"FOOO-TTT-BAAALLL...FEEE-VERR..."

Dear Friends;

So just in case you all were wondering... (and even if you were not...)

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!!!

I have been so distracted by preparations for the upcoming event that I have not done my typical pre-game countdown... Wow... But last night I realized for the first time in almost a week that today is the day!!!

I could hardly sleep last night... It is better than Christmas... or Valentine's Day... Today is FOOTBALL!!!! This morning I bounded out of bed already ready to yell at the TV because I KNOW it will make a difference...

My second favorite team is playing my family's home team... And I just know that we are going to win... And for all of you who are fortunate enough to live in that pretty, green, rainy State (Also known as the birthplace for dreaded Starbucks Coffee...) We are going to WIN WIN WIN!!!! (And just to make sure that you get this in the right perspective...

For those of you who were fortunate enough to grow up with the Muppet Show...

Remember the character "Animal"? And how he would go around saying his name?? "ANNN-III-MAAALLL...ANNN-III-MAAALLL..." That is how I have been prancing around my friend's house for the past ninety minutes saying "FOOO-TTT-BAAALLL...FOOO-TTT-BAAALLL..." And I have not even had my cup of (non- Seattle brand- read: Starbucks) coffee yet...

Aren't you glad that you are wherever you are and not here with FOOO-TTT-BAAALLL FEEE-VERR..." and me? (See Momster... You did raise me right! So let me just say again for the record...

-I love my family-I love where some of them have decided to dwell
-I think their team is great
-I strongly dislike Starbucks
-I take six (yes... six) sugars and a lot of milk in my au lait
-The Stealers are Supreme-Today is my second favorite holiday
-I have serious "FOOO-TTT-BAAALLL...FEEE-VERR..."
-If you are not a fan of the game (GASP) there are always the commercials

Happy Holiday!!

Top 20 Reasons to be HAPPY...

Top 20 Reasons to be HAPPY in February

1. Traveling like a "Rock Star"
2. Returning home and having everything spotless
3. Sending and receiving postcards
4. Indulging in Chinese bakery often
5. Being someone friends and family can turn to in times of need
6. Milkshakes with my brother
7. Undress rehearsals
8. Being totally pampered
9. Having a golden tan in the middle of winter
10. Having no tan lines
11. Turning friendly acquaintances into new friends
12. Stepping outside of the box
13. Having my second favorite team win the Super Bowl
14. Receiving text messages that instantly cause that heated and flushed feeling
15. An overabundance of pretty robes and having the opportunities to wear them all
16. Pajama parties
17. Discovering "new" old authors and appreciating classic American literature
18. Cocktail hour done well
19. Completing projects
20. Oysters Rockefeller

Where's Waldo...

Dear Friends;

I have for some time dedicated my life to the academic pursuits and been quite successful. After setting out to see if I could actually learn to cook without loosing any of my appendages and winding up as Captain of an Award Winning Culinary Team for 2005, as well as finding myself on the Vice President's List, the National Dean's List and a member of Phi Theta Kappa... I guess you could say dedicated is sort of an understatement... But I have always been one to pursue perfection in all its varied forms...

As a result, I am tired. My little fingers are nubs, and not because I have chopped any of them off while learning to master the art of cuisine... (Actually, if you have eaten at my house that may explain what that delicious "secret" ingredient was... Just Kidding...)

As I was saying, I have decided that I need to take a well-deserved break from my classes and spend time with my family in faraway places... And I think that a change of scenery will do some good... (It certainly won't do any harm... Whoever heard of travel and fun as causing harm?) As a dear friend has described it; I am living like a ROCKSTAR... Seeing the people and places that I have missed for so long, as well as those I never knew to miss...

I will also be using this time to see what greener pastures that I might remain in long term... and from where I am at right now, any place that gets more than 2" of rain each year will be greener. Hello tall trees, good morning pretty flowers, green grass and four seasons... I can hardly wait!

Don't worry... I will still have to pop back into town time and again to take care of business and kiss my Parents, but really, how often does a person need to do that? Especially when it is so much more fun to have family reunions and family vacations in different locations? And my friends are always family, so you all can always join us where ever we are...

As for where I will be? Only the wind will know... But that is what cell phones and mapquest and wonderful friends who get me un-lost at all hours are for... I will be like Carmen San Diego... Or Where's Waldo... or the Grateful Dead on Tour... (I really will have to hear one of their songs someday... All I know about them is the tie-died tee shirts, something about a bear, and the ice cream Ben and Jerry's made for them... See I really do need to be exposed to things out there... This travel will do me good...)

As I have been asked what is my goal for the trip? I will be looking at Schools to further my education and retraining elsewhere in the country. As well as see how I like living other places and if I can handle the cold I so long for...

Wish me luck, send me warm fuzzies (as another friend likes to say) on my new adventures, and say Bon Voyage sweetie...

I will keep you posted as new escapades occur, and we all know that with me they somehow always do...