Schlueters

Well.  I've got family coming in starting tomorrow.  

We're having the big old family reunion on Saturday.  I mean there's going to be 80+ people there, most of whom I do not know.  This should be interesting.  And the heat's not going to help.

My mom's one of six and is the 27th of 28 cousins.  Wow.  Her oldest cousin is 71 and has great-grandchildren.  So one can see that the numbers are big.  And what's scary is that we all look alike.  So I guess if one was to come by Pavilion 2 in Forest Park on Saturday, you'd be able to see my scary cult-like family.  But I would definitely advise against it.

The other fun to add to the situation is that there will be at one point or another, an extra 9 people in my house.  That's a lot of extra people.  My mom recently bought a new bed, for my room when I'm gone, and she's just going to set it up in the front room.  No big.  I'd be scared to sleep up there anyways.  

So, I hope that I don't get overstimulated or anything.  Here's to family.

I promised...

Here's some cool photos from my summer galavantings!

Here's me with my favorite ride from Cedar Point...it was awesome.

Standing in a glass box 1030 ft. in the the air.  No big deal.  (In the Sears Tower)

Oh and the view straight down.

The Shedd Aquarium.

This Walrus guy was really cute.

As was this little sea turtle.

See?  I told you all that I've had fun this summer...even if it doesn't happen at work!

Water Your Mind

AND READ!

Summer reading.

The St. Louis County Library has a new summer reading program.  It's something about how we should grow with reading so we need to water our minds.  Or maybe that's the other way around.  But, needless to say I'm doing it because I love the summer reading program.  If you read 10 books you get entered into a drawing for free stuff.  How cool is that?  Especially since I love reading.  

So far I've read two new books and re-read one.  The new books are The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen and Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.  The latter of the two was really good, but a sad one.  The first one was good but left a lot to be desired.  The book that I re-read was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Obviously that's a good book.  In fact, most teen fiction geared at younger teens is great (i.e. The HARRY POTTER series).  Not that I like that one.

The current book I'm reading is entitled Say You're One of Them, which is a collection of short stories, based in Africa, put together by Akpan Uwem.  It's hard to get through because it is so sad.

Finally, I'm waiting for a book called The Magicians.  I'm just going to link it so that anyone who wants can look at it.  I'm very excited.

Reading is one of my favorite pasttimes because it allows me to have an outlet into other worlds.  Which is pretty great. 

Summer is on June 21st.

So here's an update of my almost-summer...well I've had "summer break" since I literally broke my ankle, but now it's hot too!

1.  I went to Cedar Point with my dad.  It was AMAZING.  My dad's favorite was called The Maverick.  It is the future of roller coasters with a super smooth and fast elevator lift and speeds of 92 mph.  And the first hill was only 100 ft, but went 100 degrees - you seriously feel like you're falling.  My favorite was Millinium Force.  It was built in 2000, and the first hill is 300 feet.  And it was pretty awesome.  Just saying.  

2.  This past weekend I went to Chicago with one of my friends.  It was fun, we visited the Sears Tower, Shedd Aquarium and the Chicago Premium Outlets.  We also hit up a White Sox game.  The sears tower now has a new dealio where you can step out onto a glass box and look straight down, 1030 ft.  This was also super-de-duper cool.  

3.  The weight loss is going pretty well.  I've lost 11 pounds.  Lose It! is working.  Whoop-de-doo.  I hate being healthy.  But unfortunately, I need to be, so I'm keeping it up.  For reals.

4.  Work is crazy.  There's so much drama going on and I try not to get involved, but it's difficult, especially since I'm one of those not-taking-sides people.  But, I'm quitting in exactly 6 weeks and 3 days.  

5.  I'm glad to see my friends who are home!

6.  I've got my crazy family reunion coming up here soon.  I'm sure there will be not only a halt on eating healthy but also some good stories.  Or rants.  

That's pretty much all I've got right now.  I do have some pictures of the things that I've been doing...roller coasters and Chicago, etc.  I promise to put them up later, just as soon as I find my camera cord.  It's mysteriously missing.

Only Shooting Stars Break the Mold

Today, I was listening to the soft rock station.  Yes, I quite like that station, especially at night when Delilah is on even if she is corny and often times picks songs that do not go with the story.  Such as the Mexican Hat Dance.  (It happened once, I promise).

But today, on said soft rock station the song "All Star" came on.  I just now, like a hundred years later, realized how cool that song is.  I actually once had that CD, but I'm not really sure where it went and it's a little bit upsetting to me.**

I mean how clever is this: 

Somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas

I need to get myself away from this place.

I said yep, what a concept I could use a little fuel myself

And we could all use a little change...

As I was blasting this song and remembering all of the words I guess I got a little too excited.

And I just realized that my story went no where...oh well.   It's still a cool song and we all already knew how uncool I am. 

Or maybe how beyond awesome I am....

The Video's pretty Kick-Ass too:

As a side note I do remember the CD disc being light blue and having a little martini glass on it. And I thought it was scandolous!

E-Squared

I've heard it said 

That people come into our lives for a reason 

Bringing something we must learn 

And we are led 

To those who help us most to grow 

If we let them 

And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

Because I knew you

I have been changed for good

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

And because I knew you...

Because I knew you...

Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...

Missing you always, Elizabeth.

Happy Birthday.

E-Squared Forever!

I'm going to make it!

I have never once in my life worked out five days in one week.

This is, of course, discounting when I was a crazy dancer-type, but I'm talking about since I've become fat.

And I'm going to make it.

This whole getting up at the butt crack of dawn thing (5:10) kind of sucks.  But it is not killing me.  I mean I may be going to bed at 9:30, but who cares?  I've always been the old lady type anyway.

The eating fewer calories thing is going pretty well also.  I kind of bank up on the calories and then splurge a little bit.  I figure if I don't, I'll probably die.  Or crack.  Neither of which is a good thing. 

It's a good thing that I like vegetables.  They have negative calories or something.  

Well, celery does.