I am not an impulsive buyer. Before I make a purchase, I do research and comparative shopping. Last winter, I looked at a dozen places before making a final selection on a peacoat. Not that getting my first tattoo is exactly like buying a coat, but there are some similiarities. For example, I want a quality coat so it will last several years. I also want a quality tattoo because it'll last forever. I went into another Des Moines tattoo shop today. I liked the vibe from the artists there. They weren't intimidating and made me feel comfortable. However, I'm leaning toward a place I visited Sunday. The artist quickly sketched a tiger paw print and started shading it in. I was planning on just getting solid black, but seeing the shading on paper gave it depth and dimension which looked really great. So now I just have to wait 3 more days until I have time to get it done.
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Thank you. Thank you to our troops currently serving at home and overseas, the veterans who've since come home, and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I am very thankful to live in America where we are free to celebrate whatever holiday we please and worship whichever god we choose. I know soldiers put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, and for that I am very grateful. Veterans Day is in two days and the holidays are knocking on the door. While two of my third cousins (I think that's the correct relation) are in the military, I can only imagine how hard it is for them to be apart from their families around the holidays. The American Red Cross hopes to bring a piece of home to troops, veterans, and their families where ever they may be through Holiday Mail for Heroes. It's easy: just make a card and mail it off to the Red Cross. They will sort all the cards and send them out. Here's the address and a look at the cards I made today thanks to my inner Hallmark card creator.
Holiday Mail For Heroes P.O. Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456 That's not me trying to convince all those non-believers that Iowa is an amazing state. That's a line from the musical The Music Man. I went to a trivia night about a month ago and a round of questions was dedicated to The Music Man. I knew nothing about it and neither did any of my teammates. When I stumbled upon the CD recording of the original broadway play, I knew I had to listen to it. The story is set in River City, Iowa in 1912. As far as I can tell, there is no town named that in Iowa, but looks like it was based off Mason City. It involves Professor Harold Hill, a con man, who went to River City looking to sell band instruments and then run off with the cash. Too bad the smarty pants library, Marian Paroo saw through him, and too bad they fall in love, althought that's a little predictable. The production became a hit in the 1950s winning five Tony Awards and running 1,375 performances. When I popped in the CD, it wasn't at all what I expected. It wasn't exactly singing, but more like talking to a melody. Either way, it was fun to listen to, and I feel like I became a more cultured American today. Maybe you have too.
That's right, at age 25, I've decided to learn how to run. Some people are naturally good runners and other have to work at it. I'm a level below that where I can barely run a mile. So instead of believing I need to work harder, I've decided I must be running wrong. Whether it's my breathing, my stride, my shoes, something clearly has to be wrong. How do I learn to run? Read a book of course. Running for Dummies and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Running were both checked out so I went for two other books that sound equally enlightening. Today I began reading Runner's World Complete Book of Beginning Running. I learned my stride and posture is current, but it could be my eating schedule that's holding me back. I eat when I'm hungry (which is quite often), but apparently you're supposed to eat two hours before you run. I also needs some sweet running shoes. I'm currently wearing some athletic shoe from Kohl's. I've never had real, nice running shoes so maybe those will help. I also believe positive thinking has a lot to do with it. Hopefully, once I stop hating running and start thinking positively, it won't be so bad. Hopefully that's soon too because I really need to be able to run more than one mile for the Tough Mudder, more like 7-10 miles. Needless to say, I have much more to read on my journey of learning to run.
You can take the girl out of Missouri, but you can't take Missouri out of the girl. I actually said that to a friend yesterday. A proud graduate of the University of Missouri and Joplin, Mo. resident for 16 months, I have a fond spot in my heart for the Show Me State and soon will wear that pride on my skin. I've been wanting to get my first tattoo for a couple of years now. The problem was I didn't know what I wanted on my body forever. It finally came to me this summer: Mizzou. I will forever and always love my alma mater and figured four Tiger paw prints would truly represent that: four is my favorite number and the Tiger is Mizzou's mascot. So today I popped into two tattoo shops to check them out. I have a few more to look into this week and hopefully next weekend, I'll be inked.
After that adventure, I ventured downtown to the Des Moines River for a photo shoot. While out on a story the other day, I realized how awesome the bridges are. I went back and forth across the river with my trusty Sony Cyber-shot snuggly wrapped around my wrist. (I have awful luck with losing/breaking cameras. I wasn't going to let it fall to its demise in the DSM River.) For only being a point and shoot, this camera takes great photos up close, but lacks in the zoom department. It was fun taking pictures here... lots of objects to work with! As we all know, there are many ways you can spend your Saturday night in Des Moines. Last night I ate at Cuatro Burrito and Taco Bar for the first time. The Asian-infused Mexican eatery is downtown in the Kirkwood Hotel. The menu has some Mexican classics like tacos and quesadillas, but also dishes giving a nod to Asian cuisine, like rice bowls and noodle bowls. It was also my first time eating edamame, which sounds super exotic, but is really just like a soybean. They sure give you one big plate of those, plus a bowl to put the leftover pods in after you slurp out the bean. A great appetizer when you're kicking it with friends and feeling a bit healthy. Nothing on the menu is more than $8, and I left with a doggie bag. That's saying something considering I can polish off a meal at the Machine Shed. We then made our way to the Civic Center to take in the awesome talent of the Des Moines Sympony. This is the second concert I've been to. I don't have the gift of music, which I think makes me appreciate their talent even more. If you have not seen a performance, do it.
Think what you will of Michael Moore, but I thought his documentary SiCKO, while clearly one-sided, brought up many relevant points in the health care debate. Just the other day, my grandma told me her health insurance premiums will go up each year because she's older than 80. So, let's make you pay for medicine that will help you live longer, and once you live longer and are on a fixed-income, let's make you pay more for those same medicines plus the new ones you're doctor prescribed you since you're getting older.
The system is broke. That's obvious. What's not obvious is how to fix it. I haven't made my mind up though if universal health care is the answer. According to Michael Moore, it's the obvious answer. According to him, since we have other socialized systems like libraries, schools, and public officers, we should also have socialized health care. Not sure I believe those are all in the same category, but I do believe something, almost anything, has to be better than what we have. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, I can still be on my parents health insurance. I plan to milk that until they kick me off on my 26th birthday. For a healthy, young person, spending $1,500 a year on health insurance is an expensive waste of money. You may not know it, but many TV reporters, especially in smaller to mid-sized cities, are not raking in the dough. Neither is my grandma, who at 81 years old, still works part time as a camp cook. I've kicked around the idea of a non-profit health insurance company. No shareholders, no executive bonuses, no denials. Hopefully, I'm on the right track... I looked down below me. They tell you to never look down, but I had to. I needed to see if I was at least 15 feet in the air. I was partially surprised and completely satisfied that on my first time climbing a rope since I was 12, I succeeded. Luckily, working at a gymnastics/dance club I had a rope handy. No, I didn't just decide to climb a rope. Yes, it's part of my Tough Mudder training. I also went for a run today in a part of my neighborhood I've never been before. FYI: If you're looking for a pretty neighborhood with lots of hills to run up and down, take 31st St. south of Grand. If you're looking for an easy run - stay away.
For the first time last night I went to GT Lounge on Ingersoll for drinks. If you've never heard of GT Lounge, it's the one near 31st St. on the north side of Ingersoll with no sign. Or if it does have a sign, it's well-hidden. It boasts lines of holiday lights on the ceiling and seating for maybe 50. My drink was delicious, but not hard to mess up: water on the rocks. I wasn't in the mood for alcohol, but was in need of a good conversation. We talked about everything from Halloween to relationships to The Challenge. I also was reminded how little acts of kindness can go further than we think. Quote of the night from the bartender, "Handle it."
I don't know if it's replaced Carl's Place in my book, though. Carl's is the unofficial ABC5 bar. Besides having the nicest bathrooms in town, it allows dogs. The only thing better than having a dog in a bar is a baby in a bar. This just in: my co-worker has seen a baby in Carl's, but the mother was asked to leave with the child. This morning was my first strength training workout for the Tough Mudder. Thankfully it isn't until May 19, 2012. That gives me 6.5 months to get my booty in shape. It's a 12-mi course through the mud and water, up and down hills with insane obstacles to survive, including but not limited to running through fire and live wires that will shock you. Sounds fun, I know. Good news: I was able to complete all 16 of the suggested exercises. Bad news: I need to work up to doing each one for a minute with only a 15-second break in between each of them. Yeah... I'll keep ya posted.
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