So I was tagged...

I'm not totally sure how I feel about this, since it feels a little myspace-ish (maybe because I've done it once on myspace a long long time ago) but anyway...here it goes: :)

THE RULES:
1. Post these rules before you give you the facts.
2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) someone and list their name (linking to their page).
4. Leave them a comment on their blog letting them know they've been tagged!

8 Random Facts about Jessie:

1. I tend to eat my food one thing at a time (for example I don't eat some corn, then switch to chicken, then go back to corn). It's a weird childhood habit.

2. There are 15 and 19 years between me and my little sisters, but only 17 between me and my mom.

3. Few things irritate me more than people talking, joking around, fidgeting, or otherwise ignoring the national anthem when it is played.

4. The national anthem makes me teary every time I hear it.

5. I also get teary watching olympic medal ceremonies. I don't know why.

6. I have fibromyalgia. Few people know what that is.

7. I'm an athletic trainer. Few people know what that is either.

8. My first job was at the Grand Canyon with the Youth Conservation Corps when I was 15.

So now I get to tag three people: Sara, Sara, and Sierra. I liked how the names sounded together :)

He's just so sexy.

George Clooney? Yeah, he's ok.

Brett Favre? Hell yes. There is no better looking famous man. Sweaty, unshaven, and graying hair...Clooney's got nothing on Favre.

He broke Dan Marino's touchdown pass record today, furthering his status as a god among mere mortals.

Did I mention that the Packers are now 4-0?!?!?

Ok, I'm going to make one argument for Wordpress...

I’m going to make one argument for why people on blogger should switch to wordpress. ONE.

1) Because I am lazy. Maybe you are too…

On wordpress, there are 2 little buttons I can push on “My Dashboard” that I loooove.

Blog Surfer - this automatically shows me the most recent blogs posted by other wordpress users without me clicking on every blog I stalk to see if there is anything new.

My Comments - clicking on this shows you the comments you have left on a wordpress users blog, the one before it, and all the comments after it, in case someone responded to something you said.

How kick-ass is that?

To be fair, I will make one against it.

The one thing I don’t like about this particular layout I have chosen is that it automatically capitalizes the first letter of every word in my title. Sometimes it looks dumb.

That was a very weak debate. With myself.

I love the Library

Today I finally got a library card!

Yes, I'm pretty excited about it. I realized while I was standing there that I love the smell of libraries. It's a weird almost musty smell, but I like it. I don't think I'd like it if it was somewhere else, like in my house or something. I also love that I can now read to my heart's content without spending any more money on books I will probably only read once and I can also get movies, bridal magazines (those things are $$ and almost all ads) or whatever else.

I got two books today - The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult and Deception Point by Dan Brown. It's a pretty small library and they didn't have the two in particular that I was looking for, but I plan on reserving them soon. I've never read anything buy Jodi Picoult but she seems to be highly recommended, so I'm going to read that one first. Yay!

In other news: the tetanus shot I got in my arm yesterday is a big ugly lump and hurts like hell.

Since this post was pretty boring and I wish I could have a drink tonight:

Help! I need a new book to read.

I just finished Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (which I loved) and I need something new to read. Anyone have any suggestions?

I’ve kind of been out of the reading world for awhile. I’m not picky - as long as it’s not one of those cheesy romance novels with some creepy Fabio look-a-like on the cover holding on to a woman whose boobs are about one second from falling out of her peasant blouse.

Hey baby, wanna feel my giant lymph nodes?

So yeah…that sore throat and stuff nose that I thought was becoming something? It did.

And it brought friends.

I feel miserable. Guess I better go get ready for work. Blech.

*****TMI alert*****

Snot is not supposed to fly out of noses on its own. Without warning. Maybe my brain is leaking…

Race for the cure - after

Ok. So briefly wondering if I was going to keel over and die while walking a 5k was silly.

We couldn't have asked for better weather today. It was sunny, breezy, not hot, but not too cool. I had a good time and it was great to meet the knotties (aka FIFs) on the team who were able to make it (Sara, Emily, Sara, Ang, Rheanna, Shiela, Patty, Jessica, Natasha, and Krystal). Afterwards we went to Barclay's Cafe for brunch (and mimosas) and holy crap it was good!

I think the sore throat and stuffy nose I started feeling last night is actually turning in to something, so I'm going to post some pictures and take a nap.

I feel the need to mention that while walking past a group of people during the walk, I actually heard a man use the term "Big Girl Panties." It was fantastic, and I couldn't share it with anyone at the time it happened because they were so close to us.



Before the race at Ang's house



Waiting for it to start



Just a fraction of the people participating in the walk



Group pic at the turnaround point - taken by a man in a hot pink wig :)

Race for the Cure

Holy crap. It’s tomorrow.

I worked at my first-ever cross country meet today. After seeing the dazed and confused look on those kids faces after crossing the finish line, along with the staggering and throwing up. It made me a litte scurred for tomorrow. Yes, I’m walking a 5k, not running but still. These are healthy 15-18 year old kids who run every single day and they looked like they were on the brink of death. I’m almost twice the age of some of them, and I never run. Or walk. I might die tomorrow.

No, I won’t. I’m walking with a whole bunch of FIF’s and there is brunch after Mmmmm. Fooooood.

The Tree

I love fall. In honor of fall I am taking weekly pictures of a tree I see from my balcony because I am that weird and cheesy love pictures. Of trees.

The first one was taken on 9/10 (ish) and the other was taken today, 9/21.

Here you go Krista! I also stole your crossing-out-words thing. :)

Oops. Busted.

I discovered today that my instructors can tell which discussion board posts we've read and which ones we haven't. In that same class-wide email from the instructor, we were briefly lectured about how we are missing valuable information and not getting in on the entire discussion and so on....

Now I feel like a jerk. There are 6 American students in the class, and about 14-ish from India. They are all extremely smart and more educated than I am, which gives me an amazing learning opportunity. They are all experienced physiotherapists (what they call Physical Therapists in India) and are educated in the rehabilitation of all injuries and illnesses, instead of just athletic injuries and rehab (like I am). I just can't get over the grammar and spelling when I try to read what they have to say. It's painful.

Sooo....

The majority of the time I only read the posts from the American students. And now I've been caught.

There are a couple who have gone to college in the U.S. before who have excellent grammar and spelling. Unfortunately I can't remember who is who because I can't begin to pronounce any of their names.

I suck.

Disclaimer: I am aware that my grammar isn't always perfect.

I met a FIF. IRL!

FIF: Freaky Internet Friend

IRL: In real life

Last night I met my first FIF. I've always been really hesitant about people meeting people from the internet in real life because it's always seemed really weird/scary to me, even though it is so common now. Then I moved across the country.

I was really excited for grad school to start (boy did that change fast) because I thought I'd meet some people that way, or through my GA position. Then came the reality: My classes are online, and I work with high school kids. No and absofreakinglutely not.

So back to now...

Last week Brooke, who I know from theknot.com's Milwaukee message boards, wrote me an email inviting me to a concert since her fiance couldn't go and we are both new to Milwaukee and need to meet some people. I didn't even hesitate - yay for getting out of the house and meeting a real live person! She always seemed quite normal and not in the least bit like a creepy internet weirdo. Boy was I wrong! No no no, I'm just kidding.

Anyway, she picked me up at my house and we drove downtown and decided to eat at Rock Bottom on the river. We ate out on the patio because the weather was perfect and the food was absolutely delicious. Then we headed back across the street to the Pabst Theater to see the band Okkervil River who I had never heard of until Brooke invited me to see them. Okkervil River was great! I love all kinds of music and things with a more unique sound. I think myspace lists them as "indie rock" (I don't really know what that means, but who cares, I liked 'em). This is going to sound weird but they kind of reminded me of a cross between The Killers and Counting Crows.



A funny highlight of the evening: We were sitting at the end of a row in the back and it was very dark in there. I got up to go use the bathroom and apparently there was a step there at the end of our row. Yep, I fell (almost) on my face on my very first FIF "date". No real harm done but a minor ankle sprain (and temporary loss of some dignity), but that step is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Brooke (who just passed the bar exam) was ready to be my lawyer, and I could do my own rehab. It was meant to be. Needless to say I won't be suing the Pabst for their lack of lighting...it's just fun to think of ways to use the things we each just spent our gazillion years of school learning to do.

Oh...and then I almost fell again at the end of another row. It was even light in there and I was warned about it before I did it again. I caught myself this time...mostly. There are reasons I shouldn't be allowed in public.

Anyway, long story short: good company + good band + beautiful smaller venue = damn good time.

Also, I hope whoever cleans that theater is very happy with the $15 of mine they found somewhere on the floor.

Hi again.

I like this site better, so I moved. Everything should still be here from the old blog. I’m still working on bringing all my links and lists and such over here. I’ve got a lot of long days this week, so it might take awhile. Have a good week!

How do I love thee, TiVo...let me count the ways...

I’ve missed having TiVo. I was sad to see it go a year ago. I missed it. I got over it. Today I got it back. I will never miss anything I wanted to see ever again…unless of course it is on at the same time as 2 other shows I want to see. Unfortunately we (and by we I mean Corey) had to have some drama with the first DirectTV guy that came over. That is why later on it was his supervisor that came and did the installation.

Now instead of using allllll my free time that would have been spent doing stupid brain-using things like school work and reading, I can sit on my ass and watch TV like a good overweight American.

Grad school is not fun.

I’m not even finding it remotely interesting. At the most, I’m finding it to be a giant pain in my ass. I feel like I’m robbing this GA position from some unknown person who genuinely wanted to go to grad school all along. It makes me feel guilty. I’m not even proud of my reasons for going to grad school in the first place, other than knowing it is good for me and will make me more marketable in my future as an athletic trainer.

Also…can someone please reassure me that even a moron can write a thesis? I’m not a moron. I’m also not a researcher. I prefer to read and learn from other people’s research.

In other uninteresing and unrelated news…

I’m itchy. My massive sunburn I earned by working 8 hours of youth football on Saturday is in the dry, annoying, wanting to peel stage. I might as well have eaten a steaming hot plate of skin cancer.

What was your September 11th like?

Where were you on September 11th? THE September 11th.

This is the first time that it has fallen on a Tuesday since THE 9/11. I can't believe it's been 6 years already, because I remember how that day went for me as if it was recent.

I was stationed in Germany, working as the operations NCO in the orderly room. I think we had just gotten out of a meeting and it was getting close to the end of the day. Corey had gone to his room for lunch and stayed there. He was watching the news and sent me a text message telling me a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. I read it out loud to the few people in our small office and we turned on the TV. At the same time I saw a few people run down the hall in to another room to turn on the TV there. Then we watched in horror with the rest of the world as the second plane flew in...and everything that followed...

Within an hour or so (I think) our post was shut down with no one going in or out and people from each company assigned to different areas around the perimeter on guard duty. Those of us that worked in my office ended up staying there for 2 or 3 straight days and doing guard duty as well. The German people that lived around Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne (our post) covered the gates into the post with flowers and candles and signs. I wish I had a picture of that...it was beautiful and very touching.

Nothing about being stationed in Germany was the same after that. As for me, one day I'm eating spaghetti at Ezio's (the really good hole-in-the-wall italian place) right outside the back gate...the next day I'm standing at the back gate entrace pointing a loaded M-16 down the sidewalk right in front of it.

This is just my reflection of what it was like for one soldier in the army on the other side of the world and in no way meant to take away from the much bigger and more important events and losses experienced by Americans that day.

My glorious government healthcare and why I feel like a total jerk today

Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that I am able to have free medical care through the VA, or else I'd have nothing. I've had too many problems with my car accidents, strep throat, etc to be able to get away with not having it.

But seriously...

They've had my paperwork to enroll me into their system here in Milwaukee since the end of June. Why does it take 3 months...THREE...to have my first doctor visit? September 26th is a long ass way from the end of June. Also, why did Corey get his appointment a month before I did? They got our stuff the same day.

I woke up at 3 am with this crazy intense pain in deep in my right hip that was radiating to my back, butt, groin, down my leg...everywhere...with no explanation for it. Let me just say that I'm not a wuss, but this pain was so random and awful that I was ready to drive myself down to the VA urgent care in the middle of the night. I think the only thing that stopped me was the fact that I'd probably waste the gas to get down there and they'd say no because I wasn't "in their system" yet or some other shit that I didn't want to hear at 4 am. Nothing was helping and I definitely couldn't sleep so Corey suggested I call the 24 hour nurse line that I didn't know they had.

I made the call at 4:15 am. There was no answer and they tell me to leave a message with my name, last 4, and phone number. It is now 1:30 pm and my call has not been returned. It doesn't matter now anyway since the pain isn't as intense, but still. That is crappy.

Now for why I feel like a jerk:

After this whole random middle of the night ordeal, I managed to fall asleep again a little before 6 am. My alarm was set to go off at 6:30. Corey called me at 10:15 to see how I was feeling and asks if I went to work or called in. Called in? It's not even 7 yet...OHHOLYCRAP! I looked at his clock and saw the real time and realized I was supposed to be at work at the PT clinic almost an hour and a half earlier. I called and they were nice about it, but I feel like an ass. I only work from 9-12 there two days a week so going there at that point wouldn't have made any sense. It's just crappy because they are busy on Mondays and were counting on me. Ugh.

On a happier, and equally uninterestingtotherestoftheworld note, it is chilly and raining here today, which I love.

Happy Birthday (yesterday) Grandpa!

It occurred to me after we hung up the phone - well...no, actually it occurred to me when my dad asked - that I'm not actually sure how old you are. In my mind, you are 75...but then the math doesn't really add up when I subtract my mom's age and the fact that Mike and Jodi are both older than her. I'm pretty sure you weren't 10 or so when Mike was born.

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY no matter how old (or young) you are!

On another, unrelated note...

Race for the Cure is in 2 weeks! That really snuck up on me. I'm looking forward to it - I think it will be a lot of fun. My goal was to raise $250...I'm only $25 short...anyone want to help me with that last stretch? If you do, you can go here to do it. Thanks!

My friend Suzanne is also doing a breast cancer walk, so if you are feeling extra giving you can go here.

Then there is Krista, who I don't actually know, not in real life anyway. She is taking on a MUCH bigger challenge - both physically and with fundraising - so if you would like to go read her story and help her out, you can go here. So while it might sound weird that I don't know Krista, what I do know is that her blog cracks me up, she's very passionate about what she is doing, and she's only got a month left to raise over $1000.

Ok, that is all I've got for today on the nice happy making the world a better place stuff...except...

GREEN BAY PACKERS: 16
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: 13

Who ARE you people?

I just noticed that my sitemeter is up to 961…huh?!? I’m not that interesting - but you must know that by now.

Family? Friends? Stalkers? Bored people?

Who is from Parsippany, NJ? I know I’m not the first person in the blogs linked on my page to wonder that, either. So really…who are you? I’m curious! You’re a pretty regular visitor.

Herndon, Virginia? Chicago?

What about all of you from these random Wisconsin cities? I only know about 10 people in this state. I know a few of you are knotties with blogs, but what about the rest of you? I know there are a few knotties who don’t particularly like me who are probably reading too…I think you should say “Hi, GFY” or something…anything. C’mon, it’ll be fun - my grandparents and aunt who read this regularly might even be a little intrigued.

Anyway, if you’re reading this…Hi, I’m Jessie…who are you?

I just couldn't stop...

Last night I had a bunch of homework to do by midnight. I finished at about 11:30 and my eyes drifted over to Harry Potter 7 sitting on the coffee table. I’ll just read one chapter…

4:30 am, 400 or so pages later. It was just SO GOOD!

I don’t even know what else to say. I know I’m about a month behind the rest of the world in reading this book, but better late than never, right? It was impossible to avoid the spoilers on what happens to who in the book, but it didn’t even matter because I still had no idea how it would play out. Honestly by the time I read the book I forgot what half of the spoilers were in the first place.

And now it’s over. WTF am I going to read now?

Finally reading Harry Potter!

I’m pretty excited about this. I started it yesterday on our way home from Madison and I’m halfway done. I wish I could sit and read the entire thing…stupid work and school. Blah.

Anyway, Corey’s best friend Gary drove up from Tennessee this weekend and we had a great time. I will post a few pictures when I have more time.