haskett

It's not you (blog)...

2011-04-08T08:37:00.001-07:00

...It's me.

For four years, Will and I have loved having a place to share what triumphs, struggles, and hilarities life has thrown our way, but our new normal (with sweet baby Hudson) leaves little time for book reports on life. I'd love to post more. I'd love to say I'll try, but the truth is, it's time to say goodbye to our little blog. Time to close this book and add it to the shelf.

In time, we'd love to start another blog-- this time with a focus. And we might just do that soon. (Very soon even!) But this one will remain frozen in time; a brief moment captured- with only the three of us (Will, Grace and I) in the masthead. So long dear readers, whoever you are (dad).

Onto new adventures as a family of four.

Thanks for coming along with us.

This is not a sprint, folks...it's a Marathon

2010-10-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

Here we go folks... rounding the corner into what will be the completion of my 30th week among the card carrying members of the preggo tribe. This leaves only single-digit weeks remaining, which somehow feels like our little guy may as well be wiggling his way to the exit any minute now.

As Will and I sat at a little candle-lit counter in Napolese last night, gabbing over the most delicious pizza in SoBro, we marveled at how fast this has all gone. Was it really March when we found out that we'd be parents? I remember driving Grace down to Bloomington the morning after I cleared CVS out of pregnancy tests (while Will was in Miami)(hey, I couldn't wait) to soak up the first few days of spring. I was still snuggled in a fleece. Now, as we round the bend into Autumn, I'm reminded how quickly time really does pass us by. In fact, I dug the same fleece out of the closet this morning for the first chilly walk of the season before realizing it didn't even begin to close around my bulging belly.

And even though I know I have at least 9 more weeks ahead of me, I can't help but remember the feeling I had running the end of the Chicago Marathon in '01. I had breezed through the first 18 miles, strode into Chinatown past my cheering section with pep in my step, and even strode into the 23rd mile feeling strong. Then, there were the last 3.2. 30 measly minuets of running after 3.7 hours, and each minute felt like a mile. Each step, up hill, alone, under the McCormick's Place tunnel, and into the sun pressed against every fiber in my being. The finish felt so close (and it was), but I knew how much harder I'd need to work just to make it that short distance. With the iconic Marathon approaching next Sunday (no, I will not be lining my big pregnant butt up at that starting line), it seems only fitting that I am entering the toughest, "shortest," but most trying part of this journey. More now than ever before, I'm so grateful to have an amazing cheering section on my course, and so happy to be feeling strong.

In other news, the nursery is nearly complete (pics soon), and we are excitedly working through details that will lead us up to and through "the most wonderful time of the year." We are soaking up any bits of quiet time, tackling all of our work trips, and burning the midnight oil to veil ourselves in the happy illusion that we might be PREPARED for him to enter our world. Which is funny b/c we have no idea what we're doing. :)

Thanks for joining us on this exciting ride.

Hipstamatic

2010-08-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

Will spent last week in sunny Orlando attending and running the Phi Psi Grand Arch Council, while G and I hung out near home-- left to our own devices for fighting off the raging heat. After the busy work week came to an end, we spent two long luxurious days sharing popsicles, shopping for baby goodies, napping, cleaning out closets and drawers, taking just-before-dark walks and cooking.

And come Sunday night, not a single item was left unchecked on my to-do list, which may have never ever happened before. (I typically start my Mondays digging through the dryer and wondering how I got mayonnaise in my hair post-shower).

With my new super-fun hipstamatic photo app, I snapped all sorts of goodies. Among them, my sweet fuzzy Grace, pie filling post hand-pitting cherries for an hour, a growing belly shot, and then (after Will arrived back home to enjoy a much deserved week of sleeping in), he and G snoozing as I bounced off to work green with envy.

Another busy week awaits before heading off to Watervale for some much needed R&R, Michigan cherries, cool mornings and swings with books on the Watervale Inn porch. I am refining my reading stack today, which is much more exciting than the prospect of wearing my newly acquired maternity swim gear. :)

Mr. Sandman, bring me a (what was I looking for agin?)

2010-07-24T22:07:00.000-07:00

2:00am and I have paced every non-squeaky floorboard of our 80-yr-old house, fighting the urge to somehow quietly repaint the basement walls, wash my car and start emptying all the drawers in the baby's dresser while Will sleeps. If it's your body that starts really changing at 16 weeks, 20 weeks must be all about the mind.

Because I think I might be insane.

I drove ALL the way to Anthropolgie today to return an adorable hair clip that made me look like a resident of Whoville, only to arrive and realize I had left it on the dining room table (naturally). I thought it was Sunday until 10am (it's not), and I arrived home after a lovely dinner with friends tonight feeling, well, "unsettled." Why, you ask? I HAVE NO IDEA. But the feeling is so nagging, in fact, that I'm awake. Wide awake. And irrationally angry at Will for sleeping while I'm awake... at 2:00 (I typically lose most major motor skills and the ability to speak past 9:15pm. Ask anybody).

*Sigh*

When Will and I started dating, at the tender age of 17, I remember loving that he always smelled like fabric softener and soap, and thinking that he had the softest, warmest hands I'd ever held. Sometime in the first year of our relationship, I remember thinking that I wanted those hands to hold my babies someday. In fact, I told my friend, Catherine... who may have dumped ice on me. (Did I mention I was 17?)

It was a just a crazy thought then, but I think my head might actually spin around and explode when that small vision becomes a giant reality this December. Could all this craziness be attributed to my mind's conscious or unconscious way of sorting out the events of our lives and the astounding ways they are coming full circle? Could my "insanity" just be a heightened state of realization? Is it too late to eat a wedge of cheese and mull this over? *spend 8 minutes debating cheese*

*head to fridge. forget about blog.*

*remember blog*

*try to remember where I put MacBook*

*found MacBook*

See what I mean? :) Sweet dreams, friends. May tomorrow bring a clear(er) head.

Oh, Baby, that's ugly.

2010-07-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

In keeping with my recent theme of highlighting beloved design spaces, I thought I’d take a second to talk about the serious lack of style in baby nurseries.

Why baby nurseries, you ask? Well, because Will and I are proud to say that we are preparing for the arrival of our first little one- a boy. Boy oh boy. :)

At 19 weeks (and 2 days)(but who’s counting?), we are in full planning mode. I have been so excited to design a new room, that I never anticipated baby bedding, gliders, mobiles, and rugs would all be so….YUCK!

I want to design a room that I could easily move into if I were very short and 8 er so pounds. The bedding should match the tone of bedding I’d buy for myself-- today. I want this little guy to wake up and feel inspired by the light and the beauty that surrounds him. Although since I'm fairly certain he'd be content in a manger, I at least need to feel inspired during my late night feedings. Isn't the nursery just as much for the baby as it is for the mom and dad? ;) If I am handed one more patchwork brown bear quilt, I am going to kick the Babies R Us lady squarely in the kneecaps.

So I’m on the hunt. The hunt for great modern bedding, deliciously designed accessories, and sweet, soft organics that don’t make me want to throw things. We’ve landed on several items (all adult BTW) for the renovation that include rich golds, dark navy blues, bright whites, and clean lines. I found amazing bedding (for, ahem, $400) at laylagrace, but also a cute and way less expensive alternative (dwell studio for target) that may work just as well for something that will ultimately be thoroughly pooped and vomited on. I would like to think that $400 baby bedding has some sort of self cleaning function... like good ovens do.

On second thought, a couple bags of critter cage wood chips might be just as effective (and cuter). Hear that Babies R Us? These are the cries of a desperate woman.

Here are a couple elements we've settled on thus far. Have ideas? Send em my way!

Work it, love it

2010-04-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

After graduating from Indiana (ahem... 7 er so years ago), I realized how much I had taken the deep beauty of Her campus for granted. Wandering through flowering arboretums and into gorgeously sculpted architecture each spring was added nourishment to each of our blossoming minds.

Such a sad surprise to arrive at your first little job and see short grey carpet-covered walls, a grey desk, a brown cabinet and overhead florescents (shudder). How could this help anyone excel? I feel depressed just imagining it! Sure, I'd tote in a couple green plants, a rug, and my own lamp in hopes of making it my own, but the cube farms and sealed 37th floor windows always seemed more like sterile cells than places where new ideas were born.

I have been fortunate, though, since entering the ad industry, to work with folks that appreciate great design and beautiful open workspaces. Any why shouldn't they? We do spend the majority of our lives under these roofs. Still, I sometimes dream of working from home, and creating a space that's all mine-- where all of my books can live together in harmony- like all books should. Plus, I hear Golden Retrievers are the perfect accessory to any room.

Daily inspiration- the workspace:

Green Peace

2010-03-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

What makes me warm, tingly and giddy with delight? Great design. Beautiful living spaces, intense green spaces and mossy gardens that last for days. With spring on the loom, my gorgeous daffodils and hyacinths are holding their beautiful bold heads up in spite of the morning frost, and what a treat. I love them more each year, I think.

Since green is my very favorite color, inspiration like this makes me want to paint all the walls, all the doors and breathe deeply....

(shown: Chloe Sevigny home, Miles Redd home (House Beautiful), Steven Gambrel house in Long Island, Leger Wanaselja Architecture, Pascal/Richie house (Dwell))

Wonder Wayne

2010-03-02T14:01:00.000-08:00

Wayne is my homeboy.

That’s right, Dr. Dyer, your worlds have been beating in my brain this week, and I am pretty pumped about it. It’s SO exciting to be seeing my own true Power of Intention come alive in my life! (hurky!)

Now, it’s true… for 13 er so months, I’ve been caught somewhere in the balance of new-age thinking. But my friend and co-worker, upon hearing me mention my own law of attraction leading to some sort of undesirable outcome, arrived at work the following morning with a fist full of discs- 7 to be exact, labeling for me Dr. Wayne Dyer’s secrets. “You need this,” she said poking my shoulder with her finger.

His messages rang true for me almost instantaneously, like an old book I forgot I read. I remembered his teachings somehow, but the familiarity didn’t reveal to me a way to come to terms with my own deep peace in an hour long CD so I began to change my nightly prayer. I pray that I might be an instrument of peace… you know, Saint Francis style. I thought…if I can be peaceful toward others (especially the ones I want to stab), the peace will come to me.

Live in the moment, and the stress of what’s past or the fear of what’s to come fades away. Freeing right? Easier said than done.

But this week, something cliqued, and it all went viral. Not only did I have the opportunity to share Dr Dyer with some good friends who needed it, his teachings came to me in a moment when I had the opportunity to give crucial advice, loving praise for a piece of new music, and detailed attention to strained relationship.

I am seeing DAILY events come to fruition by virtue of my thoughts alone. Will, too, has experienced doors flung open before him that he didn’t realize were closed or even locked to unveil a sequence of perfect events leading him to his ultimate goal. Too cool.

To check out “my homie, Wayne” click here and try not to hurl at the cheesy book covers. The stuff on the inside really is super. I will also send these 7 CDs to you too wherever you are! Let me know who you are, and consider it done. J

Yes, Yep, You got it, Sure, Okay, I'm in.

2010-02-17T07:59:00.000-08:00

I caught the Jim Carey movie 'Yes Man' last weekend (such funny stuff), and while it's obviously setup in an extreme way to make its point, it's makin’ me think….

What if we really did say YES to every opportunity that knocked, every stranger who asked us for a favor, every new friend who extended an invitation, every piece of junk mail…? What would that look like?

Last night, I had dinner with some of my best girlfriends, one of whom is in a new city making new friends, and enjoyed listening to her talk about the power of Yes in her life these days. “Want to come to church with me?” Yes. “Want to join a book club?” Yes. “Want to trade ideas on graphic design?” Yes. Three “Yes’s,” to one new person, she says, and you’re on their radar.

Now, I live in the same ol’ city where I was born and raised. I know dozens, maybe hundreds, of folks and have lots of friends, a husband, a doggie and a busy career. Even with different circumstances, opening myself up to saying YES to a few new challenges (or old ones tossed by the wayside) every week might just totally change my life.

Join the neighborhood association? Yes. Become involved with my favorite Design Blogs? Yes. Order Fiat-Luxe soap from Daily Candy? Yes. Support a local Artisan? Yes. Volunteer for course directions at a race benefitting Riley? Yes. Brunch on Sunday with someone I’d love to get to know better? Yes.

Try it with me, won't you?

*Photo above is 'Yes' by Natalie Dee

"Oh yes it's Ladies Night..."

2010-01-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

..and the feelin's right. I bet Kool & The Gang never guessed that I'd be humming this tune every Friday evening while Will is out on the windy, winter road for the spring season, but it's true....

Friday nights are Ladies Night for Grace-the-dog and I. We walk, we file our nails, we watch Animal Planet, eat peanut butter by the spoonful, and lounge about in our matching Snuggies. (See last week's Ladies Night grilled cheese) It sounds so silly, but it's seriously awesome.

Something about quality time with a sweet, warm, furry pup melts away all the stress of the week, and Grace has a VERY stressful week. ;)

Happy New Year

2010-01-06T13:45:00.001-08:00

The crazy overwhelming feeling of coming back to your long forgotten blog after it's been... well... forgotten is so intimidating. I feel like I should be making excuses. Like Will and I went on sabbatical. We spent the past 6 weeks rowing a tiny wooden boat across the dead sea...wwiiith a leak in it...and the boat sank. Sooo we swam, and then we wanted to come home but had to learn the language on the island first, and there were lemurs, and coconut sized mosquitos, and no electricity and....

The truth is, that's not the truth.

To borrow a line from one of my favorite blogs, dooce, "...the holidays seemed to have picked me up by my feet, swung me around its head, and flung me into a dumpster. The one behind Sizzler."

Super glad to be outta there (the dumpster), and back to navigating our figurative little wooden boat into a brand new year. So many exciting things are happening in our lives, and for the first time in a long time, I feel certain that I'm right where I need to be. Every day making progress on my ever-lengthening, ever-ascending path.

And the cardio feels good.

Getting Old

2009-12-23T11:52:00.001-08:00

(Disclaimer: Apologies for lack of blogging recently. It's not that we are too busy, it's that we just aren't happy with our creative expressions :-)... 2010 promises to be a fun year with new ideas, new posts and possibly even a new blog for the sports animal in me [Will])

On to the topic at hand: Getting Old. No, this isn't one of of those posts where I complain about being older. Outside of the pain in my back (seriously, that has to stop), aging has been a wonderful experience. Granted, we're only 28 (maybe the back pain gets worse!!!), but the end of 2009 has really led me to reflect on a past decade more than I ever have. Age has given me the gift of reflection, patience and (thankfully) gratefulness. Life was a half empty cup for me up until an unknown period of time when I suddenly realized that the same cup was half full.

Back to the decades thing. I am wrapping up (almost) my third decade here. New Years Eve 1990 was nothing to me. Y2K? I remember where I was and what I was doing, but at 18-years-old, I didn't reflect on the 90's and grasp the immense changes in life.

So, here we are. On the doorstep of 2010. I think about my mindset and life in general since cheering on the ball in the wee hours of 1999 and hoping the computers wouldn't melt and eat me when the clock struck 2000 (remember that fear? It made conficker worms seem like chia pets)

In the past decade, I have been with my girlfriend/fiancee/wife for every moment. Okay, not every moment, but our lives are shared in all of it. It still feels like we are dating in moments. Not in a bad way, but in a "is this for real" type of way. I am still learning about her and interested in getting more connected.

In the past decade, I graduated from college, got my first apartment, bought my first house, got married, got a dog and climbed Mt. Everest. (All but one of those is true, but all seem as magnificent)

In the past decade, I have had three full-time employers. (Mandy is winning with 4 in that span!)

In the past decade, I have become aware of my place in the world and how my own values shape my beliefs. Yeah, I know, heavy stuff. But think about it. In 2000, I could vote, but I didn't know for who and why. Now, I know what I believe in and I am comfortable in my ability to rationally understand the news and how it affects me. I think, in many ways, September 11th shaped that for most in my generation. We instantly grew up and understood that there was a big, harsh world out there we live in.

Most importantly, the past decade all is "important" in my memory. Friends became true friends. Experiences all had lessons. And the fun was REALLY fun. The recent reflections by most media outlets on this topic really got me thinking about this whole arrangement and I am excited to move forward. I never felt like I was striving for acceptance or "my place" in life, but now I feel like my speck in the universe has a history, and that is really cool.

So, see you later 2000's! Let's build a big spread, make some festive drinks and celebrate the dawn of a new tomorrow. Happy New Year from the Haskett family, and here's hoping your next decade is the best one yet!

Thoughts for a Wednesday

2009-11-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

Oh hey there, Blog! Will and I are in the process of re-thinking this whole blog thingy, and we've got some fresh ideas. So stay tuned- we're gonna shake it up a little. In the meantime, I stumbled on this through another blog and thought it was a nice reminder of the way I'd like to live my life. Some are more true than others. Today... really thinking about #18, #13, #21, #26 and #28 multiple times everyday.

50 Life Lessons

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you're loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

The newest addition to the family

2009-10-08T11:57:00.001-07:00

No, Mandy is not pregnant, and I should have titled this blog entry as the temporary addition to our family. This past Monday, I was participating (for the final time this year) in my church golf league at Sahm Golf Course on the city's NE side. When I got there, I noticed this little guy walking around the outside of the pro shop and welcoming golfers on the putting green:

He was a really friendly little guy, and unfortunately the person working behind the counter really didn't have much of a plan for how to deal with a stray (unmarked) dog that randomly showed up on the golf course. Being the tree-hugging, animal protecting, improving human being that I think I am, I immediately thought of a rescue. The little fella was still loitering on the property when my match ended, and followed happily to my car where he hopped in the back seat like a seasoned pro.

After a good scrub at home, he quickly welcomed himself into our home and showed off his adorable little charm. He couldn't be any cuter.

Mandy and her mom papered the neighborhood around Sahm with 'FOUND' posters and we set up every conceivable website bulletin we could find.

Meanwhile, 'Buddy' (as he has been named by us; okay, me) has really been the best houseguest with four legs we could have asked for. He walks with us, sleeps peacefully is Grace's puppy crate and has a healthy appetite for food, napping and tummy rubs.

As for the big member of our family, Grace took a day to get used to him, but she is still trying to bring the inner Golden Retriever out of him and hopes for a game of tug or a chase around the dining room table at any point.

Mandy and I have toyed with the idea of a 2nd dog for a while now. Grace could use a buddy, pardon the pun. But Buddy really isn't the answer. He is not the aggressive, playful type, and we believe he is a little older than Grace. We will eventually get another puppy, and our experience with Buddy has reminded us about what struggles we faced with a new dog, and shown us what the daily routine (walks, bathroom breaks, feeding) would be nice with another animal. But, in the end, it has been magical to watch these two coexist, and eventually share...

Don't worry, there is a happy ending. Here we are, 72 hours after Buddy hopped into my car and we haven't heard anything from the owners. Unfortunately, I expected this, and fear that Buddy may have been the victim of a family that could not afford to take care of him anymore. Thankfully, the outpouring of support from friends and acquiantences has been amazing, and I think Buddy will be heading to his new (permanent) home tomorrow with a co-worker of mine, who along with her husband were recently talking about getting a dog... a beagle at that.

So, tonight (as Mandy flys off to San Francisco to visit her sister) will be the last night for Buddy in the Haskett household. He's been a great guest and I feel honored to have given him another chance at a loving and safe life.

Selective Memory

2009-09-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Now that tweeting has become the norm and your life's thoughts are captured in 140 characters or less (we are trying to have joint twitter feeds down the right-hand column and failing), what has happened to the lengthy narrative of our lives? The blog has already been rendered out-of-touch, likely because it is too thorough, too all-encompassing and (gasp) too much work.

We said we would welcome an August vacation and we did just that. The marriage of dear friends followed by the annual affair with Watervale. Now that we've reflected and recharged, it's time to greet autumn with a vengeance.

And while Mandy's post about tracking the past 10 years of her life (below) was only a month ago, today marks the opportunity to stretch another year, to mark the celebration of 11 years together. Yes, September 11th. 9/11. Of the 365 days we could've chosen to embark on our own adventure, we choose (unbeknownst at the time, of course) the darkest date of American history in the 21st century. And while 9/11/01 is painfully etched in our memories, the Haskett household quietly celebrates the better year for this date: 9/11/98

There is nothing romantic about the start of our relationship. It was 6 days after a forgettable (100% my fault) kiss, I was grounded, we were on the phone and we were questioning what had become of our suddenly complicated friendship. We were inseperable without being an item. Best friends ignoring any attraction. And then we realilzed that we loved each other. I really don't remember much about the phone call (remember, I was grounded), but when it was over with, I had a girlfriend, a steady, a 'going out' partner, a lover and the best person I could ever want to spend time with.

Sure, there have been our share of rough patches over the past 11 years, and we haven't been "together" for 4,017 consecutive days, but that doesn't change the fact that we made a decision on this night 11 years ago that altered my life forever and will always be the best decision I ever made. We were 17-years-old, ignorant little high school children. But somehow we knew something was special, and we've grown every minute with the other along for the ride.

It's only fitting that we are celebrating our 10-year high school reunion this weekend, merging the past with the present for a few hours to relive what was. And when it is all over, I still will be able to take the best thing from high school home with me.

Ten years come and gone so fast, I might as well have been dreamin'

2009-08-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have never been any good at answering the 'Where do you see yourself in 10 years' question.

In fact, as I write this, I draw an honest blank at the prospect of my future 10 years down the line. This isn't to say that I don't have goals for myself, aspirations, a stack of journals that are a written testament to the type of woman I'd like to be today and throughout my life.... But as a smart young woman with lots of prospects on the horizon, I can't seem to draw upon a visual of myself at 38. Just typing the number seems strange. So it got me thinking....

I am all for planning...I have a retirement plan (or at least my bank accounts thinks I do), I have a plan for a baby, a plan for puppy #2, a plan for my (nonexistent) children to one day attend college, a plan for the presentation Monday morning, and we're planning our trip to Watervale in two weeks. These ideas are not lost on me. But if life really is what happens when we're making plans (as John Lennon put it), are we really just tricking ourselves into a false sense of control by making plans for time that's not truly our own?

There's got to be some balance here.

As I reflect on the past 10 years, for example, I recall the young woman I was at 18. Just entering college with a shaky sense of independence, rudimentary interests and a fresh (albeit slightly naive) perspective on the world. In a way, not much has changed. I'm still hopeful. I still believe that people are inherently good. I believe in peace. At 18, however, I couldn't have predicted this moment.

Still so many people ask this question, and assuredly find merit in knowing my plans for the next decade of my life. Most recently, I have felt real pressure to create a true visualization of that time, to write down my goals for the next 10 years and make sure I've accomplished them to live up to my answer.

I can't help but wonder...how much planning is too much? Am I doing enough of it? And how will I know?

The recent 2-3 years of my life have been far and away the most eye-opening. I feel like I have learned an incredible amount (mostly about me) and grown up. These days are some of the most precious. And I am positive that I couldn't have made it here on my own accord or with my silly little list of plans. But I see God working in my life daily, and I surrender my plans to Him. Ten years time is a great gift; one I don't take lightly, and to plan it away would fly in the face of all I know to be true.

Here's what I will plan for: to be faithful above all else. I plan to work hard. I plan to be good to people and to animals and to our earth, and I plan to live as simply as I am able, knowing that I am already rich beyond measure for having been given this time at all. By the Grace of God go we.

This is a heavy perspective to keep on this rocky world, but one I'm going to try.... As I write this, Paul Simon's "Ten Years" lyrics ring in my ears. Have a listen and think about your past/next decade, and your plans if you like.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEDc9cUKpo4

There's no place like home...

2009-07-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hello, summer. Good to see you.

Ah July, and the Watervale Road has infiltrated my mind, spilling its delicious blues and greens into my dreams. Each day I awake hoping to find a bar of handmade soap on my vanity and blueberry buckle at my snap-dragon adorned breakfast table.... Nuts. It's still not time for vacation (our New Year.)

Let's reflect, then, on the year we've been given. All of us.

And while you're reflecting, however you may do so, peruse a few shots of our beloved old home. Here are a few of the inside. The garden is yet to come (two new zucchini today!)

Summer Rhythm

2009-07-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

Summer is, obviously, the season that seems to go by the quickest, but Mandy, Grace and I are enjoying the middle of it right now about as well as you could. The yard is still green (thank you mild, wet weather) and the vegetables are taking off. Our first tomato will be ready for picking any day now with about a dozen more on the vine waiting their turn. We have the world's biggest zucchini plant with no zucchini. Same can be said for the watermelon, which has a vine that grows 3 inches a day in 4 different directions. And the little critters are devouring our first strawberries. While I don't enjoy digging in the dirt like the two ladies of the house, I certainly am fascinated by the daily watch of developing edibles.

I will go more than a month without travelling for any type of work, which is a first. My last trip was so enjoyable, I took some time off! Ah, Buffalo dorm life...

(Yep, that was my abode for a whole week with 3 roommates. I don't feel old, but I can not remember when I enjoyed sleeping in a place like that)

We finally got back to the little lake this summer (thank you, Laurent family!) and got a little R&R in the sun. More importantly, it gave us the opportunity to let the little fuzz practice her doggy-paddle stroke...

All in all, we've really had a chance to relax, which is great. Mandy continues to update the house as she channels the interior designer within. Friends are getting married, friends are having babies and we continue to realize that every day is an amazing gift. Grateful isn't a strong enough word for the life I have and the opportunities provided. The more people who can share that attitude, the better the country, in my opinion.

So, enjoy your summer, wherever you may be!

Broken, old, mossy stuff? Be still my heart.

2009-06-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

I am an old soul. I love creepy old things—crooked old houses, creaky floorboards, old doors and closets, historic hotels, abandoned buildings, shacks on the side of the highway…anything with a past and a couple cobwebs. I am so fascinated with days gone by that I can’t help but daydream about the lives old objects led as they pass under my glance. The hands that must have held that bowl, the sink it was soaped up in, how it was used…. the picture unfurls in my mind.

When Will and I began shopping for our first home, I knew I wanted it to have some history. I dragged him through multiple dilapidated homes, all of which would have cost us a fortune in heat and repair, but swooned over the details: limestone fireplace crest, chipped French doors, stained glass basement door, and moss covered patios. A great sport, my husband is. After numerous “hard-hat tours” of potential homes, we fell in love with an oldie in SoBro that lets us live comfortably and without many dips into the “cookie jar.”

Still, I toddle on real estate sites scanning the homes for sale in historic parts of town, rummaging the Indiana Historical Society, and unraveling the history of our abode. Each year, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indy, Woodruff Place, has a HUGE flea market, which lasts all weekend. We headed there for the festivities this month, and I snagged 5 pink crystal champagne glasses for $5, while Will picked up some good books and BU apparel. (That's my reflection in the picture above)

Check out the haunts I love so well.

Wasatch

2009-06-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

For my birthday weekend this year, Will rented a cabin for us at Wasatch Lake, located in Poland Indiana, which turns out to be just a hop, skip and jump away.... The thunderclouds rolled in as we hit the highway, and the driving rain made us keep our hazards on for most of the trip. Still, we arrived safely and in one soggy piece-- our two friends, Kyle and Amanda, and big bear Grace in tow.

We had a great weekend-- relaxing, fishing, swimming, hiking and getting into trouble. Ah, the adventures we shared. Grace got to do lots of swimming too and test out her new lifejacket. It worked. She floats.

Multiple rousing games of Catch Phrase, bottles of wine, birthday cake, bonfires, bug spray, swims to the lake rafts, boat trips and three days later we packed up and hit the road for home with one small stop at the 24-hr vet for some temporary boots for our "Boots" who got a little toooo aggressive with the tennis ball fetching. All in all, the peace we felt there truly makes you think you may be miles and miles away from the world. And what better way to spend a 28th birthday than miles and miles away with the ones you love.

Enjoy some pics!

Here comes that rainy day...

2009-06-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

What do you do when the radar looks like this?

Make a mess so your house looks like this! And tackle your long-awaited indoor projects!! Where there's a will (and electricity), there's a way. Crank up the weather channel and get to it!

We have had oodles of rain in Indiana the last few months, but it's been awesome for the garden-- the lillies are taller than me (literally) and the veggies have exploded! I have been dying to paint the kitchen for some time now, and got the opportunity one recent rainy day . Here's a before shot of the neutral decor:
And here's the finished product (just in time for the sunshine):

New Mindset

2009-06-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Mandy and I made a nice little (Who knew $200 could go so fast?) trip to the grocery store last night and you knew summer was officially upon us when we came around the corner and saw this on the beer shelf. While I have been accused many times of needing to turn in my "man card," I really don't like a lot of fruit-based beers, but the Summer Shandy is the best. Not a shameless plug for the beer because I honestly don't think the taste is amazing, but the flavor is so crisp that it makes you just relax and think of summer...

And with summer, comes the new mindset. Does the world seem happier in summer? Maybe just in the Midwest, but it's like there are two different lifestyles between the warm and cold seasons. The allergies are starting to calm down a bit, and I can be outside in 85-degree heat for 10 minutes without breaking into a sweat. My golf game is starting to round back into shape, and it seems like every week is full of an opportunity to play in a league or any fun outing that allows you to get your picture taken on a Harley. (For your own safety, swallow any liquids in your mouth before viewing the photo below)

This weekend marks the 28th anniversary of my wonderful wife's birth. What's the old expression about marrying young to keep your youthful spirit alive? I've got my spring-chicken bride covered by a solid six months, so it's about time she reached the ripe-old age of 28. We are so excited not just to reach another year in good health (knocking on wood as I type), but after almost five years of marriage, we are actually venturing out into the world for our very first family vacation. Of course, what family of 2 1/2 wouldn't be complete without some friends, so we'll have Kyle and soon-to-be Mrs. Kyle join us. Grace gets to come too and stay in a cottage back in the woods. When she heard there was a lake there, she immediately got dressed up in her boating gear and polished her goggles. Tennis balls and lake water are the summer cocktail of choice for our dog, and we can't wait to wear her out.

Enjoy the summer, and hopefully the bliss of our summer mindset will lead to a surge in posts on this running journal of our lives.

The Month of June

2009-06-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

It's never good when your blog title matches the one from the last post, only you change the month. Life got a little hectic towards the end of May for the Hasketts. Not in a bad way, but the frequent flyer miles picked up again for me (Will here). Balancing the full-time job with the part-time broadcasting is starting to become a chore, but that's a good thing. Having more broadcast opportunities is obviously the goal. For the second straight year, I got to experience calling both the women's and men's NCAA D1 golf championships. The women played at Caves Valley Golf Club just outside of Maryland, home of some beautiful terrain for a golf course...

It's amazing what 125K up front can get you!

Part of being on the road for this broadcast work that makes it really fun is having a bit more time to actually explore the city. My friend (and producer) John found this place called Matthew's pizza, and it didn't disappoint. The entire experience was a story. Remember the expression "on the other side of the tracks"? Well, we crossed to the other side about 5 times during this trip. When was the last time you saw an old theatre and the marquee said 'double feature porno show, twice daily?' That was a highlight. It was rough to say the least, but we survived and found the true neighborhood for Matthew's. The setup? It was like a diner, squeezed into a narrow strip of a city building. The murals on the wall were colorful and the place looked like it hadn't had a makeover since opening in the 1940's. It didn't matter, the pizza was flaky, gooey and delicious...

The next week, it was off to the men's championships in Toledo and the famous Inverness club. Drama was in full effect, including an amazing finish to the match play portion of the tournament. You can watch the drama of the last hole archived on ncaa.com (click on the multimedia link at the top of the page and search for M Golf)

In typical Will Haskett fashion, I got to play the top 50 golf course and managed to take only one picture, without me in it...

While my game is suited for long, wide open, modern courses, my favorite ones to play are these old fashioned layouts with small greens and so much character. It was truly a treat.

The weekend also marked the one-year anniversary of our famous Winthrop Ave. flood (check out the archives in this blog for details on that one). Mother Nature did everything in her power to stage an encore 365 days later. I drove back from Toledo (too fast, according to one state Trooper) watching the lightning show from my car, hoping I could get home quickly enough to help with any possible damage (Mandy would kill me if I missed flood #2). Well, we were fortunate, kept power and didn't get hit as hard as other areas. But, experts called it one of the biggest hail storms since spring of 2005, when my car got turned to Swiss cheese in Broad Ripple. If you don't believe that fact, check out this picture taken at 1:00 p.m. the next afternoon...

It was close to 80 degrees in full sun and the hail was still gathered in bunches on the golf course, a full 15 hours after falling. Don't bother aerating the greens, the hail took care of it.

Hopefully the worst of the spring storms are behind us. Mandy and I (who am I kidding, Mandy did all of it) just repainted the kitchen and I'm sure my lovely live-in interior designer will be posting pictures of our new kitchen soon. I like to kid with her, but she can't go 4 months without changing the color scheme of at least one room in our house. My next bet will be our bathroom. But, we got the big project out of the way. Time to enjoy a few weekends together, including a much-needed vacation to Wasatch. We'll be sure to create some envy with posts this month!

The month of May

2009-05-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

Growing up in Indianapolis, the title of this blog had a racing feeling. And while the Indianapolis 500 is certainly not what it used to be, the race becomes a part of one of the greatest months of the year; a month Mandy and I can't seem to get enough of.

We will certainly have a load of hilarious pictures from our adventures at the track later this year. I started last weekend, with Pole Day. I have just one picture worthy of sharing with the world. This fine, young man is apparently a legend on Pole Day. We arrived at 10:00 and saw him with a white shirt on, with a "beer tally" on the front. Fast forward to 4:00, and he had consumed 24. This is a picture of him leading one of his many "social" calls to the crowd. (I am toasting his efforts)

I'd like to thank Miller Lite for making this picture possible. That was my shameless attempt at getting free beer for the online picture. Am I lucky enough to get a Miller Lite distributor who stumbles upon our blog?

Speaking of sponsor plugs, racecar drivers are the best at it. From female energy drinks (hot pink cars) to male-enhancement products, drivers will plug anything. But, can the combination of sponsors actually turn you off from buying their product? Scott Sharp is driving in the Indy 500 again this year and his two main sponsors are Patron tequilla and Muscle Milk. He always references them quickly in interviews, saying "the Patro tequilla Muscle Milk car..." Could there be a worse flavor combination?!?!

We have inherited a fine stack of wood to begin our spring, and our fire pit has gotten some good early workouts. Mandy and I are now addicted to smores, again. It turns out that you are never too old to like smores. I am convinced that three major corporations came together 50 years ago and created the idea of the smore to move more marshmallow, chocolate and grahm crackers. Nobody could have "accidentally" stumbled upon that creation. However, be on the lookout for these warning signs of a smore addiction:

You are willing to use an indoor candle to make one when you don't have an outside fire
You sacrifice the time to fully cook the marshmallow by jamming it into the fire
You debate using Hershey sauce when out of chocolate bars
You suggest a fire at 5:00 on a 92-degree day

Be careful!

Hopefully our relaxation in this month leads to more frequent posts about the good life. Until then, make sure you scratch the cuddly things in your life:

House Beautiful

2009-04-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

It's only been a few months since I gave the dining room a little facelift, and my mind is already swirling with new projects to tackle during the spring thunderstorms, and grey days indoors.

I love design, and read as much as I can about new ideas, ways to organize, colors, fabric and so on. I even recently found a piece about decorating with green (my very favorite color) and the ways it is said to heal you.

Here are a few favorite finds from frequently visited sites, The Inspired Room and Design Sponge....all of which I'd love to somehow incorporate into our teeny weeny 1930s abode. Nate Berkus, are you reading this?

Southern Hospitality

2009-04-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

After almost a full month of not travelling, I hit the road last weekend for a few days to attend the reunion of a large group of alumni from our (closed) chapter at Louisiana-Lafayette, home of the Ragin Cajuns! I had all of these impressions of what it would be like, and within 30 minutes of being on campus, saw an alligator. This picture is, literally, 10 yards from the front step of the student union. They have their own swamp eco-system in the heart of campus. It was my first trip to the Bayou state, which leaves me with only the following states to see to complete the full 50:

Alaska; Arkansas; Delaware; Hawaii; Idaho; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Carolina; Vermont; Washington

I am starting to really love the south. If you can get past the fact that they mostly hate you for being a 'Yankee' every aspect of life down there was fantastic. I can't say the word "y'all" enough and talking with a southern accent is the most comfortable way to talk. I don't know how to describe it, but it just feels easier. Like your tongue got a shot of novacaine and your lips only open half way. No seriously, try it. Say a sentence in your normal voice and then talk with a southern drawl. The muscles in your mouth actually work less.

Got to see every possible combination of denim you could imagine while I was there -

Two-tone denim outfits: When the top shirt is a few shades lighter than the jeans.
Cut-off denim: For when it gets hot
American Pride denim: Flag, eagle, flag and eagle. They all work on the back of your denim shirt
Upper arm hair matching denim: Just what it sounds like. Dude had a lot of fur going on, but he wore a dark denim shirt that matched the color of his hair. It was like camoflauge for over-pubescent men.
2004 denim: It fit then; it doesn't fit now

And I also got to sample the local flavor...

CRAWFISH!

The folks down there were actually shocked (and perhaps offended) by the fact that I had never really sampled 'Mud Bugs' before. The ironic thing is that the serving shown above is not nearly enough to constitute a full meal. I had to go back for another serving, err, I mean shovel full (her words, not mine). I literally imagined a man dying of starvation as the person who discovered this 'delicacy.' If you get a thimble worth of meat out of one, it's a keeper! I love seafood, so it all tasted fine to me, but it made crab look like an endless supply of goodness compared to these little suckers.

The community feel and genuine happiness of the people down there will stick with me for a while. There is something so comforting in going to an area where community togetherness is a big deal. I always feel alienated on the East Coast compared to the Midwest, but then you get to the south, and Midwestern hospitality has been given a triple shot of Red Bull. Nothing wrong with that. Good food, good drink, good people. It makes the job completely worth it.

However, it felt good to get home yesterday. With spring arriving, you just don't want to miss any day of the best season to be in Indianapolis. Golf league starts this weekend, and the weather should be approaching perfect in time for May. And, of course, while I heard there were a lot of stories involving Grace, why do I always imagine her waiting for me at home like this...

Clean the oven, rejoice and repeat

2009-04-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

Today, I am pretending to be a housewife.

I'm channeling my inner Jill Zarin, and it's fabulous (okay, think Jill on a much smaller, more Midwestern scale). The past six months have been chocked full of cancelled doctor appointments, rescheduled oil changes, declined party invites, postponed paper work and completely neglected dog walks. I have a stack of magazines unsorted since December, overflowing half-eaten mail (thank you, Grace) in my little red leather slot, old pudding in the fridge, half a dozen mud-covered tennis balls in my beige back seat, laundry for days, hair balls for months and no time whatsoever.

Truly, my calendar is FULL of pink ink, and still all I do is work, work, work. Now let me be clear-- I am not complaining. I am beyond grateful to have a job (and a good one at that), but I am beat, exhausted, dizzy some days with the amount on my plate.

So today I took a day. (pause for deep breath)

I took a day to catch up on all (okay, some) of the stuff I've let fall by the wayside including ...myself. That's right, people, Wynonna Judd and I are puttin' ourselves back on the list! No I don't mean shedding "bills," I mean taking a little time just for me..to do, well, whatever.

Today I took appointments, ran errands, made it home in time to cook a delicious lunch for my husband-- a lunch for which I (gasp) set the table! I washed the sheets, scrubbed the floors, unloaded and loaded the dishwasher, headed out for another appointment, stopped for coffee (could have been a Bentley I was so happy), made it home in time to exercise with the pup, and enjoy much needed family time.

Could this be real? I am stressless, the house is spotless, and even the dog is smiling. What a truly fantastic day! The Daylight Savings time has even helped trick me into thinking there is actually more day left; that I beat the clock, and that with a little sunshine past 5 comes found time... every modern woman's holy grail.

New fantasy found: The Housewife.

Now if anyone knows anyone (or is someone) who'd like to pay me for running my own errands, exercising my dog and doing my own laundry, let's talk. I am available 7 days a week for the rest of my life.

Who needs March?

2009-04-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

Well, apparently, the Haskett family took the entire month of March off. Sorry about that. We promised ourselves when we got into this blogging thing that we would keep it up consistently and then you just seem to forget about it. Being out of the country is a good excuse, right? We were in paradise for much of it...

Ah, Cabo! Our home away from home (I wish). It was another brutal spring break of "work" for me while Mandy worked on her tan and pool lounging skills. But this time around seemed to be even more authentic for the Haskett family. Besides our usual hot-spots in Cabo (I love Bulldogs, not the dog but the drink, to your right... tequilla, lemonade and an upside-down Corona; heaven), we really did a better job this time of getting out and seeing the town.
We ate the authentic food, we mingled among the people and we drove the authentic cars. Seriously, who knew flying down a Mexican highway in a third-world Nissan (anybody heard of the brand Tsuru? I hadn't!) with no rear-view mirror and a very violent shake if you get the thing going faster than 80 kmph could be so much fun! After all of that was over, we needed authentic drinks. Don't ask about that night! All in all, it was another tremendous vacation for us and something we hope to be a part of for a very long time to come!

We've been back for a few weeks and have dodged a few illnesses, 12-hour work days and await the return of 80-degree days in our lives.

I imagine Mandy will be on here soon posting pictures of our blooming flowers and everything else that makes springtime around the house so uplifting. But until then, Adios March!

Being grateful TOWARD (not for) our lives

2009-02-26T10:30:00.000-08:00

In recent days (okay... weeks), I have only had enough time to read or to write, but sadly never both!
While writing is a luxury for me, reading seems a necessity, so I am still reading. And for this post, I am borrowing (okay... cheating) to share some thoughts I can not put to paper until someone comes to rescue me from the dungeon of WaMu HP rebrand. :)

This comes from Gwenyth Paltrow's website, GOOP.com, and was actually posted Thanksgiving Day. Although the timing isn't quite relevant, the message rings true.
--------------
Question:

Today is a day when we are meant to give thanks - which seems quite general. In your opinion, what are we giving thanks for and how can we genuinely activate that feeling of gratitude?

Cynthia Bourgeault replies:
A: Speaking quite personally at first, I would have to say that this Thanksgiving Day I will be giving thanks in a heartfelt way that sufficient numbers of my fellow Americans were able to say “yes” to the invitation to move beyond fear and isolation and stand as a single human family on the threshold of new hope. It is a delicious moment for the world, a miracle of new beginning, and I celebrate it with all due solemnity.

When something so manifestly good and generous happens, it is natural to respond with gratitude. But in a way, the very naturalness of this response has its down side, for it appears to confirm the notion that gratitude is a response; it is evoked by a prior action. And it is exactly this notion that the great spiritual teachers of all traditions have consistently challenged. And precisely in this challenge lies our freedom.

Yes, it’s easy to be grateful when something good has been done for you (although, sadly, even this healthy human response seems increasingly under challenge nowadays in our escalating culture of entitlement and victimhood). But have you ever thought about gratitude not as a response but as a force in its own right; an initiating and healing energy that is not dependent on external circumstances but is rather an innate power of the human soul? When understood and wielded in this fashion, it has the power to liberate us from our self-imposed prisons of self-pity and envy and to actually change the energy fields (and hence, the outcome) of our circumstances.

In plain words, we can actually change our reality by being grateful first; not as a response but as an innate way of being.

It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of this motion, to learn the “not grateful for, but grateful TOWARD” motion. As in most things spiritual, it’s learned more easily in the domain of sensation than feeling. A lot of people will tell you to make up lists of things in your life to be grateful for (“counting your blessings,” as they call it). But have you ever noticed that counting blessings sometimes feels no more inspiring than counting sheep? It’s hard to cajole your feelings into logical response; feelings are not logical.

Instead, I’d suggest simply being quiet inside, paying attention to the rise and fall of your breathing, your heartbeat, the sensation of your feet on the ground or the breeze against your cheek. Let your story go for a few minutes, with all its wants and needs, and pay attention “not to what you are” (in the words of one medieval Christian mystic) “but THAT you are.” That deep sensation of “I AM” reverberating in your being is connected to the “I AM” reverberating in every other sentient being, and in all of life itself. Through it, you are connected to Being itself, and in that connection lies the true source of your abundance and the wellspring of gratitude.

My friend Kabir Helminski, a well-known contemporary Sufi teacher, summarizes this teaching well: “If you can learn to make all cares into one care, the care for simply being present, you will be cared for by that Presence, which is itself creative Power and Love.” You don’t have to conjure up lists of things to talk yourself into being grateful for; simply
tune into that living stream of Being within you and pay attention to how it moves. Gradually you will come to see that gratitude is not a response; it is a river that is always flowing through you, and that you can learn to flow with. Wherever your external circumstances may appear to be heading, it will always be carrying you inwardly toward fullness and love.

Whoever has learned the secret of proactive gratitude taps into that famous “living water” described in the New Testament, that becomes a source of healing both for one’s own life and for the whole world.

– Cynthia Bourgeault
Cynthia Bourgeault is an Episcopal priest, writer and retreat leader. She is founding director of the Aspen Wisdom School in Colorado and principal visiting teacher for the Contemplative Society in Victoria, BC, Canada.

The Will Haskett World Tour

2009-02-19T11:06:00.001-08:00

Happy Phi Kappa Psi Founders Day to one and all!

Okay, so the sentimental feeling probably isn't there for most frequentors of this blog, but this is the "busy time" of the year for me at work, and in the next 48 hours I will be in Houston, Toledo and Chicago to attend some celebrations. Next week it's Birmingham, followed by an extensive stay in Cabo San Lucas. I can taste the tortillas, tequilla and tecate already!

Today though, the adventure begins. Normally, I am not one for blogging from the road, but the fine folks at Hampton Inn are holding tight to their 3:00 p.m. check-in window and don't have a room. But, the business center is lovely!

It's actually been quite an eventful little day. Up at 4:30, to the airport and off at 6:40 to Detroit. To say that the flight was a little bumpy would be an understatement. Remember Stretch Armstrong? I felt like my body was made of that material, and I was put in a paint mixer. We had a triple-clutch landing. First time the wheels got close, gust of wind turned us a bit sideways. Try again, hop, and boom, finally made it down.

But, am I upset? No way. Why? Because life pays you back. Get the unexpected first-class bump on the big flight to Houston (complete with a delightful fake omelette) and a smooth ride into the land of "Do It Big." But, here's the clincher... Land, and I am the 2nd person off the plane. Walk through the terminal, down an elevator into baggage claim.

Ah, baggage claim. The place where you are mystified by people actually behaving even more selfishly than on the plane. Where the art of crowding the front is like you are trying to touch Mick Jagger's leather pants. My favorite is when some poor, small person is trying to lift a 2,000-pound bag in between two people loitering at the carousel. They drag it over the edge, knock the people a few time in the shins, but those people stand their ground. Heaven forbid they see their bag moving at a whopping 4 miles-per-hour from five feet away and can't catch it. 'Oh no, where might it go?!'

Anyways, I digress because I think it's funny. I walk down into baggage claim (first person there) and without breaking stride, my bag is the first one off the belt. I immediately grab it, walk away and then stop. My body actually shut down for 15 seconds from the shock. I had never experienced anything remotely close to that kind of efficiency in an airport. My pants could fall down during my speech tonight and I would still be smiling.

Well, off to double buckle my pants...

hearts, rainbows and unicorns

2009-02-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

Will, you are a tough act to follow! I am so hesitant to top this sweet Valentines Day post so I am going to keep mine short.
We had a great 10th (gads!) Valentines Day, which started with some delish Apple Strudel Pancakes cut into heart shapes of course, and a long walk with our Gracie, who also snuck a pancake or two herself. We had an early (3:45) "dinner" at St. Elmo's where we pigged out on the incredible cuisine (ahi tuna, filet, shrimp cocktail, king crab macaroni and cheese, Goose Island....) to the point where I wondered if I could swallow another sip of water without one of my pants buttons popping off and nailing Will between the eyes (albeit a hilarious visual). After, we saw Coraline in 3D. The glasses have a come a long way and were surprisingly comfy and cute. The movie was beautifully done, perfectly creepy and a true treat to watch. Check it out...with someone you love.

Happy Valentine's Day.... Early

2009-02-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

Well, a long layoff without the male voice of the family posting on here. You would expect that in travel and college hoops season. Life is crazy!

But tomorrow, we get to celebrate Valentine's Day, and as much as I shrug off the importance of this day like every other wannabe-macho man, it's nice to have a holiday to really make you think about love and how it has shaped your life. So in that regard, thank you Hallmark! Instead of stimulating the economy and buying a $3.95 folded piece of pink paper, let this be my public Valentine to the love of my life...

I always joke that I wasn't hugged enough as a kid (I'm kidding Mom & Dad!), but my beautiful wife has brought the concept of love and affection to a different level in my life. For every bad day, there is a hug. For every good day, there is a hug. For every normal day, there is a hug. You take those for granted when you are younger and immature. My wonderful wife never has. She fits perfectly in my hug, something we have always noticed over 10+ years of practicing hugs, and it never gets old. Thank you baby, for hugging me.

I look back at pictures of Mandy and I when we were in high school and laugh. What were we thinking? How did I become me? How did she become her? How did we become us? My amazing wife might be the single best judge of character I know. While we have battled through our own lives, developing our sense of self and becoming the people we are today, she has been right there with me. She continues to point out the good and work with the bad because she sees something that maybe I can't see myself. It's taken me a long time to accept that, but I love her for it every day. Thank you baby, for sticking with me.

My wife loves love. It is the aura around her and the bounce in her step. While she is amazed at my ability to stay calm in almost every situation, I am more amazed at her ability to be emotional at the same time. She loves me and she loves cheese. She loves Grace and she loves fresh-cut grass. She loves her family and she loves coffee on Sunday mornings. If their was an ambassador of love, she'd be appointed without a Senate hearing necessary. And in her own way, she has had more of an impact teaching me about love than she'll ever know. Convincing me to get a dog may have been her final exam, because nothing has taught me more about unconditional love like our furry G. Thank you baby, for love.

On our first Valentine's Day date in 1999 we..... ummm..... yeah....... I think we went to Puccinis (safe guess). Either way, here we are now and we would take a meal at Puccinis any day of the week if it meant we would be together. I love my wife more and more each day and am the luckiest guy in the world to share Valentine's Day with her again for the 10th straight year!

"..Apple bottom jeans; boots with the fur..."

2009-02-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

In the time that has passed since our last post, we enjoyed a winter wonderland in the Midwest, and as of this morning, it's all gone except for what my dad calls "parking lot tits"-- large heaps of snow that will melt in June. Charming, right? :)

We have stayed cozy by cooking, building snowmen (well, man), snow-swimming with Gracie, and hanging out with good friends. Here are a couple pics.

Basking in the glow of (our) Copper Harbor

2009-01-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

I have an ongoing love affair with my house...something that those who are close to me know well. I love that it shelters my family from the frigid, howling wind we can hear whistling in the attic when the winter comes, and that Grace can always find a cool spot in the basement to lye on during the hottest summer days. I feel sad when I see an old broken copper pipe go or when our toilet starts growling...and I rejoice when an odd tulip pops up someplace unexpected.

Inside, I obsess over paint colors, pillow covers, shelf paper, lamp shades, finding the perfect grip strips to keep your little wool rug from turning into a surf board the minute you step on it....

This week, my good friend Ashley and I were perusing the PB spring lines and were so inspired by the brilliant yellows and oranges that we decided to do a little painting. Fortunately, Ash (who has just moved into her new home) found several cans of leftover paint from the previous owners in her basement, and was generous enough to lend me a gallon, making this the best no-money makeover yet!

The walls of the dining room are now a lovely coral color called Copper Harbor by Sherwin Williams. Although I lucked into it, I still got stuck playing with the Sherwin Williams paint color visualizer for an hour or so the other day-- how fun!

We had the original hardwood trim which I also (gasp) painted white. I had to have a glass of wine first. I have been trying to fight the urge to do this for three years, hearing that the trim was so valuable bla bla. I'm over it. And thrilled with the results :) One thing led to another and the hallways got painted as well.

Have a look! And then come visit to see it yourself!

Baby it's cold outside

2009-01-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

Mr. Will is on the road this week, and I am up to my eyeballs in high profile WaMu branch morphs at work-- pure joy, I tell you :) After a long day, I came home and played with Gracie in the snow before my nose was running so uncontrollably we had to come in (it's 3 below here). I chased her around the garage, threw her red ball into the flower beds, and just took some time to really enjoy her. As I watched her wriggle on her back-- snow powdered legs poking at the sky, I remembered a great story Will and I saw on CBS Sunday Morning last week about an odd animal couple-- two buds that found friendship in a strange place.

Check it out--
The Animal Odd Couple

Keep cozy everybody!

My mom, the superhero

2009-01-08T15:50:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know my mom. She's a witty, loving, incredibly talented woman, and I've spent my whole 27 years looking up to her. Most people think their mom is great, and I'm no exception. Until yesterday afternoon, however, I never knew how many people shared my view.

Because of the recent financial crisis, my mother was let go from her 12-year position at Xpedex yesterday. I got a call. And then I got a note from her boss, telling of the news. Somehow, he CC'd all 400 folks in her address book, rather than BCC'ing them, and the flood gates opened wide. All day emails poured in to Gary touting her skill and good work. Writing that they'd miss her dearly. All day! Someone even blogged about her departure, which you can read here: http://makeseriously.com/2009/01/re-cindy-wingo/

In part, he writes, "...this is like (sort of…) cutting out the Barista at Starbucks (at least if your experience is like mine here downtown at the Conseco store). Where before you came in to people who knew your name and preferences and who could recommend new drinks or new styles of your favorite drinks, now you just get a person at the register who tells your order to another person without any of your input. You don’t know whether that Americano is a double or triple shot. You don’t know if that Vanilla Latte is using 1% or whole. You don’t know if you’re getting bold or regular. And, not only that, but you don’t know if there are new drinks and there’s no one to ask. What’s the point? I can get that service at the gas station for $.99."

Wow. I don't post this because I'd like to create more buzz or make any more racket than has been made. I do it because I am so proud of the role model I've got. I am proud that I inherited her excitement for life and hope to gain a bit of her incredible attitude. I'm proud that she isn't the type of lady that heads for a dark corner when life goes sour, but faces her fear head on and with courage and the confidence that all she has is all she needs.

Michael Beckwith says that crisis really means crossroads. By letting the world as you know it come to an end, we make room for a new world to be born-- one that is more fulfilling, and leads to a greater reality and purpose always.

No doubt that this next chapter in her life will be a blessing. Thank you all for your prayers and loving support.

Grace Playdate

2009-01-03T17:36:00.000-08:00

Would ya look at that face? Who wouldn't want a big slobbery kiss from this little booger? Will and I felt so guilty for kenneling Gracie over New Years (as though she knew the difference), but I kept picturing her all alone in her kennel, wearing a Happy 2009 bandana, holding a noise maker in her mouth, watching Dick Clark on the TV in her puppy suite, and sadly lapping a little sparkling water as the folks in Time Square cheered and kissed. So we pledged to spend some quality time with her yesterday and today. What a joy. We took her to the dog dog park and for a romp in neighboring Broad Ripple Park this morning. She found every mud puddle and rolled in it (her specialty), ate old sticks, stole my mitten (another signature move), and gave us little trouble while we scrubbed her in the tub-- removing leaves and turf from her fur. We love this dog and her sweet spirit. Here are some shots from our dog date.

Feelin' fine in 2009!

2009-01-03T17:07:00.001-08:00

Happy 2009! I know, I said it in the last post, but this post actually includes NYE picts! We headed up the wintery road to beautiful Lafayette, Indiana to share the ball drop with some of our dearest friends. There was plenty of laughter and champagne (yes, those are raisons in my nose)- good times had by all :)

Moppin' up the holiday cheer

2009-01-03T15:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! And what a year it's been. We had a great holiday jam packed with activities and a little much-needed time away from work. Spent the last couple days putting away decorations, vacuuming an endless trail of pine needles, eating endless amounts of leftovers, getting thank-you notes in the mail and trying not to think about all the email I have waiting for me Monday morning. More pictures are a-comin', but in the meantime, here's a little flavor of what we've been up to-- four Christmases (three at our place), a houseguest (KT), dates with Kate and mom including one particularly delicious one at South Bend Chocolate Company, a fierce wii Brain Game Academy tourny that Will and I played nightly (for hours) after the crowds had gone, and the dishes were soaking. No wonder we have had so little sleep. Gracie, however, had no problem pawing the snooze button until Noon. :)

The stocking are hung by the chimney with care....

2008-12-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

"T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house...," you know the rest, right?

Will and I laid awake last night trying to recite T'was The Night Before Christmas, thinking of course we knew it. We both fell asleep struggling to remember where the "nose like a cherry" came in and when exactly Saint Nick "whistled and shouted and called them by name." We didn't quite have it right.

Just hearing a few of the rhymes, though, flood my mind with the old worn illustrations from my childhood book, and in my mind, Christmas is here.

My family always did an incredible job of making Christmas so special. I have memories of Advent, sledding down our big hill on 75th street at midnight, ICC choir concerts dressed in funny polyester uniforms (only to be trumped by even worse garb in high school), Katie and I (post consumption of all those little gold chocolate coins in our stocking) running like mad through ice covered, knee-deep snow drifts and the sound of our moon boots crunching over frozen leaves, knees buckling. Grilled bagels and PJs and reading the from the Bible. Pineapple Mango Lipsmackers, matching dresses from Chocolate Soup, red velvet hair bows, dancing at the Athletic Club with Grandpa Fred and Grandma Rosie, and begging for macaroons. Even after my parents divorced, they made a great effort to keep our family together during Christmas while Kate and I were young. My mind swirls with excitement for a new year.

Now Christmas is in my house, and finding those magical tid-bits to warm up the holiday and keep Christmas true to its meaning for the ones I love feels so important.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Lean on me

2008-12-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

Last night, I had the privilege of hosting dinner for a few of my dearest friends. We enjoyed delicious food, a couple glasses of wine, stories, lots of laughs and each other’s company. From discussing the anticipation of a new baby in our group to my oh-so-graceful tumble into a cold tub of water in my party dress just the night before, we found ourselves carried into the wee hours with conversation.

Each time they leave, I find my shoulders just a little lighter-- whatever I had been holding onto all day (that project at work) falls away, and they do it just by being them.

No, we don’t see each other enough. We don’t write enough or text enough or stay involved in the intricate fabric we each weave throughout our days like we should, but we know and we understand and love each other still.

Happily, several of my good friends who have been living far away are back in Indy now, and I’m thrilled to be able to see them more. I don’t know who I’d be without my girlfriends. The gift they have to give is as unique to our relationship as the person within them I have come to privately know.

I received this from one of them this week, which seems so fitting: Kelly Corrigan reading from her piece, “Transcending.” So beautiful and true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4qwVLqt9Q

The Authentic Travel Experience

2008-12-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

Well, I am back on the road today for a quick event in Richmond, VA. I got to fly out of the new Indianapolis Airport for the first of several trips. Mandy got the pleasure before I did a few weeks ago and she was spot on: The place is amazing. The drive in while it is dark out really magnifies how big it is. Lots of skeptics always ask me why Indy needed a new airport. I can't definitively answer that question, but I know that what they have created really brings our city into the 21st century in terms of airport facilities. Wow.

Okay, back to the reason I decided to blog from my Richmond hotel room. Ron (co-worker and fellow Butler Phi Psi) and I got here a little after 1:00 this afternoon and we were starving. We aren't very far away from the campus of VCU and he decided to give me a little tour while we walked to find a restaurant. Well, we got to a corner and needed to make a decision. We settled on an authentic-looking place called the Village Cafe. Walked in, had some booths off of a bar and settled in. Boy, were we in for an "authentic" treat.

Oftentimes, when I travel, I forget to think about the culture of the area where I am heading. In this case, it was the heart of Virginia. Tobacco country with these folks, and it was everywhere. In the booth next to us was an old lady. This woman was worn. She looked like Mother Teresa after getting her butt kicked by the Marlboro man. She sucked down her cigarette with ease (I knew not having teeth had some sort of benefit) and barked out orders to the waiters. You couldn't understand much without the teeth, but you feared her. She looked like a walking raisin drenched in a spitoon. She wanted a meal served with an egg. When asked how she wanted it prepared, she stared off in the distance, glazed over, puffed and then looked back at the guy and said, "I don't care, just cook it some way."

Time to order... I love restaurants with evolving menus. The only problem here is that I think they never remove something from the menu if something else is added. You want a cold sandwich, got it. Want one hot, sure! How about pizza? Pasta? Fried Chicken? Soup? BBQ? Got it covered! Too many choices, so we had to take our time. Fortunately, the drink choices were only a page long (and double spaced!), so we ordered sodas.

Wait, I meant to say

SODAS

Yep, they serve them in pitchers with a straw. And you wonder why people in this country think we are fattening ourselves uncontrollably.

Well, I got enough carbonation in me to make an terribly awful decision on lunch. Every sandwich seemed like a good choice, but in a smoky, corner diner-style restaurant, what should I get??? You guessed it... Chicken Burrito! With diner refried beans and rice. Actually it wasn't half bad, until about an hour later when I (along with most of the 12th floor at the downtown Doubletree) discovered that the Village Cafe burrito may not be the best idea.

Meanwhile, Mother Marlboro Man and her walker (did I mention the walker?) are joined in the booth behind her by a white-collar worker for a late lunch. What a different patron! Clean clothes and no noticeable tatoos (I think the average in the place was 3.4 per person), he sat down for a bite. Now, I understand the smoking is probably a but higher with both Phillip and Morris looking over the town, but this guy wanted to help stain the wood in the place. Most people light up after a good meal. This dude lit it up after a good item. 'Mmm, what a delicious helping of potatoes, time for a smoke!' 'Oh look, the check is here, where are my cancer sticks?' I understand the little buggers are pricey, so I understand when somebody hustles to finish one. But this guy actually puffed one down fast to light up another one.

All in all, a fun day of witnessing Americana. Got an event tonight and then a flight home tomorrow. My only authentic tourist experience in Richmond was the little corner restaurant. Priceless first impression!

Thankful... It's Basketball Season!

2008-12-05T08:46:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is freezing out (0 degree wind chill this morning) which means it is officially time to start thinking about hoops.

Last night, my (actually, our, right Mandy?) beloved Butler Bulldogs stayed undefeated with a buzzer-beating win at Cleveland State (the unanimous favorite to win the Horizon League). We watched the broadcast with a ton of friends at a bar in Broad Ripple, and it went CRAZY when this happened:

Note three funny things in the video:

1) Hahn's sliding dive to the floor
2) Coach Brad Steven's never-flinching demeanor when the shot is in the air. He was already walking to the CSU bench to shake hands
3) How quickly Shawn Vanzant (#2) sprints out to congratulate Hahn, the hero. Vanzant wasn't even on the floor playing and is the first person there. Fast!

The high from that shot last night will carry me through the weekend!

Thankful... it's December!

2008-12-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the home stretch! That period between Thanksgiving and Christmas that seems to fly by in moments and stretch out in others. I remember this stretch in school being the quickest time of the year, because you had the free time to actually take in the holiday ambiance. Now, juggling work and trying to get everything done before the Xmas break can be daunting by itself.

First things first, Mandy and I had another relaxing (and filling) vacation in Alabama with the entire Wingo side of the family. With over 1,500 acres to lose ourselves in, it was hard not to relax. It was so remote and quiet, you could hear a squirrel running 100 yards away, or amaze in the "explosive" whisper of a group of ducks darting overhead. We ate loads of turkey, sweets and bread, and the only fruit I saw came in cobbler form! In addition to our relaxation, it gave Grace a chance to run free, swim and bring out her inner country dog. All in all, a great Thanksgiving. And with thankful sentiments at the front of our mind, I think I can sum them all up in one statement: We are thankful for the opportunity to be thankful. It may sound stupid, but think about it for a minute. The entire weekend was one big thing to be thankful for, and all of the blessings that came with it are a reason why we are even able to appreciate it all. Not to mention a full stadium of people at the Iron Bowl: Alabama vs. Auburn. I LOVE SEC FOOTBALL!

Note the time of the clock... 35 minutes left before kickoff and the place was already near capacity. Great atmosphere and one of the coolest football experiences I've been a part of.

Back at home, it was full speed ahead to the holidays. Mandy and I have actually completed all of our Christmas shopping before the start of December, a goal we always had but never lived up to. So, now we can focus on the decorations and making our own winter wonderland. Here's Grace enjoying the 2008 version of the holiday living room:

The tree itself was an adventure. Our first family tree was a little water logged after the spring flood, so this is Version 2.0. Perfect height, well lit, full figure, nice price, all at WAL-MART. However, the box didn't quite fit in the car. Have you ever seen those pathetic people in a parking lot late on a cold night trying to wedge some big piece of purchase into their undersized vehicle. Yep, that was Mr. & Mrs. Haskett this past Sunday. So we thought to ourselves, "What would those 'losers' do in a situation like this." Rip open the box in the parking lot, pull the pieces out 1-by-1 and take them home that way. Brilliant! Anybody have an extra Christmas Tree box lying around? How about an SUV that can transport it to our place?

Well, we can't wait to watch the next few weeks fly by, get to that joyous time of year and continue to be thankful. Oh, and don't judge us when we photoshop a picture of ourselves into the image above and use it as our Christmas Card!

Something's gotta give...but what?

2008-11-23T19:36:00.000-08:00

About a year ago, a book called The Secret made the Law of Attraction a popular concept. The law says that our thoughts (both conscious and unconscious) dictate the reality of our lives, regardless of whether we’re aware of it. Long before this book was published, I have felt that this was true. And I believe that we get what we give in all forms of the concept.

Too many times, a friend has suggested I meet so-and-so, and a week later, I’m unknowingly in line behind so-and-so at (insert random location), and we strike up a conversation, leading to an introduction, and viola!
Or I’ll wonder something aloud (that has been on my mind perhaps for weeks), and arrive home to find a CBS Sunday Morning feature on that very topic recorded on my DVR that same day! I find myself constantly saying, “What a coincidence!” or “What are the odds!?”

Well, the odds are good. And this week is no exception.

In my last post, I wrote a little about sacrifice. And this morning at church, our pastor Derek began talking about just that.

Each Sunday, we typically have doughnuts and coffee in the gathering area outside the sanctuary, but they were removed and replaced with small bags of rice this morning to make a point. Most people in the world live on less than one small bag of rice each day. A sacrifice like this one (for us, an after-breakfast snack) is small, and seemingly insignificant, but helps us realize what we have on this Thanksgiving week. The foundation of the Law of Attraction is gratitude, after all.

As he spoke, I reflected on the sacrifices we make. We sacrifice time at home lounging in front of the tube to be with a friend who needs to talk; we sacrifice time with our family to get the big project completed at work; we sacrifice money so someone else can have a little; we sacrifice that burger to squeeze into our size 6; we sacrifice X so we can have Y and on it goes. But what does it all add up to? How does sacrifice change us for the better? Does it? Still trying to answer those….

Then I think about the sacrifices we make to love God. I have never been persecuted for my faith, but I do feel the rub from time to time. I get teased for being upbeat, happy and cheerful towards my peers. While the love I feel towards them is real and genuine (merely an overflowing of God’s love for me), there are those who would rather poke fun than try to understand. I will gladly sacrifice my comfort to spread God’s love, and the truth I believe.

I suppose sacrifices such as that are the best I can hope for.
What are you sacrificing in your life, and how has it changed you?

Travel safely this week, friends, and have a Happy Thanksgiving, or as Will says, “Save the neck for me Clark” (as Eddie on Christmas Vacation).

PA, USA

2008-11-20T19:32:00.000-08:00

Posting tonight from Wilkes-Barre, PA--pronounced by the vast majority of Pennsylvanians as Wilkes-"Barry" for those of you wondering…and I know you’re out there.

While my creative team treks up to New York yet tonight for another shoot in the wee hours tomorrow morning, I am grateful to be nestled in the hills of PA with a lovely, lamp-lit view of Moosic out my window, and the singular slope of snow, gliding down the distant hill.

The chilly 20-something degree weather + hours spent in airports, grey mini vans, pink upholstered chairs, green rubber steps, a stint on a pew in the Wilkes-Barre Airport meditation room, and other areas of the country's finest optical surgery suites (all within minutes of Scranton of course), leave me hungry for a steaming hot shower, and a long winter's nap. (Yawn)

Miles away, in Illinois, Will is broadcasting his little heart out, and his voice was just starting to sound strained when we spoke minutes ago-- little whispers about our days. Kyle is at our house catching up on the DVR and talking care of our sweet fuzzy Grace, whom he loves almost as much as we do. How incredibly blessed we are to have friends like him....

On my plane from Cincinnati to WB this morning, I sat in front of several soldiers returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq. They conversed over what they'd do when they first saw their wives, kids, and homes. Most of them had completed a 12-18 month tour, and shrieked as the snow on the Poconos peeked at them through thin clouds. None of them have been in cooler than 90 degree temps for more than a year. When the plane landed, and the captain welcomed us to PA, the plane erupted into applause as the men, many badly bruised and pale, stood to deboard our tiny Delta aircraft. I was so moved by their courage and their sacrifice. Many men held toddlers tight at the arrival gates. I couldn’t help but think that these children were just infants when their fathers left home.

I think tonight about the sacrifices we all make for what we love, and I realize that I have barely scratched the surface in such a capacity. I only know on a tiny, insignificant scale what it must feel like to let something go in order to achieve something great. I imagine children will bring this out of me someday.

In the meantime, I’ll tip my cap in humble thanks to those who sacrifice on my behalf. Because they deserve it. They really do.

2008-11-20T18:44:00.001-08:00

The Man Behind the Microphone

2008-11-19T12:28:00.000-08:00

Things were a lot easier three years ago when people would ask, "Hey Will, how's the broadcasting going," and I could simply answer that I was working for all Butler Basketball broadcasts. People understood that and could (sometimes) relate to it. Now, as a freelancer, I am getting more work and different gigs, but they slip past the audience a bit more frequently.

As some of you know, volleyball has sort of become my new niche sport, and this weekend, you can catch a whole load of volleyball action as I call all seven matches (solo btw, sorry vocal chords) of the 2008 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships. This is my second year in a row doing this (I did the DII tourney in '06) and again it is from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL.

You can follow the results and action by clicking on this link: Will & Volleyball?!?!. Under each game header there is a word "streaming." It should be an active link by the start of each match and will take you to the video/audio.

Thursday the 20th - Four matches starting at 1:00 CST
Friday the 21st - Two semifinal matches starting at 4:30 CST
Saturday the 22nd - A champion crowned starting at 7:00 CST

I don't get paid by the web hit, but you never know what my agent my work out next. And by agent, I mean me!

"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch..."

2008-11-18T16:10:00.000-08:00

Ah, the cranky days are upon us. Dark drives home, mumbling in the dark car about Daylight Savings Time and why it sucks, who’s gonna walk the dog in the dark and risk being surprised by an attacker hiding in the brush that you can’t see because it’s…uh…DARK!
Let me just say that I am seriously one of the whitest gals you’ll ever meet. I burn in the sun; no, cook. I get the worst sun poisoning just from the heat of it, and generally stay huddled in a sarong with a large hat in a cabana on vacation. My freckles morph into large slightly darker splotches by July, and I spend August at the dermatologist being routinely scanned for Basel cells.
But wait…. where did it go? I neeeeed it! I want it! Come back Mister Sun!

The reason I know this winter weather is getting to me is that I have begun at least three nasty, nasty blogs this week (so unlike me) only to come to my senses and delete them before I’d post against my better judgment.

So… I’m outing myself. My name is Mandy, and I haven’t been blogging because I’ve been an angry little hermit. Okay, this is not entirely true.

I do miss the sun, yes.
But, we have had a great couple weeks skipping our workouts and snuggling up with hot chocolate and an overloaded DVR. G has missed several workouts because of the rain, but has slept soundly every night—thank you hibernation gene.

With the holidays coming up and all the great fun we’ve had, I do have a harder time keeping “Josi” (My mom and Will named my mean alter-ego) at bay this time of year. Does anyone else feel the burn?

Wishing you warm, winter months without the S.A.D. ☺

Our Baby's Birthday

2008-11-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

A very special Happy Birthday to our beautiful baby Grace this past weekend. She turned the big 2 (14 in human years), which is supposedly the gateway to adulthood. We have loved every single minute of her being a puppy and can't believe how big she has gotten. Mandy and I often poke fun at ourselves for being a bit obsessive when it comes to our little furball, but the joy and love she brings our still-growing family is more than I ever imagined. Having never had a dog growing up, I was expecting the usual (poop, fetch, sleep, shed, etc.), but it has been more than that. She continues to amaze me with her intelligence for words, her emotions and happiness. She is the perfect companion.

So, we treated (spoiled) her to a perfect dog day on Sunday. No dog likes to spend their birthday in the kennel, but after a quick trip to Chicago, we saved her Saturday night and promised her a load of attention on Sunday. She got off the traditional food, and enjoyed scrambled eggs and toast with us for breakfast. After a trip to Petsmart for a new batch of toys (more below), we headed to Broad Ripple park for a cold and windy afternoon in the leaves. It was a perfect fall afternoon, if you like it really cold!

Because the park was so empty, we let her romp around in the leaves and chase us under and around trees all afternoon. And that freedom allowed her to do the ultimate Grace outdoor activity, the Super Plow! This is where she scratches her face and gets properly "outdoorsy" by rolling around in everything nature provides. Oh, to have no hygene instinct:

Well, you can imagine how much energy she exhausted from the day, so we came home to warm up and Grace got to properly introduce herself to her new toys. Dino the Dinosaur is the current hit. And, in traditional Grace fashion, she passed out with her favorite new friend. Dino will last about 7-10 days, and then will be consumed. We don't know why she waits, or what the toys do to her to deserve a tragic and chewful end, but it always happens.

Happy Birthday G!

The Aftermath

2008-11-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

Mandy was quite the internet surfer as the election results poured in on Tuesday night. We certainly were watching history and enjoying the moment, but even more amazingly, we were watching the reaction around the world at the touch of a button. And, unfortunately, some of the reaction is just downright scary. Look, I understand the issues faced with polarizing elections. Obama won the popular vote by an overwhelming margin in terms of recent history. What does that mean? 53%. FIFTY THREE PERCENT! Just three points higher than a majority. That means 47% of voting Americans did not support our next President on Election Day.

That is not a bad thing. That is an American thing. And it is what makes our country so special. I never got sick of watching human-interest pieces about first-time voters who were immigrants to this country. They wept when they voted because they had a voice. I, along with most that I associate with, can NEVER understand that. To mock it shows ignorance and a spoiled attitude. And that leads to my rant...

"World War III" "Barack Bin Laden" "Moving to Canada" were some of the knee-jerk reactions/phrases I heard within minutes of the election being called. Where have we come as a society? No matter who won the election, it was a victory. The past 8 years have been a disaster and national opinion polls, the current economy and our global position prove that. So, the election process itself needs to be celebrated. My joy on Tuesday night (and into Wednesday morning) was not a product of a promised economic agenda or health care plan. My joy was in witnessing the joy of others. And it was in that joy that so much hatred was spewed, in an attempt to ruin America's moment.

The cynical mockery of people crying at pro-Obama rallies is most disturbing of all. I am white. I have never been persecuted. I don't have a family history of oppression. I have never been discriminated against in a hateful way. Because of those things, I can not even begin to understand the magnitude of the emotion within the minority populations of this country. To shun the President Elect as a celebrity or simply a movement of "reverse racism" is ludicrous. Here is what I witnessed through this process thanks to Barack Obama:

- More people voted than ever before
- More young people voted than ever before
- More minorities felt a part of the politicial process than ever before
- More countries publicly celebrated the election of President not of their own than ever before

That last one is big for me. You had the heads of state of many major countries speaking outside of their typical "Congratulations Mr. X" PR releases. They welcomed a new era of American leadership. Through all of this campaign, the fear of Obama internationall was only an issue in one place, here (thanks in special part to some shameless Republican campaigning). Our current President (and party in power) is viewed with more vitriol than almost any other nation internationally.

So, in one election, we changed the viewpoint of millions of people. And some want to call Tuesday night a failure. We are destined to go back and forth on the issues. That is democracy. But no American could watch the results come in on Tuesday night and not feel some sense of happiness in watching America showcase the fundamental characteristic that makes us the best nation in the world: our ability to choose our path and guide our leadership.

People care now. They are engaged in the future of this country. And those who cared chose their leader. Talk about pressure! Obama now has to live up to the largest group expectations in history. And I am excited to watch him do it.

So, as we move forward, I am (hopefully) looking forward to putting the hate and bickering behind us. If the numbers are true, then the situation is simple. Were you happy with the current leadership of this country? If not, a change was made. We will all need to rally around that change and make sure it happens. It should make for an exciting four (hopefully 8 :-)) years.

On a side note (and a smaller rant), it was ironic to see an African-American elected President on the same night almost every other civil right issue was defeated. Gay marriage was banned in Florida. It was also reversed in California and banned (shocking to me). And, in what I label as the most frightening example of fear and ignorance, adoption was banned in Arkansas for any couples who are not married and living together. Why, you ask? Because the state didn't want homosexual couples to adopt children. Brilliant! Let's force everybody to be married just so we can guarantee ourselves that no gay people will adopt. So, if you are Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and you live in Arkansas, hand your babies back to the state. Or, if you are two widowers who choose not to remarry out of respect you can't adopt your own children. Good to see fear is still alive in some parts of the country (sigh).

We Baracked the Vote!

2008-11-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

What an historic day!

The New York Times reports, "Obama: Racial Barrier Falls as Voters Embrace Call for Change...."

For those of you who know Will, you know he spends most of his time straddling the fence-- but this year has been different. He elected to volunteer for the Obama campaign weeks ago, and spent most of the day today knocking on doors, writing letters, driving folks to the polls and spreading the good word about the change that is gonna come. We are lucky to be sharing tonight with our good friends Kyle and Amanda, and even broke out our New Years noise-makers for the win!

Having been big fans of Obama far before he announced his candidacy, we are proud to be Americans tonight (and each night), and proud of the choice our country has made!

Fireworks are blasting in our neighborhood now, and I can't help but feel just like they do-- truly bursting with hope for our good country.

Yeaaaaaaahhhhhh Obama!!!!!!!!!

Happy Hallow's Eve

2008-10-31T18:24:00.000-07:00

Until Thanksgiving, I'm beginning all my posts with gratefuls-- join in people!:

1) Music from Adele-- particularly "Hometown Glory" and "Chasing Pavements"-- what a voice

2) Learning what's best for me in the most unexpected places

3) Leggings (oh yes, you read that one right)

4) Friday nights with trick-or-treaters and a little wine before dinner

5) Time to read my very best girlfriends' emails and notes in the early mornings.

6) Will

7) "True Blood," my new HBO fav

8) Gracie's spirit

9) My mom

Tonight, Will is off doing a broadcast and I am loving a quiet night at home with G. I can't believe we got engaged Halloween five years ago. Time certainly flies. We had Will's BU five year reunion this past wknd and had a blast- even ran into our neighbor! The older we get, the smaller this world grows for sure.

Plans for the ten year HS reunion are in full swing! We are so excited for the upcoming holidays, and can't wait to share them with our great families and friends.

We are beginning a program soon with our East 91st Street friends (church peeps) from the "Overflow" series in which we move into our communities to offer aid to people in need (like single moms) in our community. Will and I both feel so blessed to be filled and overflowing with God's love, and can't help but steer that overflow toward people with a need. This love naturally flows into our peers, but channeling it elsewhere is so important.... Fixing their problems is not something we can do, but we can ease a heavy burden for an hour or so when we're welcome. Sometimes that hour can make a big difference.

I will never forget watching my mom, (as a single mom) particularly during my late teens and college years and beyond, work so hard for us and protect us. Although it took me until almost my adulthood to fully understand her sacrifice, I know now all that she gave up to make sure that Kate and I were always well taken care of. I give all the help she gave me back to her these days, but if I can lighten the load of someone in the throws of it all, I'd like to.

Let there be thanksgiving in your lives. It has made all the difference in ours.

PS-- if you haven't already, get out there and vote (for Obama) (oops...did I type that out loud?) :)

White Trash Yard Work

2008-10-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

So, what Mandy didn't bother to mention is that, after the great party my parents threw for us on Sunday, there was still work to be done around the house. It was a bit chilly out, we'd had a few beers and the Colts game was still on. But, darn it, the yard needed mowing. So, what did I do? I mowed the S.O.B..... wearing the greatest yard mowing outfit ever:

High-school white-gangsta hoodie; athletic shorts; black dress socks with slip-on Rockport shoes circa 2002. The yard didn't know what hit it!

I'm grateful for_____

2008-10-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

Will's parents were so kind to throw us a gathering tonight with our families that celebrated our anniversary and the gift of having eachother. We enjoyed the cool 57 degree breeze, a little birdwatching, a couple rounds of cornhole and some delicious food. The best part is that we got to do it together.

This time of year is always my very favorite-- not just because of the changing leaves and the chilly air (which I love), but because it brings a favorite holiday: Thanksgiving.

I, for one, have tons of thanks to be giving and tons more to be grateful for. And although I try each day to have mini celebrations of gratitude for people and for the meaning I find in the mundane, I love that we set aside a whole day to show the world thanks for all we've got, and to renew our vow of being grateful for whatever that is.

When Will and I first got married, I suggested the idea of keeping a gratitude journal. I'm sure I saw it on Oprah which illicited eye rolling from Will, but no less, we began one. I think we made it about a month actually writing things down, and then moved into verbal "gratefuls," which were less cumbersome and could be done with the lights and glasses off. Four years later, we don't remember every night, but most nights one of us does and a couple teeny things emerge that bring lovely images into our minds before we drift off to sleep. Cheese is usually one of my list-toppers, and who wouldn't want to dream about a hunk of gouda!? Seriously. :)

In fact, I'd like to challenge you to write down five things you're grateful for right now. Stick it on your fridge, next to your bathroom mirror or on a sign to wear around your neck. Either way, if you make this a daily affirmation, you'll find deep, profound gratitude for the most mundane things, which I believe will quickly change the eyes through which you see the world.

With the economy, natural disasters and a political hotbed breweing, never has there been a better time to "think small," as my Real Simple magazine often puts it. Remember to be thankful for the biggies (roof over your head, enduring relationships, your health, dog, etc.) but also let yourself be grateful for whatever you are feeling right at that moment.

Sometimes it's cheese.

And the best thing about a list focused on the small things, Real Simple points out, is that it seems like it could just be endless.

Five things I'm grateful for right now:
1) Time with Will and Grace around our fire-pit after sundown (and that great smokey smell it leaves on my clothes)
2) Finding warm/fuzzy/green boots in my winter storage that I forgot I had
3) Family cooking (anything made from a potato, grandma's deviled eggs, dad's steak and pies for days....)
4) Finding time to watch shows I've saved on my DVR
5) God's good work in my life

Our Wacky World At Home

2008-10-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

Mandy and I both spend our fair share of time outdoors with our house, especially since the new backyard fence has given us, and the dog, a lot more freedom to enjoy our yard. However, we've got some creatures and features around our house that make it interesting. We aren't anywhere near a pond or source of standing water, but the mosquitos in our backyard are INTENSE! If it is after 4:00, you can venture into the yard without a gallon of spray, mesh, swatter and the entire Banana Republic clothing line circa 1994.

I guess it has something to do with the fact that our land hasn't been disturbed (constructed on) in over 70 years. Plenty of soil and space for interesting bugs. But that's not the only crazy stuff. We have slugs the size of Buicks, not joking. Well, sort of joking. Mandy's posted pictures of them before on here. They will appear outside, on walls or in the basement and can be 4-6 inches in length, with spots, slime and a goatee.

We've got a groundhog living under our neighbors deck.

And, thanks to the infestation of insects that bite, our spider population has really taken off. Check out this guy:

Pretty intense, huh? I've gotten better about handling spiders, but I couldn't go near this guy. Very intimidating.

We think Grace has started to pick up on her instincts because of our wildlife reserve area too. She is always hunting the groundhog, which has teased her a couple of times. Now that she is almost a full adult dog, she really sniffs her territory. And, just recently, she's developed the habit of kicking after she goes about her "#2" business. We always made fun of other dogs that did it, and now Grace has the urge.

Speaking of urges, one thing we've never understood is her sexual urges, especially for her favorite blanket. She will get that thing and beat it around a room (dominating it) before perfectly wrapping it underneath her, throwing it up on the couch and giving it the good ol' fashion hump session. It is hysterical to watch. I've tried to capture the moment on video, but it is a little dark. We'll try to post a better video in the future:

Can I get a cookie?

2008-10-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Will and I had a great weekend sans any real plans. We walked to B-Ripple Friday night for a little pizza, and then strolled home listening to the crickets, leaves rustling beneath our feet and the PA from BR High School’s football stadium. We love our little neighborhood, and even though it’s...well... Urban, we couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Saturday morning, Will ran in the Butler Phi Psi ACS 5K, and Grace and I strolled the grounds of Holcomb Gardens and the trails along the canal. When we got back to the finish line, Grace was greeted with the other runners, drank two cups of water from red Solo cups, found a shady spot and laid in the grass on her back panting like she hadn’t been outside all summer.
We spent the rest of the lazy day with football and yard work, and headed out to Rick’s Boatyard for some cocktails and appetizers on the water around dinner time, saw a movie and called it a night. Sunday brought church, more football and a trip to the gym....

I have almost finished my new fav book: At The End of the Game It All Goes Back in the Box. It’s not a long one, but somehow, between several other books, magazines and Sudoku games, I managed to stretch its goodness across the entire summer. The last couple chapters have been about playing the game (of life) with grace, and the trophies we collect throughout our lives. I have been praying about this a lot. We all want some recognition for the work we do; we like it when someone says, Great job, here's a cookie! :) Especially in front of people you’d like to impress. But these things don’t really make any difference in the grand scheme of living richly towards God.
When I work hard and with humility, when I serve as I am called to serve, when I show kindness and forgiveness, I have faith that my soul will get the reward I seek. I have been struggling with this so much in my new job. I really respect the great minds there, but would love to hear a little positive encouragement, and not so much, "Huh Uh." For three years, I was the resource for all things related to my client, and (not gonna lie) I learned to really love the thanks I received for my work. I’m reminded by this book, however, that whatever trophies I collect will eventually tarnish and be forgotten.
The real work I’m doing in my life requires no such praise from my peers. True as it may be, it’s not easy to wrap my heart around that idea. Winning and losing and playing the game must all be done with grace, even when you aren't getting the feedback you want or expect.

Weekly update

2008-10-04T07:38:00.000-07:00

The windows are wide open this morning and I am loving the amazing fall breeze coming through! This will make me sound so lame, but I have learned to love really productive Friday nights (yep, old), but truly-- being able to pick up the dry cleaning, run to the bank, cook and get all the cleaning done makes Saturday and Sunday feel amazing! We can sleep in, make lattes, cook, walk and read all before Noon! It's the best gift I can give myself after a long week.

This week, I happily helped mom with a couple things for her big show that went off without a hitch, and was welcomed home yesterday to the sweetest surprise. She had loaded our front porch with mums, pumpkins and my favorite little cabbages for fall. What a blessing! I have been meaning to get my butt to our local farmers market to load up on these things and have been envisioning them in our garden and on our stoop for days this week, as I've noticed the leaves changing and drifting down the streets. Somehow she read my mind, and I am so grateful. Here's a quick pic.

Gracie is in the backyard right now hunting our groundhog, Gary, which is hilarious to watch. She has the most adorable playful puppy instincts so the moment that she starts to look serious, something makes her wild with excitement. :) And she completly looses whatever concentration she had. We can't believe she will be two in November! We love her so much, and she brings us such joy. We seriously can't imagine loving a baby more than her, although I'm sure we will someday. :)

Will has been on the road a bit this fall, and I get to take a turn this week. I'm headed to Wilmington to meet a few clients tomorrow and will be back Monday night. It feels odd to be traveling again, as the most travel I've done the past three years has been up to 86th street and back :)

We got to visit our friends Kristi and Brian in Columbus last weekend and their adorable baby boy, Camden. We loved getting to share a couple days with them, just chatting and strolling and running around. We got to meet their great friends and have dinner together Saturday night. It was such a nice break, and reminded us that a short trip out of town to visit friends you don't get to see very much is so worth the time. Plus, they always let us bring Grace, who plays with their two Westies well, even though she looks like a small horse standing next to them. :)

Here's a shot of our "hunting dog."

Happy hunting to you all! Pumpkin hunting, that is.

October?!?!

2008-10-03T06:47:00.001-07:00

Well, for two people as chatty and opionionated as me and my wife, we certainly haven't done our own fair share of blogging recently, have we? Actually, life in September was rather hectic, as you could tell from our occasional updates. Mandy started her new job, we had a bit of drama with Cindy's car accident (the bruises have healed!) and I was back on the road for a good chunk of it. But what road trip wouldn't be the same without some pictures and stories...

For instance, check out my hot rental set of golf clubs here...

That was from my trip to Sacramento to visit our group out there. We played this tiny little course and I didn't want to haul my sticks all the way out there, so I rented. Have you ever hit a stone with a frying pan, attached to a wet noodle? Well, if you have, that's what playing with those bad boys was like. It was a good time though!

After that trip, I had a weekend in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. for some events. The downtown aquarium in Baltimore was really cool. Here was the view from our reception room on the top floor...

Not a bad little view. Having never been there before, I can say that I was pleasantly surprised with the city, for the 3 hours total I spent in it!

And now here we are in October. Thanks to Mandy's new job, she gets to travel a little bit again (not thrilling to her) and I can reinvent the temporary man cave while she's gone. Don't worry, I'm not stupid enough to get the place dirty, but the copious amount of sports viewing would make any woman want to gouge her eyes out.

Speaking of sports viewing, Mandy and I both cringed in agony last night for our two "favorite" sporting events...
1) The Cubs - I think I honestly watched 140 of the 162 regular-season games this year. That is silly, stupid, dedication. And what does it get me? Nothing. The curse lives and it will continue to live.

Side story: Yesterday, I am driving home for lunch listening to the Jim Rome Show (sports talk) and he calls out Cubs fans, saying "I want to hear from you and your Big Ten educated, 3-series driving, golden retriever walking...etc." I almost swerved off the road in my 3-series (on my home to let the golden out) because of the irony that, yes, I am a stereotype.

2) The Presidential race - What, you don't think it's a sport? I do. This campaign has the makings of a marathon race mixed with a little sophisticated football. Let's see which candidate can stand up the longest in the most places while talking mad trash to the other side the entire time. It's become the ultimate reality TV show, and dumb, average Americans eat it up. The VP debate last night proved the point. Biden was ridiculously more knowledgeable and prepared than Palin, but he was too smooth. She threw in common phrases like "doggone it" and "Joe six-pack" to mask her relative ignorance on the issues and endear herself to the millions of people sitting at home who think that personality alone will bring change.

The wild card: One person cried last night during the debate, and it wasn't the mother from Alaska. That was a shock. Mandy and I actually joked that Palin was trying to force a tear during her closing statement, but the emotion might come too late and instead of crying when talking about her kids, she would cry when talking about the deregulation of health care. That would've been funny.

31 days can't pass quickly enough...

And now, as it has become tradition on our blog, a shameless cute picture of our baby, the wannabe lap dog:

Last Post from Lion's Den

2008-09-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

Today is my last post from the big red office. It's so difficult to leave something you love and a place you've been so happy. A friend of mine recently put it so well, though. You know it's the right thing when you make the tough decision to leave something you LOVE, because you're not running from anything; not taking the first thing that comes your way because you're desperate to get out. So true, and in my case, much the opposite. I can't believe that almost three years ago, I met my friend Ashley in the lobby (still remember what she was wearing), and met some of the people that would mold and shape the next three years of my life for the first time.
I couldn't be happier or feel more grateful for the opportunity that has come my way. The timing was incredible, and it lets me know that God is working hard on my life, and taking his hand and trusting him blindly brings me incredible peace, amidst my feeling sad.
Here's to a brave new chapter and all that there is in store.

Season of Change

2008-09-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

When Mandy and I went on vacation a few weeks ago, we commented about how this was the first fall in a long time where we didn't have a whole lot of change taking place in our lives. In the past it was always something: new job, new house, marriage, etc. One of us was always in a period of flux. This year? Well, we called ourselves boring! Ha!

I guess my wife was sick and tired of a season without change:

I am proud to announce that Mandy is shifting (albeit slightly) in her career and has accepted a new position to work for an agency called Bradley & Montgomery. I am so proud of her and this decision. While locally based, the agency offers a wide variety of national clients for my brilliant wife to stretch her growing advertising ideas.

This is not to say that she isn't a little sad to be leaving her recent home at Publicis. I'm going to miss them too. Great people and a fantastic organization. However, in the competitive world of advertising, job security and client loyalty are never guarantees, and the structure of this new job is perfect for Mandy to really settle down in. I don't think either of us expected a quick change, but it's amazing how quickly the wheels can turn when offers come calling. I am so proud of how quickly Mandy has built her professional resume and credibility here in town and I know this move will be great for everybody.

So, fall is back and we are changing again! Speaking of other fun change, we'll get pictures up on the blog soon of our new backyard, complete with patio furniture!

And, let's not forget the biggest development from this past weekend: I splurged and bought a Wii. Yep, welcome back to my life video games! I'm sure I'll have arm injury stories to report on as I continue to devlop my mad Wii skillz.

Enjoy the crisp air as fall gets closer!

Mini update

2008-08-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

After chugging a couple Nyquil, and several teaspoons of some bitter liquid cough syrup (a prescription left over from the winter), I'm finally feeling ready to drift off to sleep this first night of our Labor Day weekend. Hallelujah!

As many of you know, Mom was in a bad car accident this week, and although her little Mini Cooper is completely totaled, we are infinitely grateful for the angels that were by her side Wednesday morning. She is well on her way to recovery with a great attitude, and is healing day by day. Thank you all for the prayers and for all you've done to help support us and her this week. I am humbled and so thankful for the outreach.

In happy news, Mr. Will accepted a great offer picking up a big chunk of play-by-play work for the fall doing IUPUI volleyball, and starts the season this weekend. You can listen to/watch him on www.iupuijags.com. He's got some other NCAA championship work coming up this year too, so he'll be busy. Although a couple date nights will have to be sacrificed, I'm busy on a mission to ready our house and garden for the fall. As soon as I kick whatever bug I picked up in the ER, I'll have pictures to share of our progress.

In the meantime, here's a shot of our baby, staying hydrated at the Dog Park.

Happy Labor Day!

Times they are a-changin'

2008-08-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

The windows are wide open tonight and the first few breezes of cool air are drifting in (deep breath)...smells like fall is on its way. We have had stifling temperatures the past couple weeks and my poor grass, garden, dog, etc. can't seem to get enough water or shade. As I turned the corner down our little city block tonight, leash in hand, I saw my neighbors had planted some deeply burnt orange mums and hung their fall wreath. It made me smile the rest of the block.

Oh, how I love the fall... I love school supplies, super sharp pencils in particular, the latest Trapper Keepers, a new season of The Hills, Pumpkin everything, hot coffee, apple candles, and cozy clothes. I imagine that in a place where fall is always the season everyone drives Grand Wagoneers with sheep slip covers on their seats, and they all use Nutmeg, have red reading glasses, a big dog and wear clogs. In my mind, this is how I envision myself, of course. :)

The fall always brings great things for me; so many big life changes. When Will and I were on vacation this year, we joked that everything is surprisingly "normal" for this time of season. Alas, I spoke too soon. We returned to find lots of changes are occurring, and I pray this year, like all the others, will turn out great.

My boss shared with me some wise words this week, which I believe to be true: the best skill, he said, that we can each have is the ability to adapt to change. It will always serve us-- in our work, in our marriage, in our families and in our beliefs....

Each year when I watch the red and gold leaves drop from the trees with great excitement, I remember how thrilled I was in the spring to watch them pop from tiny green buds and burst forth onto their branch. It reminds me that this change is good, and so can all change be good.

Grace and I are going to finish the chapter in our book, light a "mulled cider" candle, kick off the AC and pick the coziest blanket we can find to ring in the new season... even if this cool only lasts a couple days.

Back from Vacation!

2008-08-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a few weeks since Mandy and I updated the good ol' blog. Why? Because we got something we've never experienced in our young, professional lives: 2 weeks of vacation!! It was an interesting experience to say the least. We were still in Indy for the first week, but felt like we were still working. Then, we got to spend the second week in one little piece of heaven, Watervale, a tiny resort in Northern Michigan. We slept, ate, drank, sunned and generally rediscovered the glory of doing almost nothing. No TV, barely any cell phone and a ton of quiet.

The water was freezing all week in the big lake, but it was perfect weather. Calm and sunny almost every day. I always joke with Mandy that when we first started dating, she wasn't as fond of the "do nothing" vacation because she was on edge to, well, do something. Now, with life hectic at home, there is nothing better. The tan is starting to wear off a little and the sleeping 'til 9:00 is not working very well with our work schedules, but I think it's safe to say that we are relaxed and feeling good about the start of another "new year." This time of year always seems like our own personal new year. We've always experienced some sort of transition, and the body clock still feels like I should be getting geared up for the start of another school year.

So, Happy New Year to everybody out there who feels the same way!

Thanks, Dad!

2008-07-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Being the loyal Cubs fans that we are, my Dad thought it only fitting that Gracie also had the appropriate attire. He sent a Cubs cap made especially for a dog, and she looks pretty darn cute in it. Thanks, Dad!

And outside.....

2008-07-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

In the winter, I wrote a little bit about our garden and my plans for this summer. I snapped some pics this morning of the good progress-- looks like we'll have some serious veggies (especially squash) by fall! We also had a new fence installed along the back of our property and had a gate placed over the driveway for full privacy, and a nice place for Grace to romp her fuzziness around- sans leash. The vegetables have attracted a groundhog, who we have named Gary-- Gary the Groundhog (Will is big about alliteration). Although Will and I know that Grace would love to befriend him if he would take any interest in her red ball, he is completely afraid of her, so we haven’t had major damage to the plants. Fingers crossed.
New fence:

Garden:

Who know a couple cans of Killz could make me so happy?

2008-07-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

I'm back! Long time, no post. Life has been more than hectic lately, but I wanted to post some new pictures of our lives as of late.

After days of scraping, sanding and bleaching, we stripped our post-flood basement floor and walls, and began the big renovation. It only took the two of us a week! And it only took another week for me to stop being sore in places I didn't know I had! We are so happy it's finished, and that everything is at least a foot off the basement floor in case there is a "next time." When you loose half your stuff, you get the perk of re-arranging some things. Now, it's nice and friendly looking-- a major improvement from the grab-your-laundry-and-get-the-hell-up-the-stairs-before-the-boogyman-gets-you previous decor. Here are some before/after shots.

Before:

After:

Golfin' Buddies

2008-07-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the wonderful understanding of my wife, I've been able to live up to my own personal promise to play a bit more golf this summer than usual. Last summer, I think I played 2-3 times a month. Now, I am getting out 1-2 times per week, which is certainly enough to feed the habit. It's even gotten my competitive juices flowing to the point where I feel I can enter tournaments again.

But, in order to play consistently, I needed to find a league (or two). Since most of my friends who live in Indy don't play a regular amount of golf, I needed something to get me a guaranteed game. And, of course, the leagues had to meet certain criteria:

1) Available - Lots of weekend travel and commitments make most leagues problematic for me

2) Cheap - Play it a lot and golf is really expensive

So, I've found my two outlets: One is My Church League which is a really nice group of guys on Monday afternoons with low-impact competition and all of the personal restraint I can muster to not curse or use the Lord's name in vain!

The other? Let's call it the exact opposite of the church league. It's the Men's Club choose up at South Grove, one of the city's oldest courses. It's not hard, but it's affordable. And, I am the youngest player in the league (minus 1 or 2) by at least 30 years. Almost every player in my league is a retired blue-collar worker. And while I grew up playing public golf courses, let's just say that my time in competitive golf and working at country clubs certainly removed me from this type of course clientele. Here is a snippet of my group a few weeks back:

All 3 of my teammates had solid beer guts. I'm talking about the gut that totally hides the belt (if there is one) and looks like a man pregnant with a medicine ball. The captain of my team wore his Purple Heart hat (bill flat with the gold, raised stitching), accented by his "Worlds Greatest Grandpa" T-shirt. I can't remember what our group produced more of during the day: pars or cigarette butts (I made at least a dozen pars, btw). But, the highlight...

We arrive on a hole back in the woods and one member of my group exclaims, "Good thing we are the first group off today, we'll get first pick." This was an odd thing to say 12 holes into the round. What could we possibly pick? I then watch as all 3 men walk towards the woods and begin eating the berries off the tree. Look, I know they won't kill you, but I never really thought of berry eating as a group activity amongst men on a golf course. There were other detours during the round to visit the woods and munch on some fruit. I felt like a spoiled young man when I pulled out my all-natural fruit and nut granola bar from my golf bag. It was like turning my back on Mother Nature, I guess (smirk)...

I only partially joke because they have been some of the most welcoming people to ever play golf with. They even help to educate me whenever possible. Like this past Saturday, when I was informed that all African-American people (my term, not theirs) are Muslims. News Flash to Me! Yep, no denying it, according to my partner.

I just hit my shot and kept on walking. It's affordable, Will, don't forget.

You might be a redneck if....

2008-06-28T15:50:00.000-07:00

You love your $8 Wal-Mart blow-up baby pool so much, you spend the whole day in it. Oh yeah...
It's been a hot, sticky summer in Indiana, and Grace wishes she could shed the fur coat. Since we can't bear to buzz our pup, we have "invested" in a pool-- it's orange and I blew it up myself. When the temps began hitting 90+ today, we went out with G for a dip after a wild game of fetch, and it turned into swim suits, sun screen, and several hours of lazy conversation. Redneck yacht club, I know.... But it was seriously fun. Basement is coming along great-- walls were painted last night, and I got most of the floor done this morning. The fumes nearly gassed me to death, not to mention a run in with a spider nest (in an old paint can) and large slug that I'm pretty sure rolled over and asked me for a sandwich and a cigarette. Yes, I was dizzy, but he was straight out of Blue Planet; antennae and all.
Stay tuned for picts…. Happy swimming.

Sports Rant

2008-06-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

Mandy and I had a great time at Beth and Mike's wedding last weekend. It was an epic experience to be sure: Golf, multiple meals, parties, hotel rooms, etc. In fact, there was a period of 36 hours where Mandy and I only saw each other for about 90 minutes. Ah, being the husband of a bridesmaid! We should have pictures and other details up here soon.

We've also embarked on tackling the new look of our basement. Paint is being chipped, re-primed and our new colors and layout should be complete soon after Independence Day. Mandy also has some shots of that.

But, not the reason I am writing today... It's been quite some time since I wrote a blog dedicated to sports, so here it goes: Tonight is one of those nights in sports where I will invest a lot of time leading up and during, for no apparent reason. It's the NBA Draft. What is it about drafts that creates so much excitement? Our entire country is fascinated by potential. It's a word we throw out there all the time. Somebody could be awesome at something (proven), but somebody else could have the "potential" to be much more awesomer (yes, it's a word!) so he/she gets more love. What ever happened to doing something before getting paid or praised.

I mean, who can forget Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Dude never really played a lot of basketball in Europe, but apparently was a phenomenal player when he was guarded by 50-year old men with padding or a folding chair, so he got a lot of money. What did he do with it? Nothing. Got traded a few times, flamed out of the league and is on a beach somewhere living the good life as a millionaire. Someday, I hope to be hitting golf balls on a range, have a great practice session, and the scout for the PGA Tour sees me and says, "Wow, you could win a lot of big tournaments with those shots. Here's $5 million in advance." Sound silly? It is, but our major sports leagues do it more often than investing in proven players.

But that's why we love it. We want our teams to succeed so much that we put all of our hopes on the back of this next potential superstar. I don't even like to watch the NBA very often, outside of a Pacers game or two. But the NBA Draft is awesome. There is so much hype, you think the room will explode. If David Stern walks out and says, "we have a trade to announce," you can hear champagne popping from Lay-Z-Boys around the country. Most times, it's a team trading the rights to an 18-year old Turkish player with two left hands for cash considerations, a 2019 2nd round pick and a bag of lentils. But we love it because it was suddent, unexpected and potentially brilliant.

I also like to watch to see where some of those good college players end up. Where the over-hyped become millionaires, while the acclaimed get nothing. It's an unexact and crazy science. Butler has a chance to have a player drafted tonight for the first time, I think, ever. If Mike Green has his name called, there will be a beer opened in the Haskett household.

And then there's the Pacers: They traded Jermaine O'Neal overnight (well, actually, he can't legally be traded until July 9th - That's weird. What if I got fired from my job and given a new job at another company, but had to stay as an "employee" for another few weeks. Um, awkward.) Seriously though, I've never seen many trades that make so much sense for both sides, so I was thrilled to see it go through. O'Neal wasn't a great leader, but he was a great person. Good in the community, decent with the media and fine player when healthy. He deserved better than the circus in Indy over the past few years. Now, he gets paired with some nice talent in Toronto, and will make a fierce front line.

Meanwhile, the Pacers finally have a roster you can start to build around. They get TJ Ford, who is a nasty point guard on offense (his D could use a bit of work) but can run the show and get people excited about the team. They get Rasho Nesterovic, who is big and (more importantly) has an expiring contract, which means the Pacers will have money to spend in a year. But, most importantly, they get another first-round draft pick! Young players to continue building a new team for the future. So, at #11 and #17 the Pacers are picking! I hope they get somebody with a lot of potential! :-)

Kickin' Back

2008-06-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

Well, the flood waters have been out of our basement for almost two weeks now. We could not have done it without the great help of our family, who also have some experience in household water removal. And, after the initial shock of the damage had left, we realized just how fortunate we were. The stories coming from Iowa and other states about the floods are nothing compared to our tiny little drain backup thanks to the Indianapolis Department of Public Works.

So, Mandy and I are quickly putting our focus back on the more important things, like enjoying our summertime! Yep, we even golfed together (see right - more on that later)

It was also my Beloved's birthday this past weekend, she still doesn't look a day over 21! No, seriously, how many times does she get carded at restaurants or confused as a minor? 27-years-old. We probably met for the first time at age 7 or so, making it two decades of knowing each other. And I love her even more today (well, girls were sooooo gross back in 1st grade, remember.)

So, to celebrate the big 2-7, we went to Lafayette to party with Mandy's good friend Beth, and her fiancee, Mike. Coincidentally, we'll be back up in Purdue country this weekend for their wedding. The girls have a favorite piano bar, which is a part of a much larger country dance club called the Neon Cactus.

We sang... (badly)

We drank a little. (C'mon, one shot of tequilla can't hurt you, right?)

And somehow, we managed to wake up in time to play a little golf and come home for the icing on the cake, a Rascal Flatts concert at Deer Creek "don't ever call me Verizon" Music Center...

(I promise, there was a band there too)

I am not a big country fan, but it was a good time. Lots of fun people and a gorgeous night to be outside. In fact, after a roller-coaster of weather this past month or so, we've settled into an ideal week here in Indiana. Grace has her own pool in the backyard. Mandy and I can guilt ourselves into running again (hahaha) since it isn't a steam bath outside. We even are getting some yard work done.

It's what summer should be!

Summertime

2008-06-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

Will and I had a great weekend. We managed to cram in tons of fun stuff, and we both have the sunburn to prove it. Ouch. Mr. Will is playing in the Butler Golf Outing today (rough), and I'm getting a chance to catch up a the office (finally). Indiana summer is in full swing-- it's hot, sticky and humid, and the agency is starting to quiet down a bit with summer breakers out. Only four more weeks until my supervisor is back and I can take a vacation too!

Last week, we took a long walk up the Monon over the White River, and veered off to stroll the gardens at the Art Center and get Gracie extra muddy. We found a fun sculpture there called Twisted House, which Grace and I explored (left).

Hoping to get home in time for some more exploring this afternoon....

"Just Keep Swimming..."

2008-06-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

As sung by Dori, the blue fish in Finding Nemo, this meoldy has been creeping into my mind quite a bit these last few days, and if you have a look at this picture, you'll know why.

Our nice neighbors, who we call the Tony's because we can never remember their last names, have lived next door in our neighborhood for more than 30 years. Tony and "Mrs. Tony" tell us that they haven't seen storms/flooding like this since one of the very first years they lived in their home-- 28 years ago!
Something's up....

We had our second flood in 4 days last night, and had another long night/early morning cleaning up what we in Indiana call "day-bree"-- debris for you out-of-towners. Snapped some more picts as the water went down. My super husband rolled up his sleeves, and waded into the muck to unclog the storm sewer with some of our neighbor friends around 6am, just in time for an empty Buick to float by…. The owner later came swimming after it, but that’s another story. Here are some shots; I’m off to bed. Please JESUS no more rain! :)

Below-- the Marathon station in B-Ripple rocked by winds; our driveway-- see the little pumps working overtime?; video taken as the water went down

Anybody got an Ark?

2008-06-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

Back from the flood!

We had some major storms roll through Friday night that completely flooded our yard, street and basement! After a date with my mom to see Sex and the City (Will was out of town), I returned home to my new lake house!

Mom and I pep talked ourselves into a plan (which involved lots of laughter and an umbrella), and I breast-stroked my way to the front door, wondering why I had taken that instant-Dingy out of my purse! :) There was a car floating down the street (no joke), and I saw another one lift up and actually start floating as well. I felt like I was in a movie! After getting inside, and seeing that my car (tires underwater) was fine, my second-worst fears were realized. Water was shooting out of every crack in the basement walls and our storm-drain-turned-geyser was spraying tons of water wildly into our already flooding basement. I had about 35 minutes to grab everything I could, get it up high or upstairs before the power went out—about this time, I was up to my knees in water, and couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. Talk about creepy…. I don’t like being in my dry well-lit basement alone! Shortly thereafter, water begin pouring in around our fuse box so I got out of there immediately and spent the next couple hours watching the water rise helplessly, and listening to the sirens outside. Ugh.

I wish Will could have seen it.

Thanks to our great families, we had plenty of help all day yesterday getting the water out and slowly putting the pieces back together. Most of our major appliances are in big trouble, and we had a big tree down, but we are immensely grateful that we are both safe, and that we still have a roof, and now have power back on! Our neighbors were all our commiserating yesterday morning—the gal two doors down had water in her car’s cup holders!!!! It will be weeks before all is back to normal, but we are trudging through.

I shot a couple super quick picts when I got home. Hard to see much, but gives you an idea. The shot out my front door—you can see my porch steps covered in water and the lake that stretched over my yard, across the street and up to my neighbor’s door. The second pic is our driveway— note the neighbor’s large tree and all you can see is a bit of trunk sticking out.

"I like to picture my Jesus in a tuxedo T-shirt...

2008-05-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

...cuz it says, Hey I'm formal, but I like to party."

-Talladega Nights

Vacation?

2008-05-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

I walked into the office today only to realize that I had been away from my desk for exactly one week. Aren't you supposed to feel rested after taking a week's vacation. The trip to Albuquerque went well, but the weather was crazy. 87 degrees when I got there, with a 30-40 mph wind that gusted above 60 a few times. It was so windy that the NCAA suspended play for the day. I had never seen a golf tournament suspended for wind before. The ladies who were playing would, literally, hit a ball on the green and then the wind would blow it off. Crazy!
The 3rd and 4th rounds were wet, periodically stopped for storms, and the temps never got out of the low 50's. It was cold! The weather was so crazy (random hail too) that it was the top story on the local news. Never really got a chance to explore the city, but I really liked the golf course:

As for the webcast, apparently it went really well. I can be a little hard on myself at times, so it was difficult to feel great after talking for 16 hours+ about the same two holes. But, the farther I get away from it, the better the experience rests in my mind. However, I don't have much time to worry. This Friday and Saturday, you can catch my call of the Men's Division 1 Golf Championships from Purdue's Kampen Course. Head to http://www.ncaa.com/ or http://www.golfstat.com/ for the webcast. My partner is the founder of GolfStat, Mark Laesch. The man knows college golf! Times for the stream (weather permitting) are 10-2 / 3-7 EDT on Friday and 9-4 on Sunday.

Coming home from NM was a chore, with two layovers and a total of 12 hours in airports or on planes. But, I made it home in time to get barely enough sleep to wake up for the Indy 500 on Sunday. I wish Mandy could have pulled the double, but I hear a bachelorette party and 500 tailgate = trouble for those of us in the 26-and-older crowd. Weather was perfect and the group had a good time. While my outfit was good by my standards (see the blog post below), Kyle once again was the big winner in terms of finding something that was both funny and strangely appropriate all at the same time.

So, how did I spend my Memorial Day? Well, for the most part, Mandy and I slept all day. It was glorious. We did find time to tidy up a few things around the house and do some nature park exploring with the dog, but napping was the activity du jour. In fact, I think I am still too tired today even after having a "week" off from work. Since when did vacations become draining?

Memorial Day Wknd

2008-05-25T15:49:00.001-07:00

Feeling like an old fart....
One of my best girlfriends will be getting married this summer, and as a good bridesmaid, I make the trek up to Lafayette to throw her one last “fling before the ring,” or so her Coozie said.
We had a cheering, jeering time singing along with Bruce in the Piano Bar, dancing for hours, and ended the night with a little Taco Bell since the bar that gives out free hots dogs (my personal heaven) was closed. Anywhoozer, we finally made it back for a couple hours of sleep before the sun came up, and now I feel like I did push ups all night long. I am sore, exhausted, and have some nasty really-cute-shoes blisters. Uff.

Hence, I am enjoying a little snuggle time with big Grace (who has been super lazy today), while Will parties down at the 500, and cleaning a little.

I don’t usually get evangelical about cleaning products, but lately I have been thinking about how much I love what I’m using now. It’s called Shaklee. It’s non-toxic and super safe for the environment—inside and outside the house!

About a year ago, Grace stuck her head in a bucket of Mr. Clean, and after her eyes swelled completely shut, and we spent an evening at the puppy EV getting her some doggie drugs, I began thinking about the little chemical cocktails we cook up in our houses just trying to keep things clean! Bleach on the tub, bleach on our clothes, and that acidy Easy-off you spray on the inside of the oven that almost took my eyelashes off the first and last time I used it….these things can’t be safe.

I love knowing know that Grace can lick the wet kitchen floor after I’ve mopped it (and she will), and be just fine.

The even cooler thing about the products is that they send you one bottle of basic H2 (one bottle is 16 oz and makes 48 GALLONS of cleaner) and several empty bottles for you to mix/create your own combos based on what you’re cleaning. Genius! This cuts down on the bottles that you would otherwise toss into our growing landfills, and lets us recycle and reuse for our own purposes.

In addition to how much I love this concept, I love that this stuff really cleans. I have some of my mommy friends hooked on the stain removers, and the “scour off” is gentle on your skin (and your eyelashes) and gets the grit off the oven just a well. I am a big fan. No more rubber gloves when I clean, no more putting Grace in her kennel, no more poisoning the people I love!

Okay, getting off the sop box now. If you’re interested, though, visit http://www.shaklee.com/ for a starter kit. Happy Memorial Day everybody!

Off for the side job

2008-05-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Well friends, it's time again for me to dust off the cheesy vocal cords and hit the road for some broadcast work. Everybody knows how much I love sports broadcasting and sometime wonder why I don't do it full time. Don't get me wrong, with the right gig I would jump back into it full time with no hesitation. But in the meantime, having several freelance opportunities throughout the year is the best "hobby" I could have ever asked for.

As many of you know, I've been doing more and more freelance work for the NCAA and their championships. The best thing about it is that it gives me exposure in a lot of different (some might call them unique) sports. I've done more and more volleyball lately and now the time has come for a new broadcast endeavor: GOLF!

Yeah, it's hard to believe that somebody who has been so involved in every aspect of the game, I have never actually broadcast a single round of golf. Well, over the next two weeks, I will get a whole lot of it. So, check me out for both the 2008 NCAA Men's and Women's Division-1 Golf Championships.

Starting on Thursday, you can watch the women's action from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Broadcast times are 10:00-2:00 & 3:00-7:00 Mountain Time. Same schedule on Friday. That's 16 hours of golf coverage. Everything can be seen on http://www.ncaasports.com/.

I am not sure about the exact times, but you'll get the same coverage next weekend for the men's championships from Lafayette (Purdue's home course). We will be broadcasting on Friday and Saturday. I hope you can spare a few moments to log on and see some of the action. I would appreciate any feedback. Since I am terrible about taking pictures, I hope somebody will snap a few while I am out there and I'll throw them up here when I get back.

Coming home on Saturday just in time for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing... which, with our ever-growing group of race attendees, has become the greatest spectacle in bad outfits. Here's a preview of coming attractions for Sunday. I'm sure more embarassing photos will surface after the weekend:

Life according to Grace: Stop and smell/pee on the bushes

2008-05-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking... I am obsessed with this fuzzy girl. Grace got a hold of the paper towel roll today and gave it a growling, pawing chow down. It was adorable. What joy she brings us-- when a paper towel roll can entertain you for more than 30 minutes or until someone pries it from your furry grasp, I can’t help but think, ‘There's a lesson to be learned for us all.’ No, don’t start chewing on your trash, yet….
As I get older and busier, I sometimes find that my attention span is shot. It’s a frustrating problem to have—just ask Will. :) I always laugh the hardest when Ellen DeGeneres talks (in her Here and Now sketch) about how we need help keeping up with the pace of things (“so we put a coffee shop here, and a coffee shop here, and a coffee shop here”), don’t have time to make conversation, and have “TBD-- Too Busy Disorder.” We give it an acronym, she says, because we are too busy to say the whole name. So true. Here’s a little clip if you feel like chuckling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfx7UUJbjvo

On Saturdays with Grace, though, there’s never any hurry. We stop to sniff every shrub at the park, we (and by we I mean she) stops to pee on every rock. We stroll along and slow it down, and look for familiar faces on the Monon to actually chat with. We watch the kayakers row down the river from the bridge on the Monon Trail, bark at the ducks (again, Grace, not me), and we take the long way home.

What a great reminder that life’s greatest pleasures can be found in the smallest, most organic things—things we miss when we (and by we I mean me) are on our second double latte, 11th hour of email, 3rd stress-induced zit of the week, and tearing up the carpet doing wind-sprints to/from the printer.

Lucky for me, I get to hang up my heels and spend my evenings with an 87 lb puppy who is able to teach me about the finer things in life….

Just say...Ahhhh!

2008-05-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

Spring is alive and well in our neighborhood. Here are a few picts from our garden and surrounding sights.

Golf and Travel

2008-05-12T13:13:00.001-07:00

Two of my favorite things and it's that time of year for both of them on my schedule. And while Mandy doesn't like the time it might take me away from home (damn those slow golfers and airport security lines!), I am excited about getting into my element in the next few weeks.

Tomorrow, I am off to New York City for the 2nd time this year. It's what I like to call a "quickie" in terms of business trips. I'll actually be in the city for less than 24 hours. Fly in, change clothes, spread the good word, chat over a cocktail with alumni, sleep, fly home. I actually enjoy these trips the most. You feel like you're out working and gone, but the time away from home is minimal. Not to mention that I love visiting NYC, but not staying for an extended period of time.

And, next week, I can cross another state of my USA travel accomplishments, as I will be in New Mexico, broadcasting the Division-1 women's golf championships. You'll be able to watch them online at http://www.ncaasports.com/. I am really excited about the opportunity.

Speaking of golf, I have been trying to play a bit more competitively this year, joining a couple of low-impact leagues, but it still puts you with strangers and some expectations to perform. And today, I put my hat in the ring for the Indiana State Amateur. I'd have to qualify during the first week of June, but hopefully I can get on the big stage and see where my game is compared to the studs around the state.

I'll be sure to keep everybody posted on if I make the field or not.

Grace

2008-05-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

Ahhh...Grace.
Will and I are coming off of a super rough week, and feeling incredibly blessed to be coming through the storm together-- healthy and strong.
My friend/co-worker had her child's funeral today, which was heart-wrenching, and through blurry eyes, I drove home after the service to give my "G" a hug. Although I have no children of my own to truly experience the pain a mother would, I feel very much a mommy to Gracie. And today in that church, I kept thinking of her. We got her when she was just 6 weeks old, and have raised her from a fluffy little pup. I love watching her personality shine through. I love how she snuggles first thing in the morning under the covers with us. I love how she sits on my lap even though she's 87 pounds. I love the expressions on her face. I love watching her learn and drool and rollover. I love her. She brings us pure joy. Here are a couple quick pics of our snuggle monkey.

Recovery Week

2008-05-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

So I just got on our blog after a few days away and realized that Mandy and I really painted a depressing picture over the past few days, so it's time to turn things around and be happier, right?!?!

First off, a day late, but... Happy Cinco de Mayo. The holiday that, like most good things from the Mexican culture, we have stolen and made our own in America. In fact, I bet if you polled 100 people in this country, at least 80 couldn't even tell you what Cinco de Mayo is in celebration of (including Mandy and I last night; thank you Google!). Either way, we put work aside after a hard day yesterday and braved the crowds to our favorite Mexican restaurant and lost our voices trying to have a casual conversation. It was a perfect Monday! Made even more perfect by my good friend...

And today is Election Day for the state of Indiana. And who would have ever thought that our lazy-butt primary would have an impact nationally. As two registered democrats (don't boo, you all still love us), it has been an interesting build-up for the past few months. Mandy and I have enjoyed becoming a bit more politically aware about issues outside of our own personal passions. I do think that this process has been good for the country and has people excited again in the democratic process. However, I have become more disenfranchised with the system at the same time. Who spends more on advertising? Who can dig up the most dirt on the other? Who can spin the other's words the best? I think it's frightening that both Hilary and Barack are extremely similar in terms of beliefs, but because the process is so drawn out, there is no debate over the issues any more, just mud slinging.

Does anybody else find the "momentum" word to be funny in all of this? Hilary had a double-digit lead at one point. Barack closed the gap and then took a big lead. Now, Hilary is back in reach. How can anybody say who is the best candidate based on today? The opinion of American flip-flops each week.

We really don't like putting our political viewpoints out there because we respect the individual right to make your own choice. We know people supporting all sides, but why have a blog if you won't post your opinions, right? Mandy and I both cast our vote today for Barack Obama. I won't speak for her opinion on him and why he would be such a great leader, but I've become more convinced that he is the right man for the job. I do not trust our government one bit. There is too much lobbying, influence from a small minority and politicking that goes on. I firmly believe he will break down a lot of those barriers. I also am big on effective communicators, and the man is brilliant when it comes to conversation and public speaking. I think it's shameful that our current President is despised in so mnay places around the world that diplomacy isn't even an option. I believe Obama can change that.

We'll see how it all plays out. I feel bad for every candidate involved because of the work that has gone into everything, and how much they lay on the line just to try and win votes. For every article talking about Obama's opinion on the gas tax (btw, I agree with him. I need the extra money, but cutting the gas tax for 3 months doesn't solve the oil crisis, which tons of people in my state apparently are too dumb to realize), there are twice as many articles about something his pastor said. You know what, I am associated with a lot of people who have said controversial things in their lives, and the last time I checked, people knew that I was a man of my own beliefs.

Hopefully the campaigning can end soon, so we can finally put the focus back on what it deserves to be on: helping our country and the rest of the world become a more civil, vital and successful place for us to live in.

The Mess

2008-05-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

To reference Will’s post, this week has been filled with the “real work” of life for us. There’s work: 8-5, bring home the bacon, get your reports filed on time work; and then there’s “real work:” big picture, getting news that rocks you to your core, gaining a new sense of perspective, change your life work.

As bad news, some superstitious folks say, often come in threes; we experienced no exception this week. We received news that another beloved member of the Butler family passed only a day after Mike. And just last night, a friend and co-worker’s newborn baby boy passed after emergency surgery around 2:30AM. I am reminded more than ever today that only by the Grace of God go we….

This morning at church, the pastor wrapped up our most recent series, “How the World Sees Church” and in doing so, began speaking about the messiness of life. As he spoke, I thought-- I am not a messy gal—I like folded, buttoned up, freshly bleached and I love to help those in need as long as (I confess) I don’t have to get involved in the mess…. (Insert spiritual bonk on the head) This really woke me up today. How does someone like me come to understand that serving to a level that is messy and often uncomfortable is the right kind of service? That sacrificing my comfort can mean lending to a greater good?

In the Song of Solomon, Jesus says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent... and now open the door.” This is a tough one for a lot of us—wouldn’t it be nice, said the pastor, if it said, “Those whom I love will be free of pain, and not have to deal with any hard stuff, and will have a super cushy, mess-free life?” Instead we are so loved that we are righted when we do wrong, that our bad choices and mistakes are made known to us, and we are disciplined to be better representatives of our selves, our families, our churches…. Believing that the path which lies ahead of us is leading Home, is for me, not always without fear of the pain I’ll suffer along the way. This is a big lesson for me.

Today, I am immensely grateful for the lives and love that surround me and for the opportunity I have. Even in all of life’s mess, we know that we are so loved, and this gives us strength for the rest.

One of those days you'd like to forget

2008-05-02T06:08:00.001-07:00

Will's turn... Blogs are supposed to be therapeutic, right? Well, I am going to take advantage of the shrinking world to just let it all out there.

Yesterday was one of those days where staying in bed, turning off the phones and the TV would probably have been a better idea. I woke up with the junk, you know, that stuff that takes over your head when you have a cold/sinus infection. One day it's a sore throat, the next day your nose is a faucet. Well, yesterday was the day where all of that was happening plus the body aches and lack of hearing out of my ears at random times. I eventually went to the doctor who ruled out worse ailments, but said that the viruses are getting stronger each year, so now the common cold takes on flu-like characteristics. Great! :-(

But, I toughed it out and went to work in the morning because I had some things due. And that's when the bomb got dropped on me. On Wednesday night, April 30, 2008, one of my dear friends passed away in his home in New Jersey. Mike Asher (Butler class of '71) was my favorite Butler alumnus. When I was working at Butler, it always felt like I was being paid to be friends with so many alumni around the country, but with Mike it was always different. His love for Butler basketball was unmatched by any person I know, so you know how easy it was for us to be close! I racked up big cell phone calls every season breaking down every aspect of the games with him, many times being his eyes for games he couldn't experience from a distance. If I saw a Butler basketball rumor circulating on the web, I could count down the seconds until my phone would ring.

Away from Butler hoops his love for life in general was amazing. He spent most of his career working multiple successful jobs, but most of it was as a special-ed teacher, one of the most caring jobs there is. He and his wife, Gail, were the best possible combination of people. Always smiling with big, thick New Jersey accents combined with a Midwestern sense of family and compassion. Mandy and I could only take advantage of the few times our travel to NYC (or theirs to Indy) allowed us to get together, but each time felt like a joyous reunion. Mike was to receive a Butler award this Saturday for his service as a volunteer. Mandy and I will be there to honor his life along with the countless other people he touched.

Mike was diagnosed with lung cancer a few months ago and just this week got promising news that it had not spread and treatment options were available. Privately, I have come to learn that he was growing weaker by the day, but when we talked last (about a week ago) his voice was still strong with confidence, optimism, happiness and (as always) a great love for Butler and everything about it. I like to think that during portions of my day, I find a way to support my alma mater for what it has given me. Mike Asher didn't have to think about it. Butler was his passion, as were the people associated with it. For him, it was a 24-7-365 commitment. We can only hope to comprehend that type of passion at some point in our life. Mike, you will be missed; more than anybody can understand.

Needless to say, it was a hard day to keep focussed, and after writing everything above, I am almost ashamed to include the following, but I am sticking to my theme here. I love sports for many reasons, but I think the greatest thing about it is the escape it provides from everything else in the world. You can get caught up in supporting your team and use their success to carry you above anything that brings you down in your own life. In fact, I know that Mike and I shared that trait when it came to Butler hoops, living vicariously through the success and failures of the team.

So, when everything had me down yesterday, I took the afternoon off and turned my sadness over to my beloved Chicago Cubs, still playing decent baseball. Good pitchers duel and the Cubs had a solid 3-1 lead entering the top of the ninth. Enter my personal stress jumper: The Cubs trying to close a tight game. Sure enough, Kerry Wood plunks a guy, gets rocked for 3, and the Cubs lose a heartbreaker 4-3. Kick me in the stomach some more, will ya.

No worries, it's a 162-game season. At least I have my favorite college basketball teams enjoying great post-season mojo. Oh wait, another IU player quit the team last night, broke a pot in anger while talking to the coach and the police got called. Seriously, can it get any worse in Bloomington?

I understand that those two last pieces were trivial, but it added up to one emotional mess of a day. Don't worry, there is a happy ending. Mandy got home last night and we did our best vegetable impersonation on the couch until bedtime, but it provided me with a great escape. We joked about our cute dog sleeping (you'll have to see these pictures later), poked around on the internet for a while (I can't use this blog to post some of the funny things, but it was hilarious) and just talked about a whole lot of nothing. And right before I fell asleep last night, I realized just how lucky I am to have what I have. To be able to take a half day from work and seek a doctor's advice. To have known an incredible man like Mike Asher and call him my friend. To experience the ups and downs of my favorite sports teams. To come home every night to a loving (sometimes drooling) family. So instead of forgetting yesterday, I simply welcomed FRIDAY!

Nashvegas

2008-05-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple shots from our night out in Nashville after the race....

Work Schmurk

2008-04-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have a day that is so bad it actually becomes comical? I did today. Around 9:30 am, I was cool as a cucumber—everything totally under control. By 11:30, things started to get hairy…. I sprinted to the St.V deli, where I now spend at least 2 days a week, (St.V, not the deli) and grabbed a sandwich to scarf down in order to tackle 14 things at once by 1pm. By 1:15 I had a line out the door to my borrowed cube, and my phone was ringing like a beast. By 2, my assistant has officially not shown up for work (awesome), which means all the work I thought was done was not even started. By 2:30, I got into a little scuffle with one of those accountability-avoiding-blame-it-on-everyone-else-slime-monkies who actually blamed me for placing the media on a plan he signed. Evidently, he thinks I decorate empty wall space with my media plans. (scream) By 3pm all my extras for tomorrow’s TV shoot bailed. By 3:32 I had completely sweat through my really cute new shirt thinking about how I would find the extras and punch them. By 4, Will (MY HUSBAND) has agreed to be one of the extras in my Hospice TV spot, and we had somehow secured two more peps—one of which will play Will’s wife in the BRoll and is like 20 years older (giggle). By 5:15pm I was laughing hardily at my sweaty self as I tried to make a sneaky break and ended up not gracefully or sneakily at all spilling my purse full of station dubs, a laptop, some awards and a shoe on the way to the car.

I could go on, but I won’t. I’m grateful for the laughter. Things always work out—they really do. Why can’t I remember that when I’m in the throws of it all?

Walked Gracie when I got home, and enjoying the amazing trees blooming around our neighborhood. What a beautiful gift at the end of a difficult day. (sigh) Good night.

We finished...!

2008-04-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

...and I'm officially on running vacation. :) We had a great time at this weekend's Country Music Marathon in Nashville with our friends and other friendly members of the Haase family. Friday's trip down was a balmy 81 degrees add Indiana humidity, and the radar was telling us that we were in for a Saturday of thunderstorms. Turns out radar was right.

We woke up to thunder and lighting Saturday morning around 5am to catch our 5:45 shuttle to the start line. Being the excellent planners that we all are, we hadn’t packed a lick of waterproof anything, but mascara. Will said that he had a thought, disappeared and returned with as many black trash bags as he could get. We each shamelessly turned them into ponchos and stomped through puddles to our shuttle, wondering why this sounded like such a good idea 3 months ago :) The start was pouring and busy with our 30,000 running buddies. Will and I separated so that Ashley and I could hit the Porta-Potty one last time. He started in our #14 corral while Ash and I got kicked to #20 due to a very long line. Just as our corral was released (about 47 mins after the initial gun start), the rain stopped, and we enjoyed a DRY, and ultimately gorgeous day!

Due to the rain, I opted not to carry any electronics so I didn’t take any pics. You can see some, however, by clicking here http://www.cmmarathon.com/elite/galleries/cmm/2008/index.html

Will finished great and met his goal coming in at 1:58. Ash and I came in at 2:23 with one potty stop around the 5K. Dave, Ashley’s husband, finished the half at 1:39 and circled back to join his sister, Amy, in completing her first marathon at 3:32 (amazing!). Dave’s younger sister, Hollie, and her boyfriend, Brian, finished the full as well in 4:45. What a day!

By the time we made it back to our Hilton Hotel, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and we spent a sore but relieved afternoon trolling for cowboy boots, eating some BBQ, and tasting a few of the 72 beers on tap at Broadway Tavern. We even stayed out at Tootsies for some live country music until (gasp) Midnight! My body is paying for it today and so is Will’s (even though he denies it), but a couple sore "hami's" are well worth the adventure we had. :)

Thanks to all for tracking us along the way—we are grateful for all the great motivating energy you gave us. It worked!

Born to Run

2008-04-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I wanted to update the good ol' blog a few times this week, but Mandy has been swamped at the office and I have been waiting for some pictures. The boys trip to GR last weekend was an absolute blast! I'll post a funny picture of old men behaving badly soon...

This is the big weekend for Mandy and I. We will be in Nashville for the Country Music Half Marathon on Saturday morning. It's an early start, with the gun sounding at 7:00 a.m. (Central)! The weather is calling for a chance of storms and showers, so we are crossing our fingers tight that we won't have to run in soggy shoes.

You can track all of our progress in the morning by visiting www.cmmarathon.com and clicking on the results tab. Because of the wave starts, we probably won't actually cross the start line until 20 minutes or so after the official start. My goal is to run the 13.1 miles in under 2 hours, but I will not be disappointed if I finish in 2:10. So, log on and cheer us on!

And, I didn't want to do this, but I have to: How about those Cubs?!?!?! I can't stop watching them until they lose another game, and I lost some serious sleep last night staying up with them in Colorado. I am not making any bold predictions or getting confident (I still don't like the starting pitching staff), but it is fun to be a Cub fan right now.

We'll update everybody on the weekend come Monday...

Spring Might Actually Be Here

2008-04-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

So, Mandy and I both thinking that spring is actually here, which is exciting. There have been back-to-back warm days, energy levels are up and we are enjoying our little strip of yard with the G!

Aint she cute!??! And, I think my dog is beautiful, but check out that grass!!!! We had a rough first season with it last year thanks to some overactive crochus, drought and other issues. But this spring, it is lush. Mandy thinks it looks fake. It just goes to show what 3 bags of seed and the investment in a lawn care provider can do for you. Before the sun torches it again this summer, come on by and walk barefoot through it.

Spring is also the time to end hibernation and enjoy some life outdoors. I'm on the road again this weekend, but this time for pleasure. DUDES WEEKEND! Brian is coming into town tomorrow and we'll play some overly-competitive golf for beer... beer that we will be consuming when we drive up to Michigan with the fellas to cheer on Rockford Lacrosse, coached by the world famous Tim Murray. For all of your Rockford lacrosse fever, give them some love here.

I should have good pictures and maybe some videos to post of that upon my return...

One more cute picture of the baby... What a cuddler!

Golf Season

2008-04-14T08:10:00.001-07:00

So, I felt somewhat bad this weekend because I held Mandy back from a weekend of college fun in Bloomington for IU's Little 500. We were supposed to go down with friends and enjoy the festivities, but I wanted to have one weekend at home in the month of April (I'm gone the next two). In hindsight, we actually got a lot done and had a great chance to catch up on some rest and quality time with the dog. But, I'll admit it after the fact, I really wanted to stay home for golf, in all its forms.

I was supposed to play on Saturday, but sleet, wind and sub-40 temperatures quickly ended those hopes. So, what was left? Quite simply the best sporting event on television: The Masters! I'll admit that I am not a huge fan of how snobby and in-awe the announcing has become. I mean, seriously, it's a little over the top when somebody misses a 4-foot putt and the announcer says, "That was an easy putt, but nothing is easy when it's Augusta, it's the Masters and your standing on the royal ground of legends playing tricks on you." That's a little over the top.

But, nothing they can say will ever take you away from admiring the grounds. It is heaven shaped into a golf course. Not a blade of grass out of place and a perfectly sculpted landscape of elevation, bunkers, natural waterways and foliage. Every year, I am reminded that my one major golf goal is to play there:

Well, maybe someday...

I had a good conversation with my friend, former boss and golf coach (can you count somebody as your coach when you haven't had a lesson in almost 4 years, but haven't consulted somebody else?), Alan, last night and we were talking about how boring the golf was yesterday afternoon. There have been years when the course actually played tougher, but it seemed more enjoyable to watch. But, no matter how bad the drama was, you can't turn away.

I was also blown away by the number of comments on TV from people talking about how much experience plays into being successful on that course. C'mon, any true golf fan could play that course blindfolded. I'm not saying they could execute the shots needed, but I know almost every little slope and angle of that course just from the countless hours of TV coverage I've watched.

- Keep it middle of the green and let it feed down on #16
- Drive it down the right side and avoid the false front on #15 if you go for it in two
- Play a going draw on #2 and don't miss long or left on the green
etc. etc. etc.

Well, the weather should improve enough this week to get out and enjoy the weather for at least one round. And in the meantime, I'd like to thank my way cool Father-in-law for This Addictive Mini-Golf Game to keep me motivated while indoors.

Finding a little balance

2008-04-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

Today, despite the cold, wet outdoors, I got a fresh breath of air.

What seemed to be the longest week ended last night at around 11pm when I finally read the last email clogging my inbox, and shut the face of my laptop.

Instead of working late at the office (again), I came home to two smiling faces, took a jog down the Monon with Will and Grace, ordered pizza and cuddled on the couch in my sweats-- reading my email. This may seem normal to all of you, but for us it’s a little departure from normal.

Until now, we have had a rule not to bring our work home—we never even had internet! Until last night. That’s right, Will and I decided (after much discussion) that we would flip our wireless switch to help mitigate some of my work load.

Simple as it seems, it felt like I had just achieved the greatest work/life balance ever! Did I really plow through 100+ emails and still eat and chat with my hubby while Gracie napped at my feet? Is it too good to be true? Can we really work and play at the same time? This concept seems so strange to me!

I have always felt sad for the people that have to bring their work home (now me), and the people who spend their happy weekend family time churning out projects for Monday’s presentation (also now me). But it seems that the better we get at our work, the harder it is to balance it with the rest of our life. Could it be true that the better we do at work, the worse we do at home? I suppose it could be. But not for me.

This is where my “fresh breath of air” comes in…. I believe that the reason I have been able to have a job and add any value to it is because I have the blessing of a successful home.

This morning for example, Will knew just what kind of day I needed—waffles for breakfast, a chilly hour at the dog park, nap, errands where we stop for coffee and get the luxury of taking our time and looking at the fish in the pet store if we want, farmers market (in the rain) b/c you can get a pound of carrots for 79 cents, home to build a fire and watch the Masters while the rain pours outside….

I will never stop working hard at home to have days like these. The rest, I’m confident, will fall in line. The wireless will help too. :)

Where did I put my big-girl panties?

2008-04-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Some days it seems like everything is happening so fast! The minutes just dart by me, and before I know it, we are into the next day, the weekend, the next month, and poof!-- a new year!
I find myself thinking a lot about time-- how I spend it, how I can save some, where I can find more, if I'm on it, if I'm out of it, if there's ever enough.... Most often, I ask myself how I’m using it. Am I loving people enough today? Am I showing them I care? Am I being honest? Giving? Am I living richly towards God and the things that are most important?

Today, I woke up and found the day I’ve been anticipating for 9 months (no, it’s not what you think)—my supervisor is giving birth to a baby girl as I type, and I’m left to hold down a monster account and two more to boot all my by little self. Yikes!
We’ve spent months planning, downloading, and prepping. Now, this is it! And for the first time, I want the next three months to fly by. (sigh) Life has a funny way of letting you stand in the nice comfortable shadow for a little while, and then one day kicking you into the arena. A little voice is saying, You're ready! Your time to shine! Another is telling me to run for the hills.

Time to take a big girl step into my big girl panties, and grab the bull by the horns. Wish me luck.

Back in Indy and ready to paaaaarrrrty

2008-04-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

(Will here)

Well, it had been a whole two weeks since my last business trip (Yes, going to Cabo was a business trip), so it was time for me to get up and go last weekend. I had a quick little trip to Texas. Into Houston on Friday afternoon, up to Dallas on Saturday and back home on Sunday. It was a blur of highways, cattle farms, fruit and cheese plates and somewhat inebriated men reliving their fraternity experiences through casual conversation.

I will say this for Texas, however. That whole "it's big" thing is certainly true. Lots of land and lots of people. Houston was one of those cities where you can be stuck in traffic on a 10-lane highway for an hour and never see evidence of the city. No high rises, skyline, nothing. It was amazing. Who knew that many people lived down there.

And then there is the space of the state. At 80 mph, it took 4+ hours to get from Houston to Dallas. That's like driving from Indy to Milwaukee and stopping at the oasis just north of Chicago for 30 minutes. Geesh. The state is so big, even the statues are large. Check out this monster of Sam Houston. Look at the size of those trees in the background. You could see this guy from a mile away on the highway. It looked like a giant rolling pin stuck in the ground until you got close to it.

But, I am back and don't hit the road for another 5 weeks for work, which means it's time to hang out. Can't wait for Timbo to visit and then I'll return the favor next week. Mandy and I have the half marathon in Nashville coming up in two weeks! I think we're ready for it, but Grace is certainly not a 13.1 mile type of dog. She came on our 8-mile run on Sunday and almost didn't make it. I can still hear her panting right now.

By the way, for those of you who run, or bike, or do anything outside and you need to check the distance, this is the coolest site. Awesome Map Path. It's like Google maps, only you can click to start and stop a route and see how far you go, and it includes little markers to show the 1-mile intervals. So, if you have a little route you normally run (or bike) around your neighborhood, you can track it on the map and see the exact distance. This has been very useful for Mandy and I because we can time our miles perfectly on long runs.

Okay, that's it for today. Go work on your free throws, Memphis.

Come on little guys!

2008-04-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

It’s another rainy day in Indiana, and despite the frost-covered, 30 degree drive to work yesterday morning, it’s starting to look like spring! The little buds have poked their yellow and green heads out of the dirt, and are patiently awaiting a warm sunny day to bloom. If only it would hover around 50, we would know winter is behind us.

Will and I have so many plans for our yard and landscaping this spring/summer, and I’m anxious to get started! Last year, while trying to unravel our hose (something that is surprisingly difficult), we discovered an old flower bed brick edge buried under several inches of gravel in our driveway. For me, this is like finding buried treasure-- remnants of someone else’s time. We are planning to restore the bed this season, and my head is filled with visions of what it must have been years ago. I will also be attempting to plant a vegetable garden this year (stop laughing), and hope to grow our own tomatoes, zucchini, squash and herbs. My grandma Jeannie has been amazingly helpful in this department. She can actually identify each squirrelly plant I have growing in my yard, and help me understand how to care for it—what a rare gift! I hope to have her advice again this year, as I am truly a rookie in this area. Anyone have any tips? I need all the help I can get! We can see traces of areas where these things have grown before in our garden so I think it’s best to try those spots again.

One of my favorite things about living in an old home is trying to imagine what it must have looked and felt liked 50 or 80 years ago. Was the weather warmer this time of year? Were there babies in the house? What did they cook for dinner? No doubt they used our same ancient stove that kicks the temperature up about 15 degrees in the kitchen. Did they plant the huge daylilies that come up each year for us to enjoy? Trip on the same funny floorboards in the dining room? Was the coal shoot unsealed and covered in ash?.... I can't help but wonder.

I love knowing that we get to carry on the legacy of our beautiful home, and each day uphold the traditions that have existed there for decades. The space feels rich in history and in love, and we feel so grateful to be the keepers of the keys. Here’s to a bold new season (right around the corner)!

I actually pull from the right!

2008-04-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I am glad that my sense of fashion has been broken down to it's simplest forms by my personal designer wife, but she failed to get the directions correct. The shirts on the right are next in the rotation, not the left. The shirt is the big factor in determining the outfit. Everything else from there (tie, pants, socks and shoes) have to go with the shirt. I am proud to say that I only own 2 white dress shirts, and the rest have color, pattern or something. You can't get dressed up for work every day without being somewhat excited in what you are going to wear.

It's hump day and I am just getting ready to hit the road again this week. Houston and Dallas get my attention over the weekend and then I am home on Sunday to run 8 miles! If you haven't heard, Mandy and I are running the Country Music Half-Marathon in Nashville, TN. It's on April 26th. Of all of the music genre races I agree to join... Actually, I think it might be more entertaining for me to run in the Broadway Musicals Half-Marathon, if there is such a thing. Oh well, I am not complaining and we will have a great time running to the beat of some twangy band...

Oh, and in case you have been sleeping under a rock today, Tom Crean was named the head basketball coach at Indiana University (my other basketball love besides Butler). I don't know how they did it, but IU found a way to get a good coach to agree to come to a sinking ship. I actually think he can bail water fast enough to get it turned around. And with the way Butler is recruiting and Purdue is playing, the next decade of hoops in this state should be awesome. I'm sure I'll ramble on about that later.

Casual Everydays!

2008-04-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love the most about my job and this agency is that we have no dress code. …So everyday feels like casual Friday! On windy, stormy mornings like this, it feels like such a luxury to throw on your favorite sweatshirt, a pair of well worn, perfect fitting blue jeans, and some comfy flats for…gasp…work.

Mornings are only ever tough for me because getting dressed often feels like a chore. I have always been emotionally involved in my clothes. No matter how many times I lay them out the night before, fully accessorized, belts, adorable boots, matching socks and so on, the cute outfit almost always gets overlooked in lieu of my mood that morning.

Then, there’s Will. He’s a pretty spiffy guy, and always looks so put together sitting at the kitchen table with his banana, but Will’s big secret is that he “pulls from the left.” That means whatever shirt is in the rotation on the left is what he wears. Right is for clean clothes, left is for wearing. How easy is that!? Why can’t I be so easy?

I’m grateful knowing that, while I’m perfecting my “pull from the left” system, my job gives me a break, and let’s me wear what I want—whatever or wherever I may find it.

On another rambling note, Gracie had her annual check-up at the vet last night, and did really well—she even gave the tech a “high five.” So stinking cute even the vet almost fell over. Anywhoozer, $400 later, we were being talked into buying a new flea and tick medication that Lilly just released.

“It smells a little funny, but only for a couple minutes and it soaks in really fast,” the vet said. Sounds great! We’ll take it.

When we actually applied the stuff at home, we realized that it probably kills fleas and ticks by gassing them to death. I opened windows, turned on the attic fan, put Grace in her kennel, and went to the basement with Will to avoid the stench of our poor paint-thinner scented pooch. We are obviously awesome parents as she was stuck in a little cage with her own smell, but we couldn’t handle it. Nasty, nasty stuff. When the guilt finally got to me, and I heard a little whimper coming from upstairs, I dug an old IU tee shirt out of a box, and cut it to fit her and cover the gross blob of oil between her shoulder blades. She liked it. Here is a shot from Gracie’s “Casual Monday.”

Two people, one blog

2008-03-31T12:49:00.000-07:00

I don't know what I am more excited about... Reading what Mandy has to say about life and her world, or seeing her reaction when I start making rambling posts about sports. So, here we go...

The one thing that has been making the rounds today in the sports world (Other than the F1 President being accused of having a Nazi-themed orgy with 5 hookers in London, nothing weird about that at all) seems to be this idea that the Final Four next weekend is a big disappointment because all of the #1 seeds have made it the Final Four for the first time ever.

I say, what's the big deal? Do we really look at the seeds of the teams this late in the tournament? I make the argument that the seeds really become worthless after the first weekend of the tournament, maybe even the first round. The teams are seeded by the Selection Committee based on their (apparent) strength to win it all. If a #14 beats a #3, it is an upset based more on perceived talent than an arbitrary number assigned to them, in my opinion.

So, are the fans who think having all #1's in the FF upset because the quality of basketball is diminished? If you had told me back in December that UCLA, UNC, Kansas and Memphis would make up the FF, I would have said, 'Great, what an entertaining weekend of basketball we have to look forward to.' I wouldn't be upset that there wasn't a Cinderella. What's boring about the best 4 teams in the country making it to the end. And, I could argue, if all 4 #10 seeds made it to the final weekend, they are the 4 best teams at the time.

I'll say it again, the seeding means nothing. It's just a guesstimation of talent trying to give some teams a bit of an advantage. But by the 3rd weekend, let's just be happy that 4 good teams will be fighting.

I can already see Mandy rolling her eyes at me right now. Yep, sports and more sports. Maybe I should have talked about the Nazi-inspired orgy after all.

Hello World!

2008-03-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our little corner of the earth! We have decided that a great way to update everyone on all exciting and funny things that happen to us daily would be to start a little blog-aroo. Will can finally unleash all of his pent up sports commentary that is sadly lost on me, and I can write about...well...anything!