Books: Adventures of a Lifetime (and other reasons why I read)

Why do I read?

Surprisingly I am asked this question often. Most of my friends and family are "non-readers;" they just don't read or maybe just don't seem to enjoy it. So they really can't seem to wrap their heads around why at any spare moment I have during the day, I have a book in my hands. 

I think what really get's them is that I haven't always been a, quote on quote, "bookworm." During the school year a lot of my reading was focused on textbooks and books that were required, which was enough for me. Most of the time I enjoyed the required things (Shakespeare, Greeks, etc) that I felt there was really no need for me to pick up a "fun" book. 

It wasn't until my junior year of high school that I started reading for fun (that is since I was in elementary) due to having more study halls and free time. I would read tons, getting through a book a week. But then college happened and I was back to the land of textbooks. I tried to read one book a semester but sometimes it just didn't happen.

Now that I have graduated, I have been "catching up" on books that have been in the back of my mind or on my shelves that I haven't gotten to. I think these past three months I have read 17 books, which I find surprising myself because normally I would only have maybe finished one by now. 

But why do I read?

For me, there is no better adventure than that provided by a book. Don't get me wrong I enjoy video games, movies and TV shows that do the same, but with those there is no imagination to it for the viewer. You are just along for the ride. With a book however, you can put your own little spin on things. That is to say that authors point you in the right direction and try to "paint a picture" for you, but a lot is left up to interpretation. You don't quite have the same adventure as everyone else. 

You would be surprised how many friends I have made since reading! Living, dead, real, or fictional I have made tons. Characters have a way of leaving just as much of a mark on you as any living person in your life. You go through major and very personal events with them and develop a closeness that you can't help but have a part of them in your heart. 

Books provide a means of escape and are the cheapest vacation (or free for that matter if you borrow from the library) you will ever take and can get you to places that don't exist today. Whether it's to 19th century England or to a futuristic, dystopian USA, you can't exactly get there by flying (unless you have a DeLorean and a flux capacitor, in which case can we be best friends?). 

Plus, books are just gorgeous! Go check out these. Oh and those. These also. And how could I forget those?

...

A wise person once told me, "If you don't like to read, you just haven't found the right book yet."

Recent Happenings in Pictures

08-08-12: Started BookTubing!

08-09-12: Sad that it's Over. Full Review this Thursday.

08-11-12: Mall of America Savings. Love Finding Deals on Clothes. 

08-12-11: Austen in August Read-A-Long by The Book Rat. First Austen Novel. More Info Wednesday. 

08-13-11: Taught Myself to Knit. Jamaica Inn & Owl Friends. 

Bouts with Insomnia

I had every intention of getting a few things done today for here, but only getting 30 minutes of sleep last night makes that pretty impossible. Ugh, when will insomnia get the hint that I don't want to be friends!

Since Jr. High I have been suffering from bouts of insomnia but it has never been this bad. Once, I took some over the counter sleep aid that worked for a little bit for me to get a couple nights sleep but it was never enough. What to do, what to do?

I'll just hope tonight my body/brain will surrender and tomorrow I can get some things done.

Nothing

My mind is at a complete blank today. Okay not exactly true there is a lot going on up there but nothing wants to be written into words.

Nothing...

Nothing is wrong
Everything is fine
Not a whole lot going on
Oh that's such a lie

Nothing...

Knowing Your Enemy: Earwigs

Have you had the pleasure of seeing an earwig? You know those creepy bugs with the long pincers on their butt (I would provide a picture but I wouldn’t even make it through this blog post). If you haven’t you are one lucky person and if you have, well I feel your pain. I mean those pincers hurt man!

For the past couple years, these things have decided to invade our home every summer for some reason unbenounced to me. Last year was the worst invasion and no matter what bug repellent we used they kept coming back. That is why this past winter I decided to do some research on how to get rid of these suckers.

Turns out earwigs are a pesky bug to kill. A lot of what I found recommended putting out wet, rolled up newspaper and then burning them (not very practical for me) or digging holes in your yard, putting in tuna cans full of oil (again something I didn’t want to do with my dogs around). I was beginning to get at my wits end, what’s a girl to do now?

It wasn’t until last month when I stumbled upon a show on diatomaceous earth and one thing that it is good at is killing bugs. I swear the television had a brighter glow and angelic music began to play (did I take that to far?). Diatomaceous earth is microscopic pieces of fossilized algae that scratches up the exoskeleton and dehydrates the bug. I spread some all around the perimeter of the house and all the plants and it helped. But turns out these things made there way into our basement and were living in our central air unit (who do they think they are?!?). So I also had to spread some D.E. around down there as well, but haven’t seen an earwig *knocks-on-wood* for a couple weeks now. The only down side to D.E. is you have to reapply it after it rains otherwise it doesn’t work. But I couldn’t be more happy with the results!

Favorite Things of the Moment

• Being the middle of a doggie sandwich
• The smell of a well loved loved book
• Curling up on the couch to watch a classic movie
• Thunderstorms
• A much needed breeze on a warm day
• Stargazing from the back of my truck
• Mike’s Hard Black Cherry Lemonade (seriously, check it out!)
• A morning dove’s coo and a little wren’s song
• The sound my dog makes when he finally gets comfortable
• Having to tuck in my other dog before she goes to bed every night
• 5-1-5-0 by Dierks Bentley (somebody call the po po!)
• Getting a package in the mail, even if it is something I bought
• Writing and sharing with you
  
  

(Note: I announced the winner of the Giveaway yesterday, so if you entered be sure to go check that and send me an e-mail so we can come up with ideas of your header or button!

Also, I have been combing two of my blogs so I can take better care of them both. While I was busy transferring posts over here I found one of my favorite features that I used to do "Sunday Matinée" where I would review movies every Sunday. I haven't done them in a while and really want to start them again.

I am also going to be adding a new feature called "From the Book Stack" where I review a book I read that week. That will be posted every Thursday and also hope to incorporate some videos into that as well that feature book hauls, "to be read" books for the coming month and a book rewind that showcases all the books I read the previous month. 

I hope that you will come back on Thursday and Sunday to see the new features because I would appreciate some feedback on those. Thanks for taking the time to read this long note and as always for coming to visit!)

Keratosis Pilaris and a Homemade Body Scrub

Have you ever heard of keratosis pilaris? It's better known as the "chicken skin" disease where your skin looks like...well, chicken skin. Basically, what KP is, is a genetic condition where the body produces excess amounts of the protein keratin. This excess protein likes to clump up around hair follicles causing tiny red bumps on arms, legs and pretty much any where on the body. There is no  detrimental effects other than cosmetic, but believe me it can be annoying.

I was obviously born with this disease, however I never really thought of it as a problem until I hit puberty when it really flared up. At this time I had no idea what was going on. All I knew was that my arms, legs and scalp were covered in bumps and were dry and rough. I remember going to my mom and asking her about it. She really didn't know what was going on either, but she said that she had the same thing and eventually "grew out of it" to where the KP wasn't that much of a problem.

Although her words were comforting, I still remember scrubbing my arms and legs vigorously to where they were almost raw in the shower and then slathering them in lotion twice a day. But it seemed that no matter what I tried, nothing was making these red bumps go away. 

It wasn't until a few years ago, that I finally had a name for this thing that had caused me a lot of time (let alone lotion). I had been watching one of my favorite YouTube channels and came across a video they did where they talked about their niece's struggle with "chicken skin." Listening to the story, I found so many similarities and at the end they offered some suggestions on how to lessen the number of those pesky bumps, the main one being an exfoliating body scrub.

So I did some research and found a body scrub to try. It worked great, but the downside was the amount you got for what you paid. It's just insane! So that is why last night I decided to try to make my own using two ingredients I had around the house.

A while ago, I had gotten some coconut oil to help replace some of the butter I use when I'm cooking/baking. Coconut oil is great for the body and lately there has been a craze of using it in homemade lotions so I thought why not try and use it in my scrub for a moisturizer. But baby oil and olive oil would work well too! The second ingredient I used was sugar, but salt would also work for this. All I did was take two parts sugar and one part coconut oil and mixed it up well. Simple as that!

Next was to decide how much exfoliating I wanted to do, since it was getting pretty late and decided on making it a "spa night" and used it on my feet and legs before I gave myself a pedicure. I have to tell you, my legs have never felt this good, and I didn't even put lotion on them yet and it's been a few hours (normally they are dried up with in thirty minutes)! Plus they feel so soft and smooth, something I'm not used to even with proper moisturizing. 

So if you suffer from KP or just need a good exfoliate for the summer, I recommend you try making your own at home using what you have on hand (most people have olive oil and sugar or salt at home). It's so easy to make (2 parts sugar/salt to 1 part oil) and it will save you a pretty penny when compared to buying it. And you can customize the scent to anything you prefer by adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil!

P.S. Don't forget, there is a giveaway for a custom blog header or button open until June 30th. For more details click here!

Two Years

Two years ago today, a pitbull changed my life forever.

It was June 12, 2010, my mom, Dalton (my brother) and I packed the car with blankets, toys and a leash with anticipation. The day had finally arrived for us to add another member to our family.

Dalton and I began dropping hints and pulling at our parents' (mostly Mom's) heart strings about getting another dog back in March. It had almost been a year since we lost our beloved beagle, Jess at the strapping young age of 15 and our black lab, Midnight was still looking for her at least once a week. He needed another friend to play with.

It didn't take much to convince our parents and soon we were on Petfinder.com looking at all the dogs available for adoption in the area. We weren't too picky, the only things we required were spayed female, on the younger side and get along well with other dogs. There were quite a few contenders out there, but we finally agreed on two from the same animal shelter.

Dalton and Mom were set on a brindle colored, Heinz-57 that had a lot of energy. All the way to the shelter Mom and Dalton talked about how her and Mid would get along and her beautiful brindle coloring. I on the other hand had another dog in mind.

Tempest was a one year old, shy, "dumbo eared" pitbull and as soon as we met her, she stole our hearts. She is exactly what I had in mind, a calm-spirited dog (even though she has her crazy "tuck the butt" moments where she bounces off the walls) that would help mellow out our rambunctious lab. Plus she's our "snuggle bug," something we were not use to having.

She is my "shotgun girl," always ready and willing to hop up in the passenger seat to keep me company. And when she doesn't get to go with she will be watching out the window until you get back home

Cleaning Up...Time for a Giveaway (CLOSED)

Did you notice anything different (fluffs hair)? Nothing? Really?

Ehh that's okay, I won't hold it against you haha! If this is your first time visiting of course you wouldn't know, but I wanted to tell you that I revamped my blog. It took some hard work and hair pulling but I couldn't be any happier with it. The new design has a nice girly feel without being over powering and just makes me feel giddy and refreshed every time I look at it.

Now, I hear you: "Christine, just calm down. It's nothing to get that excited about." But that dear friend is where you're wrong. Yes, I am happy with the way the layout and everything turned out, but why I am so excited is that I decided to give away a custom made "header" or "button" to one lucky reader (reader's choice)!

That's right, you read that correctly, I am giving away a custom "header" or "button" to one of you. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below and also "join this site" by looking over in the right column for "Friends." If you have issues with the later, leave a comment of what the problem was so I know you tried and it will still count :)

The giveaway will be open for the rest of the month so tell your friends, in fact you can get an extra entry if you share your favorite post from here on facebook, twitter, google+, pinterest and whatever else is out there now-a-days (I can't even keep up anymore). All you need to do is leave the title of the post and what website you shared it on in a comment

Speaking of facebook, twitter, google+ and pinterest, if you follow me/like me on anyone of these websites (all linked on the side), that is another entry (max of three). Same thing as with the other, just leave me a comment saying which websites.

So here's the skinny:

• Giving away one custom "header" or "button" (winner's choice)
• Entries accepted until 11:59p.m. June 30, 2012
• Must leave a comment that you want to be entered and "join the site"
• FOUR extra entries per the above

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me an email. And most of all good luck!

Learning My Roots

Since my senior year in high school, I have been wanting to learn more about my ancestry and find out as much as I can on the history that has lead to me. When I first started, all I did was go to Ancestry.com and sign-up for a free trial. During those fourteen days I did my grandmother's family as the base (because they were the only ones I could remember the details about) and went all the way back to Aquila Chase (my 11th great-grandfather), born in 1580 in England. At the time I didn't look much into the people in my tree, that is until this past week. 

Turns out the son of Aquila Chase, Aquila Chase Jr. (my 10th great-grandfather) was one of the first settlers in Newbury, MA. He was a mariner and is credited as the "first Pilot at the mouth of the Merrimack River." His life story is an interesting one!

Fast forward a few generations to Mary Jane Chase (my 3rd great-grandmother). From what I learned, I'm lucky to be here. She was arranged to marry Horace Leeman Hudson but wasn't too keen on the idea due to their age difference. Thankfully she went along with it for her parents wishes, at least that is how the story goes. 

And speaking of Horace Leeman Hudson, turns out he was a Union soldier during the Civil War. Reading through his records and other stories from the war has been quite eye opening. I remember learning about the Civil War in school but never thought I had any family that actually was apart of it.

All of what I have learned about my family has made me so proud to see how far my family has come, and this is just one branch! I cannot wait to see what the other branches have in store!

Turning Italian

As a treat I decided to try and make a version of Eggplant Parmesan I had seen a few days ago on "Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn" tonight. I even made some homemade tomato sauce that was simple and delicious! Tonight's meal was such a big hit I thought I would share it with ya'll!

Tomato Sauce (adapted from Cuisine Magazine)
Yield: ~5 cups

• Ingredients
• 4 lbs of roma tomatoes, quartered
• 1 onion, chopped (I used yellow)
• 4 cloves of garlic (I have the kind in the squeeze bottle so I used 4 tsp. of that)
• 1 tsp. of red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp. of sugar
• 2 tsp of salt
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• Seasoning (the recipe said fresh basil, I didn't even have dried basil so I just used some dried oregano and it was still delicious so just use what you like).
• Directions
• Preheat the oven to 450 F
• In a large dish (I used a dutch oven, but anything would do. I don't recommend metal though since the acidity of the dish might cause damage to the metal.) combine the tomatoes, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt and olive oil. Toss it like a salad to make sure the olive oil coats everything.
• Roast in the oven for 35 - 40 minutes until tomatoes are soft (I had mine covered the whole time and it came out pretty soupy. I think when I do it again I will uncover it for the last half or third to help thicken it up.)
• When done roasting, mash it all up with a potato masher keeping it somewhat chunky. And then season to how you like it. Easy right?

Eggplant Parmesan Stacks (adapted from "Mad Hungry")

Yield: ~12 stacks

• Ingredients:
• 3 Eggplants (cut into twelve 1/3 inch slices each, 36 total)
• Tomato sauce
• Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese (I used Kraft's "fresh")
• Mozzarella (I used shredded)
• Olive oil
• Salt and Pepper
• Directions
• Brush both sides of the slices with some olive oil and then season one side with some salt.
• Grill eggplant for 8-10 minutes flipping only once. (I used our outdoor grill but a grill pan would do the trick or a fry pan for that matter).
• While grilling mix together breadcrumbs, parmesan and a splash of olive oil (about a tablespoon) together (2:1 ratio). I used about 1 cup of breadcrumbs and 1/2 cup of parmesan but probably could have used a little more. If you have extra pop it in the fridge and you can used it with some chicken. 
• Once grilled it's time to assemble the stacks. Lay 12 slices down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Add a spoonful of the breadcrumb mixture, a spoonful of tomato sauce and some mozzarella. Add another slice of eggplant and repeat. Do that one more time. 
• Carefully but the sheet of stacks in a 350 F oven and bake for 20 minutes till the cheese melts. When done season with some pepper (optional) and serve. You won't be disappointed!

If you try this let me know what you think! Happy eating!

Oddfellows Burger Kitchen

So this past weekend my mom came down to visit and take back a bunch of things I had packed-up (it always amazes me how much crap I accumulate each year!). For awhile I had been trying to talk her into going to this burger joint in Ames that has a "kooky-retro" atmosphere called Oddfellows.

I cannot even begin to capture how much love I have for this place. I just wish I had went there sooner. 

Oddfellows is known for The Oddfellow Burger (a bacon cheeseburger with a glazed doughnut as the bun) and The Oddfellow Drink (a one quart mason jar with an alcoholic blue concoction. So you get a feel they cap the limit at 2 per person). Needless to say I tried both (keep in mind that this was 11:00 a.m. on a Sunday).

It was so good!! I got a side of their mac 'n' cheese as well. And you think that the glazed doughnut would make it disgusting but when the sweet mixes in with the bacon and burger along with the slight spice from the jack cheese.....my mouth is watering just writing about it.

My mom with a "safer" choice in burger, The Swiss 'Shroom. It was huge and had an almost bisuit-ish kind of bun. We also got an order of Oddfellows' onion rings, which weren't what we expected. They were almost like a shredded onion string that were lightly battered and extra crispy.

So here is our "Sunday Breakfast of Champions!" My eyes are rolling to the back of my head just thinking about how delicious all this food was (did I take that too far...probably...).

To cap off the experience, my mom and I shared the Banana Cream Cheesecake. It was the perfect blend to two of my favorite desserts, banana cream pie and cheesecake with a grahm cracker crust. Heavenly!

So if you are ever in the Ames, IA area and want a great, unique eating experience be sure to check out Oddfellows Burger Kitchen (I'm going again for graduation). You will not be disappointed!





(I also want to thank all of you for your kind words on last weeks post. Just writing that poem really helped, but seeing everyone's encouraging comments made the "haunting words" even less powerful. Thank you!)

Words That Haunt

Lying in bed

Hand resting on my forehead

My eyes look towards the ceiling

Another night taken by the words that haunt

Sit up and face the clock

Blinded by the light it beacons

I make out a one, three and eight

“So much to do tomorrow, get to sleep.”

Knowing it’s hopeless

Push myself to my feet

Stagger to the living room

“Why are you even contemplating that?”

Taking every ounce of my being to stay quiet

But desperately want to make some noise

Just to drown out the thoughts flying through my head

“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”

Assume my post on the couch

I’ve been stationed here for the past month

Unable to sleep, I watch as the traffic light goes from red to green

“You are alone.”

The words begin to get to me

I feel the tears trying to breakthrough

One falls

“Now you’re crying?”

The ones that chip away at me

I have no idea where they came from

Yet they persist, taking pieces of my fortress with them

“Do you ever feel like you’ve become the worst version of yourself?”

Was it in a song I listened to on the radio

Was it a show I watched this week

Was it in a conversation I heard in passing

“Just something else you can’t figure out in life.”

Exhausted from the fight I have put up, I head back to bed

One more weapon in my arsenal

Put headphones on, press play and drift to sleep

“These times are hard, but they will pass.”

(I had every intention of continuing last weeks post, however it is showing to be a little more challenging than I had anticipated. But there is progress being made so hopefully within the next two weeks I will have that up.)

"What I've Learned In College Thus Far..." Written on February 05, 2009

Lately, I haven't been sleeping well just laying in bed thinking back on the last four years. Last night I stumbled upon a Facebook note I had written during the second semester of my freshman year. With that said, I present to you "What I've Learned In College Thus Far..." by Christine on Thursday, February 05, 2009 (sorry for the profanity):

• puddle jumping is fun again
• dresser dancing is quite entertaining
• when the lofts a rockin don't come a knockin
• if you are going to make a random target/walmart run, don't bring any money
• with that said...target has a lot of cow related items (plates, umbrellas, cups, etc.)
• when it comes to getting up in the morning, the cell phone works better
• when making videos be aware of your surroundings
• window screens do not slide up, they just pop out, and they are hard to get back in
• delofting a bed is harder than it sounds
• never share songs with your roommate unless you are prepared to hear them sing it over and over again
• facebook is not your friend
• a caffine addiction can happen really fast
• i have really bad aim
• people observing during lunch and dinner is fascinating
• if you are going to creep on people, be prepared for karma to have people creep on you
• visors that are worn with the bill down is serious and bill up is party...kinda like a mullet
• i guess i make weird noises when i sleep
• late night talks are the best
• cosmo is a great source for bed time stories
• iowa state's campus is so gorgeous that it makes you never want to leave
• i get distracted way to easily
• laughter is the best medicine for any ailment
• comedians have the best job in the world
• just when you think you are alone, you're not
• journaling is a great way to get things off your chest
• the hall director of my building is going bald and has a very annoying, yipping dog
• getting caught red handed is fun if it is because you just painted your window
• if i want to watch an old movie i have to play it on my laptop up in my loft
• if i wake up when the sun is coming up and go back to sleep, i have some pretty crazy dreams
• the confrence room is a great place to escape to
• a loft ladder is not really necessary, but only trained professionals should do it
• if you are in a funky mood nothing beats a shower and laying up in your loft listening to your ipod
• caribou coffee is the shit
• even though i have been going around campus for almost a year, i still get lost
• the campanile is always a minute fast and goes off way to often
• if it snows 8 inches with a sheet of ice underneath, classes will still be held also with -25 degree temps
• it sucks being alone on the weekend
• it's a gift if i get to wake up after the sun has risen
• the buildings here are totally confusing
• think before you speak or it could come out as a jumbled mess
• safety goggles are a great accessory to any outfit
• gilman 1002 will always be jam packed full of great memories..."did you see his ass!"
• the more random the better for me
• i can get lost in music very easily
• when i get bored i tend to do random things to make people laugh
• without great roommates the transition from home to college would be impossible
• cheaply made jewlery is the best thing out there
• bandies really know how to have fun
• if you don't have a vehicle you better get use to the bus
• eight o'clock in the morning is way to early to be talking about animal reproduction
• nothing beats a long walk at 7:30 a.m.
• to get around to classes requires good tennis shoes
• lysol, chlorox wipes, and hand sanitizer are a necessity here
• the best time to eat is when you can find a table
• you gain a whole new family when you go to college
• justine's mom is the best baker i know
• sara's mom is one of the sweetest people i know
• nothing is better than getting mail
• post-it notes are a way of life
• the sink area is basically a tunnel where you can't hear anything
• it's always best to shut the blinds before changing
• the showers here are the best
• there is a lot of things that you have to print off
• walking alone at night is kind of scary
• using the wrong kind of light bulb can be dangerous
• doing the splits across two ladders is quite painful
• the best pedicures are at walmart
• massage chairs that poke your butt are a little awkward
• thank god for skype
• i really need a lot more free text messages
• the guys that live above us really like to use their bass system
• multiple nicknames for someone is necessary to keep things under wraps...mustang doesn't always mean a type of car ;)
• if you are going to ride on a trailor behind a tractor make sure to sit towards the back or get sprayed with what you hope is dirt
• some of the best people you will meet are the ones that randomly come up to you at breakfast and ask to sit with you
• no matter what happens my mom will always be there to help and support me
• some nights you just feel like a chuckwagon, combos, and a powerade
• the best adventures happen when you get on the wrong bus
• i learned that my movie collection is quite small
• uno tournaments...'nough said
• always be proactive
• there are "lions" on the prowel
• one beverage i should just ignore is lemonade...sugar high = off the walls
• so many christmas songs are naughty
• some of the best music you hear is by accident
• blow dryers are the best way to de-ice your window
• scrapbooking nights, though few and far between, will always be special to me
• if you snore be prepared to get a pillow thrown at you
• the stairwells are very violent and hurt you everytime you go in there
• look before you leap or you could get hurt
• the mall has the best baseball caps...go gamecocks
• it's never a good idea to throw a bouncy ball down the aisle of walmart but it's too much fun not to try
• the birds here are insane and out to get me
• the hinges in the bathroom rust fairly easily...cheap
• it is "illegal" to steel food and drinks unless noted otherwise
• that said if you do try to steal make sure to avoid those with ear pieces it's like the secret service for the food
• you learn to love the sound of the train going by yet have never seen it
• before you sit down always check for suspicious looking stains
• acting out songs is always fun...i got mad skills
• i develop a slight case of OCD
• i have a "brother from another mother" also known as justine's boyfriend, mitchell
• grey's anatomy is nothing compared to house...but i still like it
• if you see a guy walking by outside, open your window ask their name and have them turn around
• i'm not the only one that knows all the words to baby got back and numerous other songs
• pigs will find anyway to escape even if that means going between your legs
• i'd rather see the downstairs bouncing than the upstairs
• a cow umbrella is the only way to go if it rains
• spring break is best spent in Arizona with the girls!!
• VEISHEA = lots of memories, what a great weekend!
• don't bang on the windows of the conference room unless you are ready to deal with the repercussions later
• having sleepovers is essential
• dinner at clyde's is how we met channing look-a-like and became the laughing girls
• eaton needs to replace that bottom dryer...especailly since it started smoking the last time it broke down
• people aren't always who you thought they would be
• we all make mistakes...the trick is to learn from them
• kicking bio's ass is the most amazing feeling in the world
• you meet a lot of interesting characters and with that you take a little piece of them with you
• i'm quite the procrastinator
• my philosophy professor makes some of the best cookies i know (banana bread+chocolate chips= one amazing cookie)
• this is the cubbies year...i can feel it
• espn.com is my hero when i miss the cubs game
• my roomie is abusive towards me :)
• futon bars=uncomfortable
• a "bite and suck" is an essential bottle to have
• i've probably watched step-up/she's the man a hundred so times now
• my bio lab ta is probably the best one out there
• "hello, my name is hannah, i'm from wartburg, and i like to party!"
• Andy Samberg is karah's future husband (I lost at "andy burns")
• aviators are going to be our signature when we remake "i'm on a boat" this summer
• "i'm the doug of our relationship!! I have the glasses, the awkwardness, the cellphone, and the creeping down...OMG!!"
• late night conference room pow-wows are boss
• without snl my life would be incomplete...my life's ambition=to get on that show
• i suck at playing frisbee
• grass fights are fun
• a blanket helps to keep bugs away when on central campus, but doesn't help all the time
• be prepared for awkward encounters with random people
• although most people don't like it here, country music still speaks to me

Reading this list I laugh, I cry, I say "wow...." So many fond memories of that year. I think it's time to do another one.....

until next week!

Weaknesses

Everybody has a weakness, heck even Superman does! Nobody is perfect and it's all apart of what makes us human.

I, myself, have quite a few "weaknesses" and will be the first to acknowledge them:

• Some comments people make towards me I let get under my skin.
• I have low self-esteem/confidence; Always have and always will, but with age I begin to feel more sure of myself. 
• I am "socially awkward" in the sense that I am very shy and take a while to warm up to people.
• I have problems trusting people and letting people in.

And I could go on. These weaknesses are just a part of what makes me, me and I'm okay with that. Do you want to know why? It's because I know that if I just keep working at them they won't be as "crippling" as they once were. 

(So my message to you, Past, Present & Future Christine, is don't let these weaknesses consume you and define you as a person. There is so much more to you than these characteristics alone. And if anyone uses these in a way to hurt you, just put on that smile and remember how far you have come.)

Trouble Maker

In Micro Lab we had to swab two locations so we can determine what bacteria is growing there. I had chosen a keyboard in my favorite on-campus computer lab and my toothbrush. Once we had the swab, we had to put them in a test tube with nutrient broth so the little guys would grow. (By the next day, both tubes were turbid).

After the tubes got cloudy we then had to isolate the bacteria so there were individual colonies to work with. This was done with streak plating, and needless to say I will be an expert on isolating by the end with how many plates we have to do.

Once isolated, we could begin running tests which is where I am now. I have ran numerous tests and each time I always seem to make things "complicated." So much so my lab professor and TA have dubbed me "trouble maker." They are joking of course but let me share with you my most recent episode:

Last night, I went into the lab at 5:00 p.m. to start an oxidation fermentation test that will take 4 days. So far that one is okay but it's only been a day. Anyway, while I was in the lab to do the OF test I decided to do an endospore stain since I was already there. In case you don't know, some bacteria produce and release spores when their environment changes and they feel stressed. These spores are tough little buggers and make it so even if the "original" bacteria die, the spores can then go on to become new bacteria. When staining for endospores you need to boil some water in a beaker and then stain the slide over that, keeping it soaked in dye, for 10-15 minutes. It's really not that difficult and I did everything I was suppose to. However, the lab was closing as I was wrapping up and didn't have time to look at it under the microscope.

Which brings us back to today. After I walked into the lab, I went right for the microscope and began my search. All I wanted was to find some green dots in a sea of pink lines, but no such luck. But wait what's this? That looks green! And there's another! But that's it? I was thinking I might have to run the test again, but I called the TA over to see if those two little green dots were enough to call this positive for endospore formation.

He takes a look and is taking a long time...(crap, I'm going to have to do this again aren't I). What feels like forever passes and he emerges back from the microscope and says, "Those look like spores but let's ask Rob."

Ugh, here we go. Rob would be the professor by the way. He is awesome and is probably one of the best professors I've had while at ISU. But I always feel bad that I have to ask for his help all the time. He's great about it though, unlike some I've had which would have told me off by now, he just wants to help.

"I was hoping you weren't going to be here today, you always find a way to challenge me," he says with a smile.

"I know I'm sorry, I always seem to make trouble around here," I say heavy on the sarcasm. "I would be sick of me too."

He just laughs, "So what do we got?"

Brennan, the TA and I go on and tell him about how old the specimen was, how long I did the stain and that we only found a few green spores. "Hmmmm," he says. That always makes me nervous. I watch him as he scans the slide: left, right, up, down. After a few moments he pops up and tells Brennan to take a look by the pointer. "Mmmhhhmmm," did we forget how to use words now? Like the nerd I am I blurt out, "WHAT?"

Brennan moves and I take a look. Sure enough there's another spore, and another, and another. YAY!

You see, I really am a "trouble maker."

The Last SLICE of Pie

This was such a fun challenge and I have to say that even though I missed a few days towards the end; I couldn't be more proud. I remember starting this challenge determined to keep at it but still a little skeptical. But I did a heck of a lot better than I thought I did.

I met and got to see into the live of so many great people as well as connect again with those I had lost touch with. Reading everyone's comments was like opening presents on Christmas morning and they meant the world to me.

At the beginning I shared a challenging part of my life that I normally don't talk about. I'm so glad that it was taken with open arms and helped me feel more at ease about writing on my blog.

I picked up writing poetry again, something I haven't done in three years. It was nice to know that I still got it, haha.

To end I just want to say thank you and that I can't wait until next year to do it all over again because it was so much fun!

Slice of Life: Moment

The sun shines on my back as I sit in front of the computer

My window is open to capture the fresh air

A breeze comes by and tickles my skin

Calm & Relaxed as I listen to the robins sing

A moment for me & my thoughts

Slice of Life: Snippets

Alarm off at 8:00 a.m. - hit snooze for 15 minutes.

Get up, get ready and head to class.

Group project work day - constructing HACCP Plan for Pre-formed Raw Hamburger Patties. Almost done. YAY!

Go to Micro Lab - start working on "Unknown Project" - Took swabs of my toothbrush and a keyboard in my favorite computer lab on campus. Interested to see what kind of microbes are growing on those...EW!

Head to uncharted territories (aka a new computer lab) - Take forever to figure out how to log in on the network but finally do. Use 40 printing credits to print out homework and notes.

Sit in Micro Lecture - pretend to pay attention while trying not fall asleep. What's this, a video about fecal transfer? Kind of gross but still can't look away. Pay attention for rest of class period.

Come home - set out to be productive but get distracted by facebook, e-mails, blogs and words with friends (hello new addiction).

Hungry - go out and see roommates home. Go talk to her for a while and find out she is craving Taco Bell and needs to run to Walmart. Get some random things at store and order a Crunchwrap Supreme from TB. Yummy!

Arrive home - Eat, digest and be "productive" (yep, more words with friends). No one is playing so time to actually work. Work on Spamette HACCP Plan while rocking out.

Realize I have a post to write - get on blogger and write these snippets of my day. Start dozing off and remember I still have to shower and get ready for bed. So good night, I will talk to you tomorrow!

Slice of Life: Numbers

I have been trying to think of something to write today but my brain has been taken over by numbers instead of words:

Doesn't that look like fun?

That would be all the control charts I have had to make and interpret for one of my Food Science classes. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if I was better with Excel. I learned most of my skills on the older versions, but I have the newest one on my laptop where everything is different with this one. Thank goodness I got some pointers from my little bro when I was home for break otherwise I would still be working on these.