...well, by association that is. My husband attended University of Oregon for Grad school and is a proud Duck. So, by association, I'm vicariously a duck through him...but it's to the point that you would think I went there too. While I loved being an Aztec and a Bulldog, I had never really experienced a true college football game. At SDSU, football games were more of a fashion show for the sororities and fraternities (and I'm anti-greek) so you can imagine how much fun that was for me. bleh. The majority of the spectators didn't even watch the game, let alone wear school colors or display team spirit...although the Aztec mascot did get a few people riled up with his minimal clothing and large...headdress. eh-hem.
focus.
Needless to say, Aztec games (in the stands) weren't much more for me than a glorified High School game in a big boy stadium (disclaimer--I'm certain that my awesome AT friends out there had a different experience on the field). In grad school, I don't even think U of R HAD a football team...the fact that I don't even know tells you a lot about the uh...sports program there.
Fast forward to 2005 when Dave started working with the Oregon Duck Football Team. A-mazing. I really don't even know where to begin so I'll just cut to the chase. I wish I went to U of O. I'm a poser, a wanna-be, and I don't even care. College would have taken on a whole new meaning. The campus is gorgeous and the little town of Eugene, OR lives, eats, and breathes Oregon Duck Football. At first I was like, "what? I don't get it. What's the big deal?" I did not believe the hype. I even scoffed at the color-combo...I mean green and yellow? really?
Really.
I got to see it all first hand at my first game, and I've been hooked ever since. It was so loud. Everyone was pumped. Autzen stadium was a sea of green and yellow and I beamed with poser-pride wearing my green and yellow to fit right in with the rest. Everything from tailgating, to the marching band, to the crazy student section, to the never-ending number of uniform combos for the players, to the Duck mascot (who is way better than our buff Aztec down south btw)...this is something to experience.
I never really knew what I was missing out on until that day. It was extra cool for me because Dave worked for the team so I felt even more connected to the experience. I became a duck fan overnight and was instantly envious of Dave and all his friends/classmates for their college experience...and I wanted a do-over for mine.
Fast forward to current day...The ducks have had some exciting times since I've become a fan (5 bowl games in 5 years, including the Rose Bowl). Dave and I faithfully watch and keep track of Oregon alumni that have moved on to the pros (like Dennis Dixon, Haloti Ngata, and Jonathan Stewart to name a few). We anxiously anticipate football season (Dave-for many reasons, me-to watch the Ducks and the Chargers). I order the duck spirit tee every year right when it's released so we are sure to have them for the first non-conference game (although this years' design was kinda lame so I passed). I proudly wear an O on my back window of my car. My re-usable grocery bags are Green and Yellow Oregon bags and I'd honestly be okay if Mason says "Go Ducks" before he says "Mama" or "Dada".
So the 2010 season has begun and "we" are the only PAC10 team ranked in the top 10...representin' at #5. BAM!
I don't care where I actually went for undergrad or grad school. It took one Football game and my heart is with University of Oregon Football. I can only imagine how students who go/went there feel...lucky ducks.
Believe the hype...it's as awesome as it looks:
September 19, 2010
1 little, 2 little, 3 little Pilgrims... (or 4?)
...okay so Dave and I have always said we definitely want at least 2 babies...MAYBE 3. He seems pretty firm on that, but I could go for a minimum of 3...MAYBE 4 (so I think now). This is hilarious to me because I've never even considered having 4 babies for a number of reasons, but having Mason has made me want a bigger family than I originally had planned. I know it would be crazy since I'd have to have them pretty close together, but whatever. Regardless of how many we have, I'll have them close together so, what's the difference?
I currently have 4 friends that are pregnant and it's so exciting that I can't wait to have our next one!
babies! babies! and more babies!...I've got the fever!!!
I currently have 4 friends that are pregnant and it's so exciting that I can't wait to have our next one!
babies! babies! and more babies!...I've got the fever!!!
September 18, 2010
"Blink"
Our little Mason is 8 months old today. How did THAT happen? I just can't believe how fast the time goes by. Everyone said it would, but you can't really grasp it until it happens...and it's too late to go back. I think on a daily basis about cherishing each moment with Mason and I literally get sick to my stomach when I think about him growing up...and away. It sounds negative, but I don't mean it that way. He just fills me up with the purest joy I've ever known, and I want him to stay small and innocent forever. When he looks at me with his big blue eyes I feel a sense of complete purpose in this world and am joyfully overwhelmed by the responsibility that comes with it.
I have known so many different versions of Mason as he has grown over the last 8 months and each time a new phase begins, I say "this one is my favorite". I love seeing the world through his eyes and the wonderment and excitement he has for the smallest of things. I always say that I wish I could take pictures with my eyes...to forever have these moments saved on my endless memory card. Seeing him develop and grow reminds me not to take the little (or big) things for granted. Basically, we have a 22 lb reminder of God's miracles every day...and it's astoundingly humbling. If the love I feel for Mason is even the slightest fraction of God's love for me...A-mazing.
I know we have so many wonderful moments ahead of us with Mason, but I also know they will come and go in the blink of an eye. Just another reason to take in each moment, each milestone, each beautiful giggle, each proud new accomplishment, each sweet kiss, each cuddly hug, even each sleepless night...and just enjoy the journey.
Yesterday, I heard a song on our local Christian radio station and it brought tears to my eyes because it basically put into song the way I feel at the beginning and end of each day spent with Mason. I want to number my days (in a good way), I want to count every moment, before today becomes our yesterday...we only have this one life...and I want to look back on it...joyfully.
"Blink" by Revive
Teach me to number my days
And count every moment before it slips away
Taking all the colors before they fade to gray
I don’t want to miss even just a second more of this
It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there’s no stopping time
What is it I’ve done with my life
It happens in a blink
When it’s all said and done
No one remembers how far we have run
The only thing that matters is how we have loved
I don’t want to miss even just a second more of this
It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there’s no stopping time
What is it I’ve done with my life
It happens in a blink
Slow down, slow down
Before today becomes our yesterday
Slow down, slow down
Before you turn around and it’s too late
It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there’s no stopping time
What is it I’ve done with my life
It happens in a blink
September 16, 2010
Maybe Howie Mandell is onto something...
Some people think Howie Mandell is weird because of his severe germ-o-phobia. Call me crazy, but I'm beginning to think he's onto something.
I'm exposed to some pretty disgusting things on a daily basis. It's just the nature of my job and I've gotten much better at dealing with it all over the last 4 years. This week though almost pushed me over the edge to becoming a full-blown germ-o-phobe. I was in an office, waiting to go in the back to see the doctor. The lady sitting across from me in the waiting room literally peed her pants. When she stood up her urine just dripped off the vinyl chair and onto the floor. No one (including the person who was with her) cleaned it up, no one sanitized the chair, everyone just acted like it didn't happen (yes, I told the front desk discreetly). still, nothing.
Tomorrow, when all is dry and gone, whomever sits in that chair will do so not knowing that it was pretty much someone's toilet 24 short hours prior. How many times do you sit in chairs in offices not even thinking twice about what may have been there before you? Or to the mom's out there...how often do your toddlers put their little hands all over the chairs and then into their mouths? or spill their cheerios and try to eat them off the chair? I'm just sayin'...it's one thing to expose our kids to "general germs" so they can build up decent immune systems, but it's an entirely different ball game when it involves the bodily fluids of strangers...or anyone for that matter. ew.
I'm already that person who uses the back of my hand or my elbow to open doors in public, probably because I see how many people sneeze into their hand and then open a door. I always carry my own pen because I see how many patients wipe their runny nose and then use the office pen to sign in for their appointments. Even shaking someones hand now makes me wonder where their hands have really been. (again, because of the industry I work in). Kinda makes me question the idea of covering your mouth when you sneeze, which only makes sense to me if you HAPPEN to sneeze right next to a sink with soap OR a touchless hand sanitizer station...neither of which is likely.
I know I'm not as bad as Howie (yet) but I understand him a little more each day. :-)
I'm exposed to some pretty disgusting things on a daily basis. It's just the nature of my job and I've gotten much better at dealing with it all over the last 4 years. This week though almost pushed me over the edge to becoming a full-blown germ-o-phobe. I was in an office, waiting to go in the back to see the doctor. The lady sitting across from me in the waiting room literally peed her pants. When she stood up her urine just dripped off the vinyl chair and onto the floor. No one (including the person who was with her) cleaned it up, no one sanitized the chair, everyone just acted like it didn't happen (yes, I told the front desk discreetly). still, nothing.
Tomorrow, when all is dry and gone, whomever sits in that chair will do so not knowing that it was pretty much someone's toilet 24 short hours prior. How many times do you sit in chairs in offices not even thinking twice about what may have been there before you? Or to the mom's out there...how often do your toddlers put their little hands all over the chairs and then into their mouths? or spill their cheerios and try to eat them off the chair? I'm just sayin'...it's one thing to expose our kids to "general germs" so they can build up decent immune systems, but it's an entirely different ball game when it involves the bodily fluids of strangers...or anyone for that matter. ew.
I'm already that person who uses the back of my hand or my elbow to open doors in public, probably because I see how many people sneeze into their hand and then open a door. I always carry my own pen because I see how many patients wipe their runny nose and then use the office pen to sign in for their appointments. Even shaking someones hand now makes me wonder where their hands have really been. (again, because of the industry I work in). Kinda makes me question the idea of covering your mouth when you sneeze, which only makes sense to me if you HAPPEN to sneeze right next to a sink with soap OR a touchless hand sanitizer station...neither of which is likely.
I know I'm not as bad as Howie (yet) but I understand him a little more each day. :-)
September 11, 2010
A "touchy" subject
So I'm a drug rep. Part of my job description is: caterer. I know. awesome.
On any given day I take snacks/beverages/treats to a few of my offices. Last week I went into Pavilions (which is a very fancy Vons with a beautiful produce section by the way) to pick up some deliciously enticing, freshly baked donuts for one of my offices. I needed about a dozen, so I managed to get a box from the bakery and as I approached the donut cabinet display, there is a little old lady man-handling all the donuts. REALLY? The pastry tissues are directly in front of her that solely exist for selecting her perfect donuts without her nasty hands actually touching them. Now, I get the fact that this wouldn't be as disgusting if she spotted her ideal donut and went directly for it, not touching other surrounding circles of deliciousness en-route, but unfortunately this lady had a different plan. Her technique to truly select the perfect donut(s) included picking them up and giving each one a nice squeeze (with her bare hands) leaving the majority of them with her little finger prints indented in them. gross.
I wanted so badly to say something subtle like "You're disgusting...could you please use the tissues? Didn't your mother teach you anything?" but I thought this particular lady might still not get it. So I loudly cleared my throat to let her know I was there and was witnessing her bad behavior, which didn't phase her in the least. I love old people...I do. I respect them for all of their life experience they have and the stories and the history and the wisdom. But some old people just don't give a damn what people think (which is usually funny to me, but not when I'm next in line for donuts!).
She proceeded with her selection, just went slightly faster. then she sneezed. ARE YOU freakin' KIDDING me??? I fought back my urge to ferociously ring the bakery service bell for back-up while performing a citizen's arrest on her for her blatant gross-ness and complete disregard for public health.
Needless to say, I chose bagels.
On any given day I take snacks/beverages/treats to a few of my offices. Last week I went into Pavilions (which is a very fancy Vons with a beautiful produce section by the way) to pick up some deliciously enticing, freshly baked donuts for one of my offices. I needed about a dozen, so I managed to get a box from the bakery and as I approached the donut cabinet display, there is a little old lady man-handling all the donuts. REALLY? The pastry tissues are directly in front of her that solely exist for selecting her perfect donuts without her nasty hands actually touching them. Now, I get the fact that this wouldn't be as disgusting if she spotted her ideal donut and went directly for it, not touching other surrounding circles of deliciousness en-route, but unfortunately this lady had a different plan. Her technique to truly select the perfect donut(s) included picking them up and giving each one a nice squeeze (with her bare hands) leaving the majority of them with her little finger prints indented in them. gross.
I wanted so badly to say something subtle like "You're disgusting...could you please use the tissues? Didn't your mother teach you anything?" but I thought this particular lady might still not get it. So I loudly cleared my throat to let her know I was there and was witnessing her bad behavior, which didn't phase her in the least. I love old people...I do. I respect them for all of their life experience they have and the stories and the history and the wisdom. But some old people just don't give a damn what people think (which is usually funny to me, but not when I'm next in line for donuts!).
She proceeded with her selection, just went slightly faster. then she sneezed. ARE YOU freakin' KIDDING me??? I fought back my urge to ferociously ring the bakery service bell for back-up while performing a citizen's arrest on her for her blatant gross-ness and complete disregard for public health.
Needless to say, I chose bagels.
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