This week about 18 of us took shifts working in the kitchen at the YMCA camp in Boone during the one-week Camp Heart Connection. This special week is for kids with cancer to spend time doing kid things with others going through similar feelings and battles. It was cool to help out and serve some 200 campers because 1) they deserve some fun and rice crispy treats 2) my grandma has been a camp cook for years, and I know how much she loves being around all the kids each summer. I even think my rice crispy treats would measure up to her high standards. I hope the campers had a great week and could spend a little less time thinking about their sickness and a little more time being a kid.
My employer, Two Rivers Marketing, really believes in its community. Not only do they encourage us to take vacation time to keep a healthy work/life balance, they encourage us to volunteer. In fact, they will pay us for up to 8 hours if a volunteer opportunity comes up during work hours. Now that's saying a lot!
This week about 18 of us took shifts working in the kitchen at the YMCA camp in Boone during the one-week Camp Heart Connection. This special week is for kids with cancer to spend time doing kid things with others going through similar feelings and battles. It was cool to help out and serve some 200 campers because 1) they deserve some fun and rice crispy treats 2) my grandma has been a camp cook for years, and I know how much she loves being around all the kids each summer. I even think my rice crispy treats would measure up to her high standards. I hope the campers had a great week and could spend a little less time thinking about their sickness and a little more time being a kid.
0 Comments
I see your mouth started to water already. My sandwich on a whole wheat skinny bun/bread thing was very yummy and pretty healthy. We all know how terrible white bread is for you (we'll all probably die from eating it) so I picked these little guys for a healthier alternative. They are actually a really good idea. I personally am not a fan of eating a sub with a little bit of meat and toppings and then a massive chunk of bread. These skinnies do their job by holding your sandwich together but don't take over.
I know, I know, airports aren't the sexiest place ever, and I've been in my fair share. On our way back to Des Moines from Hartford, Conn. we had a nearly three-hour layover in Detroit. I wasn't expecting much. In fact, I didn't even have thoughts about the airport. Once we landed though, I quickly noticed the tram above our heads. Yes, a tram runs up and down Terminal A like a model train runs on an elevated track around a bedroom. Well, we had to get to Terminal B so no tram ride for us but that's OK. Instead we got to go through this trippy, color-changing underground tunnel. I caught a picture of it while it was blue, but it turns every shade of color with some coordinating background music. If you weren't smiling before entering the tunnel, by the time you exit, you will be. I literally went from annoyed, busy traveler, to a little
Believe it or not, I've never been to a party with a pig roasting on a spit. When you're expecting about 100 people for a graduation/confirmation party this is a really great way to feed all your guests (assuming most are meat-eaters). It was kind of gross, but that didn't stop me from enjoying Luther the Pig (as he was named). Quite a few other guests in attendance held the same sentiment. I'm thankful we had two capable men handling the roast because that would be a challenge to make sure he cooks evening and stays juicy and tastes good - not to mention, you gotta cut him up. You're gonna need one sharp knife and lots of napkins.
Learning to play Rummikub, watching a whole pig get put on ice in a bathtub, and enjoying great company and food (and a cigar for some).
I like to think I'm a decently well-traveled person. I know I have a lot more to do, but slowly and surely I am getting around the U.S. and eventually the world. This weekend I visited an exotic place called Connecticut. We were visiting Lucas' family in the Brookfield/New Milford/Newtown area for a confirmation and graduation party for two of his cousins. It is beautiful here! They have big rolling hills with massive trees and windy little roads with 200-year-old homes tucked in between more massive trees. I decided I could definitely become a lake/boat person. Know I just need a lake and some money to buy a boat...
I've been to Dos Rios in downtown Des Moines for drinks a few times but never to eat. Today was my chance to check out the grub. I had a tough time choosing just one item off the menu. My final decision was the La Bamba Burrito. What a good choice it was! Served with beans and rice, the steak and mushroom filled burrito was delicious.
Deciding to get married is a big decision. Planning a wedding requires a lot of big (and some little) decisions. Choosing a honeymoon destination is the last big decision in this process.
We decided to postpone the honeymoon since I knew I'd be starting a new job (or unemployed) the week after the wedding. So the last two months I've been researching and researching. Early on I narrowed our search to the Caribbean and Mexico because I didn't want to deal with the jet lag that comes with Hawaii or Asia when we will only have one day to recuperate. The next factor I used in narrowing down destinations was input I received from many friends. Neither Lucas or I have been to this part of the world and needed some first hand experiences to go off. The other two factors were that I wanted to honeymoon in the fall (too excited to put it off any longer) and we were going to use my parents' timeshare. All of that gave us a manageable amount of destinations to consider including St. Martin, St. Kitt's, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Riviera Maya in Mexico. Today we booked a week of bliss at the El Dorado Royale in the Riviera Maya, Mexico! This place is legit. Who doesn't want to live it up at an all-inclusive, adult-only tropical oasis? We might even squeeze in some culture and sightseeing while there... This may be a sign I'm getting older.
Growing up a group of my friends' moms would get together to drink wine and play Bunco. I've never played nor had any idea what it really entailed but just always related it to older women. Well, now that I'm in a Bunco group of my own, I need to change that mentality. A group of women at my church decided Bunco would be a fun idea. After my first night, I'd have to agree. In between rolling the dice, counting our points, and switching from the winners' to losers tables' constantly, we got in some good conversation, laughs, and of course wine. "Leave me behind. I can't make it." Holy. Moly. I knew I was out of shape, but this is bad. Lucas' gym put together a bike ride from Ankeny to the High Trestle Trail Bridge in Woodward/Madrid (where we got engaged). I knew that would be a hike but was wiling to give it a try. Not long into the ride (like 2 miles) I realized this wouldn't be any fun. These in-shape people were holding at least a 16 mph pace. My pace, on the other hand, fell to just 9 mph has we faced a head wind and a chunk of path with no protection from the wind. Needless to say, I did not make it the the bridge. Instead, we turned around after stopping for a bite and a beer at a little bar directly off the path in Slater. Our roundtrip was 25 miles, which is the farthest I've ever biked in a day. My previous record was just more than 15 miles, which was the distant of the triathlon I competed in last year. I do enjoy biking so I'm motivated to get better and stronger. I plan on riding to and from work next week. Wish me luck!
|