicked the Musical. It was the most amazing musical production I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot!). For those of you who don't know, it is the story of the Witches of Oz before Dorothy's arrival. Things aren't what the movie makes it out to seem. In the musical you find out why the Wicked Witch is "wicked", why Glinda is "good", the story behind the ruby slippers, why the Cowardly Lion is a coward, why the Tin Man has no heart, and why the Scarecrow is a scarecrow. The sets were amazing, and the songs chilled you to the bones. Great performance!

On Thursday we had quite a busy day. We took a boat tour of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. We also visited Millenium Park. The Cloud Gate (AKA Bean) sculpture is very cool, and the picture above is our reflection in it. We also saw Buckingham Fountain, went to the John Hancock center observatory, and went to Navy Pier and rode the Ferris Wheel. We walked everywhere, so we were pretty tired by the end.

While we were there, we also toured the Art Institute of Chicago, and I got to see "my painting" up close again. I love Seurat! We also got to see a lot of works from Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, and Picasso as well as the American Gothic painting.

Lee and I also had a very nice dinner at an Italian bistro named Bella Bacino, which was conveniently located in our hotel. It was a much needed break for both of us.

Well, our next trip is to visit the family in Oklahoma over the 4th of July. That should be an interesting trip because Richard and Taylor are going with us. Taylor is back in Indiana now, and we are going to resume our normal visitation schedule. We are thrilled!!!!!

It's Official

Yep, it's official. I have finally graduated with my master's degree. I will receive my diploma in August, but it is official nonetheless!!! Above is a picture of me getting "hooded". After four long years, it was a momentous occasion! And, my family got to celebrate it with me, which made it all the more special.

Last weekend I got a visit from Sharla. She needed time away from home, so we got to visit for the first time since Christmas. It was great! We headed to Indianapolis, ate a lot, and just had a great time.

This weekend we are going "home" to celebrate Mother's Day and my niece's 14th birthday! Yikes, when did that time pass! She is getting a surprise present from us and my parents, but in case she reads this, I don't want to say what it is. She better like it though!

It has also been 6 weeks since my mom's surgery. She is doing great and should be going back to work very soon.

Lee and I are also planning a trip to Chicago at the end of the month. I have a seminar I am attending for work, so we are going to make a mini-vacation out of it. The first time I went to Chicago was in middle school on a summer class trip. It was great! It has been 7 years since I've been there the last time, and that was when I was in college. It was a great trip because no one over the age of 22 went, and there was about 20-30 of us together. Good times!!! I have been dying to go back. Lee hasn't been there as a tourist yet, so hopefully he will like it too. I'll keep you updated!

Shake, Shake, Shake

So, it has been quite a week. Nearly one week ago (April 18) at 5:30 a.m., the earth beneath us shook. The Midwest is certainly no stranger to earthquakes, but in the same sense, we don't have them every day. This one was the second largest earthquake the area has had in 40 years - 5.2 magnitude. In fact, it was only the third one I ever remember living through.

I remember the 1987 earthquake. It was a 5.1 magnitude, and I remember thinking "What the heck was that?" My mom ran outside because she thought my sister and her friend had done "something". I was so little (8 years old) that I barely remember it, but I do remember the earth shook.

The next one we had after that was in 2002. I remember being at work when I felt it. It was a 4.6 magnitude. I worked in a place where about 20 people or so used the same printer, and if we were printing something important, we would run to the printer to get our printout. That is what it felt like, but when I looked up, there was no one standing. Very weird!

This one came in the very early morning hours. Lee had gotten up to use the bathroom, and he had just laid back down in bed. The bed started to shake pretty bad. At first I thought the kitties were fighting under the bed, which is not that unusual. But it just kept going, and no kitties were even in the room. I ran down to the garage and basement to make sure nothing else was going on. After that, I couldn't get back to sleep, so I got on the USGS website and called my mom. Yep, it was an earthquake. I turned on the TV and watched some coverage. Thankfully no major damage was reported.

About 11:15 a.m., we had a larger aftershock - a 4.5 magnitude. It rumbled the ground but wasn't nearly as volatile as the original quake. In all, there have been dozens of aftershocks, many of which cannot be felt my most people. We’ve all been lucky; although, we know a bigger one could happen at any time.

Also, this week I finished graduate school!!!!!!!! I had my very last class and turned in my very last paper. Next Friday, I will go through my Hooding Ceremony, and all of my family will get to see me graduate with my master’s degree. It seems surreal, but I’m so glad the end is here.

Hopefully this week will be a little less shaky………………

Final Days

Here I am, 19 days away from graduation. I never thought this day would come, and here I am, a little less than 3 weeks away. It has been a long four years, and I can't wait for it to be over.

Right now I am working on my final paper as a master's student. It is 15 page research paper that I can't seem to get motivated to finish. I have completed 5 pages so far, and I have been working on it for nearly 3 hours. That certainly is not my normal rate, but I typically don't have to write research papers.

On Friday, May 2, I will become an official alum of Indiana University. That night is the Educational Policy and Leadership department's hooding ceremony, where master's and doctoral students will officially get their hoods and complete their degrees. My whole family is coming in for it, and then we are having a celebration afterwards. It will be a proud and happy moment for me!

As with the end of the spring semester every year, it has been a stressful two weeks. My mom had surgery a week ago Friday, and my sisters and I took off of work for the day to sit with my dad during surgery and help my mom after. She actually did very well and was walking the halls after just 6 hours. She was released the day after and gets to take six weeks off of work. She's been doing great!

I moved offices (and buildings) this week. The School of Informatics has been renovating an old frat house next to the current School of Informatics building. Some of my colleagues and I have had temporary offices in a residence hall about 1 mile away, which has caused many problems with meetings, student accessibility, etc. With renovations nearly complete, I moved into my new office on Thursday. There is still much to be done, but I am happy to finally be settled in a permanent location.

All of these changes have caused much stress in my life and trying to complete this paper hasn't helped. I have no motivation. I can finally touch the light at the end of the tunnel I have been walking for nearly four years. It is so close, yet I still can't stroll to the end. I have to finish strong.

Thanks to all who have supported me in the last four years (and especially the last few weeks). It has been a wild ride, and I'm glad it will soon be over.

March Flew By

I can't believe how quickly March flew by. It seems like just yesterday that I was celebrating my birthday. Only 11 months to go until ...... 30!!!

Easter came early this year. We spent the Lee family Easter at our house this year. We went to eat at Cafe D'lish and came back to our house for desserts, visiting, and Easter presents. Sunday we spent the day with Lee's family at his grandma's.

Taylor got to spend Easter with us this year, as she normally does. She was dropped off at our house at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning, and my family was due at 10:30 a.m. Whew! Her official move home is still up in the air; however, all of her belongings are now moved into their "new" home in Owensburg, which is about 20 minutes away or so. But, 20 minutes away is MUCH better than 4 hours. Since her belongings are now in Indiana, we hope she is soon to follow for good.

Taylor also spent the week up here in Indiana because she was on spring break. Since we couldn't take off of work, her aunt and grandma kept her during the day, and Lee and I picked her up at night. We spent a lot of time playing the PS2 and other games. It was great to spend some quality time with her.

In other news, Lee has been smoke free now several weeks. He is doing really well, and I am so proud of him. He has been taking Chantix, and it is amazing!

Happy Spring, Everyone!

One Less Than Thirty

Just moments ago (at 7:45 p.m.) I officially turned 29 years old. Wow, I can't believe I am one year away from 30. I am reminded of when my niece was born in 1994. I was just 15 years old, and as I was holding her I said, "Man, when she is my age, I'll be 30." That time is just around the corner.

But, I must say, I have had an eventful and wonderful birthday. With all of the cards, phone calls, emails, MySpace and Facebook posts, I have really noticed how many people care about me. It has been wonderful! I even received a surprise phone call this morning from an old friend who I have not talked to in months. Thanks for the call, Brandon. It was great to hear from you.

Lee and I went out to eat at Scholar's Inn tonight. We spent our wedding night at the Scholar's Inn bed and breakfast. On our one year anniversary, we relived our experience. We hadn't been there since, and neither of us have ever eaten dinner there because it is quite expensive. We, of course, ordered the Spinach and Artichoke Dip, which seems to be our favorite wherever we go. This one was definitely the cheesiest we've ever had. Lee ordered the very pricey filet mignon, and I had the portobello mushroom ravioli. Both were delicious! It was quite yummy, and obviously something we never get to do.

Today, I also had some drama. It wouldn't be like me to go without drama on any given day, and this day was no different. I cashed a check today, and as I was putting my driver's license back in my wallet, I noticed something. My driver's license expired today!!! AAAHHH!!!! So, there I went, making an emergency trip to the BMV. I was actually in and out within 15 minutes. The BMV has really improved since this past summer when they had all of their issues. However, I still have to go back within the next 30 days. I never updated my license address when we bought the house, and I didn't have address verification on me today. So, they let me renew it anyway, and I can go back within 30 days and update the address for free.

Tomorrow night, my sister and I are going to see Evita at the IU Auditorium. I always try to see at least one show a season, and this year the show fell near my birthday. She is spending the night at our place, which she has never done. In fact, I don't think she's been at our house since August or so. It should be a fun girls night!

Thanks again to all who sent me birthday wishes. I appreciate all of you, and you helped make my day special.

Lunar Eclipse (Penny Moon)

In honor of my niece's love of astronomy and just seeing cool things in general, we took a video of the lunar eclipse. We also got to look at it through our telescope. Of course, it was much prettier in person, but you can sort of get the effect (minus the orange penny-like color). Hope you enjoy if you didn't get to see it!

6 Years Ago...............

............Lee and I moved in together - on Valentine's weekend. Looking back, we both agree we were young and stupid. We had only known each other 3 months, and I was moving to a place I had never lived - in fact, I had only visited it a handful of times. We had nothing when we started out together. I moved up to Bloomington without a job. Lee was making $9 an hour and supporting the both of us. We didn't have a bed. We ate Hamburger Helper every night because it was cheap. But, things worked out and we've made a nice life for ourselves. I would forbid my children to do the same because I wouldn't want them to have to struggle, but Lee and I grew stronger through all of the hardships.

This Valentine's Day we tried something new. We went out to eat at a Japanese restaurant - Domo Steak & Sushi. Lee had never tried Japanese before, and I had only had it one other time over a year ago. It was yummy! I had sushi and Lee had steak teriyaki. It was a nice night for the two of us.

This weekend Taylor came to visit for the first time since New Year's. It had been quite a while, and we all missed each other a lot! We spent a lot of time with family, and the weekend went by much quicker than we thought it would. If everything works out, she should be back in Indiana in a few months. We can't wait!

Lee's business is also doing very well. He landed a big transfer job with the Kelley School of Business MBA Program. Check out his blog (http://magic.rox.com) for more information. I'm so proud of him and his progress and dedication!!!!

Well, that is the latest update. Hope everyone had a Happy Valentine's Day!

Personal Updates

So, it has been quite a while since I wrote something substantial. I thought I would give it a try and give you some updates.

At the beginning of January, I started my final class and final semester of graduate school. It has been a long four years, and I cannot wait until May. The class I am taking is my Capstone class, and I like it a lot. I am working on planning a get-together for my graduation, but Bloomington becomes absolutely crazy on graduation weekend. I am in talks with a few restaurants, but we will see what happens.

I have been getting more involved in the HESA (higher education and student affairs) program this semester. I am a member of IUSPA Journal Review Board. Each year the IUSPA (IU Student Personnel Association) publishes a peer-reviewed journal to allow master's students, doctoral students, and alums the chance to get published. We had 14 submissions this year for about 4-6 slots. The topics have been very interesting, and it has gotten me interested in research writing, but right now I do not have plans to go ahead and get my Ph.D.

I am also working on getting my own paper published. Last semester my class partner and I wrote a paper on colleges going SAT optional in their admissions standards. We focused on the qualitative research; while another group focused on the quantitative research. Our professor is going to work with both groups to get our papers published as one in a national journal. This could be a long process, so I will keep you updated.

In December, I interviewed and was offered another position at IU in the Jacobs School of Music as the Associate Director of Admissions & Financial Aid. I ended up turning the position down because I just didn't feel as though it was a good fit for me at this time in my life.

I have been pretty busy at my current job because we are in the midst of admissions season. I started in February last year and missed most of this fun :-), but it has been pretty interesting to see how another department attacks admissions. I was very used to how the MBA program did things since I worked there for 4 1/2 years, but I am always learning new things.

Lee has also been doing some painting. He was off of work this past Monday and said he was going to do something to surprise me. I was a little concerned especially after he gave me a hint that he was doing "something" to the house. When I got home, I found out he had spent the whole day painting our hallway. I haven't been able to hang pictures/things on my walls since before we moved in June 2006. We knew when we bought our house that we were going to remove all of the wallpaper and paint, so we didn't want to put up things just to take them back down. We worked on our two red walls before Thanksgiving, but we hadn't painted anything new since then. Knowing that I missed having my pictures up, he painted the hallway, and this week, we bought the rest of the paint for the living room and foyer. I hope to have my pictures up soon.

I have also been working hard at creating an alumni website for my high school class. Right now, it looks as though it is going to be a MySpace page that I will give all of my ex-classmates access to so they can add pictures and blogs. I hope to have that completed by the end of the month. I volunteered myself to start this back in September after our reunion, but I am only now getting around to doing it. But since I actually started on it, I have made good progress.

Finally, we found out that Taylor will hopefully be moving home sooner than we thought. Apparently her stepdad has put in a request to be medically discharged from the military on his doctor's request. If everything works out, she should be back in Indiana before the summer. We don't know where they will end up for sure - Indianapolis, Bloomington, Greene County - but Lee and I both agree that anywhere in southern or central Indiana is better than Tennessee. I'll keep you updated on that too.

Well, that is the latest news from our neck of the woods. I'll try to keep you updated as things change, which they always do.

You Know You’re From Dubois County When

My sister sent me this list this week, and I had to pass it along and comment.

You Know You’re From Dubois County When

• Holland and Ireland remind you of milk and fried chicken instead of wooden clogs and leprechauns.


• You can recite at least some of the Dubois County Tire radio jingle. (Give Dubois County Tire a call... Big or small they service all...)


• If your last name of Uebelhor is pronounced You-Bell-Oar then you are probably from Huntingburg. If pronounced Ebel-Hair then you are from Ferdinand.


• Your wedding had or will have at least 6 kegs at the reception.


• You see more classmates at the Strassenfest than you do at your class reunion.


• If you have ever watched a sectional basketball game at Memorial Gym.


• Been stopped by a train in Huntingburg (Bonus points for this week)


• You don't know where the intersection of IN-64 and IN-162 is located but know exactly where the Bretzville Junction is at.


• If you have been to Los Bravos at least twice in the last month.


• If you can properly pronounce Luebbehusen, Mehringer, Goepfrich, Knies, Mathies, Thewes etc.


• The term "Kraut" isn't necessarily offensive.


• TP'ing is an annual October right of passage.

As you all know, I posted a comment about being German a few months ago, and this blog heavily relates. I was born and raised in a rural county in southern Indiana. The county seat, Jasper, has a population of 12,000. The small town I am from is St. Anthony, and the population is approximately 1,000 people. We no longer have a school; we have no stop light; we have one gas station; we have one church – Catholic.

I mentioned the church in a blog in May 2007, when it burned. Update – they are working on the church, and it did not have to be torn down. I digress.

Coming from a small town is very interesting and a very life determining fact, especially if you never leave. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. The stereotype of small town life is that of being racist and homophobic. I’m not sure how true that is nowadays, but I certainly was never that way. And with working at Indiana University and living in Bloomington, there is no tolerance for such thoughts.

The list above is quite entertaining, and I am going to go through each point for explanation. Here we go!

• Holland and Ireland remind you of milk and fried chicken instead of wooden clogs and leprechauns.
  
  - Holland and Ireland are again small towns in our county. Holland is actually where my brother-in-law grew up, and they are known for the Holland Dairy (i.e. milk). Ireland is known for The Chicken Place restaurant (i.e. fried chicken).


• You can recite at least some of the Dubois County Tire radio jingle. (Give Dubois County Tire a call... Big or small they service all...)
  
  -This radio jingle is on air all of the time. Sadly enough, I haven’t lived in Dubois County for about 10 years, and I still know the jingle.


• If your last name of Uebelhor is pronounced You-Bell-Oar then you are probably from Huntingburg. If pronounced Ebel-Hair then you are from Ferdinand.
  
  - Strange, but true. The Uebelhor’s in Huntingburg own a car dealership. The Uebelhor’s in Ferdinand own an electronics store. My sister’s brother-in-law is part of the Uebelhor’s in Ferdinand. He is godfather and I am godmother to our niece, Brandi.


• Your wedding had or will have at least 6 kegs at the reception.
  
  - This is true and not uncommon by any means. A Dubois County wedding reception is like no other on Earth. 500 of your closest friends getting drunk on your dime. Because there are no cash bars at Dubois County weddings. The bride and groom pay for all of the alcohol so that their friends can have a good time. I never understood it, and as a result, I did not get married in Dubois County. I had a small wedding reception with no alcohol. The horror!! My husband was shocked when he went to his first Dubois County wedding. He’s never quite recovered :-).


• You see more classmates at the Strassenfest than you do at your class reunion.
  
  - Again, this is not that shocking. I mentioned the Strassenfest in my German post, so check back there for more information.


• If you have ever watched a sectional basketball game at Memorial Gym.
  
  - Yes, I have. Back before class basketball, which began the year after I graduated, all of the county teams plus a few more fought out the high school basketball sectionals in one tournament and one arena – Southridge Memorial Gym. There was nothing like the Southridge sectional – the noise, the people, the rivalries. At one time, Bobby Knight and Nick Nolte visited the Southridge sectional before making the movie Blue Chips. Now that has all changed, but the memories are still there.


• Been stopped by a train in Huntingburg (Bonus points for this week)
  
  - Oh my goodness! Yes, I have been stopped by a train in Huntingburg many times. The railroad tracks go straight through town, and it is hard to avoid them. Trains go through several times a day. I worked in Huntingburg one summer between my Freshman and Sophomore years in college, and I was always stopped for those darn trains.


• You don't know where the intersection of IN-64 and IN-162 is located but know exactly where the Bretzville Junction is at.
  
  - They are actually one in the same. The Bretzville Junction is where IN-64 and IN-162 meet and is the center point between Huntingburg, Jasper, Ferdinand, and St. Anthony. There is a large parking lot called “Central” where many people meet to share rides, etc. Dubois County Central Concrete used to have a facility there, so that is where the name actually came from.


• If you have been to Los Bravos at least twice in the last month.
  
  - Los Bravos is a Mexican restaurant in Jasper. Everyone goes there. Every time I am back in Dubois County for any length of time, I usually go there too. They are fast, cheap, and have great service. I recommend them!


• If you can properly pronounce Luebbehusen, Mehringer, Goepfrich, Knies, Mathies, Thewes etc.
  
  - Here we go. Luebbehusen – Lib-a-whose-in. Mehringer – Mare-ing-er. Goepfrich – Gep-frick. Knies – K-niece. Mathes – Mod-eyes. Thewes – Tave-es. I believe I got those all right. Love the German heritage :-).


• The term "Kraut" isn't necessarily offensive.
  
  - I guess this refers to sauerkraut - a German staple. That is the only thing I can think of regarding this one.


• TP'ing is an annual October right of passage.
  
  - Yep, this still happens A LOT. And, I too, have been the doer and the victim.

Don’t get me wrong. I love where I came from. It is made me who I am today, but I also know the little idiosyncrasies of my hometown area. Now, you know some of them too.

I Need a Vacation from My Vacation

I have been off of work since Saturday, December 22, and I go back to work tomorrow, January 2. It has been a great 1 1/2 weeks off, but I sure do need a vacation from my vacation. It has been non-stop. Here's a rundown:

12/22 - Picked up Taylor in Evansville. She got to spend most of her vacation with us here in Bloomington. That night we visited my best friend, Sharla, and her husband in Jasper.

12/23 - Drove to Bedford to spend time with Lee's dad, stepmom, grandma, uncle, and aunt. His uncle and aunt live in Michigan, and we usually only see them once a year on Thanksgiving, so it was nice to see them for Christmas as well.

12/24 - Christmas Eve - As is tradition, we always celebrate Christmas Eve at my mom's house. This is only the second time that Taylor as gotten to be there.

12/25 - Christmas - Santa came to our house this year for the first time ever. Taylor has never spent Christmas Day with us, so Santa had to re-route himself. She got a 5' tall dollhouse along with some other gifts. We didn't forget to set out Oreos and milk, and Santa ate all but 1/2 of a cookie.

We spent Christmas with Lee's mom's family, which is again tradition. This was the first time Taylor has been there since she was at least 1 year old. She got to play Santa and hand out the presents. We also continued a personal tradition that we have been doing for years. We go to the local Chinese buffet for Christmas dinner. Surprisingly enough, it is pretty busy.

12/26 - Lee's dad and stepmom came over to our house to give Taylor her Christmas gifts. Then we went out to eat with Lee's mom and grandma.

12/27 - We went to Build-A-Bear so Taylor could spend her gift card she got for Christmas. Then we took her bowling.

12/28 - We drove up to Indianapolis to go to the Indiana State Museum and IMAX theater. I have wanted to go for years, and it was a great place.

12/29 - We rested for the most part of Saturday. We needed the break. Saturday night we went out to dinner with my sister and her family.

12/30 - Sunday we dropped off Taylor with her aunt who lives here in town. That was our last day with her after 8 days. It was great to get to spend that much time with her, and I think she had a lot of fun too!

12/31 - We brought in the New Year at home. After dinner at Red Lobster, we came home to watch Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

1/1 - Here is 2008! Wow, time (and my vacation) has flown by! I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, happy, and healthy new year. I'm sure we will all experience lots of changes this year, and I hope they are positive ones at that.

WELCOME TO 2008!

Christmas Survey!

I always get random surveys from friends to fill out all of the time. I thought I would share the results of two of them put together.

1. Christmas tree up yet?
No, we don't put one up because of the kitties

2. Any Christmas decorations up yet?
No, I haven't done x-mas decorations in the new house yet. I still feel like we aren't unpacked.

3. What are you asking for for Christmas?
Restaurant gift cards and Menards gift card. It amazes me how your priorities change as you get older.

4.What do you usually do on Christmas Eve?
We head to my mom's house on x-mas eve. It has been the tradition since I was little.

5. What do you usually do on Christmas Day?
Now, we head to Lee's grandma's house. We've started a new tradition for Christmas supper - Chinese buffet. They are always open on x-mas, and I'll be darned if I'm cooking. We aren't the only ones there either!

6. Do you own any christmas clothes or jewelery?
Christmas socks, and I wear them throughout the winter

7. Do you use white or colored christmas lights?
I used to do colored on the tree before my kitties came along

8. Do you bake Christmas cookies?
Nope, I let my mom do that.

9. Do you buy Christmas presents for your whole family?
For Lee's family - yes. For my family, we have a x-mas exchange among the adults, and then everyone buys for the kids and pets.

10. How many friends do you buy presents for?
2 - Sharla and Sara

11. Is there a Santa Clause?
It would be nice, but then why doesn't he buy me presents :-).

12. Favorite Christmas Carol?
O Holy Night and Carol of the Bells

13. Would you rather it be a white Christmas, or a warm Christmas?
White - Christmas isn't supposed to be warm outside

14. Was last year a good christmas?
I had a migraine on x-mas eve, so that wasn't so good. Christmas day was nice though.

15. Which Christmas color do you like better? RED or GREEN?
I prefer green throughout the year, but on x-mas I like red.

16. Do you get a real Christmas tree, or is it artificial?
I have an artifical one in my attic.

17. When you get older, will you get a real or artificial tree?
I'll keep my artificial one.

18. Do you hang stockings?
Used to, but not since we got in the house.

19. When opening presents, does your family all open them at the same time or do you take turns?
At my mom's we open one at a time. At Lee's grandma's, we open all at the same time.

20. What is usually in your stocking?
Lee's mom gives us a stocking each year filled with smaller presents, candy, and fruit. My mom usually gives us small presents.

21. Do you get up early on Christmas day?
I try not too. I enjoy the day off from work.

22. Does your family eat breakfast before or after opening presents?
We usually don't eat breakfast. We have lunch at Lee's grandma's house.

23. Do you have a favorite ornament you hang on the tree?
I love my ornaments! I wish I still put up my tree. One day again I will.

24. What Christmas movie do you like to watch the most?
I have three I like to watch - Home Alone, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story.

25. What do you like better, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
They are both special in their own way for different reasons.
______________________________________________

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Bags are easier and more often than not what I choose, but occasionally I do wrap.

2. Real or Artificial tree?
Artificial. (See above)

3. When do you put up the tree?
Usually don't anymore (See above)

4. When do you take the tree down?
Since I normally don't put one up, I get to save this step.

5. Do you like Eggnog?
I have never tried it.

6. Favorite Gift you received as a child?
My big teddy bear that I still have and isn't so big anymore

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
I love the nativity scene I have, but I haven't decorated in a couple of years.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Taylor - I want to make her happy, and she never knows what she wants.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
My husband because we get each other something for the house.

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received?
Those darn popcorn tins.

11. Christmas Cards...Snail mail or E-mail?
Snail mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
I have 3 (See above)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I used to be super-proactive, but the last two years have been difficult. I have been shopping up to the end.

14. Have you ever 'recycled' a Christmas present?
Several times and other gifts as well became x-mas gifts

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Mom's cheesecake

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
I've done colored in the past.

17. Favorite Christmas Song?
I have 2 (See above)

18. Travel at Christmas or Stay Home?
Usually traveling

19. Can you name Santa's Reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, and Rudolph

20. Do you have an Angel or a Star on top of your tree?
When I put one up, I have an angel.

21. Open the Presents Christmas Eve or Morning?
(See above) My mom's house on Christmas Eve and Lee's grandma's on Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The Christmas songs that start in October!!!!!

23. Shopping...Mall or on-line?
Depends how easily I can find it online. I usually do half-and-half.

24. Do you decorate outside for Christmas or just inside (or at all?)
Neither really - not this year

25. Favorite Christmas cookie?
I'm not really a cookie kind of girl.

26. Do you own Christmassy clothing or jewelry?
(See above) Socks

27. Do you believe in Santa?
(See above) I hope that there is, but he doesn't visit me :-)

Thanksgiving Traditions

This year's Thanksgiving was quite a bit different than Thanksgivings past, but at the same time, it was a great 5-day break from work.

Wednesday night we got to pick up Taylor and see her for the first time in 5 1/2 weeks. We got to spend almost the entire 5-day break with her, which was great!

Thanksgiving was full of family time. We first went to Lee's grandma's house for a short time, so Taylor could see her grandmas on Thanksgiving. We then headed off to Basswood, where we once lived, for Lee's dad's family Thanksgiving. It was a large turnout and had the most kids there in years. It was great to see the family, which we generally only see one a year. For the Lee family (my family) Thanksgiving, we did something quite different. We hosted! Generally, the Lee family Thanksgiving takes place at my mom and dad's house. Last year, my sister hosted in Indianapolis for the first time. This year, we hosted. We cooked our first turkey which is pictured above. Not everyone could be there due to other commitments, but as a whole, it was a new twist to an old Thanksgiving tradition.

Friday Lee, Lee's mom, and I took Taylor to see Enchanted. It was a great movie!!!!!!!!!! The theater was packed, and people of all ages were laughing and having a great time. Two thumbs up!

Saturday we took Taylor to the library. She has been asking to go for months, so we read two books about "Dumb Bunnies". I think she enjoyed herself. Lee's sister, who lived with us for a time, came back home for a funeral. She moved to Phoenix several months ago. It was good to see her as well. We also painted primer on the hallway walls. We have been doing a lot of renovating and replacing items in the last month, which is why I haven't posted. She enjoyed helping us out. At night, we watched E.T. Taylor had seen part of it on TV a few weeks ago, and she wanted to watch the whole movie. So we curled up with blankets, turned down the lights, and enjoyed the movie. Sunday, she had to go home. The funny thing is that within hours of being back home she had emailed Lee and I and called us. I think she missed us, and we sure did miss her.

All in all, it was a great 5-day weekend! We got to enjoy time with each other, with family, and with our little Taylor. Next time we see her will be for Christmas. Sometimes it seems like it doesn't come soon enough.

Yes, I'm German

My husband makes fun of me (in a good way) about my heritage all of the time. I was born and raised in southern Indiana, where many of the residents have German Catholic ancestry. I am not much different. I do have other blood running through my veins, but my primary heritage is German. You can see the German stubbornness and hot-headedness within me and certain members of my family. It is hard to deny where we came from, although I try to fight it often.

Being German is such a prevalent and proud heritage where my hometown is, that it is hard to get away from it. When I was in high school, you could choose from two foreign languages to learn - Spanish and German! Now, outside of Dubois County, I don't think there is much calling for the knowledge of the German language in the U.S., but who knows!

In Jasper, a neighboring town and the county seat, the German heritage is even more visible. Each year, Jasper holds the Strassenfest (street fest), where the Germanness of the area shouts out. German flags are seen everywhere and people dress in German attire. It is quite a sight.

Jasper also has one of the few German restaurants (pictured above) I have seen in Indiana - The Schnitzelbank (carving bench). It has been in business since 1961 and is well-known for its German and American cuisine. It prides itself on serving food such as Wiener Schnitzel, Goulash, Spatzle, Kassler Rippchen, German Fries, etc. I have only been there a few times. However, this weekend we celebrated my hubby's birthday, and his gift was a trip to The Schnitzelbank.

Although Lee may make fun of my heritage, he truly loves the German girl he married and where she comes from. We have always talked about going to the restaurant, but it is quite pricey, and we never have time to stop when in town. So this weekend we made a special trip just to eat at the Schnitzelbank. Yummy! My husband had the Wurst platter - Bratwurst, Knackwurst, and Bockwurst with German fries. He loved it! I am not a fan of German food - go figure. I had the Channel Catfish Fiddlers platter. Never in my life have I seen catfish this huge. My word! But, they were yummy!

So, if you are ever in Jasper, Indiana and want to try some good authentic German food, I suggest The Schnitzelbank - well worth the money you will spend!

FP Got 3rd!!!.....and more news

This year's ISSMA state finals took place in the RCA Dome - for the last time. Beginning in spring the RCA Dome will be demolished. What a sad time :-(. Next year's finals will be in the new Lucas Oil Stadium, which should be completed summer 2008.

As I promised news, the Forest Park Marching Rangers received a 3rd place finish in Saturday's state marching band finals. They did a wonderful job, and I did not realize how nervous I would be. I wasn't nearly as nervous as the proud mom (my sister), who I sat by, but still nervous nonetheless. It was a great time.

Lee videotaped FP's performance and the award ceremony. We are going to create a DVD that includes a picture slideshow of pictures my sister and I took along with the videotape. I think it will be great in the end, and I can't wait to see it.

In other news, I registered for my last class last week. Registration began last week, and since I am graduating (FINALLY) in May, I got to register for my very last class. I am so excited!

And finally, I have begun taking multivitamins and calcium supplements to get my body ready for a baby. We haven't officially started "trying", but we are preparing!

We're Going to State!

My niece, Sabrina, has been a member of the high school marching band this year - a big accomplishment for someone in the eighth grade. She plays the clarinet and is the small one in the middle of the picture above. Anyway, this weekend the marching band participated in the regional band competition and next weekend will be marching at the State competition.

I couldn't be happier and prouder of Sabrina. She voluntarily missed her family summer vacation to Florida to join the high school band one year early and go to band camp. Now, as an eighth grader she gets to have the moment of her life (so far) and march at the RCA Dome against the best marching bands in the state. Lee and I will be there cheering her on!!!!

As a kid, we went to the State marching band competitions nearly every year. There is no other sound on earth as the drumline sound reverberates throughout the RCA Dome. However, this will probably be the last year, as the RCA Dome will probably be out of commission next season.

I'll keep you updated on how the band does. I went to the district competition a couple of weeks ago. I must say that their program is beautiful. I almost cried! They are doing the music to "A Beautiful Mind", and it is stunning! I hope they do well, but as my sister (the proud Mom) says, "At least we are in the top ten!" True, very true!

This weekend Taylor also came up for a visit. She was on fall break last week, and so on Thursday night Mem-ma Cheryl picked up Taylor, and we met them in Louisville. Friday Taylor and I spent the day running errands. Saturday I was supposed to go to the regional band competition but was fighting a cold. So as not to miss work and the state competition, I stayed home and Taylor and I played games ALL DAY! It was great to get to spend time with her, and Lee and I miss her dearly!

Also since the last time I posted, Lee has started his job at the Center for Survey Research here at IU. He works on the 3rd floor of the building I work in, and we commute to and from work together and usually have lunch together too. I am so happy for him and proud of him, and I hope this leads to bigger and better things.

Ta, Ta for now :-)

5 Year Anniversary

Today I have officially been working at Indiana University for 5 years. Boy, the time sure flies by. Prior to IU, I had never worked at any one place for more than 1 year and 9 months, and here I celebrate 5 years at IU.

I never imagined 5 years ago where I would be today. I am now married and a homeowner. I am nearing the end of my master's degree, which I never would have started without working at IU. I make more than double in salary from what I started out making just 5 short years ago. (I don't think I can repeat that in another 5 years.)

If you would have questioned me on October 1, 2002, none of these things would have been on my radar. Thank you, IU, for all of the great years so far. I look forward to many more!

Whew!

At the request of a good friend who I miss dearly, I am updating my blog. Miss you Jenny!

It has been a hectic few weeks, and I am glad that September is coming to a close. In the last few weeks, I have had three recruitment fairs. One at Depauw, Rose-Hulman, and Purdue. Since Lee isn't currently working, he came with me to the Purdue fair. Lee had never been to Purdue before, and I think he really liked it.

The weekend of September 15, we got to see Taylor after one month of not seeing her. With her school, our schedules, and the distance between us, it is getting harder to see her. I hope we can at least keep it at once a month. I know she misses us as much as we miss her. While she was here, we went to Rock the Quarry, which is a totally free event sponsored by Rogers Group Quarry. We had a really great time together.

Last weekend I went to my 10-year high school reunion. I didn't get to go to my 5-year reunion, so I hadn't seen many of my classmates since the day we graduated. It was great to catch up and see everyone again. It was also nice to connect with those I do keep in contact with - Melissa, Renee, Tami, and Amy (seen above), and those new connections from MySpace. I'm glad I went. Lee also had a good time hanging with the husbands. I think he had a better time than he thought he would.

This coming weekend we are going to the ISSMA District band competition. My niece, who is in 8th grade, is a member of the high school marching band. She plays clarinet, and I couldn't be prouder of her. She is competing at the district level this weekend, so we are going to cheer her on.

Our good friends Jeff and Sara are also visiting Saturday night on their way to the Colts game on Sunday. We haven't seen them since May (see Much Needed Weekend post). It will be great to see them again.

And perhaps the best news of all is that my hubby has a new job. He will be working at IU at the Center for Survey Research. Coincidentally, he will be working in the same building I am except I am on the 10th floor and he will be on the 3rd floor. We hope to commute together to save on gas and mileage. He has to pass the standard background check, but barring any issues, he should be starting work within the first few weeks of October.

Well, that is it for now. Like I said, it has been busy for us the last few weeks. Hope all is well for all of you!

Niagara Falls & Canada

With all of the news of last week, I didn't get the chance to post a blog about our Labor Day trip. We visited Niagara Falls and Canada. It was a wonderful and much needed time away.

We left Saturday morning at 4:46 a.m. I have only gotten up that early twice for as long as I can remember. The other time was when we drove to Orlando six months ago. By mid-afternoon we were in Niagara Falls, NY taking in the sites.

The following day we went to Niagara Falls, Ontario and enjoyed the Canadian views and sites. I must say, even though there were hundreds to thousands of people surrounding us, watching the falls was one of the most peaceful and tranquil moments of my life. Nothing can explain going there and seeing them in person. It is much like the Grand Canyon, where we went on our honeymoon. Pictures and words just can't describe it.

Pictures and words also can't describe the Maid of the Mist boat ride into the heart of the falls. You will get wet, but you will also never experience anything quite like it. The roar of the water, the wind, the movement of the boat - it was all unforgettable.

Labor Day we drove home via Canada (AKA "the long way"). Lee wanted to drive back through Canada so I obliged. It was quite a beautiful trip, and we got to come back to the U.S. via Detroit. However, it was also a long trip home that day.

In all, during our trip we visited Niagara Falls State Park in NY, Niagara Falls, Ontario, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Skylon Tower, Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, Queen Victoria Place, Lake Ontario, Buffalo, Windsor, Detroit, etc, all in 64 hours.

If you would like to see pictures, please email me, and I'll send you the link. You can also see pictures on my MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/rachel_81404.

A Death Always Changes Your Perception of Reality - Part 2

Today I discovered someone I once cared about had passed away. John Thacker and I dated through most of my college days. We met in the summer of 1999 and soon moved in together. John and I stayed together until the spring of 2001, when we realized that our relationship was not going to withstand the test of time. There were many ups and downs, and our relationship caused much grief with my family as well. It wasn't necessarily a healthy relationship, but it lasted for nearly two years nonetheless. The last time I saw him was in the fall of 2001.

In 2002, I moved to Bloomington, but John and I kept in touch - emailing every few months. The last I heard from him was at the end of July when he told me he was planning on moving to Indianapolis soon. I had wished him the best of luck.

Today, I was looking at his MySpace page. We weren't "friends" on MySpace for various reasons, but I still checked in every once in a while. The comments left by some of his "friends" had me concerned. I then checked the Evansville Courier website and searched for his name. I found his obituary. I couldn't believe it!

Here was this person that I had shared two years of my life with, and I was reading his obituary. I've had family members pass away, but I've never had a friend (or ex-friend in this case) pass away. I shared a lot of time and experiences with him and memories started flooding back - classes we attended, dinners we shared, conversations we had, trips we took, etc. I just couldn't believe it!

I called Lee, who knows everything about me and my past, and even he couldn't believe the news. He asked if I was okay, and I honestly didn't know the answer. I emailed my family and my best friends. Sharla immediately called and asked the same question. I didn't know quite how to respond.

I don't know the circumstances surrounding John's death. His obituary says that he died at his residence. He had muscular dystrophy, and I'm not sure if that was a factor or not. I have sent his mother and nephew a card, and I hope they shed some light on this terrible situation. John always told me that he felt as though he would never live long. He felt that something was going to prevent him from growing old. I always thought he was crazy but in the end he was right.

When someone that you are close to (or once close to) passes away, your perception of reality and life's problems change drastically. Lee lost his job due to cutbacks on Thursday. I've been nervous and worried about it, and I still am. But, at least he is here with me. Everything else we can work around and through.

Please enjoy the times you are with people and never take their presence for granted. They may not be there tomorrow.

In Memoriam:

John Harlan Thacker
9/3/1970 - 8/27/2007
May you rest in peace!