We Came, We Saw, We Kicked Its A$$

Last year, my friends from United Way decided we should do some small fundraising and do some charity bartending. If you are not familiar with this, a representative from the charity is behind the bar for a few hours one night and all cash tips go to the charity. It's a great way for a bar to get people into their doors and an easy cheap fundraiser.

Last year, in teams of two, we covered four Fridays in May. The couple of times I have been to these, the bartenders have walked away with a couple hundred dollars for the charity. Not too shabby. The first week, the gauntlet was laid. Play hard or go home. Pyndinowski and SiSi walked away with over $400. My jaw dropped. I was floored. The following week: $450. I was getting nervous. My partner, young Kevin, was confidant. Our night came and we totaled out at $865. When the bartender handed it to me, I was tempted to walk out the door. I had just seen the 'Sex and the City' movie and this would buy me a nice pair of Louboutins. I restrained and handed it over to United Way, but was secretly planning my own charity bartending gig.

Now we come to 2009. Young Kevin and I are back to defend the title. We have a fresh batch of competitors. I have somehow convinced United Way to give a prize to the winners this year: lunch with United Way CEO Gary Dollar. The first week turned in $170. It's for charity, great job. We were second. Kevin and I had our game faces on and ready to pour. At the end of the night, we turned in $1102 to United Way.

I am astonished by the generosity of my family and friends and very grateful to all that came out. Thank you for supporting United Way and thank you for helping Kevin and I continue our reign. I can't wait to see what the next two week will bring.

It continues to haunt me...

Michael Pollen rocks. He was the coolest guy ever and had to be super smooth in the land of Monsanto on Friday. I had my book signed and left happy, happy. happy.
During the question and answer time, St. Louis Earth Day (an organization that does a lot around St. Louis, but mainly, the Earth Day festival) mentioned the ban on high fructose corn syrup at the festival this year and promptly the week after the event, they received a box in that mail from the Corn Refiners Assoc touting all the harmless facts about HFCS. Everyone there just laughed. I am upset I have not received one of these boxes. I obviously need to ramp up my campaigning.

Which leads me into my next good news, I have installed my rainwater harvester last week (well, jeremy did). Thanks to all the rain this weekend, the barrel is full and ready to go. While in Paducah with me over the weekend, my sister-in-law Kim was discussing Jeremy's new project of the harvesters. She mentioned that Jeremy got all the barrels from Dr. Pepper for free. Their original use was to transport HFCS. WHAT?! My very nemesis is my source of green?! I am in an ethical dilemma. Well, sort of. Basically, I feel that I am redeeming the barrel from its life of poison. Also, it was free (have you priced these things?!) I am not sure if this is the right answer or the easy answer, but it is the one I am living with now.
Last good thing about the weekend is the new bike trail we found. On the other side of Natural Bridge (from UMSL), is a beautiful bike trail: tree-lined quiet, and lovely. It is great to take an afternoon and head down to Forest Park, but it is great to bike somewhere close. It is a good combination of hills and flat. It is called St. Vincent's Greenway because it circles the old St. Vincent's hospital (as seen in the picture). I didn't even know this existed.
This week, I am getting my pictures developed and posting some pictures up because I have really been lacking.
Also, it's official. We booked our plane tickets to Amsterdam last night. I am taking care of hotels this week. I can't wait!
What did you do this weekend?

Sound the alarm

MICHAEL POLLEN IS COMING TO ST. LOUIS. My hero will be here in my humble little town. This Friday (May 22nd) he will be at the Library at 7pm. This is comparable to George.

That leads me to one small problem. I am suppose to be in Paducah KY. I think I will have to adjust the KY plans, but that's means wasting gas in an extra car to head down to KY. It seems a little counter-productive. What would Michael Pollen do?

By some weird twist of fate, I just order his book last week. I should get it this week!

If anyone is in town, don't miss this (unless you are at the ChurchKey supporting the United Way, which is a whole other story).

The Rock Massage

Yesterday I finally got a Hot Stone Massage. Yes, they were very trendy about 5 years ago, but I am a little late to the party.

I am all for massages. Anyone that wants to rub my muscles with oil while I lay there is my friend. This could potentially get me into a little trouble with some perverts, but I would gladly indulge in a foot fetish if he will rub my feet.

Anyways, back to the story. I went for a massage and a facial. I had a gc from my burfday and decided to wait until it warmed up to use it. Walking out of the salon into 30 degree weather completely negates the last hour I spent untightening. I needed it to be about 60 to get the full post-relaxation. I browsed the brochure and decided to get the hot stone. The gist of the hot stone is that they massage your leg, then they rub rocks on your leg. Then they rub your arm and then rub rocks on it. While it was super relaxing and wonderful, I really didn't understand the point of rubbing rocks all over me. Yes, they make it clear that there will be stones, but once I was in it, I guess I was expecting to understand it.

Again, please don't take this as a complaint. I am just giving my review. It was a wonderful afternoon, but I will forgo the rocks next time and try something different, just as I will forgo a body wrap. I can't take the claustrophobia of being wrapped up. I will always recommend the foot reflexology rubs and salt rubs (even though the first part of the massage she rubbed me down with a wire brush and then rang bells over me).

After my massage and facial, I went home and cut my lawn, etc. Not as relaxing as I wanted it, but it was absolutely lovely outside so I was very happy to do some minor yard work and enjoy the day.

What is your favorite massage?

Guilty Pleasures

We all have them. Those little secrets that give us the greatest bliss. Yet, we keep it to ourselves. We don't like to admit it. It is something that will ruin our 'rep' or just something childish or embarrassing in general.

What is it? What is your guilty pleasure? I will tell you mine if you tell me yours. Deep breath, close my eyes (so I don't make eye contact with you), here it goes. I love bad 80's soft rock music. This is probably too much of a surprised considering that I have an open love for Neil Diamond. It gets worse. Air Supply, Chicago (the Peter Cetera years), Barry Manilow, Stephen Bishop, Christopher Cross, those mellow sounds get me every time. Air Supply is the master.

If you are reading this and have a blog, I challenge you to a full guilty pleasure post.

Lots of busy, lots of slacking

I am such a slacker on this blog lately. Here is everything in a nutshell. I have been cleaning my house top to bottom over the past month. Clean windows, clean closets, clean garage, and even cleaned our my basement. It's been very productive and very satisfying. Nothing was that messy to begin with, so I haven't worked too hard. It's just nice to have everything clean at one time.
Friday night, went to Jimmy's for dinner, always good. Saturday did errands all day (but that means I listened to npr all day!). Sunday, did the mom thing and made the most garlicky Caesar salad dressing ever! Does anyone have a good Caesar salad dressing? I love it garlicky and salty, but this was extreme in garlic. I don't have to worry about vampires for about a month.
Other exciting things going on: I was asked to serve on the committee to plan the United Way Servathon this year. It is one day for 200 people to volunteer at a few United Way agencies. We provide breakfast, lunch, and an after celebration with music, etc. It should be a lot of fun and I am honored to be a part of it. Another exciting thing is I get to be by myself all weekend. While I love Chuck very very much and he will get glasses of water for me and sweep my garage, he is going to Dallas to visit the 'rents and I am a little bit excited. Saturday I have to work at the Food Bank, but the rest of the weekend I get to listen to npr, watch bad movies, and 90210 (the original). I will miss him, but I am going to savor my quiet weekend just spending time with Anna.
The biggest news of last week! Jon is cheating on Kate?! While some may sympathize with him, it makes me so sad. Those 8 kids are so darn cute, I want them to make it. What makes me really sad is that if they can't handle the celebrity anymore, they are not going to tape. I love watching those kids grow up. I do question that the cheating story broke the same week Kate was on a book tour. It seems a little manufactured. Inquiring minds want to know (not if he cheated, if they agree to a new season)
Green tip #1: It is beautiful outside, multi-task: walk to the grocery store, work out, save gas, and get your shopping done.
Green tip #2: This is an oldie, but a goodie. Take a walk around your house and unplug everything not in use. Lamps, dvd players, radios, toasters, chargers. Save a bundle.

Summer is coming

I like all weather for the most part (except January and February). I love late spring and late fall the most. I love the anticipation of things to come. The small leaves sprouting on the trees. The first time you notice you actually need get the lawn mower out. The tulips, then daffodils, then dogwoods, then summer blooms. The sun stays up longer, the days are warming up and you are shaking off your winter hibernation. Summer is great because there are so many things to do in St. Louis. Free concerts in the park, patio's with plenty of beer, or just a nice evening alone on the front porch. Summer is here and the living is easy.

Things I am looking forward to this summer: Tomatoes (I just had a mediocre one last night, why do I even bother?!), quiet morning walks to the farmer's market, lots of bike rides, not wanting to go to bed at 8pm because it has been dark for 3 hours, Colorado in a month, free concerts at the MO History Museum and Botanical Gardens, just taking advantage all the great things summer offers.

What is your favorite part about summer?

I am sure I will have a part 2 to this post in August about how miserable summer can get, but until then, I am living it up!