How is it December already!!!!!

I can’t believe how long it has been since I’ve updated my blog. The weird thing is that I feel like I just did. However September was not yesterday, it was a long time ago. This always seems to happen around the holidays. Time just seems to fly by and it’s getting faster the older I get. I miss being able to leisurely wrap presents, bake cookies, and listen to copious amounts cheesy Christmas music. Oh well being a grown up isn’t always what I thought it was going to be. (Blast you pesky bills!)

So as is my custom I will highlight some of the stuff going on in my life just because I feel like sharing.

* Taylor Swift, who is a favorite of mine and I don’t care who knows it, went on sale today and sold out within like 20 minutes. It was incredible. Can you imagine being so successful and not even 20 yet? She could have sold out about three times over but alas there will only be one show here in Columbia. Oh and I sold all my suites before the tickets actually went on sale which has never happened and is pretty awesome.

* On another teeny bopper note we had probably one of the busiest weekends in the arena’s history last week. We had Thanksgiving on Thursday, a basketball game on Friday night, the Carolina vs. Clemson (USC WON!!!!!) at noon and then the Miley Cyrus concert Saturday, and then two shows of Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Sunday. I was beyond tired after that.

* My cousin Chris was on leave from Afghanistan for the Thanksgiving holiday and she came down to Columbia to have lunch with Mom and I. It was so good to see her and we are incredibly proud of her. While I don’t think people have to support the war, I do believe in supporting our troops.

* Next weekend I get to go to Charleston and see eight ESA alums in Charleston and I couldn’t be more excited. We are renting a huge house and hanging out and doing service and just catching up. While all of us weren’t crazy close during college we all have bonded over being in the grown up world. I’m just pumped to get away for a little while and have a full on girls weekend.

* One of my bestest friends in the whole world is moving to Greenville today and I’m going to miss her so much. We would have never met because our majors were so different but working at Gibson’s brought us together. I’m so happy she is moving for her job but sad that I won’t have easy access to my friend.

Okay I’m done babbling on about nothing. Hope everyone is well and ready for the holiday season.

Currently I’m reading: Lipstick Jungle by: Candace Bushnell. It’s by the same writer who wrote Sex in the City. It’s very women’s power, kicking butt in heels. I’m also starting the Accidental Billionaires by: Ben Mezrich. It's about the creation of Facebook. I haven't gotten very far but I think it'll be interesting.

A Spot of Tea

I had the most fabulous Mother/Daughter day this past Saturday. Now I realize that most girls either say they don’t get along with their mom or they are best friends, the Olsgaard women and definitely the latter. We have always been close but when my dad passed my mom and I truly became each other’s support system and best friends. I think we get along so well because I am a carbon copy of Mama O. If Andy wants to know what I’ll be like when I’m older, just look at my mom. We think alike, talk alike, and everyone says we look alike, although we don’t see it. But anyway let me tell you about the best bonding day ever!
We started off the day by driving to Ridgeway, SC i.e. in the middle of freakin’ nowhere. We drove to Laura’s Tea Room. Now I realize to some people this whole experience will sound silly and lame but it was so much fun! The first floor is the cutest little store with lots of knick-knacks and tea themed stuff. But the best part was on the second floor. Upstairs is a bunch of little tables with all kinds of different settings and lots of windows. First you get to pick out your own tea cup from a table full tea sets (cup, saucer, and a tiny little spoon) and then you are lead to your private table. The hot tea of the day was Black Apricot, which we definitely took, but they will happily brew you anything kind you want. They also had a Pomegranate iced tea, which they dropped a frozen peach in and I’m telling you it made all the difference. Note to self: if you want to make a drink fancy schmancy add froze fruit. They serve you all kinds of delicious snacks like: scones with Devonshire cream, cornbread salad (which sounds kind of weird but was really good and I need to find a recipe for), cucumber sandwiches, and lots of sweets. Mom and I had an absolute ball. It was just a great girly experience, although men are welcome as well, and a wonderful way to feel young. The women who run the place are wonderful too, they pay extreme attention to details, which I love, and they honestly want you to have the best time you can. They even have a large collection of hats that you can choose from and wear while you have your tea. (Both Mom and I have very small heads so none of them really fit us.) If you are in South Carolina I would recommend you take your mom or friends or anyone you can to this place and have high tea. ;)

The rest of our bonding day was quiet but so much fun. We went home and did at home pedicures and watched two weeks’ worth of America’s Next Top Model, Project Runway, and Runway Models episodes. It was just so nice to spend the whole day being girly and bonding with Mom. It reminded me how lucky I am to have her.

Currently I’m reading: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. I’ve always heard people talk about this book so I figure it’s about time I finally read it. I’m also reading Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster. It’s an autobiography and it’s hysterical! The author is a self proclaimed b***h and smart a** and a perfect example of how not to treat people. If you need a laugh, read this. I’m also still getting through Twenties Girl, don’t get me wrong it’s a wonderful book; I just don’t have enough time in the day for reading. :(

How Rude!

That's right "How Rude" just like Stephanie Tanner in Full House. I was talking with my good friend Rebecca last night and we were noticing that September has been a month filled with random rude acts, instead of random kind acts. I realize that I was raised with what some people would call strict parents. I was told from a very young age how to act toward other people and how to handle myself in public. To me, and many of the people I grew up with, this wasn’t a sign of overbearing parents; it was called teaching your children manners. We have seen a great lack of manners in the last couple of weeks and I just want to know, what the heck is wrong with people?!?!?

First there was Senator Joe Wilson. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyTelRaoBAI&feature=related I will start this statement off with a disclaimer that I know shamefully little about what is going on in the political world. I don’t really know what President Obama was talking about in his speech or why Senator Wilson was so offended by what was said. However, I do know that calling the President of the United States of America a liar simply because you don’t like what was said is inexcusable. The Senator is supposed to be representing the state of South Carolina and all he did was embarrass himself. And let’s face it, the people of South Carolina go through enough embarrassing moments that we don’t need anyone adding to it. I think SC has reached our yearly limit now.

Also, what possessed Kanye West to get up during Taylor Swift’s VMA speech and proclaim that Beyonce’s video was better? First of all Taylor is 19 years old, is the first country music singer to win a VMA, and is America’s sweetheart. Second, I personally love the Single Ladies video, I think Beyonce is amazingly talented to be able to dance like that for over 5 minutes and should be recognized for it. Which she was, later on in the night; it didn't need to be acknowledged during Taylor's moment. Kanye just embarrassed himself, all his fans and supporters, Taylor, and Beyonce. Can you image what it would feel like to be standing up there getting an award and someone runs up and tells everyone that you don’t deserve to win? Wow, I don’t even want to think about it. The silver lining is that Beyonce has been raised with class and manners, or has a really good PR rep, and was very sweet to let Taylor come up during her acceptance speech later on in the show so Taylor could have a chance to thank the fans. Kudos to Beyonce.

I’m just wandering what has gotten into people to randomly ‘show their behinds’ and ruin other people’s moments? Contain yourselves people and respect others. Thanks!

Season Beginnings

I never intended this to be a check in once a month kind of blog but I think I’ve been so busy doing stuff that I forget to record it for all you lovely people. ;) I was thinking today about how September has become one of my favorite months simply because it is the beginning of so many different seasons. First it’s the beginning of fall which I love best. It’s sweater, tailgating, jackets, no need for air conditioning, season.

The ‘season’ starts tonight at the Colonial Life Arena. We kick it off with Sesame Street Live. Woho! Except it’s been a little sad because apparently kids just don’t watch Sesame Street like they did when we were kids. I’m not sure what they are watching but it makes me sad to think that Big Bird and Elmo are slowly being phasing out.

The television show season is also starting back. Generally speaking I’m not much of a TV person. I’d rather read or watch a movie. However I have become addicted to a couple mindless shows and I’m so excited they have started again. My mom and I are the reason that stations run marathons, because if we start watching one we are instantly addicted to it. That is how we became obsessed with Project Runway, America’s Next Top Model, Top Chef, and Desperate Housewives. I realize these shows don’t offer much of an intellectual aspect, but I love them!

I’m very proud of myself on how I have also continued my reading obsession and fall is the perfect season to curl up in a blanket and read. My list of ‘want to read books’ is embarrassingly long now. I add to it constantly. I’ve been blessed to find a couple girls how have the same taste in books, pure chick lit mostly, who have graciously let me borrow a ton of their books. Is it bad that some mornings I wake up and just want to sit outside all day and read? That would be a perfect day.

One last thought, yet another season has started, and it’s pretty much the most important. And I’m talking about FOOTBALL season of course. My beloved Gamecocks aren’t supposed to be very good this year but that won’t stop people from going to the games or wavier my loyalty. I’ve already had a ball cooking for the games. I made beer cheese dip that didn’t turn out very good, but the Bourbon balls and Oreo balls were a hit. If anyone has any good tailgating recipes send them my way. I’ll need them!

Currently I’m reading: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiners. I love her style and humor, although it seems like her main characters are always either over weight or pregnant, neither of which I have any experience with. Cannie in this novel is both. And Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. It about Lara who is ‘haunted’ by her great aunt Sadie and is sent of a wild goose chase to find a necklace from her pass in order for Sadie to peacefully pass on. I really like it but it’s taking me a while because I just don’t have enough time to read! :(

What I've been up to

I have yet again been very negligent of my blog. It hasn’t been because of a lack of exciting stories, but simply a lack of time and patience. So without further ado here are a few of my random thoughts.

* I have had the pleasure of travelling out of the country since my last post. The Olsgaard clan visited my cousin Amber and her husband Joe in Germany in July. We had a fabulous, jam packed 10 days of touring Germany and Austria. I saw things that I had only read about or seen in books, which I always find to be a surreal experience. I huge shout out goes to the Genaus for being such wonderful tour guides. If you want to see the fruit of our trip, meaning pictures, check them out on Facebook.

* I have been waiting for months for the movie Julie and Julia to come out and it finally did this weekend. I ran out and bought the book as soon as I saw the movie trailer so I was ready for the movie. I loved it, and so did my mom, and would recommend it to everyone. I’m always a little nervous when I get really excited about a movie, because generally it doesn’t live up to the hype. But the movie was crazy cute and entertaining and I can’t wait for it to come out on DVD.

* In between reading the Shopaholic series, I picked up a book called The Blind Side. It is a book about football which didn’t seem that interesting to me; however I had heard the storyline and was intrigued. It is based on the true story of Michael Oher, a poor boy in Memphis who was taken in by a rich white family and he became an incredible football player. The story is really good and it makes you want to really got out there and help somebody. I’m truly enjoying reading about this unbelievable success story.

* And the most exciting things is that Andy, who has been in Maryland for a month, is coming back home tonight and I’m over the moon. I got used to having him around in June, so I’m happy to finally have him back.

And to end on a traditional note I’ll update you on what I’m reading: The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. I’m also reading Baby Proof by Emily Giffin, which is a book about a woman who does NOT want to have children and her struggle with that decision. I like Emily Giffin’s style of writing, strong female characters, so I’m enjoying this one.

Where did the month of June go?

So it has been a month since I last posted and I’m a little disappointed in myself for letting it go that long. In all honestly I have been crazy busy but still. I enjoy reading everyone else’s blogs, so I should at least try and contribute. So here is a little run down of my life recently:

* I’ve been working tons lately. We have had a religious convention in the arena for the last three weekends which requires me to be in the arena from 7:00am to 6:30pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It’s not hard work, but it makes for a very long weekend. Plus I don’t get to do anything fun for the weekend of the 4th of July because I’m at work. :’(

* However I got to skip last week's convention because Andy and I went up to Maryland. I love going home with him. I love his town, his family, and his friends. Andy was a groomsman in his best friend from high school’s wedding. It was a beautiful event and I was so happy I could go. (I don’t know about everyone else but I feel like everyone I know either got married this month or went to a wedding. I guess we have hit the age where there really is a wedding season. Yay for being grown ups; bring on the free cake!) We also went to an Orioles game, which was my very first major league baseball experience. We went with a couple of Andy’s old friends and we had so much fun!

*I’m getting excited about the family’s trip to Germany this month. I can't believe I'm leaving in two weeks!

*Andy has officially moved back to Columbia, which makes life ten times easier. I loved Charleston but I missed being able to see him during the week. Andy moved into a huge old house with a couple of friends from college and will start grad school in the fall. I can’t believe we have been together for almost a year now. Part of me feels like it was only yesterday and part feels like we have been together forever. It’s been wonderful no matter how long it’s been.

*I take back a little bit of my statement from above, that I am not going to have any fun for the 4th. Andy and the guys are have a housewarming party/Independence Day party on Friday the 3rd. All the guys that we hung out with during college are coming into town and we are having a mini reunion. It’ll be great to see everyone again.

* One last gem from my life, I saw the movie Public Enemies last night and it was so good! I little "shoot 'em up" for my taste in parts, but over all very entertaining. Plus both Johnnie Depp and Christian Bale are gorgeous and there are plenty of quotable lines.

And to end on a traditional note I’ll update you on what I’m reading: Julie & Julia by Julie Powell. I saw a trailer for this movie that will be coming out the month and thought it looked adorable. I found out that the movie is based on a book, like usual, and I am determined to read the book before I see the movie. I also started reading Bless Your Heart, Tramp by Celia Rivenbark. It is hysterical! If you want a good look at how Southerns think, this is the book for you.

Summer is here!

It has been an embarrassing long time since I’ve written, especially since interesting stuff has actually been happening to me. Clearly I’m too lazy to write in paragraphs so I’m reverting back to list format.

• My family is officially planning a trip to Europe now. We had a few factors that the trip was resting on but they all worked out so we are going! The majority of the trip will be in Germany but we might have to steal over to another country of two if time permits. If you have been over there and you have suggestions of what to see please let me know. (Amber we are coming to see you so your thoughts would be great!)


• Andy is finally moving back to Columbia this month!!!!!!! Clearly I’m ecstatic. We didn’t plan out our relationship very well since we didn’t start dating until after he moved to Charleston, which is an easy hour and an half drive but inconvenient to say the least. I think he and his roommates have found a house and will be moving in around the middle of June. Yay!


• I’m so excited about this upcoming weekend. Andy is going on a family vacation and I was wondering how I would spend my free weekend when my lovely friend Celia said that she would be in Charleston over the weekend. I’m totally stoked about the potential beach time, catching up with friends, and a trip to Hyman’s. (I’m a little embarrassed to say that I already know what I’m going to order.) I don’t think I could ever get sick of that place.
  
• I went to the Outer Banks a couple weekends ago for the first time and I was very impressed. My problem with a lot of the beaches in SC is that they are always full of people. I much prefer the feeling that my group is the only one for miles and the beach is completely ours. In the Outer Banks the only people on the beach are the ones who are renting the houses next to you and that’s it. It was wonderful! There really isn’t anything to do on the island which was awesome too. Why go to the beach to do anything but go to the beach! (Although we did go through a Brew Thru and bought t-shirts because it’s tradition and the shirts are collector’s items.) I’m hoping to make my way up there again soon. If you haven’t gone before I definitely recommend it.


• I have becoming rather obsessed with my reading list. No really, I have a problem. The list is about 15 pages long in Word and every time I look through it I want to read every book right now. I don’t have anywhere near enough time in my life to devote to reading but I really think I’m going to start making time because I thinking I’m a calmer person when I do get a chance to read some during the day.

On that note I hope everyone had a great weekend and you have a wonderful week!

Currently I’m reading: Life Laughs by Jenny McCarthy, which is very funny and I was surprised by how normal her life was considering who she is. I’m also reading Don’t Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoe by Dixie Cash. This series is really cute and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for pure click lit books.

It's All About Relaxing

I had kind of a crappy day yesterday. Nothing terribly bad happened, just a lot of little things like I slipped in the rain and busted up my knee on the asphalt and dropped a huge bowl of pasta salad on the floor at lunch and the list just kept going. So after work I went to the library and found the cutest books ever and all of a sudden my day was better. (Although the long phone chat with Andy probably helped the most.) I really have enjoyed over the last couple of months exploring the world of literature, or chick lit rather. I’m heading to the beach this weekend (YAY!!!) so I had to get some good reading material. They are by an author named Dixie Cash, clearly a southern writer, and I picked up Since You’re Leaving Anyway, Take Out the Trash and Don’t Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoes. I know they are totally girly but they are sound wonderful and just want I need to relax.

I’ve also been working through the book Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides. It was recommended to me by a friend and while it’s not really my taste I’m going to finish it, if for no other reason than because she liked it. It covers a large range of taboo topics but the story still has an innocence about it too. It is an Oprah recommended book, plus it won a Pulitzer Prize. If you are interested in opening your mind definitely give this one a try.

And now time for a few of my random thoughts. I heard the song Forever and Ever this morning and it got me thinking. I’m very picky about the country songs I listen to, I’m more of a poppy country fan if any, so I was surprised that this song held my attention this morning. I want a love like that song. It’s not flashy or exciting all the time but a pure love that is simple and true. (Trust me, I’m doing my darnest to find that.) It just sounded so sweet.

As a fun office outing we are all going to a USC baseball game this afternoon. How fun is that? It’s just a fun way for us all to bond and relax outside of the office. We all went to the movies last week too. If your office needs a little relaxation time I would definitely recommend coordinating an office outing.

One last thought, I went to the movies last week, I saw Ghosts of Girlfriends Past which was totally cute, and I saw a really cute movie trailer. It’s called Julie & Julia. It’s about a girl, named Julie, who decides to cook ever recipe in Julia Child’s cookbook and then blogs about her experiences doing it. It looks really fun and it kind of encouraged me to keep up with my blog. I won’t be able to publish it one day but it might be nice to read later on in life and see what I was up to. Plus this is my way of remembering what I’ve read already.

Have a great week!

Summer Can't Come Soon Enough

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. Yippee!

This is really the first summer that I remember being truly excited about it. Don’t get me wrong, I loved not going to school for a couple months and the random trips to the Midwest to see the family but we rarely went to the beach (my parents didn’t swim) or did anything exciting. During college I usually just worked and took classes so it wasn’t much of a summer. This summer is shaping up to be truly exciting though. Both Andy and I are planning to move; him back to Columbia, me into a new house with Miss Erin Egnot. We both have a ton of trips planned: everywhere from Myrtle Beach, to Maryland, to maybe Germany (for me and the Olsgaard clan). Any weekend that we don’t have plans, or I’m working :’(, I’m hoping to take trips around the state and visit all our friends who we don’t get to see very often. There are the Greenville girls, and the group sounds like its numbers will be growing again soon, Justin at Wofford, and the ladies in Charleston. Maybe we can even swing down to Florida for a long weekend to see Miss Celia!

P.S. We are having a mini SPTE/college reunion this weekend. Lots of people are coming into town and I’m so excited to see everyone! Of course I only get to see people sporadically because I have Disney on Ice at the arena this weekend. And I have to be here for all SEVEN shows of it! Are you kidding me? Oh well, that’s the price I pay for having a big girl job.

I’m currently reading: Second Chance by: Jane Green. It’s a little sadder than what I usually look for in chick-lit but I’m pushing through it to see if it gets better. The story is a completely knock off of the movie Big Chill, which I do like. (Best soundtrack ever!). I also just started reading Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracey Chevalier. I’ve always wanted to read it, so I am.

I Like Lists

So I don’t think I’m very good at writing in paragraph form, also I’m just too lazy to write in that format so I’m switching to a list form instead. If you dislike the style, so sorry, but too bad. Hehe I love you. ;)

*I spent my second weekend at the Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament this past weekend. I’ve never been much of a tennis fan. (I mainly compare it to watching paint dry actually.) But it was surprisingly entertaining. I think the fact that watching anything in person makes everything more fun and the fact that the players were very good also helped. A completely random girl ended up winning which was cool. The winner was only 19 years old and the runner up was only 18! Wow do I feel slightly unaccomplished at the old age of 23. I guess I can always blame my parents for letting my have a wonderful childhood instead of forcing me to become a world class athlete.

*I think everyone I know got engaged over Easter weekend. Okay, not everyone but a bunch of people did. Congrats to all the happy couples. It is kinda funny how these events seem to come in spurts though.

*Somehow I became Facebook friends with people my brother goes to high school with a while back. Well they all had prom over the weekend and I had a good ole’ time looking through all their pictures this morning. It’s crazy to think that my last prom was FIVE YEARS ago! The taste in dresses and hair styles have changed only slightly since I went. It still feels like yesterday that I was shopping for the perfect dress. Both of my proms went very smoothly, no crazy or embarrassing stories. Anyone out there have any good prom stories????

P.S. I’m still reading the same books I mentioned last blog but I thought I would add that Dan Brown, author of the Da Vinci Code, will be coming out with a new book called The Lost Symbol on September 15th. For all you lovers of Brown’s work, get excited!!!!

Chicken Fried

So I thought I’d share my new favorite band, the Zac Brown Band. Chicken Fried is such a great southern song, even if it is about Georgia, it still works for SC! Something about the lyrics just speaks to me. Toes is pretty fun too!

You know I like my chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night

A pair of jeans that fit just right

And the radio up

Currently I’m reading: Something Blue by: Emily Giffin. I’m hooked on this series. Giffin is a great writer and makes you feel like you know all the characters so well. I’m also reading Society Girls by: Sarah Mason. I haven’t gotten too far in it yet but I think it’s going to be really cute too. I’m really enjoying my girly books but I think I’ll switch it up to someone of substance next time, we’ll see though. ;)

Here is a funny little survey that I thought some of you might enjoy. Once you get to the end copy it either to the comments or an email, then erase my answers, fill in yours, and send it back to me. Yay for procrastinating!

Two - by - Two
Two names you go by:
1 Foot Foot
2 Mama O
Two things you are wearing right now:
1 The necklace Andy gave me
2. Heels
Two things you love to do:
1. Travel
2. Sit on the beach with a good book, a good drink, and good friends
Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. To be in Charleston
2 Be outside to enjoy the sunshine
Two favorite pets you have had/have:
1. I’ve never really had an pets, just fish :(
2.
Two people who will send this back completed:
1. Andy
2. Rebecca
Two things I did last night:
1. Drove to Charleston and back with the family
2. I got to sit in the corporate box and watch Caroline Wozniacki play from the first row. Pretty cool stuff.
Two people you last talked to:
1. Andy Sipes
2. My mom
Trips taken in the last five years:
1 Maryland for New Years
2. Fargo, ND to see the family
Two favorite Holidays
1. New Years
2. Thanksgiving
Two favorite beverages:
1. Water
2. Ginger Ale, I know I’m a dork

Ramble On

I’m so excited, one of my favorite shows has started again, GREEK!!!!!! I know it comes on ABC Family and all but I love that show. It is nothing like my experience in the Greek System, although ESA wasn’t really a greek sorority, but I find it entertaining.

On a completely different note, I read about the weirdest thing yesterday. I’m reading Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot, who also wrote Princess Diaries, and the main story revolves around these kids who are supposedly elevator surfing. It’s when people climb on the top of an elevator car and ride it up and down. Apparently they can also hop from one moving car to the other. Isn’t that the craziest thing you’ve ever heard?!?! Anyway the book is interesting, not exactly what I was expecting though from the title, but then again I didn't realize it would be a mystery.

Also my Erin Egnot is back in Columbia, SC for the next couple of days. I’m so happy. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
Can you tell that I just learned how to insert pictures? Plus everyone loves a visual right?

Currently I’m reading: Size 12 is Not Fat by: Meg Cabot as mentioned previously. I’m also reading Something Borrowed by: Emily Giffin. Its super cute and just what I was looking for, a perfect girly beach book.

I miss my ESA ladies!!!!!

So I had a fabulous time at Relay for Life. It was so great catching up with all the ESA ladies. Its fun how our conversations have changed over the past year. I went to dinner with Lindsey, Natalie, and Whitney and instead of talking about classes and stuff we mostly talked about being an adult and relationships. We all are in different stages in our lives when it comes to relationships and we laughed the whole time over common experiences and the how boys are crazy sometimes. I had a ball!

Fab Four Relay for Life 2006

Fab Four Relay for Life 2009

Then it just got better at Relay. There was lots of screaming and hugging as we greeted each other. We all agreed that it is very weird to realize that we don’t know most of the girls in ESA anymore. The new girls were all giving us the ‘Who is that?” face and “Why are they wearing our letters”. It’s weird because we just wanted to say “They were our letters before they were your letters”, but instead we just met as many as we could and caught up with each other. It’s amazing how much I miss those girls. I guess when you spent every Tuesday of your college career with the same people you get a little attached. It was wonderful and we need to start planning our next ESA reunion. I’m thinking the beach, who’s in?!?!?!

Relay for Life

**Here is your warning: This is not a particularly happy, uplifting blog. If you aren’t in the mood for that, skip it. I understand.**

So I wasn’t sure if I wanted to writing a blog about Relay just because I have such mixed feelings about it. But then I wrote this and figured if I took the time to write it I should put it up. Plus I warned you of the content so there you go.

On the one hand I love Relay for Life. It was always my favorite event in ESA and I’ve participated in one every year since high school. I love how it brings so many people together and obviously it’s for a great cause. I would always be the crazy walking person because I would yell at the girls who would just go to Relay to get hours and then won’t actually walk any of it. That isn’t the point of the event; if you come you better come with your walking/running shoes on!

On the other hand, this year will be incredibly painful to attend Relay for Life. This is the first Relay I’ve gone to since my Dad passed from lung cancer in 2007. I don’t want to get too deep into feelings and stuff because there is no reason to bring all you lovely readers down, plus I’m not sure there are words for what I feel. I’ve always known people who had fought with or passed from the disease and it motivated me toward the cause. However, to lose a parent to it is something completely different. I don’t know if I’ve ever been able to describe the feeling correctly. The only scenario that I’ve been able to come up with is that it is like I was in a traumatic accident and I have a huge scar left on my body but no one can see it. It still hurts, but I’ve learned to function with it, but no one really understands what it feels like unless you have the same scar. And even if someone else has gone through the experience, it’s still different from yours. In last week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy Alex had a monologue about how he and Izzie’s life wasn’t supposed to go the way it was with her having cancer. My family and I said that over and over, still do, about what happened to my dad. ‘This wasn’t supposed to end like this, this wasn’t the plan.’ But sometimes you don’t get a say in life’s plan, and that was a big lesson I had to learn. Even as I write this the comparison doesn’t even seem to cover the half of it. Anyway, I learned, or at least I’m trying, to appreciate everyone around me because everyone contributes something to your life and that is a blessing.

Okay sad time is over. I’m going to focus more on the gathering together to find a cure, or at least something that helps this crazy disease. I’m so excited to see all my old ESA ladies, I love them and have missed them terribly over the past year. It will be a great night!

I'm still finishing up Breaking Dawn and Debutante Divorcee. I haven't had much time for reading but I did finish The Giver. It was an interesting book, it was a little George Orwell - Ray Bradbury for my taste, but I liked the relationship between the boy and the giver.

Yay for Reading

I am so proud of myself because I have gathered together probably the best book list ever. It contains mostly girly fiction books but also just a bunch of books that I’ve always said I need to read one day but always forget about. The other day I spent more time than I really would like to admit on Amazon.com looking up books. They have this very nifty feature where you type in a book and then they give you a ton of suggestions of books just like the one you looked up. I’m so excited about my list and I wish I could just sit outside and read all day long. (This is also extreme proof that I am just like my mother since she has had a book list for years and has been telling me I should start one too.)

It’s kinda funny to me that I am so excited about this list. When I was a child I could sit for hours upon hours listening to someone read to me but I wasn’t that excited to learn to read myself. I hated reading in school because everything was so boring. My parents always said once I could read whatever I wanted to I would like it more. I didn’t believe them until Christmas break of my college freshman year. I collected four books over my first semester at USC and read over the whole break. (Don’t you hate it when parents are right?!?!)

Anyway if anyone if interested in a huge list of girly books (i.e. most everything is on the lines of Bridget Jones, In Her Shoes, and Bergdorf Blondes) let me know and I’d be happy to share. Also I’m completely open to any and all book suggestions. **Thanks to Tracy for the comments, I’ve already put your books on my list ;) **

Currently I’m reading: The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes. I’m also finished up Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. I saw the Twilight movie and wasn’t impressed but I never like the movies of books I’ve read. I’m also reading The Giver by Lois Lowery, because everyone read that in school but I never did so I figured I should.

P.S. When I went to the library to pick up the Sykes book I wondered over to the young adult books and picked up an old Judy Blume book Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret. I absolutely loved that book growing up and it was a great experience reading it again for old times. If you didn't read it in middle school go read it now. It's too cute.

Five Levels of Hangovers

This was emailed to me and I found it hilarious! Hope you laugh today!!!!

Five Levels of Hangovers

Category One Hangover (CAT 1)

No pain. No real feeling of illness. You're able to function relatively well. However, you are still parched. You can drink 5 cokes and still feel this way. For some reason, you are craving a 20 0z steak & fries.

Category Two Hangover (CAT 2)

No pain, but something is definitely amiss. You may look okay, but you have the mental capacity of a staple gun. The coffee you are chugging is only increasing your rumbling gut, which is still tossing around the fruity pancake from the 3:00 AM Waffle House excursion. There is some definite havoc being wreaked upon your bowels.

Category Three Hangover (CAT 3)

Slight headache. Stomach feels crappy. You are definitely not productive . Anytime a girl walks by you gag because her perfume reminds you of the flavored schnapps shots your alcoholic friends dared you to drink. Life would be better right now if you were home in your bed watching Lucy reruns. You've had 4 cups of coffee, a gallon of water, 3 iced teas and a diet Coke--yet you haven't peed once.

Category Four Hangover (CAT 4)

Life sucks. Your head is throbbing. You can't speak too quickly or else you might puke. Your boss has already lambasted you for being late and has given you a lecture for reeking of booze. You wore nice clothes, but that can't hide the fact that you only shaved one side of your face. For the ladies, it looks like you put your make-up on while riding the bumper cars. Your eyes look like one big red vein , and even your hair hurts. Your ass is in perpetual spasm, and the first of about five shits you take during the day brings water to the eyes of everyone who enters the bathroom.

Category Five Hangover (CAT 5 - MEGA CAT)

You have a second heartbeat in your head, which is actually annoying the employee who sits in the next cube. Vodka vapor is seeping out of every pore and making you dizzy. You still have toothpaste crust in the corners of your mouth from brushing your teeth in an attempt to get the remnants of the poop fairy out. Your body has lost the ability to generate spit so your tongue is suffocating you. You don't have the foggiest idea who the hell the stranger was passed out in your bed this morning. Any attempt to take a dump results in a fire hose like discharge of alcohol-scented fluid with a rare 'Floater' thrown in.. The sole purpose of this 'Floater' seems to be to splash the toilet water all over your ass. Death sounds pretty good about right now....

THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK:
Indubitably; Innovative; Preliminary; Proliferation; Cinnamon

THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK:
Specificity; British Constitution; Passive-aggressive disorder;
Loquacious; Transubstantiate

THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK:
1.) Thanks, but I don't want to have sex.
2.) Nope, no more booze for me.
3.) Sorry, but you're not really my type.
4.) Good evening officer isn't it lovely out tonight.
5.) Oh, I just couldn't. No one wants to hear me sing.
6.) Sorry I'm being such a jackass.

A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend
will be sitting next to you saying, 'Damn, we really screwed up'!

Turn The Radio Up

So on my way back to work from lunch I started coming up with a list of cool songs. (By the way it’s 77 and gorgeous in Columbia today with just a hint of a light breeze. And where am I you might ask? In my office, underground! I don’t even a window to let in some sunshine.)Celia got me thinking about it after reading her blog. I’ll be taking lots of trips to Charleston starting next week, thank goodness, and I’m in need of a couple new CDs. I haven’t been able to go to Charleston much that last couple of months because I’ve worked almost every weekend since November. So Andy, being the sweetheart he is, has been making the trip to Columbia dutifully on the weekends. But with the weather finally turning nice I’m getting antsy to walk along the beach and reading with my toes in the sand. Ahhh heaven. ;) So here are some of my favorite new artist and songs. Let me know what you think and if you have anything to add.

Tyrone Wells – Sea Breeze
Ari Hest – Caught up in your love
Better Than Ezra – Extra Ordinary
Villanova – Slade Stone
Matt Nathanson – Get Higher
Taylor Swift – Fearless
Zac Brown – Chicken Fried
Beyonce - Halo
James Morrison - Wonderful World (Video is a little weird but I love that song.)
Tracy Chapman - Fast Cars

Oh and just to make everyone feel better about your weekend, guess what I’m doing on Friday and Saturday night? Working Professional Bull Riding. Wow really? Such is my life apparently.

Currently I’m reading: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer – the last of the Twilight series. Also, The Village Bride of Beverly Hills by Kavita Daswani. It’s really cute about an Indian girl who had any arranged marriage and moves to America.

Help Others By Playing With Food

I’ve finally gotten my butt in gear and started studying for the GMAT. (It’s just like the GRE but for business majors.) I am studying for this inane test because I am thinking, very seriously, about going back to school. I come from an education oriented family, both Mama and Daddy Olsgaard have multiple degrees and both worked for USC. So getting a grad degree has always been in my thoughts. I was told by my professor that I should get a least one year of work experience, which I have done now, before going back. But before I can do that I have to take the GMAT. I cannot express how much I hate standardized test. I think they are useless since they definitely do not showcase what I have learned. In college I learned how to market products, manage employees and faculties; at the very least they let me use a calculator. (Damn you math section!!!) I definitely didn’t study the structure of sentences and ridiculous math problems. But like every other grad student hopeful I will suck it up and take the stupid test, eventually. ;)

In hopes to help me with my studying my mom sent me a very cool website to help me extend my vocabulary. Its call http://www.freerice.com/ and it is amazing! You have a voc question and if you get it right the website donates 10 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program. I thought it was a hoax at first but it’s completely true. Check out what the Times has to say about it. Also if you are bored, check out the other 50 Best Websites of 2008. There are some really cool ones. Anyway it’s a pretty fun and easy way to help some others in need.

Random Thoughts

Interesting things to come:
*We have the Circus in town this week, which translates to I don’t get a day off at all this week, nor do I get to partake of the St. Patty’s Day festivities in 5 Points with all the crazy college kids. I don’t think I’ve seen the Circus since I was about four years old. I have not seen it since then because my mom swears that I screamed the whole time because I was scared of everything. (Yep, I was one of those kids, a huge scaredy cat.) I think I’ll actually sit down and watch it this year. Let me know if anyone wants to join.
*For Valentine’s Day I bought Andy tickets to the Jeff Dunham event at the North Charleston Coliseum. We have watched his stuff on Comedy Central a bunch of times and he is hilarious. They always say don’t give funny stuff for V-day, but I think we both prefer it to the sappy stuff. So at the end of March we are going to see him live. So excited!
* Dane Cook is coming in June. As I said before I’m a huge fan of standup comedy so I’m pretty stoked.
*Wedding season starts again for me at the end of March. I’ve got a friend from high school getting married and I’m so excited for him. I love going to weddings!
*The Family Circle Cup is next month. I’m excited to see what Andy has been working on all year. I’m hoping to see lots of people there so if you want to go, let me know!
* My brother has started playing lacrosse and it’s such a cool sport. It fits his personally so well and my mom and I are having a ball learning all the rules. Goodness knows where people come up with these games though. Who came up with the concept of throwing a tiny ball across a field and giving guys long sticks to hit each other with? Sure, that sounds like a safe idea. Oh well, it’s very entertaining.
I’m still currently I’m reading: Savannah Breeze by: Mary Kay Andrews and Eclipse by: Stephanie Meyer. (I’m itching to take a trip to Savannah now because it sounds so relaxing.)

Trying This On For Size

Ok so I’ve always been a follower of trends. Not so much because I want to be like everyone else, but more because I think they are cute ideas and I just didn’t think of them first myself. I’ve been reading Celia’s blog religiously and all of a sudden I think that maybe my life and thoughts might be interesting too. (They probably aren’t, thanks for the false notion Celia. ;) Not sure what I’ll write about or who would read it but I thought I’d give it a try. Let’s face it, I’ll probably have more fun playing with the backgrounds and fonts than I will actually writing anything.

The only thing I can think to write about at the moment are books. I’m putting a list together of all the books I’ve wanted to read so that I will have them at hand this summer. I plan to spend a lot of time at the beach for once, thanks to the free accommodations and good company there, and I’ll need something to read. I’m looking for suggestions, so if anyone is out there send me some of your favorites. I pretty much like every kind of book: fiction, history, classics, and especially fun girly useless books.

Currently I’m reading: Savannah Breeze by: Mary Kay Andrews and Eclipse by: Stephanie Meyer. (See I told you I liked trends. The only reason I’m reading the Twilight books is to see what all the fuss is about.)