Super Sports Saturday

The call came in around noon...

"Auntie Oonie?"

"Hey Mae...what's up?"

"Can you come to Chloe's soccer game at 3:30 and mine at 4:30? They are at fields 10 minutes apart so you can make them both."

"Sure Maren, I would love to!"

And, so went my Saturday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day today - in the high 80s and super sunny. A perfect day to watch two soccer games. The girls both played well and at the end of the day we had two ties.

Chloe is a litte fire-cracker, finishing the game with "pink cheeks". While she definitely likes the oranges at half-time, she really likes to "kick the ball hard, and run real fast!"

Maren netted the go-ahead goal with just a few minutes left in the game, only to have the other team come back to tie it up at the end. It was exciting nonetheless!

I rounded out the day with a trip to Ann Arbor to see Jake play hockey - first scrimmage of the fall and while they looked great in their uniforms, they didn't fare so well. They lost 5-0 but it's still early - there is still a whole season to go.

So I end my Super Sports Saturday - and not even a glimpse of a college football game!!

What Day Is It?

Such is the question those of us who do Campus Recruiting ask during our fall busy season. I was chatting with a couple of colleagues today, Megan & Krissie, and realized I had no idea what the date was. I know it is Thursday, and I could tell you where any of the 14 people on my recruiting team are across our region, but I have a hard time coming up with the fact that today is the 18th (right?). I find during the fall that I go from week to week, never thinking past Friday until Friday comes, and then I start all over again. My week is then based on what campus I need to visit, and what type of activity I need to do...interviews, presentations, conference calls, career fairs, etc. The sad thing is, before I know it Thanksgiving will be here. One of my most favorite times of year is the fall, and it will be over as soon as it begins. But, the good news is, I LOVE my job and I truly enjoy the crazy busy schedules us Campus Recruiters keep. Good thing I can get internet just about anywhere or this blog would be silent until Thanksgiving!

K-S-U Wildcats!!

This is a treat!! The Kansas State Wildcats are playing tonight and it's televised on ESPN2!! It's great that the Cats are playing on a Wednesday night and even better that I don't have a recruiting event tonight so I can watch them! It's pretty rare to catch them on TV - we are in Big 10 country so they aren't televised so much here in Michigan!! Takes me back to my grad school days, tailgating at the Wiley Apartments and sitting in the student section with my purple sweatshirt. Coming from Alma College, where football tickets still cost $5, it was fun to go to a big school with big football. Alma football was fun, don't get me wrong, and we have a great D-III program, but I loved watching the Cats nonetheless. So tonight I'm kicking back, with a beer in hand, shouting KSU and hoping for another Wildcat First Down!!!

They Tied the Knot

My dad got married on Saturday. It was bittersweet and beautiful. I haven't seen my dad smile like that in a long time. It was a weekend full of tears and laughter and I found I really enjoyed spending time with our family, both close & newly extended. It hasn't been easy, to welcome others into the life I have known so well.

Friday kicked off with the rehearsal and dinner. King Wok was the restaurant of choice, and we definitely did the King justice. The final entree served was "Happy Family", a fitting tribute to the remainder of the weekend.

We woke up early on Saturday to Mimosas and coffee. A few lemon drops later, we had our pictures taken and folks were arriving at the church. I carried the Cross (thanks to a catchy tune from the Finkeldei girls, I had a pretty good beat walking down the aisle!) Sarah carried the Book and Kelley found her way to the alter to deliver the readings. Our guys were all in the wedding party, Eric standing as the Best Man and Tony & John serving as Groomsmen. Jake cleaned up well in a tux as one of the ushers and the other grandkids all looked smashing in their wedding finest!! We really do clean up well!

The reception was quite a party - lots of dancing (my dad has quite a few moves!), cake, toasts and pictures. It was great to see some old family friends, as well as lots of folks from the Alma community (going to Alma College got me a lot of mileage at this party....) Aside from a few sore toes, we all had a great time!

So, Dad & Gloria are off to Hawaii for their Honeymoon and the rest of us are back to work. I have come to realize through all of this that while it hasn't been super easy for any one of us, we all agree that happiness and love is what we all, even our parents, deserve.

Enjoy some pictures....http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=233554179/a=17566229_17566229/t_=17566229

How Big is a Brain??

Right now I am asking myself how much can my brain really hold? Honestly, between work and life I am not sure I can pack one more thing into my mind. I turned on the TV tonight and had to flip through hundreds of channels before landing on the local high school soccer game on public television. The thought of taking on a Law & Order case, or a House issue, or any other show where I would actually have to think really was just overwhelming!! Tomorrow is another day, and I am hoping for sunny skies and a clear mind....one that I can fill again before the day is through!!

Busy Start to the Week

I usually like Sundays - pretty relaxing and productive. Today was a super-duper busy one...it is 8:08pm and I am exhausted!! The day started out with an 8:00a.m. hair appointment, early, but necessary. Followed that up with a quick shower and a load of laundry. Tony got home from up north around 1pm and we headed out to meet Trevor in Ann Arbor to do some shopping...on the way we randomly encountered my brother, with a flat tire, on the side of 696. We stopped and stayed with Eric until roadside assistance came to change the tire (it was on a U-Haul trailer so we had no spare)....in the meantime, Sarah called needing a third hand - John was taking Grant to the ER, Chloe had soccer and Morgan had a theater try-out. She worked it out, "Steve" from U-Haul showed up, and Tony and I were back on the road to meet Trevor. After a successful shopping trip to Kohl's we made our way back to Royal Oak. We spent 45 minutes walking Willow, just finished dinner (which baked when we were walking...love that!) and now I am seriously ready for bed. This week is the start of our busy fall recruiting season.....I guess today was the warm-up for the next 6 weeks!!

I love "good movie" Saturdays

Woke up this morning with a headache so I was pleasantly surprised when there was a supreme line-up of stellar movies to occupy most of my day. The "House" marathon was a great way to start they day as I found my way to the couch with a big 'ole cup of coffee. Clicking through the channels I found Dirty Dancing, Legally Blonde, the Cinderella Story, Catch & Release and one of those dancing ones I love that I can't remember the name. Plus, some college football, CSI reruns and an episode of Project Runway....seriously, today was a good day!!!

Back to Reality

For me, the summer is over. While the calendar states that Fall officially starts on September 21st, I am hanging up my flip-flops for a suit starting on Tuesday. The day after Labor Day marks the first day of school in Michigan, and like my nieces & nephews, I have the anxious feeling of coming back from vacation and going to work. And tomorrow is the start of the fall travel season for Campus Recruiters.

I have to admit, I lived up my last few weeks of summer. Two of the three I spent up north at the cabin and they were two of the most glorious weeks I have spent in the UP in years. The weather was gorgeous, the sun was shining, the water was warmish and the bugs were scarce.

This past week we spent with Tony's parents. Becky & Gary flew in from Dallas and we spent 6 days on the beach, exploring the sites, playing cards and eating yummy food. They called the cabin the Camp 5 B&B and we had fun cheffing up great breakfasts, enjoying fabulous wine and snacking on fudge from Mackinac Island. Tony & Gary tried their hand as "arborists" and planted 15 trees in front of the cabin, a relatively easy, but magnificent, addition!

We are already missing the stars, the sound of the waves on the beach, and the sand under our feet. So, as I ease back to work tomorrow I am going to wear my "up north" necklace to remind me that there is still a bit of summer in my heart!!

Happy Super Belated Birthday to Erin,

Happy Late Birthday to Kristin &

Happy Birthday to Shana!!!