twenty one

well, it was my birthday. and i am now officially twenty one. the only way i can confirm this is because a) at midnight of my birthday i was let into the bars (though i wasn't even carded) and b) people wished me happy birthday.

other wise, nothing is new.

so how did i spend my birthday? let me tell you.

first off, midnight between mine and j's birthday's, kt drove me downtown to keg and cork and i met up with everyone there. i was hesitant going in. i shouldn't be allowed in bars yet! i'm still too young! i sat in the car with kt for a little bit, not sure if i was ready to go in. i was nervous, but eventually they all came out and gave me hugs. everyone was plastered already and before i knew it, everyone was buying me drinks. red headed sluts, scoobie snack, oatmeal cookie, blow job (and a whip cream fight), another red headed slut, kamakazie, fuckin awesome, rootbeer barrel (too much beer! ick!), and a car bomb (to jaime, who doesn't read this, and nolan: i'm so sorry i couldn't finish that one...it was much too gross. beer just really doesn't do it for me).

then i was all psyched for an after bar party at jaime's but the others either wanted to a) go home or b) go to this other guys house. jaime then decided to go to bed, i went with d and j to this guys house and pretty much just collapsed. wasn't all exciting. bed time: 3 am.

woke up at 10 am to kt and lucas. i got to lay around and be lazy for a little while, freshened up, got a wicked awesome gift for kt and then we hit up quizno's for lots of honey mustard goodness. i even broke in and decided i could break my no pop rule for the day. then we went to the mall where i bought a shirt that was much deserving of my special day (shake it don't break it martini shirt! which i have to get a smaller size in...). i also bought some more sunglasses to rock out in later that night.

coming back to the house, kt headed for work and i changed and headed for the golf course. it was perfect weather for golfing...nice and sunny. i was the only one on the range, so i turned up the stereo in my car (bowling for soup cd - wonderfully fun) and i hit balls in my tank top. i'm pretty pleased with the way i've been hitting. i think i need to play a game sometime.

after my golfing extravaganza, i decided to head over and see j, t, and d at there place and on the way, i discovered a funny hidden track on my bfs cd. good times. i also ran into a strawberry stand where i bought some extrememly good fresh picked strawberries. they just melt in your mouth...wonderful. brought them over to the girls and grabbed hot rollers from j so i could do my hair for the night.

got back to my place and proceeded to pretty up as at 7 i had people over for grilling fun. we got the grill going and i was surprised at all who came out to wish me happy birthday. or maybe it was just the free food. i don't know, but i was happy. thank you everyone for the wonderful gifts! j also bought fireworks and we set them off in style. i have to go finish cleaning the backyard tonight.

at 11 (wish it was sooner, but ya know) we finally headed to t'juans for two for ones. more fun drinks and a game of darts. i found out i rock at darts. i think i need to turn professional. then we hit up some bars downtown where we found out, we were the party. no one was there. so then we headed out to slims where we found jaime (yay!) and we partied it up out there. and then...

it was over. i came home, told kt how my night went, and then, i went to bed.

and today i'm sore and tired.

but alive.

and happy.

and i'm twenty one!

talk to you all later...

this is what i did to myself.



ouch.

OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE

1) When I die, I want to die like my grandfather--who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car." --Author Unknown

2) Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: "Take two aspirin" and "Keep away from children." --Author Unknown

3) "Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar." --Drew Carey

4) "The problem with the designated driver program, it's not a desirable job, but if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it. At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house." --Jeff Foxworthy

5) "If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base." --Dave Barry

6) "My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach you how to swim.'" --Paula Poundstone

7) "I think that's how Chicago got started. Bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't cold enough. Let's go west.'" --Richard Jeni

8) "Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography." --Paul Rodriguez

9) "My parents didn't want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty and that's the law."
--Jerry Seinfeld

10) "Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same." --Oscar Wilde

11) "Suppose you were an idiot ... And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." --Mark Twain

12) "Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student. At least they can find Afghanistan." --A. Whitney Brown

13) "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry

14) Do you know why they call it "PMS"? Because "Mad Cow Disease" was taken. --Unknown, presumed deceased

what not to do

got the dizzies last night - again. it's nothing new. but i got them. i walked over to the boy's house with them and pretty much couldn't walk a straight line. kt freaked out when i told her i had them, and that i went running with them earlier. it wasn't that bad...you just can't move your head. it was better though after i drank some water, which maybe that was the problem, and that i needed sleep, but i had already downed so much water today...

i also went to a swim meet last night. i wanted to watch my kids. they did alright, nothing too huge. i talked to some of them, some of them were really excited to see me. my 7 year old is still wondering when i'm coming back. i'm not sure what to tell her. she's very smart and curious and talkative for a 7 year old, and it's hard to get stuff past her..."I'm not...maybe." I said to her, when are you going to come and coach? What I really wanted to say, "As far as I know I'm not coming back to coach because Woody, your dad's best friend, screwed me over and for some reason doesn't like me. Go ask your dad why I'm not coaching, he may have a better answer." but i love the kid and wouldn't say that to her, or have something for the swim team to come back to me with. but i sat with the other parents, the one's who have taken me under their wing, really looked out for me. the one's who don't like woody either. i had a good time, and scored 2 free tickets to their chicken dinner, which i was planning on buying anyway.

so yeah.

i'm really tired lately, too. went to bed at midnight last night and have a hard time getting up in the morning. i should really try 8 hours of sleep sometime...might do me good.

maple lake on friday!

6 day countdown....it's coming!

for me to remember:

www.straightforwardmedia.com

this is my summer...

sitting in a basement office, freezing, while the rest of my friends enjoy the warm weather. ughh...sucks.

yesterday i did get outside though. i skipped out of an hour and a half of work to get outside and get my daily excercise in. i grabbed my rollarblades and did a power session over on the bike trail. then (score!) we got out of work early. so i got paid to eat supper and take a bike ride around the lake. sweet it was, but don't wear flip flops on a power session bike ride around the lake. i kind of killed my ankle...but walkings ok so i'm not concerned.

good news is, i think i've earned myself enough hours to take friday and tuesday off. friday i'm going to go to the lake to visit gizmo and tuesday...well it's my birthday. so then i'm going to take wednesday morning off and just sleep in a little. who knows what they will make me do tuesday night. hopefully nothing too bad. hopefully i'll remember the halo :)

i haven't seen 2 of my boys since thursday night. don't know what to think about that. maybe i should just give it a rest for awhile. they can come find me. but i do know one of them is very busy. the 3rd one i saw for 10 minutes last night. he used to be a singer and he was trying to see if i knew a certain song...so he sang it all out. it was pretty powerful to say the least.

kt and i raided the grocery store last night, coming out victorious. we now have food. yay us!

i have to figure out final details for jeni's birthday, and mine. hmmm...i should go see her tonight.

talk to you all later...it's the 1 week count down!

my birthday last year, as told by square

Yesterday was Andi's birthday. I went over to her house around 4:30 and picked up Gizmo. We headed out to Wal-Mart to grab a few last minute things and then got a cake from the DQ. After dropping that off at the house me, gizmo, and one of her roommies went in search of Andi's breeze(car) to decorate it. After driving around we finally came to the conclusion that we'd indeed passed it. We pulled up and wrote on the windows and tied balloons on the antenna and hooked some under the windshield whipers. I'm kinda disappointed that the ones on the window didn't even make it the 10 min needed before Andi came out of work. Oh, well. We had Green Mill pizza and ice cream cake. Most of the people there I didn't know. Later Booty, Andi, Katie, and I went to the movie "Dodgeball." It was pretty good....except for the last part. We'll just leave it at that. On to the Newman only to unsuccessfully light the bonfire. We spent about 2 books of matches on that and nothing to show for it. Andi wanted to get to perkins so she could get her free birthday pie. Of course they charge for the ala mode.....whatever! After Booty attemtped to set Andi up with one or maybe two of her brothers we all ended up leaving, which I think was best beacuse someone was going to die...just not sure who. I guess even being serious about things that Andi sees as teasing isn't a good idea. Man, I was being honest and I still feard my life from about 12:30am - 2:00am. Lucky I'm alive to write about it. After dropping Andi off at home I headed back to the Newman to camp out. That's pretty much how my version of Andi's birthday went.

weekend

this last weekend was a good one, although i missed all my fellow btowners. after booty met up with me in btown (yay!), we headed to winger to visit nate, which it was a grand time. booty talked non-stop and nate's dad gave her nothing but crap, so it was a whole lot of entertainment for me. nate showed up at his house later than he expected (due to him having the chance to ride a harley and then he sort of fell off...or basically the harley decided it wanted to lay down) and then after trying to convice booty we wanted to go visit danielle at lakeview, she wanted to eat in mahnomen at the casino...and she pretty much had the final word, so nate ended up taking us out to eat at the casino's buffet, which was really good. i then brought nate back to his house i then headed onward towards egf.

once home, i headed out to the wedding reception that i was squeak's date for. we partied it up like rock stars until the mosquitos started biting, and then i headed home.

saturday morning was day one of zerek and alli's meet, so i headed to und and watched them and talked to swimmers i used to swim with. i got to play with jackson, my coach's son, which was fun. alli had an awesome 50 butterfly, so that was cool. she made top 8 in the 50 free shootout but was ousted for the top 4. zerek made top 4 though however, but was ousted the next day.

squeak and i hit up shops where i got a new swimsuit and we picked up hair dye. then going back to her house, we dyed her hair a new darker shade before heading to my place for a taco supper. then back at her place, i got low lights (which you can just barely see...i think i needed darker) and we whipped up butterscotch choc. chip cookies and watched queer eye for the straight guy, the one with the quints. it was highly entertaining.

sunday morning, i attempted to kill my dog with a run in high humidity and heat. but we both lived and were good. i made it to the meet to see zerek and alli's 400's. alli got a new best time. excitement. after the meet we headed for g and g's for food and visiting. there was a lot of good food and all i remember was that i got really full. then i drove back to btown.

goal for the week: no pizza, stick to ww plan. don't get off!
need to do some type of workout each day...even if it's just push ups and situps.

8 days until my bday...it'll be fun! now i just have to finish planning...hmmmmm.....

mystery call

someone called me at 7 am this morning. i wasn't able to answer it because i was in the shower. calling the number back, i find that it's a prepaid phone card.

who tried to call me at 7 am this morning??

all i can think of would be the boys...they don't have a cell phone, so they would use a phone card. but i know they wouldn't be up at 7 am. weird.

at least they could have left a message...or called back.

i'm curious.

yes, it's true

booty is coming to btown tomorrow. and i get to hang with her. sweetie-o!

it's also true that during my lunch break, i put on a tank and shorts and ate my soup picnic style out in my back yard, soaking up sun and my cosmopolitan magazine.

yes, it is sweet.

bring on summer!

to do next friday (aka: when i get paid)

-send payment off to chase credit card
-pay old navy bill
-put money aside for rent
-oil change!
-utilities?
-$20 to mom
-groceries!
-on b-day: go re-new license ($15?)

baby got book?

Christian remake of Sir Mix-A-Lot's classic rap, "Baby Got Back". "I like big Bibles I can not lie, / You Christian brothers can’t deny, / When a girl walks in with a KJV* / And a bookmark in proverbs, You get stoked" * King James Version

http://www.milkandcookies.com/links/25512

haha!

wanna make your friends laugh?

suck in some helium and start rapping vanilla ice. gets me every time.

some truths

-i'm slightly bored at work
-but i do have work to do
-but i would rather be typing in here...
-i'm such a procrastinator
-i'm really tired
-getting up in the morning is hard to do
-it's getting hard to stay out late with friends, i get to tired
-13 days till my 21st!
-i hate it when guy friends talk about which girls they think are hot in front of you
-but i still want to know which girls they think are hot
-it's gonna be hot and sunny this weekend and i'm gonna get tan
-actually the above is somewhat of a lie...
-i'm gonna burn, because i don't tan
-i'm excited to go to the wahoo meet this weekend
-i should probably go buy a new three barreller so squeak can use it
-i don't like it when friends criticize me on which guys i want to be with

i'm bored

im me so i can do something

this puts a smile to my face:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/rent/high.html

a site to see

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

a blog where people send in there deepest and sometimes darkest secrets annonymously an then they are posted to this site. some make me laugh...



and some really touch me that people have those type of secrets...



i want to send a secret in, but don't know if i have a secret worthy enough to tell.

Which Member of The Baby-Sitters Club Are You?

the many hairstyles of zerek

just thought i would share these found pictures of my brother from this past weekend.  his hair is usually like the first one at swim meets but for some reason he decided to whip up the ever mighty combover for who knows what reason.  he must have had some business to take care of.  what a dork.

sweet!

these aren't my best times...i had some pretty awesome high school swims, but the fact that i could find my posted times from my last couple of meets way back in 01 is pretty awesome!


check it out!

up and running

well, due to lack of anything to do right now, i'm updating. yes, it's true.

we finally got internet and cable hooked up at the house so that is pretty exciting. it's nice to feel "connected" again.

yesterday was different. i didn't go to see the boys. they didn't call me. i wonder if i didn't go over there if we would even hang out. i wonder about things like that. is it just a guy thing? or is this just a sign that they don't really want me around? i want them to call and be like, hey, you should come over. because i really do hate just showing up at other people's houses unannounced. i don't know...i'm confused. and babbling. i don't understand boys....but i wish i did. or maybe i do understand them, but just like to say i don't because i have found out how shallow they can be...or maybe shallow is not the right word. how about, how unlike me they can be. because if i was them, i would calling me to see what i was up to and want to hang out.

so those are the random thoughts running through my head.

that and "the guy" has on his msn messenger: she got me sick. i know it wasn't me, which grosses me out...slightly. not much i can do about it. just wish i could get the courage to talk to him, but by now it's pretty pointless. just don't like thinking that i almost became 'another girl' and the fact that i still think that he could possibly think that i could be his girl. ick. freshman year all over again. why me? i really need to talk to him.

i'm sure that's too much information that you don't need to know.

last night i got a call from one of the board members on the swim team letting me know that she had not forgotten about me. she told me what's going on and her concerns and how hard she has it on the board ( i completely agree). i think the first wrong step was when they hired the head supervisor and gave him all the power. never hire a coach and give them all the power. i've seen it all happen before...ego gets inflated and they run with it, with all the parents trying to pull the reins from behind. i told the board member my decision and why i was feeling this way, how all the coaches are treating me like dirt and how it was just heart breaking to see my kids in there and they didn't even know what's going on. supposedly they don't have a coach for the fall, but i may have to hold an upper hand at this...this may sound horrible, but this could be good. why does this all have to be so confusing?

other than that, that's life. pretty dull, pretty boring, lots of working. i get paid tomorrow, which is a God send as i really have some bills to pay off (car, cable, credit, cell....all those c's!!). and i need to stop spending. no more spending money on clothes. it's killing me!

ok, enough babbling. works boring, you get the point.

drop a comment to help cure me from boredom...thanks.

yup


Cocktail


?? Which Alcoholic Drink Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla

song of the summer (so far...) hehe

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE LYRICS

"Hey Julie"

Working all day for a mean little man
With a clip-on tie and a rub-on tan
He's got me running 'round the office like a dog around a track
But when I get home,
You're always there to rub my back

Hey Julie,
Look what they're doing to me
Trying to trip me up
Trying to wear me down
Julie, I swear, it's so hard to bear it
And I'd never make it through without you around

Hours on the phone making pointless calls
I got a desk full of papers that means nothing at all
Sometimes I catch myself staring into space
Counting down the hours 'til I get to see your face

Hey Julie,
Look what they're doing to me
Trying to trip me up
Trying to wear me down
Julie, I swear, it's so hard to bear it
And I'd never make it through with out you around
No, I'd never make it through with out you around

[Bridge]
How did it come to be
That you and I must be
Far away from each other every day?
Why must I spend my time
Filling up my mind
With facts and figures that never add up anyway?
They never add up anyway

Working all day for a mean little guy
With a bad toupee and a soup-stained tie
He's got me running 'round the office
Like a gerbil on a wheel
He can tell me what to do
But he can't tell me what to feel

Hey Julie,
Look what they're doing to me
Trying to trip me up
Trying to wear me down
Julie, I swear, it's so hard to bear it
And I'd never make it through with out you around
No, I'd never make it through without you around
No, I'd never make it through with out you around

always on my mind

Collide
by Howie Day

Song details
Name Collide
Artist(s) Howie Day
Album(s) Stop All the World Now (2003)

Song lyrics
The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

But I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find, you and I collide

I'm quiet, you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know
I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
You somehow find, you and I collide

Don't stop here
I've lost my place
I'm close behind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find, you and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide

i'm in love with this song. and probably more in love with it because of the 2 guys who play guitar and sing it to me when i visit them at their house. i love it.

top 10 reasons it's ok andi no longer coaches:

1. she no longer has to get up at the butt crack of dawn for the rest of summer = staying out later!
2. weekends are free!!
3. no more traveling all over the state of mn at the butt crack of dawn on weekends for swim meets
4. no more dealing with crappy (crabby, stupid, impossibly, don't know much about coaching) co-coaches
5. no more explaining myself and my decisions to parents
6. no more dealing with swimmers excuses (which she made up most of them herself 10 years ago when she swam)
7. no more making up work outs at her other job = more time to surf the internet!
8. no more being put down by the board because they think she is some young girl who doesn't know how to coach or run a swim team, which in fact she knows how to do quiet well.
9. her friends don't have to here her complain about her co-coaches and board anymore.
10. she doesn't have to schedule time off of work for the morning after her 21st!!


so this whole not coaching anymore is starting to look up. although i miss my swimmers like no other, i'm starting to realize how much easier my life will be (see above). plus, i may have a job for for july, which is when i would be left jobless!! so i think this was all meant to be. i'll keep you posted. it's funny how life can go from crappy to being much better in a matter of hours

just a bad day getting better

a convo between squeak and me, summing up all i wanted to put in here but didn't feel like typing up:

eek says:
hey

andi says:
hi

andi says:
how's it goin?

eek says:
pretty good

andi says:
good to hear

eek says:
you?

andi says:
pretty shitty but my day is getting better

andi says:
the swim team screwed me over but i may already have a new job lined up and danielle is coming up and we're gonna party tonight with my boys so it's getting much much better

eek says:
no swim coaching?

andi says:
nope...but i'm starting to see the pluses to noy coaching

eek says:
why no coaching?

andi says:
long story short...they hired this guy who is called the head supervisor or something like that, and he has this clique of coaches and since i went to europe (which i told the rest of the board i was doing a YEAR in advanced) he took the opportunity to hire his clique of coaches which most of them had already quit in the past due to the fact they weren't happy with how things are run. i don't think the other coaches like me very much because i'm not in their "clique" which i don't want to be in anyways. so yeah, i cried this morning because of the injustice of it all and how much i will miss my swimmers and how happy they were to see me and they don't know that woody doesn't want to hire me back and he was just an ass to me this morning, so even if they do need more coaches after they see how many swimmers are going to swim, i'm not going to do it. i'm tired of their BS. grrrr....


YEAH

summertime

so i thought i should post. pretty sure no one is even reading this any more but someone always amazes me. i finally got my eurospring homework done. it's such a relief to have it finally done. homework free for summer!

i went over to the boy's place last night and hung out. i actually hung out with them and didn't drink. wow - that basically needed to happen as i think i've had my fair share. 21 in t-minus 26 days! augh! it'll be a party.

in other news i've had plenty of chances to talk to that one guy about that one night and every chance i chicken out. don't know why. but i'm thinking maybe an email. i hate stuff like this but i know i will feel better after it happens.

swimming starts next week. 6 am wake up calls and crabby co-coaches: NOT EXCITED. but i can't wait to see my kids...or the few that are still left after the board pissed their parents off. i will miss them even more. sometimes i think it might be better if i just didn't coach. more free time and not so much stress. but i coach because i love to coach, not because i love to make the board members mad...which only happens because they make me mad. trust me, i don't get mad unless you give me a reason to be.

i was just reading other swimmers blogs who are all getting geared up for summer practice. i miss the days of summer practice, chlorine and all day at the pool. except it was indoor so that's not always so cool. what i want this summer: lots of time outside and a great tan. we'll see if that happens when you work 3 indoor jobs in the the month of june. but that's ok, it's warmer in july and august anyways.

o yeah, and also, in t minus 26 days...square comes back to the grand state of minnesota. hugs and simple green to follow...plus who knows what other craziness.

anyone want to come up and visit? you should. i'll show you a good time.

but for now...back to work. computers are starting to become the devil. ick.

SUMMERTIME!!

20 Questions to a Better Personality

Wackiness: 56/100
Rationality: 46/100
Constructiveness: 78/100
Leadership: 44/100

You are a WECF--Wacky Emotional Constructive Follower.

This makes you a Candle burning at both ends.You work until you drop, and you play until you can stand to work again. You have so much enthusiasm that you can find it hard to control on your own, and you appreciate the guidance that channels your energy and lets you be your best.In a relationship, you require lots of attention and support. You often over-contribute and end up feeling depleted and cheated. You may benefit from more time alone than you grant yourself.Your driving force is the emotional support of others--especially affection. You can run on empty for miles if you have positive energy behind you. Without it--as it occasionally must run dry--you are depressive, listless, and difficult to motivate.You need a lot of affection. Get it any way you can, but never at the cost of your self-respect or well-being.

Of the 123426 people who have taken this quiz since tracking began (8/17/2004), 7.6 % are this type.

take this quiz

i love this picture

home

well, i'm back in the US. working. major credit card bills to pay off, but it will be done. job hunting, a thing from the past, has come upon me again. not so much fun but the thrill of learning new things, being in a new environment and meeting new people awaits!

i'm not going to post much now...i have to finish my trip on my other blog before i come back here...and i have picures! they will come soon.

see you around in Btown.

i've been gone...


...and i'll be gone some more. tomorrow i leave for the cities and then thursday, europe! my gosh, i never thought it would be here. for the next 2 months you can catch me here:

www.jetseteurope.blogspot.com

see ya in a few!

drop me a comment...

hAppY dAncE!!!

we got a house! we got a house! we got a house! me, kt and i'm not sure who else yet! one block from bsu!! we got a house! we got a house! we got a house!

now all i need is my deposit...shoot.

i'll tell you about my weekend if you tell me about yours

i'm going to make this quick because i want to go to bed...

so this last weekend i was in alexandria for a swim meet. i had two of my swimmers staying with me due to the fact that they wanted to go to the meet and they didn't have the money. no problem.

we had a great meet. everyone cut times! a coach's dream. it was so dang hot in there however i thought someone would pass out due to heat exhaustion. well, they did drag one swimmer out during the 1650 for what they are thinking is oxygen deprevation. we don't know.

and saturday night? it was napoleon dynamite night as the two girls (who brought me back to high school) decided to dress in their nerdest attire and half painted make-uped faces in horrible colors and walk around target.

i agreed to take them under one condition. stay away from me in the store.

all went well until checkout and they were right ON me. i thought i would dye as the cashier dude was checking me out (as in ringing up my items) o my.

it was good times though. augh...2 more days of swimming left!

F I R S T S
First best friend: Britton Smith...from what i hear, we were in love at age 3...weird

First car: 89 ford escort. my brothers have beaten it up since but it's still in the family and a sweet car to drive with the stick shift and purple tinted windows

First break-up: you need to have a first hook-up to have a first break-up

First screen name: i think it was just andi

First self purchased album: ahhh....probably backstreet boys or something...spice girls?

First funeral: my cousin's newborn daughter

First pets: my dog brandy, he was my watch dog.

First piercing/tattoo: ears, piercing of course.

L A S T S
Last cigarette: have to have a first to have a last

Last car ride: running errands around town at lunch time today

Last good cry: haven't had a GOOD cry in awhile...but i do tear up and then hide them tears away

Last library book checked out: i checked out language audio books that i never listened to and then racked up the over due fees. won't be going back to that library ever.

Last movie seen: the prince and me

Last beverage drank: mr. pibb, right now

Last food consumed: mickey d's chicken selects

Last phone call: zach, late last night

Last time showered: last night at 11 pm

Last shoes worn: my crappy payless brown shoes...i need them to fall apart

Last item bought: lunch at mickey d's on the go!

Last annoyance: my brothers immature girlfriend

Last time wanting to die: ummm...does that just mean most embarrassing moment? because i don't remember ever wanting to die

Last time scolded: it's been awhile. i'm just such a good kid


S P E C I F I C S
Do you do drugs? yeah...ummmm no

What kind of shampoo do you use? john frieda sheer blonde moisterizing for carmel colored hair...i suppose you didn't need to know all that

What are you most scared of? falling

What are you listening to right now? the silence of the work office

Where do you want to get married? a big ol church...probably my church

How many buddies are online right now? umm, msn is being stupid and i can't get online...but i'm sure it would be around 10-15

What would you change about yourself? my procrastination problems

F A V O R I T E S
Color: all shades of blue, but especially teal

food: chicken

Boy name: jaden

Girl name: there's so many

Subjects in school: art art and more art

Animal: dolphins and dogs...whoohoo

Sports: swimming!

Cologne: one of my guy friends used to have this awesome smelling stuff that i just loved, he didn't know this but oooo i could smell that for days...i don't even know what it was called

H A V E Y O U E V E R
Bungee jumped? nope but i could have...go look under what i'm most scared of.

Made yourself throw up? no, can't stand throwing up, i try to prevent it

Skinny dipped? yeah

Ever been in love? nope

Made yourself cry to get out of trouble? hahaha...unfortunatly i've done it often...but not lately

Pictured your crush naked? ummm yeah

Actually seen your crush naked? if you're taking far-fetched crush, how about a skin tight speedo fs2 swim suit? but if realistically...no

Cried when someone died? you wouldn't shed at least one tear?

Lied? yes. who hasn't?

Fallen for your best friend? not my best friend but a *GUY friend*
Been rejected? i've never asked

Rejected someone? yeah, but...ewww, i'm sorry but i had to

Used someone? nope

Done something you regret? at first yes, but eventually no...

C U R R E N T
Clothes: jeans, T, zip-up

Music: none..office silence...

Make-up: foundation, blush, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, lip crap...all that just to look good?

Annoyance: people's inablility to make a decision

Smell: it was my mickey d food...

Favorite artist: bowling for soup!

Desktop picture: window's xp professional basic backgroud...work is boring

Dvd in player: none right now

Color of toenails: just painted them a sparkly coral color this last weekend...a perfect spring color!

L A S T P E R S O N
You touched: idk...probably one of my swimmers from this weekend...i'm sure i there was some contact somehow...and hopefully this question isn't intended to be sick...

Hugged: ummm...probably a roommate...

Imed you: squeak

W H O D O Y O U W A N N A
Kill: i ain't no murderer

Slap: people who need some common sence knocked into them

Get high: hahahahaha!

Look like: myself

W H I C H I S B E T T E R
Coke or pepsi: pepsi

Flowers or candy: flowers

Tall or short: tall or short what?

R A N D O M
In the morning I am: sleepy

All I need is: laughing..and you...o, and honey mustard

Love is: far fetched

I dream about: all sorts of things

What do you notice first about the opposite sex: face and hair

Last person you danced with: this guy at the johnny holms dance at the betty engalstad arena during world junior hockey championships...we two stepped

Who makes you laugh the most: squeak, z-rod, square, booty

D O Y O U E V E R
Sit on the internet all night waiting for that someone to IM you: not all night..ahha

Wish you were a member of the opposite sex: nah, only when i was little and found out they take less amount of time in the shower because they don't have to use conditioner

Wish you were younger: sometimes - but then square would say, "andi kroll, you are the youngest person ever. how old are you? 8? there is no one younger than you."

NUMBER
Of times I have had my heart broken: zippo

Of hearts I have broken: ummm...hopefully none?

Of continents I have lived in: 1

Of tight friends: all sorts

Of cds I own: over 96

Of scars on body: i can count 9...

THE END

N.D. STATE BOYS SWIMMING PRELIMINARIES:
Minot continues dominance

Grand Forks swims well on first day

By Brad Schlossman

Herald Staff Writer


It's the first day of the North Dakota state boys swimming tournament, and some of the suspense already is gone.

Coaches will be pushing their swimmers to compete against the clock and not for the team title. Everyone already knows who will bring that home.

Minot has dominated North Dakota competition all year long. The Magicians have good talent in the program and just as important, they have the numbers, too.

"We've got a good feeder program," Minot coach Ken Disher said. "We've got a good middle school program that gets kids interested in swimming at that age."

Minot's success is the envy of the other programs in the state.

Minot won nine of the 12 events in the West Region meet last weekend in Mandan. That led the way to a team title. The same dominance is expected this weekend in the Hyslop Sports Center in Grand Forks.

The preliminaries were held Friday afternoon at Hyslop and the finals start today at 1:30 p.m. The diving will start at 11 a.m.

"We have a talented group of swimmers," Disher said. "It's a senior dominated team. We have a bunch of seniors out there."

The Magicians have had their share of good teams, but Disher said none of the other teams have anything on this year's squad.

"This one has to rank right up there at or near the top," he said.

With its success, the Magicians have lost a number of top swimmers because of graduation. And two years ago, they lost star Matt Lowe after his junior year because he opted to try for the 2004 Olympic team. Lowe is now swimming at NCAA Division I University of Texas. But even so, the Magicians haven't had a problem replacing them.

"It's been a real good run," Disher said.

Disher said he's not focused on seeing the Magicians dominate as a team, though. "I'm more interested in seeing the boys swim fast," he said. "I hope they get their fastest time of the year here."

Grand Forks has big day

Jake Gerszewski took first in the 200 freestyle preliminary and second in the 100 backstroke leading a strong day for Grand Forks swimmers.

"We had an incredible day today," Grand Forks coach Brent Newman said. "The guys swam as well as they could today. We had a number of guys move themselves up and place and we had zero disappointing swims."

Zerek Kroll and Ian Peterson both swam well in the 200 and 500 freestyle prelims. Peterson finished third in the 200 in 1:50.40 and third in the 500 with a time of 5:04.92. Kroll finished in fifth in the 200 in 1:51 and fourth in the 500 in 5:05.44.

"Zerek dropped over 18 seconds in the 500 freestyle," Newman said. "Both Ian and Zerek did exceptionally well."

Other top-eight finishes for the KnightRiders were Ty Nimens in the 200 IM (third, 2:05.99) and the 100 breaststroke (fifth, 1:04.06); Jared Zygarlicke in the 100 butterfly (seventh, :59.9); and Ethan Nimens in the 500 freestyle (eighth, 5:22.19).

N.D. STATE BOYS SWIMMING MEET PREVIEW:
Grand Forks hopes for more surprises

KnightRiders' Kroll saving his best for last

By Brad Schlossman

Herald Staff Writer


Three teams held their breath during the last race at the East Region boys swimming meet.

The winner of the meet was to be decided in the 400 freestyle relay, the final race.

"It was very close," Grand Forks coach Brent Newman said. "It was one of the most exciting East Region meets in a while. I'm still recuperating from it."

The KnightRiders didn't end up winning the race or the meet. But the fact that they were in position to do so satisfied Newman. And for that, the KnightRiders can in part thank a surprising effort by junior Zerek Kroll.

Kroll's finish in the 200 freestyle helped the KnightRiders to a third-place finish, just 11 points behind first-place West Fargo and three behind Fargo South.

Kroll swam a season-best 1:53 in the 200 freestyle to place second.

"I was really jacked for it," said Kroll, who admitted his finish surprised him. "I just went out there and swam as fast as I could. It was exciting."

The main reason Kroll's finish was surprising was because he wasn't completely rested for the meet. Grand Forks' aim all season was to physically prepare swimmers for this weekend's North Dakota state meet - not the regional.

"We did not expect him to drop that much time," Newman said of Kroll, whose previous best in the event was 1:56. "That definitely helped us out. Now, this week, we're slowing down his pace a little bit and getting him rested."

Newman has told his athletes to pay attention to their times and not what place they finish in during a race. Kroll's goal this weekend at state in UND's Hyslop Sports Center is to cut three more seconds off his time and finish at 1:50.

"In the last month, he's really stepped up his training," Newman said. "He's really gotten his head into it.

"He really brings a lot to the team. He has a great sense of humor, and he really lightens up the mood. His easy-going attitude helps him in training."

Grand Forks hopes to finish in the top three at the state meet, which runs today and Saturday.

"That would be great if we finished third," Kroll said.

If the KnightRiders are to place in the top three, they could use more surprising performances. Jared Zygarlicke (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke) and Matt Finley (100 butterfly, 200 individual medley) both will be looking for top-eight finishes.

Grand Forks' three all-conference swimmers also will be looking for high finishes. Ian Peterson is ranked third in the 500 freestyle. Ty Nimens is seeded third in the 200 individual medley and also will be looking for a high finish in the 100 breaststroke.

And the KnightRiders' top hope to bring home a state title is Jake Gerszewski, who is the top seed in the 200 freestyle and second seed in the 100 backstroke.

"They are prepared to do well," Newman said. "The guys trained extremely hard this year. They really bought into what we're doing, and they know what they want to accomplish. I think the guys are ready for it."

Any more surprises, like Kroll's last weekend, are welcome.

"We would like to see that from all the guys," Newman said.

multitasking

so last night, i had a number of things to do, some of them getting done, some of them not so much. i was going to finish my stupid eurospring workshop paper but my friend chris called me up asking if i wanted to watch ray.

chris...i've got a paper to finish.

he had a thesis to finish.

we'll multitask he said.

but did we? no.

the movie was too good.

dang good friends and good movies.

this paper could be done by now.

but good friends and good movies definetly over rule.

especially when you will miss good friends and good movies for 2 months.

ahem

i have found my voice...unfortunatly. i liked not having it for awhile.

scared

so. 20 DAYS.


aghghghggh.

it's so scarry.

what the hell am i doing going to europe?

who's idea was this?

2 whole months?

ooo my.

it is something i want to do. but each day i am reminded of all that i will be missing here at home. my swimming kids and the transformation of the team. who wants to turn them over to someone else that won't train them correctly? not me.

and i'm going to miss the last 2 months of spending with people until they graduate. all those seniors and the people in my class that are graduating a year early.

i'll miss my parents anniversary, my first easter without my family (granted i will be with a friend and her family in berlin...)

and the habitat trip...o, i'll miss my habifamers so much. i will miss going on the trip, raking in the spring, cleaning the highway, trips to itasca state park, perkins...

and who wants to sit 8 hours in a plane over the ocean? aughghg.

but, o, i can't wait for the experience of europe!

things to do before i leave:
-finish my paper before tomorrow...stupid architecture in germany, austria and czech republic..
-finish my power point on the tate galleries...it's gonna rock!
-talk to pinnacle about a possible internship
-talk to the banks about best way to access money over in europe
-plan a party with the swim team...where, i don't know
-figure out summer plans
-find a place to stay for next year
-freak out
-load up on drugs to sedate me on the plane ride
-say goodbye to all my friends in btown before i leave
-talk in TO booty, not to her answering machine
-talk to square, nate
-see my grandparents
-maybe see squeak?
-can i add more? possibly

-remind myself to breathe...

you can't hear me

i have lost my voice. i lost it sunday night, and it reappeared further into the night but come monday morning it had once again run away.

it's ok though. it's kind of fun losing your voice. it adds a little variety to your life.

plus, it's funny to listen to :)

haha!

to all my swimmers...

i hope they all get what they want tomorrow. whether it be state times, B times or just getting through the meet. i want to add to the roster of who's going to finals and i hope that i can let them all go...swim fast BASS!

like brother like sister

i was talking to my little brother zerek today and we were going over his swimming times. it's great. he's a backstroker just like me and a distancer. just like me. he probably requests to train distance and back just so he can be just like me. he knows it. he doesn't read this either so more power to me. hehe.

crazy nights

well, last night was a doozy. i was up until 5 fricken am. well actually, out and about, not just lazing it up on someones couch. first we went to a close friends apartment were there was laughs, pizza, card games and a shorten small version of 7 minutes in heaven. not for me, but for 2 friends. so middle school and the best part was that that's what we liked about it.

then out to a-frame where the shots were free and people were just having fun. found out i should actually be watching my roommates a little more closer. one's regretting all the things she can't remember.

at 3 we went to perkins with a guy that will be coming to europe with me. he's has that serious sarcastic sense of humor much like my cousin and it's freakin funny. i can't wait.

tonight? back to the a-frame since we couldn't successfully locate the hockey party. just for friends. i love dding. i will never drink. takes the fun away. well, maybe one day. but being able to remember for your friends in the morning is priceless.

bedtime

i think an early bedtime is in store for me. life is depressing and i think i need more sleep. i guess that's what a boring job and swim team board meetings can do to you. i'll tell you more later. you should go to bed too.

question of heart

should i feel bad that in my 20 years of existance I have never experienced a true valentine's day? or even a date for that reason? or should i be embrassing the singleness that i want so desperatly to shed?

sadness

lindsi jo's blog has been moved.

m. i. a.

ash wednesay

"...as you have ash smeared on your head and the paster receits, 'remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,'..."

it was purifing i guess, i haven't been to ash wednesday in a long time. it was kind of neat, later that night at the rec center, to have people either star at you or tell you, "hey, i'm glad you went to ash wednesday."

finally!

it's a movie about swimming! it's about freakin time someone made one (and it's about a backstroker -yay!-, although aussie - oy,oy,oy! - ...i think the michael phelps story will have to be produced next...)! laura, we will definetly have to go and see this one together, and maybe afterwards finally sit down and watch that swim fan movie.

watch the trailer here

You Belong in 1967

1967 If you scored... 1950 - 1959: You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in! 1960 - 1969: You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too. 1970 - 1979: Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all! 1980 - 1989: Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day. 1990 - 1999: With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Your Dominant Intelligence is Spatial Intelligence

You've got a good sense of space and how the world around you looks. You can close your eyes and "see" images. You have innate artistic talent. An eye for color and shapes, you're also a natural designer. Since you think in pictures, visual aids and demonstartions help you learn best. You would make a good navigator, sculptor, visual artist, inventor, architect, interior designer, or engineer.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

it's here!

my passport came yesterday. it's weird how much excitment it holds, there's something very important feeling about it and i like that important feeling. 44 days...a month and a half...it's unreal how close it's getting!

odd events

it's been one helluva weekend. one thing right after the next. let me see if i can summerize for you.

first off, battle of the bands was a blast! it went exactly as planned except for one little thing...we had so many people! we had no idea what to expect for attendance and the audience really rocked the ballroom. we had such great bands too. i couldn't have asked for a better lineup. our emcee was great also and my fellow habitaters too! they worked so hard and everything was just fantastic. we had 2 hard core bands to start out with, who did bring quite a few groupies, one particularly brought quite a few from the high school and i remember hearing lots of talk about curfews. then the next band was one that one of my co-workers played in and they were doing me a huge favor as one of my bands backed out at last second - and, guess what...they won! it was amazing. the fourth band was a school favorite, but again, they were hard christian rock (i guess they call it screamo). then the last band was just fun. they were a family band from bagley and they played some good country and us habitaters, after working so hard all day, finally got the chance to get down and boogie. it was grand.

the next morning i woke up at 6 (5 hours of sleep) and drove myself and 2 swimmers to DL. we had a pretty good swim meet there, a couple of dq's and some great time drops. my mom and sister and i drove back to gf from there were i met up with the roommies and we went to the und vs. bsu game. unfortunatly bsu lost, it was probably because i was there. we were sitting by nate but then switched over to where there were more bsu fans and the band. i wish i would have gotten to see nate a little longer, although he may tease me relentlessly, i really miss the guy. after the game we went and changed to go out dancing and went and picked up some fellow bsu-ers. the dance was ok...there were a lot of slutty people there and people were smoking all over the place. it's funny how you don't realize that your not used to being aroung smoke since in minnesota there is the smoking ban and in n.d. you can still smoke inside...you don't realize it until you're around it again...it was really weird. the floor at this place was gross...beer all over the place. when it was done i went and got my car and we were leaving and we got onto gateway when i saw the flashing lights. wondering what in the heck i did wrong i pulled over. the officer asked for my driver's license the wiseass in the backseat. aparently, one of my drunk passengers thought he was flicking off the car of some friends but actually flicked off the police officer. he was going to take the guy to jail for this but according the guy the dispatcher asked the officer what he wanted to take him in for and when the officer told him the dispatcher said "on the charge of what?" the officer let him return to my car and then proceeded to tell me that i would have had to go in too as i am responsible for my passengers. ok, i'm the d.d. i can make sure that my passengers are buckled up and get home safely, but while i'm driving, i'm not responsible for trying to keep the middle finger of one of my passengers from sticking up and pointing out the window, I'M DRIVING FOR GOD'S SAKE. unbelievable.

so then we decided to go to another party. once we do a drop off, t and i decided to go get breakfast in the morning but can't find anything open at 2 in the morning. go figure. so we drove around, went back and i decided to sleep in the car instead of going inside. i have now been up for 20 hours, i'm tired and my eyes hurt due to my dried out contacts. so i start to bring my new passengers home (we dropped off the other bsu-ers after the police incident) and they decide that they're hungery so we stop at valley dairy. while they are inside 2 guys pulled up in a car and so i rolled down my window a little bit and they told me i looked tired. if i had a speck bit more energy and nerve i would have told them how my whole night was going (including the fact that i was sore due to my fall on my parents driveway, the tiredness and the police incident) but i just told them that, yeah, i was. then they asked if i want to drink with them. yeah, right. i just told them that i was going to bed and they left. stupid kids. this may also be the reason i will never have boyfriend. i just would rather not talk to guys i don't know.

and then, finally, we make it back to my house. where i sleep hardcore. on my couch. and i wake up with a replica of the black marker design that was on my hand from the dance last night. augghhh memories.

songs for happiness

after driving all over the state of minnesota and part of north dakota in the last week, i was eagerly awaiting my drive back to bemidji today where i would be able to drive by myself and blare my music. there's something theraputic (sp?) about my music that i love. i was going through and discovering old burned cds the whole trip. i had forgotten about some of my newsboys and christian music cds. i remembered some good times from this last spring and the best concert ever in houston tx. it also reminded me that i hadn't gone to church in a long time. i hate that times change and people move on. i miss going to church with nate and square and wish that last spring was still here, that nate and square were still here. it's not fair that life has to go on. but anyways...i was listening to entertaining angels and million pieces by the newsboys and downfall by mb20. i remembered the time during zach's graduation when erica square and i were cruising through egf and i cranked this song way up and we were all belting it out, gosple choir was strong in the backgroud (i love gosple choirs) and i don't think i could have been more happier at that exact moment. when the gosple choirs were going and i had 2 of my closest friends by my side in the breeze with our arms open wide and all i can remember is the smile on my face and the happiness and love that was flooding my heart.

back

i'm back from i falls, where remarkably, everything went ok. myself and my travel companion are still alive and she made it to class on time. i'm really tired now, however. maybe i'll go home to bed. that sounds good.

next: weigh in 3
tomorrow: battle of the bands, be there!
after that: detroit lakes meet
following: to gf for bsu vs und at the ralph!
then: home

i love it.

i falls

tomorrow i go to international falls (ifalls) for a habitat presentation. my mom didn't want me to go by myself, and well, i didn't either and now, i have a travel companion. great word, eh? i am excited though, i will have to plan my meals out carefully. and i don't really know what i am going to stay, but it will be fun.

in 15 minutes the clock turns over and it marks the 50 days till europe countdown. it's slightly scary but really thrilling. still awaiting my passport and tomorrow or thursday i am going to finish paying off the trip. and i have to say i'm sitting pretty high. i should have around 3 thou to go with. it's amazing.

and remember...if your in bemidji friday night...it's Battle of the bANDS! BE THERE. i know you will. don't leave me hanging. bring your friends. it will be the bomb digitty of the year. woohoo.

half of it, all down the whole

remember how proud i was to have finished up with entering my kids in the meet last night? well, screw that. they sent me the wrong meet file so now i have to change everything and talk to swimmers to change some of their events. i don't have to change everything, but just about half of it.

this sucks.

o well, i guess the worst part is telling the parts what has changed, though it's not much, but just telling them with less than a week that i had obtained wrong information and that everything has to change. or almsot everything. grrr. why?

anyways. happy monday.

o, p.s. my boss tells me that research has indicated that this is the most depressing day of the year, as it's usually the coldest and christmas bills start getting sent out. i'm not having too bad of a day. except that i really need to shower and the whole swimming thing. plus, it's gorgeous out! heat wave!!

weekend's over

it's over. my weekend was pretty much non existant as all i did was go to my eurospring workshops. which completely screwed over my opperation get skinny for europe plan. i lost 7 pounds last week and after this weekend i think they ruined everything. not that they tried. they were trying to introduce us to ethnic foods and i wasn't preparing for it and it completely screwed me over. so i went and used my last coldstone icecream gift certificate. where they gave me more than i asked for and just now, 6 hours later, my stomach doesn't feel like i have a whole apple stuck in it, wholing it up.

but good things did happen.

i played monopoly with j. it rocked.
i now know much more about europe than i did before.
the essay i spent 2 hours on from 1am to 3am before it was due was given a 10 and was read to the whole class. that will make up for the 9 point quiz i failed because i can't memorize 5 things from 70 pages that needed to be read.
i just finished entries for the meet next weekend. 11 swimmers! i think it's a record!!!

so yeah. i'm pumped. next weekend:
-botbands. be there!
-swim meet in dl
-hockey game vs. und with the girls!
-being at home, even though for little time
-seeing an old roommie
-maybe cpr recert?

so yeah, and i'm supposed to go to international falls this wednesday. anyone want to go with me? my mom won't be happy if i made the trip alone. any takers? it's free, and you get free breakfast. we stay till thursday. please? ugh.

msn troubles

sooooo, i'm getting pissed off at my computer. or maybe it's msn i should be pissed off at, i'm not sure. i can't get onto messenger, which is my life. i've tried everything i can think of to get it working. i also can't get onto msn explorer and certain sites when in internet explorer. i can't check my email (hotmail) using firefox, netscape or ie - well, i did get on once, thank God. i can check habitat's email at yahoo but only on occasion for the swim teams mail at gmail. i could only check my income once at wellsfargo.

WHAT IS GOING ON!?!?!?!?!

any ideas, anyone? or can no one else get onto messenger?

this just sucks because i didn't touch anything and i'm pretty sure i don't have a virus.

anyways, first eurospring workshop tomorrow. just finished my paper and now i'm off to bed....

goodnight!

p.s. new saying! PFG - pretty fricken good. as in, the was pfg my friend, P.F.G.
from the movie, in good company, which has a really weird end. but the movie was pfg.

a week in my life

a week has pasted since i last posted...well i think anyway. i remember there being the list of stuff for the swim board meeting on there...all that happened a week ago. the board meeting went ok. still, i didn't get quite what i was looking for nor were really any of my questions answered. it's hard to realize that you just may never get your way with some of those people no matter how hard you try. maybe someday, when i'm older, and then they realize that i'm older. i told my mom i should have lied to them right off the bat and told them i was 30 and going back to school to get my degree. if only.

in other news, project get skinny has started. my roommate t and i go to the rec center everyday. it's fun. all this keeping track of food and calories and dietary fiber and fat grams and points is time consuming but i eagerly await the results. i want to look good in europe and i also want to be able to eat what my heart desires over there so i figure i would rather take off the weight and then eat well over there. experiencing europe to the fullest! my first weigh in is tomorrow. cross my fingers!

kt and i are searching for residency for next year. more crossing of the fingers!

my first eurospring workshop is this weekend. because of it, my team cannot go to the grand forks meet this weekend, which is really sad. i would love to bring them to one of the pools where i grew up at and to have them experience a great meet. but nope, i have eurospring workshop, and homework due. 3 - 5 page paper on how france, switzerland and italy are similar anyone? plus 70 pages of this huge textbook need to be read so that i can ace the quiz that will be given. grrr.

and last of the news: battle of the bands next weekend! it's coming up soon...i can't wait for it to be here so i can enjoy and hope that all goes well. i hope it will...more crossing of the fingers.

have a great _____________ (this blank shall be filled in later when i know how long it will be until i blog again)!

splat

speedo underwear

"I'm going to put a no-briefs clause in my contract when I go for the photo shoot next week," Phelps said, joking.

i love michael. well, let's go for a really really like. because i love aaron peirsol.

read the article

swim board meeting tonight

i haven't attended a swim board meeting in quite some time. i have so much to go over with them. in fact i should list them. you can see where all my concern comes from because THEY DON'T TELL ME ANYTHING. sometimes i don't feel like the coach. just someone who stands on deck and tells kids what to do. you have no idea what it feels like when parents and swimmers come to me to ask questions and i can't even answer them because i don't know what's going on. here's my list:

1. THE FACT THAT THE SWIMMERS KNOW MORE INFORMATION THAN I DO. i get to the pool on monday, after waiting for answers from the board as far as how practice is going to go. i didn't know that dev group is going to be m,w,f, for 2 hours and that they weren't offering novice. i didn't know that they were also thinking of a name change. n.a.s.a rockets anyone? i need to be on a mailing list and i need to know what's going on with the team!!

2. THE NAME CHANGE. the kids don't like it. i'm not fond of it. nasa rockets does not sound like a swim team. one kid thought it sounded like a rocket science club, another thought it sounded like bowling club (how, i don't know). they don't get why we need a name change if all we are doing is calling from a larger area. they like bass and i think are a little alarmed as they had no say in what their team should be named.

3. I JUST FOUND OUT THERE WAS GOING TO BE PRACTICE ON FRIDAYS. no problems at all, but again, i would have liked to know that i was working friday afternoons.

4. THE KIDS NEED TEAM APPAREL. they don't feel like a team, they need team suits. i was told not to order anything as there may be a name change. i would like to order the old team caps then for now, at least one per swimmer. i hate the old team caps but they need something. no one knows what team they are from when they are swimming. AND T-SHIRTS! but again, the name change. figures this would come up. grrrr.

6. I know there are meets coming up in Alex and DL. When we get meet
information for those, could someone please get them to me as soon as
possible? I have one weekend a month until I leave for Europe that I
will be in workshops (which means no meets on those weekends) so if I can
figure out meet information and be up to date on the meets that I can go
to and then can organize the team to attend that would be great.

7. Here's something that hopefully someone can help me out with: Tiara
Nelson made state and zones, state being a huge accomplishment for
someone on our team, zones being a huge accomplishment for swimmers
especially in our area of North Dakota/Minnesota. State short course I
believe falls on the weekend of March 18-20, when I will be gone. If she
can financially, I think it would be great for her to attend, and I know
she wants to. However, she will need a coach to be on deck. Any ideas
to this problem?

8. I am going to have an order form for pull buoys and flippers and grab bag suits for swimmers to order, especially since we don't have access to that equipment at the middle school. i guess i can let them order what ever they would like. maybe a generic team suit for now? just so we can look similar?

9. can we get another clock for the pool? the kids down at the far end of the pool cannot see the clock which is depressing since it's the dev kids and they are just learning the clock and i would still like them to keep learning. i wouldn't want them to forget.

10. my coaches book is not all put together correctly. chapters 6 and 7 repeats itself and i don't think chapter 9 is there. anyway i can get a new one so i can finish my test?

11. I also have a coaches expenses form to turn in for the Fargo meet in
November that I need to be paid for.
Thanks so much!

12. contract for this session so i can get paid? that would be nice....

grrr.... so much. i have plenty so to talk about so i will take up plenty of their time.

tonight. 6 pm.

a new monday

this is the monday that is going to start out the new semester, a change for all. new classes, new schedules, new beginnings. as for me, i don't have class, but others will start tomorrow night and wednesday. i just have to work like nothing else matters in the world so that i can go to europe for 2 months.

eh.

swimming starts up again today. it's funny because it doesn't seem like it at all. i have been working to do the suit and cap thing and brainstorming ideas to get these kids in a team like spirit, but it seems so weird that this all starts today. on the agenda: stretching, push-ups, sit-ups, team meeting, team cheer, warm-up, freestyle drills.

i only got 4.5 hours of sleep last night and i feel widely awake. i'm sure it will hit me like a brick wall later when i least expect it. probably at swim practice.

i have gained 10 pounds in less than a month. how, i don't know. but i am very concerned. i have not gained or dropped a single miniscule of a pound for the past 4 to 5 years, and then all of a sudden...BAM. i don't notice it however on my body at all but i am still concerned. i am already much heavier than i look and to add more heaviness to the whole equation is not good. i excersized well yesterday. how come it always seems that it takes no effort what so ever to put the weight on but to take it off i seriously have to kill myself? and i'm not over exaggerating. i swam competitively for 10 years and i would give all that i had every day in practice, but i was still not a little skinny thing. ugh, this is so depressing, especially when i am trying to skinny up for europe...i'm having a hard time seeing it happening. grrrrrr...

habitat also starts up tonight. i have so much to do. how did i get so behind? o wait...that's right. all i did this weekend was sleep, watch movies, work out, and...o wait, that's it.

well, that's all i have to say for now...and by the way, bemidji is starting to be a very scary place....

success!

i have finally FINALLY got my passport stuff turned in and paid for. now i just have to wait to receive it, photocopy it and turn it into international studies on campus.

tonight was fun. had a bunch of good friends over and we watched little black book, ate some good food and played scene it, which my team was winning and then we got some hard crappy question and lost it all. but all's good.

now: i'm going to bed, sleeping in, watching top gun for the first time(i know, i know, you can pick your jaw up from the floor), organizing BOTF and making order forms for swimming, along with some posters i really need to make...and i need to read for eurospring workshops. let the fun begin!

cooooooold

it was -30 out last night and i think it still is...even in this office. i am so cold. i don't quite have the disease my mom has as my fingers and toes don't turn blue, but my hands and toes do get ice cold.

nothing much exciting has been happening here. well...fun stuff but not drop dead exciting. two nights ago, tom and chris came to visit T and i in our igloo (it's cold at the house too) and we tried to play trivia pursuit 6, found out we suck and then watched zoolander. now that i have written that out and realized how pathetic that sounds, i want to tell you that we really are smart...but it's still break and smart people need breaks too!

i have quite the to do list these days, let me share:

-finish swim coach certifications test
-plan and organize battle of the bands
-do homework (presentation, paper) for eurospring workshop
-talk to swim suit dealer about team suits
-make swim team shirts
-re-certified in cpr
-get skinny - i'm not going to europe fat but i may come back fat

and there's more...just not as important as the rest.

i think i'm going to go and work on some eurospring stuff, maybe powerpoint presentation on something or another...i have it written down.

work is so boring...

rockin' sunday

yesterday was awesome. not in any particular way...let me explain:

got up way to early to go and do the last 50 50 raffle for the slovakian vs. belarus game. it was pretty low key. we made so much that last 2 nights we had done it this was our make-up game to give other non-profits a chance it the big dollars. however, wayne gretsky was in the house and zerek, my brother, came within 2 feet of him. he didn't realize it until after he had passed though. alli and i took the suites again but this time no one was up there at all...it was pretty dead. so we walked all around. at one point, down on the main concourse, i noticed team usa warm ups and my mom and i thought it might be drew stafford heading for the pro shop. alli and i ran after him and asked the police officer who said hi to him to confirm his identity, AND ... IT WAS HIM! drew is one of the key players and forward for the usa and plays for und. the police officer had a permanent marker on him and alli and i went over and got him to sign our backs...right on my new maurice's shirt. when i turned around for him to sign he remarked at the word speedy that was on my back, it was great. then as we were leaving after the day's events, i got to get nose close with the stanley cup. it was so cool. however, i didn't get to get wayne gretzky's autograph, but life will go on. i was in the same building as him which is pretty cool anyways.

team usa lost last night to russia, but they still made it farther than expected and were doing pretty awesome for awhile. i figured it was because i was watching. during their last game, i left the room for 20 min and phil kessel scored 5 goals during that time. i'm bad luck :(

square bunked at my house last night in b-town ( i drove back for work today...those roads were soooo icy) and we watched the game, ate pizza and talked. i called booty and talked to her and then she said she was going to call me right back and never did. square and i left her a 6 min message...half of it was me giggling. then we called nate to leave him a message and he answered...which he apologized for but i never expected him to answer! and, breaking news, we actually had a civilized conversation. it was amazing. and a miracle, no one ever thought it could happen. then tessa and i worked our way through who wants to be a millionaire after watching extreme dodgeball on, not the ocho, but game show network. woohoo.

so that was my day yesterday. it was fun. i also went out to eat with my mom at ground round. good food. i am offically broke.

talked to suzy today in germany and i will be visiting her over my easter break while on eurospring. i'll get to see frankfurt and berlin. excitement!

but for me...back to work...january is gonna be h - e - double hockey sticks. watch out.

passport blues

so i went to get all my passport information turned in the other day. went through the metal detector at the court house only to be told to go to the federal building. got lost in the federal building until i found out i needed to be downstairs where i went in. tried to turn in my passport information only to find out that the birth certificate people in bismark are STUPID. who doesn't push in the raised seal before they send out the birth certificate? seriously. so i'm waiting for my $7.00 birth certificate to make it's way back here, only so i can hopefully get it before i go to europe. here's hoping.

best 50/50 raffle ticket seller EVER

so in support of the RRVY Wahoos swimming team (my alma mater) I went to the Ralph Engalstad Arena, during the World Junior Hockey Championship (Canada vs. Germany - fünfzig fünfzig raffle Karten, jedermann?) to sell 50/50 raffle tickets. My sister and I took the suite level and hit it up big time. first just asking anyone who walked up stairs to buy 50/50, then we hit up the downstairs a little and then the upstairs and then we tackled the suite level 2 more times. i had people inviting me into their suites and then they would have me go up to unsuspected ticket buyers and say such sayings as, "buy some tickets tight ass!" and they would. i also went into a canadian groups suite where they were all guys, around my age and they invited me in and they all bought from me as they drank away. i think that suite also helped me out a bit as when i first walked in canadia scored. ahhh...alli and i did hella good! back to REA on thursday night: usa vs czech republic. i'm dressing for the part! ahhahahaha!

A Christmas Thought
By Bob Schaller

'Twas the night before Christmas
And all 'round the pool
The kickboards were drying
The lanelines were all spooled

The medals were stowed
In cases with great care
The starts with their families
For memories to make, and to share

Onward Phelps, Beard and Coughlin
Peirsol, Sandeno and Hansen too
Onward Crocker, Katie Hoff
And the Kirk sisters, of htem two

Another year has come to a close
Suits are in lockers but won't gather dust
They'll be out again soon
for World Championships are a must!

Young swimmers take their break
Moms and Dads can sleep in as well
What will '05 hold?
No one can yet tell

Our heroes chase their dreams
But remember they're just people all the same
It's desire that makes the difference
So let's make our very own names!

Lists have been made
And checked more than twice
Stockings will be fileed
and the tree will look nice

But what you can't ask for
Might be what you relaly want
Only you can chase your dreams
Only you can take that hunt

Be sure to thank your parents
Don't forget to thank your coach
Be a friend to an enemy
Carry yourself beyond reproach

Medals and trophies in our dreams
But a win doesn't come on one day
It's a daily path and long journey
Do your best and you'll be okay

Try a little harder
Take a few minutes just to smile
Get in all your sets with pride
Smartly go that extra mile

But understand no matter what
That swimming is with you forever
Whether it is first place or last
Swimming is about never saying "never"

So as this year hits the wall
And another is almost underway
Look inside for inspiration
Because where there's a will, there is a way!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

merry christmas to all...

so xmas eve is comming to a close. i got some pretty sweet gifts from the fam. tonight santa, tomorrow, mom's side, monday, dad's side. i am pumped.

...and to all a good night!

can't wait!

harry potter and the half blood prince: july 16, 2005!

i know...i'm a geek, what can i say.

so close to christmas

i can't believe how close christmas is. it's amazing. it snuck up so fast! 2 more days and i'll be home. 2 more days and square will be home. 3 more days and it's present opening time. i'm hoping with all of my heart that squeaks gift shows up. aughghgh.

big pimpen

so my youngest brother is somehow turning into a pimp. he's a junior in high school and aparently, all the girls are after him. aparently one of my roommate's sisters (who is a freshman at the same school as my brother) was coming home on the skating team bus and another one of the girls got up the nerve and decided she wanted to ask zerek to snowball, the winter formal. well, my roommate's sister called up my roommate as she knew she knew my homephone number, gave it to this other girl and she called him up...that is guts. i also heard from my sister that another girl was telling her that whenever zerek walks by in the halls, the girls just start whispering, "ooo zerek, he's so cute." o how i wish they really knew him!

that is not all however...i was blog surfing through some younger north dakota swimmers blogs and they mention him in there! o the humor of it all!

i want to know what exactly he did to obtain this profound status....

bbc sport academy

so i found this great swimming site at the bbc sport academy, which is australian. and since those aussies (aussie, aussie, aussie, oye, oye, oye!) love there swimmers like rockstars, of course they would have a rocken swimming page. check it out.

EDIT: ok, so i kinda lied...bbc (why i didn't recognize this before...info i know but lost) is british...so it's european...but yet they talk quite a bit about the aussies!

update

yeah...i'm still sore. ouch

snowboarding pro

awww snowboarding. the sport i want to be good at, but probably will never be. i attempted it again yesterday, and miraculously, did ok. of course, i didn't use the proper techniques, BUT i did make it down the hill many times without falling and making a fool out of myself.

the day started out with kt and myself wondering what the heck we were doing as the temperature was at about 0 outside. however we wanted to go. then i had to reintroduce myself to my fear of heights and falling problem as we got onto the ski lift. i really found out i don't like it until you get to this one post and you're looking down at all the little ski-ers and snowboarders and the lift lunges forward and your chair swings back and forth and you realize, there is absolutely nothing holding you in. aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

as i had not been snowboarding in 2 years, everything had to be reintroduced. our friend lulu decided he was going to help me make it down the hill - the correct way. so as we took a dancing stance and hold on our snowboards, we very ungracefully made our way down the hill, me screaming all the way. untill we completely 180-ed and he fell backwards over his back edge and i landed untop, shins hitting his front edge (i have a really nice bump that i am really proud of!!). kt thought we wanted to cuddle in the middle of the slope. me, all i could say was that i was really really sorry as my hand, coming forward to brace myself in my fall, hit a place that it REALLY, really shouldn't have hit. also, if you didn't pick this up, lulu is a guy - yeah. (i'm so sorry lulu!)

some other highlights from the day:

-looking like an idiot as i tried to make my way up the bunny hill, falling, and then having EVERYONE trip over me.
-having a guy (gasp!) ask if he could ride up the lift with me. i told him yes, but i'm really horrible at getting off the darn thing. we had a pleasant conversation on the way up, AND he even offered to help me off, offering me his hand. THIS IS HUGE NEWS IN MY BOY WORLD. I did not, however, take his hand, fearing I would fall and the last thing I wanted to do was embarrass myself. however, thinking this over, a scenerio such as that could have worked in my advantage. but knowing me, probably not.
-kt thought that, if there was a snowboard dancing event in the olympics, lulu and i would have done well.
-the lack of mt. dew at lunch...i went back for more (kt - i forgot...i still owe you!)
-kt and i examining our beautiful hair in the bathroom...hats really are a neccessity.
-not hurting one bit until i took a shower that night. then it came on...even more today. imagine every muscle in your body hurting as you moved. lets just say that when i need to move, i know exactly which muscles i move to achieve certain positions as i could feel them in a painful way. ouch.

so yeah, today, i just pretty much sat around in bed. it hurt was too much to more. my mom, unpon telling her this, had forgot that i went snowboarding yesterday and got worried and thought i had the flu. nope...just achy muscles. and i won't take asperin. that's for wusses. HA.

can't wait to hit the slopes again! (for real!) even though i feel like someone beat me with their snowboard, it's a great feeling and i thrive for the achy muscles...it makes me feel strong. so for now, over and out from the worlds worst snowboarding pro.

banana phone

this one's for kt:

click here

Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring
Banana phone
Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring
Banana phone

I've got this feeling
so appealing
for us to get together and sing - SING!

Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring
Banana phone
Ding dong ding dong ding dong ding
Donana phone

It grows in bunches
I've got my hunches
Its the best
beats the rest
cellular modular
interactivodular

Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring
Banana phone
Ping pong ping pong ping pong ping
Ponana phone

Its no baloney
It aint a phony
My cellular
Bananular phone

Don't need quarters
don't need dimes
to call a friend of mine
dont need computer or tv
to have a real good time
I'll call for pizza
I'll call my cat
I'll call the whitehouse, have a chat
I'll place a call around the world
Operator get me beijing jing jing jing



Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring
Banana phone
Ying yang ying yang ying yang ying
Yanana phone
It's a real live mama and papa phone
a brother and sister and a dogaphone
a grandpa phone and a grandma phone too - oh yeah
my cellular bananular phone

Banana phone
ring... ring... ring...
Its a phone with appeal (a peel)

Banana phone
ring... ring... ring...
Now you can have your phone and eat it too
Banana phone
ring... ring... ring...
This song drives me .... bananas
Banana phone
ring... ring... ring...

Bo ba do ba do do doob
#######

it may be annoying, but kt would get it...

help fight BAC!

that's right, you too can help fight BAC! go here to learn how: http://www.fooddetectives.com/mainintro_2.html

hurtz so good

so...sticking by my promise to myself, i went and worked out yesterday, hairy legs and all. went on the bike for about 20 and then stairstepped for about 6 - the stairstepper kicked by butt. then back downstairs at the rec i did about 200 sit ups and some stretches and then i lifted arm weights...and that is where it kills. but i love it, wouldn't have it any other way.

today, back to the rec.

tonight, in the pool...with my clothes on!

tomorrow, sleep.

2 of my roommates and i decided we are going to have a leg hair growing contest...reminds me so sweetly of high school swimming. i love that team. brings back memories 3 years in the past. aaaaaa.

AK

here we go

so, with europe coming up soon (whaaaat? 92 days!!!!??!?!?!?) i figure i have to start getting back into shape so that i can eat all i want over there. so we'll have to see what i can do in 3 months. today i'm going to go and run a little before heading over to swim practice. i haven't shaved my legs however (in about a month...i'm hairy like animal) but i don't think anyone will really notice, hopefully not. but i need to start running and massive sit ups...and eating healthy i guess. right now i'm just trying to manage to get food into my day so anytime i can eat i will eat what is offered.

so today: starting out slow...running and some bike...sit ups and push ups. tomorrow: i'm hitting the pool.

=====

i only have 2 more swim practices to coach till this season ends, then i'll be getting ready for the best swim season yet. today, it's timed 500 for the kids and then maybe some waterpolo? they need to be introduced to the best game eva. tomorrow...all free time, but i'm going to completely surprise them...i'm going to have my suit on underneath some grubby clothes and no one will know...and then i'm going to jump in the pool at the right time. it'll be great.

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. andrea
2. andi
3. el presedente (sp?)

THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. andi
2. coach andi
3. just a breeze

THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. baby blue eyes
2. my fingernails...they actually look nice right now!
3. my legs...muscle baby

THREE THINGS YOU HATE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. my hair right now...i'm trying to grow it out a little so i can get a nice cut and perm before europe
2. the zits popping up all over my face...ew.
3. the fact that i really need to start working out...and i now finally have time!

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. falling and getting hurt
2. all the "what ifs" i have in my life
3. talking a plane over the ocean for eurospring

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. email
2. car
3. toothbrush

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. jeans
2. comfy brown shoes
3. swimming shirt

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS (or singers) AT THE MOMENT:
1. maroon 5
2. matchbox twenty
3. twista

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITES SONGS AT THE MOMENT:
1. sunday morning-maroon 5
2. overnight celebrity - twista
3. breakaway - kelly clarkson

THREE THINGS YOU WOULD WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. trust
2. humor
3. loyalty
-gotta agree with lindsi

THREE THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. smile
2. sense of humor
3. confidence
-again, gotta agree with lindsi

THREE THINGS YOU CAN'T DO:
1. the splits
2. pay my car payment
3. play the violin

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. swimming
2. watching movies
3. going out to eat

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BAD RIGHT NOW:
1. lay in my bed and do nothing buy sleep, watch tv and read
2. go workout or swimming
3. eat - it's lunch time and i'm hungry

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING:
1. magazine layout artist
2. creative artist for russell and herder
3. graphic arts for disney or pixar

THREE PLACES YOU WOULD GO ON VACATION:
1. anywhere in europe
2. the carribean
3. australia
-those sound fabulous

re-con, theivery, humor and an all-star cast...glorious!

since i'm now done with classes (o yeah!) i can finally post more. so i would like to express to you to go see this awesome movie: ocean's 12! i was enthralled by it...in fact, i could barely follow along the plot was so thick but yet it was so interesting at the same time that it pulled me in and i was hooked. and the first one did the same thing. i think it's because i like to figure it out but i never really succeed...there's always something i am missing in the whole plot line that i didn't catch and at the end i realized that the one little part that i missed would have helped me realize the ending...but in reality, i like not knowing. and then at the end i have always been puzzled trying to figure out which characters where in on the WHOLE plan, and which ones thought they were but were actually just part of the whole scheme of things...or did they all know and they all just have to serve as actors while they carry out this heist? it's all confusingly complicated to me, yet i love it...i'm buying it the night it comes out!

here's a little something to keep in mind: if you drop a penny from the top of the empire state building, you may not kill anyone, however, if you shoot a gun off at the top of the empire state building, you just may kill somebody.

from the deep and intelligent thinking of moi.

a big sigh of relief

i am done, done, gloriously done!

no more homework for a loooooooooong time :)

a million and one things to do

i know i haven't posted in awhile and nomally i wouldn't be posting now, but i'm waiting for files to copy so that i can burn them to a disk. i hate waiting for files...

i think i'm going to let it burn while i run over to eat some lunch and then run back here to pick it up before a klepto grabs it and then hopefully run over to the superlab before class starts and upload my website which i finished last night at 3. and then i woke up at 7 today. the night life is fun...really quiet actually.

today for pp we are touring eagle printing. the last place we toured was really boring...actually, unless they are really good at what they do, it's all starting to get really boring.

then afterwards, i'm out to get sponsors for the habitat battle of the bands and i need to go shopping for xmas cookie ingredients....and then swim practice.

i'm so glad to be done in the superlab!

i also have a meeting tomorrow about the sports mural i am going to paint.

portfolio review for graduating seniors tomorrow...i need to look nice. can't wait for some good presentations

then xmas cookies at 5 friday, 2 saturday, and 1 sunday.

plus get in some hours at work.

and finish my last assignment (i can't wait!)

and i need to do some major xmas shopping

My pirate name is:

Captain Prudentilla Cash

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. You're musical, and you've got a certain style if not flair. You'll do just fine. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

while i'm waititng

thought i would post this since i am waiting for my final cut pro movie to finish rendering...and to make kt happy:

100 DAYS TILL EUROSPRING!!

yikes!

on a side note: less than a week till homework can be off of my mind for a long, LONG, time.

yeah!