Company Picnic and More!

We'll start with the "more" part since it came before the picnic... but it's brief. Awhile ago, I decided to train and do "The Mini" next May. Well, I started my training this morning. Why now, 9 months beforehand? Well, I'll be the first to tell you, I AM NOT A RUNNER! Never have been. Tried in junior high, but I got too bored just running. But I figured if I want to do this, I need to first get in shape to even do the 'real' training. So a program was recommended to Eric and I for beginners - my level of being a beginner, which means NO past running experience. It seems simple enough and I think I'll be able to handle it. This program claims to have you ready for a 5K in 9 weeks. So if it works, then I should be able to start 'real' training in late November or early December. So keep your fingers crossed for me!

Now... on to the company picnic! Most company picnics tend to be very family/kid oriented. So with this in mind, I didn't commit to going until I knew I could 'borrow' a kid - Eric's nephew, AJ. Once that was a go, I was set. So this afternoon, we picked AJ up and headed to German Park way on the south side! And I'm extremely glad I took AJ, because he had a blast, and I don't think it would've been as good without him to help keep Eric and I entertained! Although I think Eric still had fun on some of the 'big kid toys', as seen in the picture - he made sure to tell both his sister and parents about later on. LOL

There was a big bounce house, laser tag, pony rides, not to mention the normal playground equipment amidst it all. AJ even got a tattoo!! Airbrushed, of course. There was also dance contests and a wild animal presentation where the kids got to touch some exotic creatures they don't see normally. The food was your typical cookout type food, which was good. But the ones who made out were definitely the kids. AJ got a t-shirt, a goody bag full of fun stuff, plus, he just played all afternoon. We had to drag him away from the laser tag at one point to get food. So I think it's safe to say he had a good time.

At the end of it all, though, I think Eric and I were more worn out than him. Maybe it was just because of our run that morning. Either way, I'm going to sleep good tonight!

Apple Pickin'

First, let me apologize for my nearly two week absence. There just hasn't been a lot going on worth blogging about!

Today was a gorgeous 'almost fall' day and Eric and I decided to take advantage of it - we went out picking apples at a local orchard. We went to Stuckey Farm up near Sheridan, IN, which is about a half hour drive. They have over 4000 apple trees of 27 different varieties of apples. I didn't even know there were that many types to begin with, and they don't even have some of the more common ones! In addition, they have all sorts of fruit and veggies you can pick. Different times of the year yield different types of apples and fruits/veggies, so you can go a few different times and never come back with the same variety.

Anyway... we went primarily for apples. And we picked up about 12 pounds of apples in seven different varieties. We ate a few along the way to see if we liked the different varieties - the only one we picked that I recognized was the Gala apples. I definitely found some new varieties I like, though! We also picked some fresh corn on the cob, right off the stalk. I'm looking forward to cooking that up - I always love corn!

It didn't take too long to pick that many apples. I can see how this would be an awesome thing to do with kids. Eric and I figured there a some people there stocking up for Labor Day weekend - the people in front of us had, like 42 ears of corn! We felt like we should go pick more than the four ears we had! As far as the apples go, though... we split them up and will feed on them for awhile. I might have to pick out some good ones and make an apple pie for next weekend - it's sure to be a different pie than usual if I use a few different types of apples. We'll see - I gotta find time this week, first.

Year of the Bee

It was a hot summer day in Indiana... what better thing to do than go to the State Fair. Better yet, BIKE to the State Fair on the Monon Trail (part of it, anyway). So that's what Eric and I decided to do today... on one of the hottest days of the summer.

After a rather lazy morning and late breakfast/brunch, we loaded our bikes into my Xterra and headed up to Broad Ripple to ride the trail from there (different scenery verses going from his house). It was hot!! And we discussed that fact before we left the house, but what else would we do that day – anything we’d want to do would be outside anyway, so might as well stick with the original plan. But we did compromise and only bike from Broad Ripple verses biking from Nora, which was the true original plan. Cuts off about 2 miles each way, that way.

Anyway… we rode our bikes down to the fairgrounds, got them parked, and realized how hot it really was! So once we got inside the fairgrounds, the first thing we did was step inside one on the exhibit halls. We didn’t really care what was inside – we just wanted to cool off. Unfortunately, I don’t believe this particular exhibit hall had A/C. But it was still cooler than outside. Besides, we had no agenda or place to be, so might as well wander.

Once we were a little more cooled down, we went down the road a bit to Hook’s American Drugstore Museum, which is this authentic set up of an old time drug store/general store. It was dark in there, though, and at one point, I looked down and had a fly on my shirt. I kind of jumped back and swatted at it. Suddenly, I fell a sting on my chest… it wasn’t a fly, it was a bee! Now, from what I can remember, I’ve never been stung by a bee. So I had no idea how much they hurt, let alone what my reaction would be. I had a cold lemonade in my hand, and I immediately put the cold cup on the sting. It felt a little better and I thought I’d be okay. They we stepped outside and the warm breeze hit it. OUCH! There was that stinging pain again.

When we left the first building, I had remembered seeing a first aid sign. I told Eric I’d better go in and just have them look at it. I couldn’t see it myself, and, again, had no idea how I’d react (nor what the ‘good’ reaction would be). So I tried to find the first aid station and literally had to re-walk my steps… but I found it and went in. Ironically, there was a little boy in there with a bee sting, as well. I sat down and the attending took one look and could tell the stinger was still in there. That explained the pain. Apparently, it was in deep, too, because she actually had to take a couple of tries with tweezers before it came out. But she got it, gave me whatever the little tube of medicine is and put that on, then gave me an ice pack to keep on it for awhile. Luckily, I wasn’t having any sort of bad reaction (that I could tell).

Eric and I continued on our way, me with ice pack in hand (on chest) and him just shaking his head. (he thinks my life is always drama) The ice pack didn’t last too long since it was so hot out, but I think it served its purpose. We walked along the main drag and grabbed some food. After the food, I felt it was safe to say that I wasn’t allergic to bees, and we kept going around the grounds.

It was the typical state fair, only hotter. We hit a few more of the indoor exhibits, but we got to the point where we were both just cranky from the heat. At least I was. So we headed out and jumped back on our bikes for the ride back to the car. Seemed to go faster this time… maybe because it had cooled off a bit. Regardless, it made for a long day of being in the sun. Second day in a row for me. So by the time I got back to my house, I was beat! (I'm going to sleep REALLY good tonight!) But regardless of anything else that happened today, this year will always be remembered because of the bee sting.

Pull-That-Plane!

This morning (bright and early, 8am at the old airport terminal) was the annual Fed Ex Plane Pull to support Special Olympics. RW Armstrong participates every year in a big way, both in sponsorship and collecting donations. This was my first year to participate in this fun event – I started at RWA a tad too late last year.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into it. I was told it was a good time, though, and it was… even if I was out in the hot sun for nearly 6 hours! It started out kind of slow… getting set up and then playing the waiting game until it was time for our first guys’ team to pull. We claimed a big piece of real estate on the tarmac to allow

our crowd to have plenty of room to spread out. There’s plenty to keep you entertained – kiddie pools for if you get hot and, for this year at least, a source to fill up the water guns. The kids were the ones playing with the water guns for the most part… but there were a few ‘big kids’ that got into it, too.

Once it was time to pull though, that’s when it got exciting! We had three teams entered into the competition, all under the “RW Army” name – two guys teams and a girls team. Our first guys team was ‘the little guys’ and they did pretty good! I thought so, at least. Then another engineering firm came out with the motto “Beat RW Armstrong!” And they did… at least the team that had went. But finally, our ’big boy’ team got out

there and not only beat the other firm, but had the low time of the day from all teams that had participated thus far! Very cool and we were all very excited! I wish I could say the girls team got up and did just as well… but we are girls… and probably weigh less than half of what our guys’ team did. So it took us a couple of seconds longer.

There were other things going on besides the competitive plane pulling. They had a kids pull, where all the kids in the crowd got to pull. That was fun to watch. Plus, all the while, all the teams were being scoped out for spirit and fun costumes. So all the while, we would do army cadences, and march in formations, etc. All about the army theme we had going. And after all the teams pulled, the top two from each division got a second chance to pull with as few people as possible for the ‘lowest combined weight’ pull. Teams would start out with 2 or 3 people and slowly add on till they pulled the plane the 12’, and then weigh the final participants.

In the end, the RW Army did quite well!! We won the award for the most team spirit, plus the girls team won the award for most money raised, all in thanks to Beth, who

had the most raised for an individual! But probably the most exciting was that even though our ‘big boys’ team lost the quickest pull to Westville Correctional Facility, the very last team to pull, they beat them in the lowest combined weight pull by about 50 lbs! So it all made for a very exciting day! This will definitely be an event to look forward to again next year, as well as the years to come.

Buffett 2009!

The annual tradition of tailgating and going to Buffett has come and gone... and what a crazy year it was!

This year was a completely different crew from last year… well, except for Wendy, of course. Eric decided to go since one of his college buddies was going with his wife (which they, too, do every year). So it made for a completely different experience from last year’s all girl crew. But we still had our margaritas, jello shots, and chips and salsa. Among other things, of course.

We got to the premier lot just before 4:30 and parked. It was still so empty! We were all blown away

by how few people were here yet – through all the parking!! There was one lot still almost completely empty, which is unheard of for Buffett usually!! They did eventually all fill up, but it looked like people just waited till after work this year! We just went about our business, though, and started to enjoy the atmosphere that was there! Wendy and I did our traditional walk where we ran into the usual suspects. Plus, Wendy did her first ever upside down margarita!! I was so proud! We finally made it back to the car, though, and finished off our gallon of margaritas… a feat we’ve never accomplished before! So many firsts for a Buffett concert!

Then another first… at least for me at Buffett. Right before the show started, it started to rain! A GOOD rain, too!! We hadn’t left the car

yet, so we huddled under my tailgate and broke out the large beach umbrella we had to keep as dry as possible. It didn’t take long for all that dry cover to attract another group of people a few cars down… they ran over and jumped under as much cover as they could. Then they commenced in sharing the remainder of the upside down margaritas they were passing out. So it was a good trade.

The rain did stop, luckily – right at the time Jimmy was supposed to take the staged. So we finally headed in and still managed to find a good spot on the lawn. Everyone else in the lawn was drenched since they came in before the rain started and had no cover to keep dry. I think staying outside the gates until it stopped was a good move on our part.

The show was in typical Buffet fashion – a big party! We all had a good time watching, though it always seems to go by so fast! Maybe cause it doesn’t start till 8pm… who knows. Anyway, we enjoyed it, none the less. But by the time we got home, I was wiped out. Glad I had today to recover!

Erica's Bachelorette Party

Every girl dreams of one day, finding that perfect man, and getting married. What she never thinks of, though, is the bachelorette party beforehand!

Yesterday was Erica's day. We did an 'all day' thing, starting at 1pm and going well into the night as a combination shower and bachelorette party. So it obviously started out very subdued. It actually acted as a bit of a reunion for some of us – it had been so long since we had all had a chance to hang out!! There were new jobs, new relationship statuses, babies… so much to catch up on! We did play a party game that involved sculpting play-doh, which went with the theme of the day… but nothing too crazy! Then of course there were gifts to be opened… both naughty and nice. It was a good time.

Finally, the bus arrived to take us to dinner at Maggiano’s! We climbed on board for the short trip, where we met up with some other girls who couldn’t make it to the day part of the event. We had some awesome Italian food and good wine to start the evening off right. Since it was such a big group of us, it took us awhile to get through dinner, but when we finished up, we were off to Broad Ripple!

I don’t know about the other girls, but it had been quite awhile since I had been to BR. It’s definitely more the of the younger crowd’s venue. Typically, when you see the bachelorette parties there, they are quite obnoxious! So I must say this – we were very much a ‘mature’ bachelorette party. Not a bad thing! We started at Average Joe’s, where a few rounds of shots were passed out. Then we went to OPT’s, where we actually lost part of our party to being overly drunk (no names need be mentioned). Finally, we ended up at Rock Lobster. We didn’t quite close down the bar, but we did close down BR at La Bamba’s. When we came out, we actually had to hunt for a cab to get us all home.

All in all, it was a fun night! We didn’t all get completely trashed, but there were some good buzzes going around. But most importantly, we had one last good night out with Erica as a single girl.

Memories

So I got this urge earlier this week to go through pictures from back in high school and even junior high. It has been an absolute riot looking through them! I'm glad I was always such a photo hound - I think I have yearbook to thank for that (back in junior high). I was having so much fun with it that I decided to scan some in and upload them to Facebook. I figured if I was laughing so much, others might, too.

And they have been. It been fun reading the comments on some of the pictures. I've actually been surprised at some of the ones that are getting a lot of the comments - it's been great! Everyone thinks they are just at the top of the world and at the top of the trend world at that age (no matter what generation it is). It isn't until you look back that you wonder what you were thinking! I've been cracking up about all the pegged jeans! Why did we do that again - what did it do for us??

Anyway... I'm guessing I'll go through my college albums next. That'll take a bit longer and probably be more pictures, so I'm not sure when/if it'll get to Facebook. But it sure is fun reminiscing!

Dave!!

Every summer, there are a few concerts I attend annually. This weekend was one of them - Dave Matthews band! I guess, technically, it's TWO concerts since he does two nights here. And yes, I do go to both. But it's been a tradition since I moved here - I think I've only missed one show since living in IN.

So anyway... Friday night's show consisted of a lot of his new songs! Nothing wrong with that... but they are just not as familiar to both the crowd and the band and to me it seemed like the show didn't flow as well. Not as many jams into the next song, more breaks etween songs. but it was great to hear th enew songs live!

Saturday night's show was much more th enorm... more jams, more old songs that everyone knew. personally, I liked Saturday more than Friday. But that may just be me. Besides, they played one of my favorites, "Crush" on Saturday night... though they did play "Crash" on Friday night. My seats were better Saturday, too... they were in the back of the pavillion, but they were dead center! If only I was a little taller...

All in all, another great year of Dave live! Next year, everyone will know the new songs better and it'll be like they've been around forever. In the meantime, I've got other concerts to look ford to this year. Up next - Jimmy Buffett!