WHY I OUGHTA!!!

poke, poke her!

2012-01-03T01:40:00.000-08:00

if the first two days of 2012 are any indication of what the rest of the year is gonna look like, then i need to prepare for two things:

The World Series of Poker & a seriously sore toosh!

i've played in three games and have won two...i've already equaled my number of wins from 2011. i know what you're saying, "you should play all day/everyday." well let me tell ya, i would be parked by that felt table if my booty didn't start aching 20 minutes into the game. i've dealt with bleacher butt before but this is on a whole new level! i'm talking about 'what what in the butt'!!!

you gotta endure the pain to fully enjoy the pleasure...so bring on the cards ~~and the painkillers~~!

here's to a great 2012!!! #winning

i found this lil gem

2011-12-17T00:05:00.000-08:00

i got my hands on the video played at the Husky Legend night.

i figured you guys will get a kick out of it.

and don't forget to drink some purple beer this weekend!

i have an addiction

2011-12-10T00:37:00.001-08:00

i've always loved shopping so this probably won't shock many people. i stumbled upon Etsy.com in september and if there was such thing as a "rookie shopper of the year award", i am positive that i would be in the running. below are some of my favorite october and november purchases. i can't wait to start...who am i fooling, continue x-mas shopping on this gem of a website.

the absolute best thing about Etsy is that all of the vendors are small businesses and in some cases, local too. people selling to people without the big corporation crap. did i mention that i love Etsy...

awesome fine art photograph that i can't wait to hang.

i have found the most amazing pillow covers...if i could, i would have a room full of pillows.

these are the best hairbands i have ever owned. they make great bracelets before getting your hair out of your face.

my most cherished purchase!

if it looks antique it's because it is.

gonna make some sweet vases.

you already know!

chalkboard blocks...my mantle has a lot to say.

scrabble coasters.

enough blogging...back to shopping!

drinking beer for ALS. part 2

2011-12-06T23:07:00.001-08:00

yep, you read this right! you get another opportunity to drink for the MEF.

go down to the Ram (U Village ONLY) december 11-18th, order some grub, watch a game or two and drink purple beer. not just beer, but PURPLE BEER...$1 from every purple beer sold will go directly to the melissa erickson foundation.

drinking for a good cause is always a good time and everything is better when it's purple...true, true.

miss you

2011-11-29T17:37:00.001-08:00

i really miss this guy...

my way of coping is to pretend like the worst never happened. i'm finding that my way just doesn't work this time.

it's just not fair. andrew fought harder than anything i've ever encountered.

he is truly my hero.

i choose to remember his laugh, his sarcasm, his strength and the joy he has brought to my life.

Rest in Peace.

perfectly happy

2011-11-19T23:21:00.001-08:00

here are a couple pictures from wednesday night. i can't even begin to describe how special the night and honor was. my memories of the dawg days are unparalleled and extremely cherished. so to be asked to return and have another chance to step on the court at good ole' Hec Ed, i was nervously excited. it's funny, besides the first few games of my freshman year, i never became nervous at the thought of stepping on the court and becoming the center of attention. so why, on a night that a MVP performance could only be derailed if my wheelchair broke down, was i nervous to step on the same floor that i've flopped, sprinted and chest bumped on for four years?! i dunno either...but that's why i brought my teammates with me. as soon as i stepped on the court, i felt at home again and i couldn't stop smiling. the video and script was perfect. when i realized that both Coach McGuff and Coach Bonvicini were keeping their teams on the floor, i felt extremely special. the best part of the night was the best part of every game day. husky fans are like no other in college sports...well they actually share the same passion as any fan of their favorite college, BUT according to me (and it's my blog, SO) Husky fans are the greatest! so naturally the best part of the evening was sharing it with our loyal fans. whether they've been following the team for a year or since the program's first year, these guys love their Huskies. the love and applause i was showered with was amazing. it was the most perfect night and i am so thankful to Megan Osmer, Shannon Kelly, Elliott Silvers, and Colleen and R.B. Caulkins. thank you to the program and my teammates for the continued support. and thank you to my family for EVERYTHING.

i'll post more pictures and a copy of the video when it becomes available. it was so, so awesome...i'm still smiling.

UW to recognize Melissa during game vs Seattle U on Nov. 16

2011-11-14T11:32:00.001-08:00

When Mo asked me to write something for the upcoming UW gameagainst Seattle U, where the new staff and team will recognize Mo and hercourageous battle against ALS, I was simultaneouslyhonored and nervous. There’s really no reason why Mo shouldn’t be able to writesomething like this herself, asking her legions of friends to attend Wednesdaynight’s contest, not simply because she will be recognized by the program whereshe dedicated four years of her life to perfecting her “flop”, but where shealso took young freshmen under her wing and along with her 5 fellow seniors,taught me and three other wide-eyed 18 year olds what it meant to be a Husky.The hard work required every day, every practice, every drill. The dedicationit takes to be great, both on and off the court. The commitment to support yourteammates, challenge them and ultimately, stand by them, no matter what. I wasnervous because I wanted to make sure the words I chose did justice to theperson I have spent years admiring and looking up to, hoping someday to be likeher when I grow up.

So really, when I think about it, there’s no reason Mo shouldn’tbe writing this entry herself. She’s earned the right to ask her friends andfamily to join her on a night, long overdue, where the place she gave so muchof herself is finally giving something back. A place where long after she hungup her Nikes and put away her sweatband, she continued to support new coachesand players as they discovered what it meant to be a Husky. But when Mo posedthe question, she felt silly for asking and was worried that writing it herselfmight make her look “self-absorbed.” From the days where I longed for Mo tograduate, so I could finally wear #4 on my uniform, to today, where I long fora cure to an ugly and devastating disease, self-absorbed has never been a wordI would use to describe her. Although the adjectives I would’ve picked at 18might be slightly different than I pick at 29, they generally remain the same;Tenacious, caring, self-less, influential, dedicated, consummate teammate,thoughtful, humble in the face of adversity, thankful and genuine are only astart to the many that come to mind. Mo truly has shown us what it means to bea Husky, through and through.

As I get older and basketball continues to move further andfurther into the category of things I used to do, people still ask why I wentto UW and if I liked it there. In the 11 or so years it’s been since I couldcall myself a Husky, the answer has never changed. And in those 11 years, it’sonly become stronger. I went there because of the people I was going to be ableto call my teammates and coaches. Maybe none of us realized it when we signedour name on that piece of paper or walked into the coach’s office, asking ifthere was a roster spot to try out for, the 15-20 people we would go throughthe next four years with would be, by and large, the same 15-20 people we willcontinue going through life with. And when one of those people needs our help,support or encouragement, the commitment we made all those years ago stillbinds us. When Mo sent a small group of us an email, shyly asking if we couldmake it to the game, it wasn’t long before numerous replies from friends andteammates all over the state came in, emphatically stating “yes!” we’ll bethere.

The pride we all take in being Huskies pales in comparison to thepride we take in each other and the women we have become. Mo has been aninspiration and example for all of us throughout her 30-some years, constantlybeing mindful of others, doing so much for so many people and never turning herback on anyone, even as her body started to turn its back on her. I know we allenjoy coming together to show our support on one sunny, summer day in Seattle,where throngs of people who know Mo and countless others who don’t, take to thestreets of Queen Anne to imbibe for a cause greater than all of us. But, on afall day where the sun might be obscured by clouds and the beer might not beflowing until we hit up the Ram after the game (like we always do), I ask thatyou join me and my teammates in showing our support for Melissa, our teammate,our friend. Mo has not only defined what it means to be a Husky, but she hasalso redefined the meaning of family. She has consistently shown that familyisn’t whose blood you share; it’s who you care about. So whether your athleticfamily bleeds Cougar crimson or Husky gold, on Wednesday night we all share inone thing: our collective love for Melissa Erickson.

best you

2011-11-08T00:36:00.000-08:00

no one ever graduates from life. there is always room for growth and reflection.

be your best you.

i love

2011-11-04T22:40:00.000-07:00

this girl! happy birthday, kayla...

video by the equally beautiful,

breanne watson.

my friends are insanely good-looking.

road map to the good life

2011-10-27T01:21:00.000-07:00

a little bit of this will go a long way.

closer to a cure

2011-10-22T02:00:00.000-07:00

if this video goes viral, i could be cured by christmas!!!

ok, not really...cruel joke. SERIOUSLY though, if everyone donated and passed it on to your friends, you could potentially fund the doctors, who find the lifesaving treatment, and BOOM-

YOU'RE A HERO!!!

let's get this video out there. blast it on facebook, twitter, tumblr or whatever network cures you socially. if you have an in at a local TV station, beg for it to air. let's get this video some play!

be a HERO...they get more play, too. *wink, wink*

gay blogging

2011-10-18T02:31:00.000-07:00

seriously people, it's time. our country is thought to be a progressive one, yet this issue keeps us dated and old fashioned. this is a basic human right, in my opinion. you don't have to agree but why stifle another's happiness. if you don't want a 'gay' marriage, don't get one!!!

ok, i'll get off my soapbox...

just one of them days

2011-10-13T23:16:00.000-07:00

i love this!
"that's my bike, punk!!!"

hello brother

2011-10-09T00:57:00.000-07:00

this is steve gleason circa 2005. you may remember him from his days at wazzu, donning the crimson and gray and making a trip to the rose bowl. most know him for his legendary blocked punt during the very first game played in the superdome since hurricane katrina ripped through new orleans a year earlier. many saints fans regard that play, seen below, as a symbol of their city's relentlessness. that play vaulted steve into cult hero status among saints fans and forever cemented him as a figure of the great revival of a post-katrina NOLA.

i'll admit, i don't remember steve as a coug or a saint. i've never met the guy but respect him as a fellow athlete and an important figure of new orleans, my absolute favorite southern city. i found out about steve because of the dark passenger that we share. he became a brother to me through ALS. another example of a finely tuned athlete that dedicated his life to strengthening his body so he could excel at football's highest level. steve enjoyed a successful career and was embarking on retired life with his new wife and plans for a family. however, slowly his body began to change. i bet he thought, 'wow, i had no idea that retiring and relaxing could cause my limbs to become so heavy' and 'what the hell is this twitching?!'. i hear ya...i thought that too!!! soon his worst fears were confirmed. steve, like me, had been robbed by a disease that i (maybe we) knew little about. ALS crept into our bodies and tore down the temple that we had been working on since the second we fell in love with our sports. ALS will try to steal every living ounce of you and it won't stop until it does. thankfully steve and i have another thing in common. the years spent dedicated to our sports were not spent alone. just as my teammates and friends held me up after our coaches vicious conditioning tests years ago...they continue to support me now as ALS tests me in a whole new way.

likewise, steve's teammates and friends continue to support him as his limbs weaken. ALS is threatening to rob steve of everything but i guarantee that steve and team gleason are mounting a grand defense.

doctors and scientists are closer than ever to delivering a treatment to stop and maybe even reverse ALS. PALS (people with ALS) around the world continue to lean on their friends and family for support while patiently waiting for a miracle. until that day, each of us resembles that blocked punt that helped to fuel new orleans ' post-katrina resurrection. a spark lying dormant within us only waiting to be set free to start our own great revival of a post-ALS world.

thank you

2011-10-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you w...ill gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs

on a whole new level

2011-10-03T03:16:00.000-07:00

i urge you to get to know Shannon by reading her blog. it is insightful and beautiful. it will challenge your mind and provoke your thoughts. it may even change your life...

sunshine

2011-09-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

you are my sunshine, my only sunshine

you make me happy when my skies are gray

i hope you know how much i love you

MeeeYowww

Old Dawgs, New Tricks

2011-09-26T02:27:00.000-07:00


	this is who i hung out with this weekend. it's easily one of my most favorite weekends of the year. if i had it my way, i would cram each one of them in my house, their families and all, and live together as most of us did in college. they know me better than i know myself, they always have and i used to hate it but i am so thankful for it now. i love you guys!

that's cheryl...she keeps it classy.

i have no idea but i love it!

lollipop carli...her flavor world be a mixture of granola and hummus.

sweet six - carli + sug spice = almost perfection

best combo in the history of the world. i'm serious people

LeAnn, Dunc, Jill, Franza, Heather, Sug', Emily and Carlito...thank you for not letting me quit the team. i'd be lost without you guys.

=)

2011-09-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

or dig some matches out of your pocket.

you can't ever be too prepared when it comes to happiness.

it's my birthday and i need your help!

2011-09-18T03:35:00.000-07:00

this getting older business is for the birds! when you're a kid, you can't wait for your birthday. as we get older, we are just thankful to see another year. this year for my birthday, i only want one thing from each of you. JUST ONE THING!

i've known Andrew Moritz since my freshmen year at UW. before i got to know him, my teammates and i would see him and we'd joke, "look, Jon B plays for u-dub!" seriously, same fade, same facial hair and definitely the same swag...drew defined swag! when i finally got to know him, we were friends instantly. you can't not like drew. he's the type of guy that isn't satisfied until you are laughing so hard that you're crying. once you've cried, it's over, because now he just simply has give you a look and that same joke resurfaces and you're crying again. i know what you're thinking, "what's wrong with that, laughing is good." it is except when he does it in the middle of a professor's lecture, or in the weight room, and the worst-- as he walks by the basketball court that you're trying intently to listen to your coach during practice and you make the mistake of making eye contact with the guy! fourteen years later, just one glance from drew and i'm laughing...that is what i love about Andrew Moritz.

so what does this have to do with my birthday? like me, Andrew drew the short straw when it comes to health. while we celebrated New Years 2009, drew was given the devastating news that he has Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Cancer, a rare and at this time, incurable form of cancer. fast-forward to the present and drew is still battling cancer and still making me laugh. the only thing that's different is that he is now responsible for 20% of his medical bills. as he endures continuous rounds of chemo, his bank account drains faster than his energy.

for my birthday i want you to sign up for the MVP Challenge, a 5k Run/Walk at GREEN LAKE on October 22, 2011 at 10am. bring your walking or running shoes, dogs, cats, what ever you like, just participate! There will be tons of celebrities. all proceeds go to Andrew. if you can't do it, sign up anyways or visit his blog and make a PayPal donation! every penny counts!!! click on the colored links above to learn more about drew, his form of cancer and most importantly, how to sign up for the MVP Challenge.

Please Help Andrew!!!

hunka hunka, burning love!

2011-09-15T00:52:00.000-07:00

oh mom, you left to soon! this guy stopped by looking for his hunka hunka burning love...

Dad must have given him the wrong address. he left you something suede but sends his apologies due to their lack of blue.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
Mom!

i really do love you...

eat your heart out, elvis!

was einstein crazy?

2011-09-11T23:47:00.000-07:00

i have a few of these crazy geniuses in my life and they push me to be a better, smarter and realer person. i like to think of them like they are my Rainman. you may not understand why they do things but undoubtedly, they are always right...even if it takes me a year or two to realize it.

official pub crawl pictures

2011-09-08T15:44:00.000-07:00

for the past 3 years, as the gray skies and rain start to give way to the sun, i find myself counting down the days to the Ring Around the Needle Pub Crawl. when the day finally comes, it's over in the blink of an eye and i'm left with fond memories and at times, a slight hangover. not this year. no headaches and more than just memories...PICTURES and memories! please join me in thanking Wayne Jung and Nappsack Photos for capturing all of the fun so we can reminisce all year long. his photos are ready for the taking...just click on this link and search away! hopefully he didn't catch doing anything too compromising...then again, hopefully he did! craziness = amazing memories, who cares who sees it!

i'll leave you with a few contact sheets. find some pictures to hold you over until next year!

check out all of the pictures at...
http://nappsack.com/photography-blog/ring-around-the-needle-pub-crawl-2011/

mad libs my way

2011-09-06T01:51:00.000-07:00

live your life LOUD!!!

merch for sale!

2011-09-02T01:35:00.000-07:00

these little gems were sold like hot cakes at this year's pub crawl. however, we were a little overzealous when placing our order and we have a few more to sell. these guys need a good home where they will be surrounded by lips of plenty and filled by icy cold beverages of your choice. instead of littering the earth with plastic bottles, you can carry your water in this purple and gold masterpiece. it also works well for all you tailgaters! who wouldn't want to pop one of those pint glasses in the freezer so when you get home from work and need a beer, you have a frosty glass waiting for you! IT'S LIKE A PUB CRAWL AT YOUR HOUSE EVERY DAY!!!

i know what you're thinking, i totally missed my calling; used car salesman. you want one though, so i'll get to the point...

pint glasses are 1 for $8 or 2 for $15
water bottles are $10

the easiest way to get in contact with me is by email:
modawg4@hotmail.com

please put "pub crawl" in the subject line.

buy'em up friends...all proceeds go straight to the foundation!

one hell of a day! LOVE

2011-08-31T00:06:00.000-07:00

wow.
i can't explain how much LOVE i felt throughout the ring around the needle 2011. 594 participants circled the needle to raise money for the Melissa Erickson Foundation. it was an incredible day for all involved. lots of beer, hugs and an old fashioned good time. i'll leave you with some of my favorite pictures.

thank you Team Mo...you guys are unstoppable!

Team Mo - there isn't much that these ladies can't do.

LOVE

shots!

funny drunk LOVE.

vintage Husky LOVE.

all these people in one place for lil old me...
LOVE!

shimmy flew in from St. Louis...
LOVE!

i'm armed with hugs and fueled with LOVE...
i'm ready for battle,
Let's Roll!

pub crawl!!!

2011-08-25T01:21:00.000-07:00

my favorite day of the year is almost here! the 3rd annual ring around the needle is this saturday and you still have time to sign up. 8 bars, 500+ people and endless amounts of fun and good karma. if you haven't signed up yet but plan to, make sure get there at 11:30am and register so you are guaranteed the right size t-shirt. just $40 online and $50 day of. bring a little extra cash because we are selling water bottles ($10) and pint glasses ($5) with the official event logo so you can continue drinking with me all year long! for all you out of townees; if you register by friday, if you register and tell me your shirt size, i will personally send it to you.

don't miss out!!!
see you at the bars and make sure to use a cab, bus or designated driver.
CHEERS!

researchers find the cause of ALS!!!

2011-08-22T00:08:00.000-07:00

as i ritually surf facebook before i fall into dreamland, i come across this link;

"researchers find cause of ALS".

i skipped to the next update like it was nothing...then it clicked and my eyes raced back up to the link that basically said "melissa erickson, you are a finalists in the bazillion dollar lottery!!!". i couldn't open the link. i froze. i can honestly say that i have never imagined that i would read this sentence in my lifetime. oddly enough, i just don't think about a cure or treatment at all because it's not on my agenda today and today is really the only thing i plan for. this little article forces me think about tomorrow. this is a gift and a curse. this article is staring me in the face. i take a deep breath, shrug my shoulders like Rocky against the Soviet, and do what i gotta do.

ADRIENNE, ur ahhh....JESSICA!!!!

i made her read it... just in case when i clicked on the link, ashton kutcher popped on the screen and screamed, "you got punked, beeeeeotch!!!". jess read through it and confirmed that it is legit. that half of the chains that entraps my body quite possibly may be removed. i know, i am still trapped but the Marauder's Map may have been discovered! i feel like i and thousands of other prisoners, may live to fight this beast and our weapons were upgraded from a bitch slap to a machete! that one day i'll be able to wave my wand and say, "mischief managed". THIS. IS. HUGE!!!

i'm still living for today, but tomorrow...looks a lot more colorful.

my friends are DOPE!

2011-08-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

i love you guys!

www.ringaroundtheneedle.com

musically taking over the world

2011-08-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

i feel like these three can do no wrong right now.

as you can see,
i'm on a music mission this week.

Adele

2011-08-14T01:21:00.000-07:00

there are few people that can completely captivate me by sight and sound.
no doubt, Adele is quite possibly my number one. i was fortunate to see her perform at the Triple Door two years ago. she was new on the scene but performed beautifully.
fast forward to 2011, after learning my dear friend Swen secured tickets to last night's concert at Seattle's historic Paramount Theater, i was eager to hear her soulful voice again. as she took the stage (singing my absolute fav song, Hometown Glory) i sat back and was in my version of heaven. her stage presence was noticeably more comfortable than two years ago and she spoke and waived to each of us like she just had lunch with everyone earlier in the day. i truly believe that she absolutely adores her fans and enjoys interacting with her audience and giving us insight into her creative writing process.

i am sure i smiled throughout the entire concert.
i am positive that i sang along the whole time.
and i will admit that i even cried
(like ugly cried).
i'm ok with it because,

I LOVE ADELE!!!

here's a little song to make you smile.

almost there...

2011-08-09T23:04:00.000-07:00

i'll get there,
one day.

Often Awesome: A Love Story - Episode 1

2011-08-05T01:09:00.000-07:00

people always ask me, "what is it really like living with ALS?" as honest as i can, i try to describe my day-to-day routine, what goes through my head and how my body feels. my family and friends who have known me preALS have witnessed first hand how my body has melted due to the inferno that is Lou Gehrig's Disease. i always wondered what it would be like to have a video camera following me 24/7 and be able to watch it at super high speed. would my muscles shrink as fast as a hummingbird flaps his wings? would people witness the colossal failure of my body and realize how unfair it is, that doctors searching for a treatment lack the appropriate funding because of how relatively unknown ALS actually is?

Tim LaFollette has ALS. Tim has a mission. Tim has more courage than anyone i know. and Tim has let a camera document ALS's war path over his entire body. Often Awesome is the award winning web series that documents Tim's battle with ALS. get to know Tim and his army of sparrows (you'll understand the reference soon) relentlessly fight to keep the upper hand in this unwavering war. currently there are 33 episodes released on You Tube and Facebook in the ongoing series. please visit my blog weekly for new episodes...

Tim meet my Bloggees, Bloggees meet Tim...

there's a storm a' brewing

2011-07-30T03:07:00.000-07:00

no, no, no seattleites, i'm not talking about the weather (collective sigh of relief). i'm talking about the WNBA champions, the Seattle Storm. if you haven't been to a game this year, you are for sure missing some great basketball. you owe it to yourself to head downtown on august 11th, grab a bite to eat at my favorite bar Jabu's, and then head to the Key to watch the Storm take on Tulsa.

i bet you're thinking, "where do i get tickets?" well, i've got a solution for that! the Seattle Storm is partnering with the Melissa Erickson Foundation to create awareness for ALS and raise money for my ongoing medical needs. all you have to do is click on this link and it will take you to the Storm website. fill out your specific ticket needs, and find the section where it asks for the PROMO CODE. enter "MELISSA" to get the special event price and so a portion of the price will be donated to my foundation.

how awesome is that ?!?! welp, that's not all...on top of the ticket sales we will also be doing a 50/50 raffle. once you enter Key Arena, keep a lookout for my peeps in last year's blue pub crawl t-shirts and a roll of raffle tickets. buy a bunch of tickets and wait until the second half until hopefully your number is called. we will add up all the proceeds from the raffle and the winner takes home half and the MEF will get the rest!

this is such a special event for me because i love basketball and i adore watching a game with friends. after games my friends and i head back to Jabu's Pub for some karaoke and a few drinks. word on the street is Jabu's wants to get in on the donation train by donating the tips from karaoke to the MEF as well.

i am one lucky and loved girl! i hope you guys come to the game and come and find me so i can return the LOVE.

reassurance

2011-07-27T01:17:00.000-07:00

if you say enough,
soon you will start believing it.

rest in peace...

2011-07-24T14:51:00.000-07:00

taken far too early

tortured far too long

wherever you are

may you have

PEACE

ring around the needle

2011-07-20T01:52:00.000-07:00

ok, its been long enough. yes, i know, almost a year but i promise that i have a good excuse. enough of that, let's just get to the point... on August 27th the Ring Around The Needle returns for its third consecutive attempt to fill Lower Queen Anne with colorful, loud and slightly drunk pub crawlers. last year over 500 people circled through 8 bars raising over $30,000 for the Melissa Erickson Foundation!!! this year promises to be even bigger and better. we are anticipating a larger crowd so we are hoping to add new bars to the already amazing line up. sign up early and bring all of your friends! everyone 21 years and older is welcome to participate. sign up at www.ringaroundtheneedle.com right now!!! to whet your appetite, i'll leave you with a few pictures from last year...

take two

2011-07-08T02:29:00.000-07:00

i'm feeling the urge to blog...stay tuned.

So Official

2010-08-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Thassss right, the Melissa Erickson Foundation is elevating to new heights. Of course, the Ring Around the Needle is Saturday and you ALL are going. AND we are in the jewelry market...and by jewelry, I mean this!!!

Oh yeah, limited addition, plastic stretchy tennis bracelets that are inscribed with "WHY I OUGHTA FIGHT FOR MO" on one side, and "CURE ALS" on the other. They were created with love by a well known karaoke-er/designer, Michelle Boline. One for $3 or two for $5. With Husky football around the corner, you better get both so you can show your support in multiple ways. On sale at the pub crawl or message me for a PRIVATE viewing. Hurry, do not miss out on this special offer!

(insert a giddy Ashley Sofie here)

Pub Crawl!

2010-07-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Time to drink beer, stumble from bar to pub, and feel great about it!

RING AROUND THE NEEDLE is BACK FOR MO'!!!!!!

August 28th from 1-5pm in Lower Queen Anne...do NOT miss this. Click the link to register!

Sitting On the Dock By the Bay

2010-06-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

When the Young Faces of ALS Campaign presented me with the opportunity to help raise awareness while attending Major League Baseball games, I was ecstatic. I then found out I would be traveling to San Francisco, I could hardly contain myself. I consider San Fran to b

e one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Bridges, beautiful buildings, unique neighborhoods, wonderful food and awesome public

transportation. The last being important to the wheelchair dependent.

Back to baseball. First up, the Oakland Coliseum for the A's vs the Giants. Being a Seattle girl, I was uncertain who to cheer for. However, being a University of Washington graduate, I was immediately drawn to the Giants' Cy Young Award winner and UW grad, Tim Lincecum. Once a Husky, always husky, so Giants it was. Plus the A's are one of the Seattle Mariners division rivals and the M's need all the help they can get.

Our crew headed down to the field to catch a little batting practice and hopefully the attention of a few all-stars. Visiting ball parks always excites me. Each one is so unique, the atmospheres electric in their own way. We watched the Giants hit bombs out of the park and enjoyed the perfect weather. I hoped to grab Lincecum for an autograph but he had better things to do. I guess warming up for your game against your cross town rival may be a little more important. Game time was nearing to we decided to make our way up to the suite. Just our luck, Mr Lincecum was chilling in the outfield near our exit. He was kind enough to visit with us, sign autographs and take pictures. What a great guy!

After our epic star filled pregame we met the real all-stars of ALS. Our two suites filled with patients, family, advocates and supporters of ALS-TDI. Being surrounded by people that are passionate about finding a treatment for a disease that makes my life hell, gives me hope and happiness. Attending sporting events and visiting with truly inspiring people gives me respite from worries about my future. Meeting other young people living with ALS helps me not to feel isolated in my neurologically challenged world.

Our baseball fun did not end in Oakland. Across the bay a few days later, our crew set out to watch the Giants and Nationals at AT&T Park. I had heard from multiple people that this is one of the most beautiful parks in all of Major League Baseball. Beautiful does not do it justice. More like stunning, gorgeous or breathtaking. The hosts and Giants staff we inviting, warm and intrigued by our campaign. The weather and sunset set the perfect stage for a Giants win. To our luck, my main man, Tim Lincecum was the starting pitcher. A win was inevitable, right? Not so much. The only disappointment out of our trip was two Giant losses.

The positive experiences of being surrounded by inspiring people completely outweighed the outcomes of each game.

The pleasure of my trip; meeting, campaigning and dreaming about a day when the letters ALS become as obsolete as childhood chicken pox. A day when this diagnosis doesn't give the innocent a death sentence. A day when ALS becomes understood by the people who can lobby for funds for a treatment. The young men and women whose lives have been stunted by this disease deserve a chance. All men and women living with ALS deserve a chance. We owe it to all who have lost their battle to ALS to make sure that no one else perishes from this disease. Treatment is not impossible. ALS-TDI will one day prove this true and I am happy that my name will be linked to this progressive group of people.

The In's and Out's of ALS

2010-06-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

I recently participated in a video for the ALS Association and it gives you a glimpse of my thoughts as well as another brave PALS (person with ALS). You have two opportunities to help...the bike ride and the Pub Crawl. I promise it will change your life and bring a huge smile to mine.

Mo's Biker Beauties!

2010-05-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

It's about that time of year again: The ALS DoubleDay Bike Ride is coming up in a few months and registration is officially open! Mo's Biker Beauties have participated and partied at the event for the last two years now, and we'd LOVE to have your support to make this year's DoubleDay Ride the most successful yet.

Last year, the event raised over $159,000 for the cause, which was a new record. We think that with the support of friends and family, as well as some corporate sponsorship, our team can help to burry that old record and set our sites even higher.

The ride will be July 24th and 25th, so there's plenty of time to prep. If you're thinking you're not the type for cycling, it's really not that tough! And there's no easier or more enjoyable way to get your summer body back than to get out on a bike and take in some of the amazing scenery we have here in the Northwest.

Entry is just $35* and includes a pasta feast Saturday evening, breakfast and lunch Sunday as well as full bike support and snacks at rest stops throughout the ride. (Drinks and Karaoke at a local Conway pub Sat night not included but optional-mandatory for team members ;)

For more info, check out the website:

http://webwa.alsa.org/site/PageNavigator/WA_Bike_homepage

To join the team and ride: >Team List >Mo's Biker Beauties >Join Team

To donate: >Donate >Search for Team >Mo's Biker Beauties

* Register by May 1 and pay only $35

* Register by June 31, and pay $50
* July 1 -July 24 = $60

Thanks, hope to see your names on the team list soon!

Pub Crawl!

2010-05-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

That's right...Ring Around The Needle is back! Save August 28th for a day of heart felt debauchery. Remember to check out www.ringaroundtheneedle.com for updates and info. Please email me if you would like to be a captain or official sponsor. I will leave you with some pictures from last years event....enjoy!

How Does She Do It?

2010-03-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

People always ask me, "How do you do it?", and my answer is typically pretty short and simple. However, when Janet Pelz and I sat down to discuss this topic, it lead to a long talk which seemed to be between long lived friends. Janet is an inspired writer/journalist/blogger who enjoys talking to women who daily, battle adversity head-on. Her blog, How Does She Do It, dives into the lives of many local women who have left their "normal" lives, some willing, others not, for a new path. Whether leaving a financially stable job to start a non-profit or battling disease, these women are a unique bunch that I like to call, "gamers".

In basketball, a gamer is someone who rises to the challenge of each game in spite of their deficiencies in preparation, lack of knowledge about their opponent, or general ability to fight. Granting all of these, a gamer rises to the challenge each time, putting up triple-double sort of numbers. Not worriying how tall the mountain to climb, how much money she won't have, or the statistical odds of survival, a gamer rises to the occasion.

If this type of a person piques your interest, check out my link above. Read my story as well as about the other courageous women.

Peace-Love-Basketball

2010-03-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

I have to let all of you faithful readers know about an amazing woman. Sonya Elliot, owner of Full Court Design and founder of Peace-Love-Basketball, has an amazing story of tragedy, strength, faith and perserverence. I cant recapsulate the story with the same elegance she has shown, so I won't even try. However, I want to encourage everyone to check out the link highlighted above.

She is strong. She is beautiful. She is smart. She is selfless. She is kind. She is woman.

She is the type of person you want to have in your corner in times of need. She is also the lady you want to shop with because her style is evident by the clothes she designs. Check her out for yourself....you will love her inspiration and style. Her is a snipit of her ad. I am telling you, it does not do her or her story justice. Take a minute and check it out for yourself.

Thank you, Sonya, for caring about me. Sonya was graceful enough to send a few shirts my way and I have a hard time taking them off. I am currently wearing the black long sleeve despite the chili stain from lunch earlier. Sonya has also offered to partner with the Melissa Erickson Foundation on a t-shirt design for March Madness. Stay tuned to this blog or check out hers for more details.

Wrong (a little right) in Soooo Many Ways

2010-02-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

My Dad decided to put this gem on facebook (yes, he is on facebook...alllll over it).

Let's see here...where do I start?

1) Yes, I am wearing pearls. Even at a young age, living on a farm, I had style beyond my years.
2) Mullet...maybe. That just stole my pearl style points. In my defense, I dressed myself but could not cut my own hair so I am going to chalk that up to a bad stylist.
3) Paris/Britney/Lohan...you all stole the exposed vajayjay from my book of tricks. They just didn't have paparazzi in S. Dakota.
4) The glasses....they do not deserve an excuse. They are just plain wrong.
5) I was Bowing Down to Washington from a very young age. The purple and gold are just natural for me. Go Dawgs!

I thought long and hard of what I might be praying for in this picture. Since I already had a pony, amazing clothes and a great family, it could only be one of two things.

A Gene Juarez gift card, or to just open oneeeeeeeeee present, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee mom, PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Mr. Juarez didn't travel that far inland so it must be the present. Of course my praying (begging) worked. I mean, really, how could you turn that face down?!

Ol' Skool

2010-02-04T14:11:00.000-08:00

Taking it back to the ol' school, Cause I'm an ol' fool, who's so cool....

Ok, I'm not as old as Tag Team but damn, "Whoomp, There it Is" has some classic lines! I mean, right?! All right, I was 14 when that ish came out but I am not revisiting that period in my life...just yet. I would rather concentrate this entry on a much more hip era in my life. The one where I had...how do they say it these days....HELLA SWAG!

Please notice the white headband and corn rows. This suburban white girl had it going on. The other two in the pic...well, they did too. In the All Pac-10 sort of way.

And yes...this picture wasn't exactly taken during my hay days either but this is how Hec Ed looked for a women's game. At any rate...it's a great day to be a dawg!

Are you out there?

2010-01-26T16:13:00.001-08:00

Whoa...has it really been almost 4 months since my last blog? I AM SORRY, SORRY, SORRY! I have no excuses for this type of behavior. But I will say, that I promise to try harder.

Sooooo, what has been going on, you ask? Welp, of course the holidays (which were great), basketball season is in full swing, retirement, relaxing, etc. That's right, I said retirement. As of November 20th, I have been a lady of leisure. Work was starting to cut into my fun time a little too much so I decided to nix that situation. :) Really though, I decided to take time for me and spend my energy in ways that fulfills me. My friends and family deserve all of my energy at this point in life so I made steps to give it to them. Boy, has it been great! I have filled my time with lunches, reading, sleeping, Super Mario, late nights with friends (late for me is about midnight, man am I getting old), and enjoying life. I mean, that is what we are put on this earth for, right?!

So, that is me...in a nutshell. I am determined to update this thing way more often than I had so I have decided to keep updates short and sweet. I hope to become a little more knowledgeable about blogging so I can add videos, instant pics from my phone, etc so you guys know what is going on at any given time of my life. SO, to all you blogging pros, if you know how to accomplish this, let a sista know!

September=Amazing

2009-09-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to update this guy for a while...so here goes. Yes, my title states "September" but let me recall a special event in August. Helloooooo, Ring Around the Needle!!! Wow...talk about an emotional day! Let me list some of them; excited, humbled, scared, happy, loved, honored....I could go on. I have some of the best friends in the world who are genuine, good hearted and strong. The Pink Ladies put the event together, executed day of operations, had a great time, breast fead a baby and got pretty tipsy (the last two did not happen to the same person). The event is still bringing in $$$ but so far is up to a whopping $20,000+!!!! Awesome, just plain awesome!

After recovering from the debauchery of the Ring, Jessica and I traveled to one of my hometowns, good old Littleton, CO. It was fun to play tourist in a town I spent over 8 years in. However, I really felt like a tourist, there is nothing the same about Denver. We stayed in a fun hotel downtown, walked around 16th St Mall, caught a Rockies game, ate well, drank well and enjoyed sharing memories with old friends. I think Jessica was through with my trip down memory lane by the weeks end but she enjoyed the stories that made an ass out of me. It was a great time.

Next up on the itinerary was a couple of amazing weddings and then, BIRTHDAY TIME!!!!

That's right, I turned the big 3-1!!! What a GREAT WEEKEND!!! It started off with a birthday dinner with Jessica's family. Followed by brunch and mimosas the next day at my house, a wedding and drinks and cards with friends. The weekend didn't end there, Jessica and I caught the matenae show of Wicked. It was a great show followed by a yummy appetizer dinner at Chandler's. The weekend may have been over but the fun wasn't. A pair of Pearl Jam tickets fell into my lap so Carmen, Kyle and I rocked out last night to Pearl Jam. What a great show...those guys are still killing it on stage! Thank you, Cori for a rad ass bday present.

And, of course, I can't forget to say, CONGRATS HUSKY FOOTBALL!!! Unranked UW beats little ole #3 USC...that topped off my birthday!!!

Shimmy!

2009-08-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

Ok...so, I was 99.9% wrong that day in Gainesville when I called my assistant coach a bitch. Yes, this sounds harsh but hear me out. Shimmy is a B. Not in the way you would call some girl that just stole your boyfriend or some guy that cut you off. She is the affectionate kind. A couple of my close friends only call each other the "B" word because that is how we show our affection for each other. So, I will now add Shimmy Gray-Miller to that list. Let me give you a little background.

It was 1st/2nd rounds of the NCAA my senior year. We were sent waaaay the heck down to Gainesville, FL to play Old Dominion (we won on a last second shot). Our curfew the night after that first game was 11pm. Of course, Shimmy, is knocking on every room to enforce it. I, like I always do, wanted to push my limits a little. Because I was injured and not playing I thought it would be ok if I went down to get a snack. Shimmy quickly put the kibosh on this which infuriated me. I quickly shut the door and said, "What a Bitch!". Not even 5 seconds later, I hear another bang on the door..."aw man, here we go", is what I thought. Yep, it was Shimmy and yep, she heard it. Now, Shimmy has beautiful light mocha skin but you would have thought for a second that she had just sat on the sun and sunburned her face. SHE WAS FURIOUS! She asked me what I just said....I replied, "nothing" and she shook her head. "yeah, that is what I thought." I consider myself lucky that she was in a position of power because if we were back in Flint, MI where she grew up, I would have been toast.

It took a couple of years for us to get over our beef with each other and man, am I happy we did. She is not only a rising star, head coach of the Saint Louis University 'Billikens' but also an amazing role model, friend, writer and individual. She most recently wrote about my story in her blog. Please check it out. If you thought my entry was funny and bold, you will love this. I have nothing on her. So, it is with great pride that I call Shimmy out of her name. I still won't do it in person though, she still can kick my ass. Love ya, Shimmy.

Ring Around The Needle!!!

2009-08-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am pretty sure that most of you have heard or have signed up for this fabulous event...but, if not...here is the skinny.

On August 29th, the Melissa Erickson Foundation is holding the 1st Annual, Ring Around the Needle. It is a pub crawl in Lower Queen Anne. So....here is the good news! With your $35 entry fee, you get 8 drink tickets for 8 different bars. You and your team will travel from bar to bar, socializing, drinking karma filled beers, eating appetizers and having fun. I mean, seriously, does this not sound like a great idea?! You can even stick around after the crawl and go to the Storm game for HALF PRICE!!! I mean, we are in a recession so might as well go since the tickets will be so cheap.

You will get a t-shirt, coupons for other vendors, some Vitamin Water and a whole lotta feel good pride. Please check out the official website for more info and registration details. This is going to be fun...don't miss it!!!!

www.ringaroundtheneedle.com

Sign up today!!!!!

100 Degress

2009-07-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

Pro's

My garden is growing like wildfire
The sun is out
Going to work in the morning is soooo much easier
Going shopping has a whole new purpose
Dining out has a whole new purpose
My cat is lazy and does not meow as much to go outside
It is summer

Con's

MY FEET STAY ON SWOLE....WHAT AM I, PREGO

I don't believe in complaining...so I will just leave it at one. That one is driving me bonkers.

Back in Action

2009-07-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

Hello, hi, how are ya? The blog is back after a looong hiatus. Sorry about that :) So, let me give you a little update on what has been going on in my life.

SUMMER IS HERE.....it is definitely, hands down, my favorite season. I love long days spent outside, BBQ's, sun tans, fire pits, vacations, yard work and the chance for absolutely no chance of rain. Well, except for today, which it is actually comforting because I have nothing to do.

This weekend I traveled to Portland with friends to see Coldplay in concert. I am pretty sure the concert is tied as one of my all time favorite concerts (tied with Ms. Keys, obvi). It was amazing...beautiful weather, a great play list, a rendition of Michael Jackson's Billy Jean sang 20 feet away from me, great friends. What more could a girl want, right?! After the concert, we were wiped out so we went back to the hotel and passed out. We spent the next day shopping in Portland. I have never really hung out in Portland and was pleasantly surprised. We spent the day on Hawthorne Street, weaving in and out of shops, finally settling in the Bridgeport Ale House. One beer and I was a little dazed....strong stuff. We set off for Seattle around 4pm and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

The 4th of July was spent in our backyard with great friends. My roommate, Kim, celebrated her 30th birthday with bbq, beer, sun and flip cup. About 30 of our friends and family joined in the on the celebration. All of the preparations and work put into the day was well worth it.

Besides the concerts and BBQ's, the rest of the time this summer has been devoted to working in my yard. It has come a LONG way in the last few months and I am enjoying the progress made. There is a long list of "to do's" and this is what we have accomplished so far.

-digging a roof full of shingles out of their shallow grave (grrrr).
-tons of tree trimming, weed pulling, and rock digging.
-planting, watering and watching my potted garden bloom.
-planting flowers, bushes and shrubs.
-grinding 3 huge tree stumps.
-more rock digging.
-staining the deck.
-digging up little treasures and more rocks.
-piling all the rocks on the side of the house in a little dry river bed formation.
-digging up rocks...have I said that before?

I of course am not the one completing most of these items. Kim and my parents have done most of the work. So while I am watching the yard come into it's own, I am also watching their muscles tone. I also can't forget to mention the bathroom remodel. It started about a month ago and it is slowly taking shape. It will be well worth the wait...here is a sneak preview...

Lastly, I have been spending time figuring out how I want to spend my vacation time this summer. I have 3 events planned, starting with the annual Double Day Bike Ride to benefit the ALS Association. If you haven't done it before, you definitely should. It is a two day ride covering 85 miles of the beautiful Skagit Valley. Last year it was amazing to spend the weekend with others living with ALS and families riding in memory of lost loved ones. It definitely brings your spirits up to see so many people riding to support a good cause. If you want to join the team, click on the link and find Mo's Biker Beauties.

Another great event in the works is the first annual Ring Around the Needle pub crawl. This is definitely something you don't want to miss! 5-8 bars around lower Queen Anne, all donating beer and a good time to benefit the Melissa Erickson Foundation. I promise you, you will have fun and feel good about drinking some beer.

I have decided to close out my summer going back to my roots. I will be Denver bound on September 2nd and will have fun showing Jessica around my old stomping ground. It has changed so much, I hope I remember where I am at. I am hoping to have some sort of a fund raiser in Denver, so stay tuned if you are in that area. So far we have a Rockies game on the agenda and will be traveling up to the New Belgium Brewery for a tour. Everything else is up in the air.

So that is about all for me. I will try to keep this thing up to date and not slack off as I have in the last month or two...who's counting :)

Aaaahhhhh Weekends

2009-05-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

Seriously....why can't we have a 4 day weekend??? I guess my two favorite days of the week wouldn't be as sweet if they were the majority. I lie...they would. I can absolutely say that a sunny day makes this city buzzzzzz. The freeways are jammed, the lakes are packed with boats and the parks are a zoo. Seattle sun is probably never taken for granted.

This weekend was especially great because we were able to enjoy sun on Friday and Sunday (Saturday, get with it). One of my favorite days of the year is the Windemere Cup. I can actually say, I have never watched the crew races or experienced the boat parades but I always seem to find myself stuck on 520 long enough to get a glimpse of the boats tied up to each other forming the raceway for the Cup. It is definitely a sight and I was happy for them that at least one of their days was sunny.

After making it home through the maze of traffic, I didn't want to leave. We held our traditional game night on Friday. Cranium is typically our game of choice and my team usually wins. However, Jessica and I did not bring our A game and Kim and Abby came out victorious. Newcomers, Swen, Jamie, Ashley and Jen put up a fight to the end but their sllloooooow start had them doomed. They are no longer newbies and have witnessed the competitiveness that the regulars bring night in and night out. If things go array, there have been carrot fights, wrestling and pouting, none of which come from this angel.

As I said before, Saturday's weather left a lot to be desired. RAAAAIIIIIN, booooo! BUT, it made it a perfect day for painting. Kim Hope returned in the morning to lead us in painting. Both Jess and I have never really painted so it was nice to have a little direction. We jumped in the van for Home Depot, picked a great color of green, yelled at a red neck Harley driver for parking in the handicap zone, and headed back to the house to paint. A few hours later we were surrounded in Moss Landing green and out of paint. All the hard work was completed for the day so it was on to fun times. We cleaned up and set out for a little beer pong. Kim and I devoured the amazing dinner made by our friend Erin, conversed with the other party goers and tried our hand at a little pong. I wish I could say that we came out victorious but I definitely can not. We lost 5 TIMES. WHAT, seriously!!! I am just as amazed as you but I can say that we mostly lost to a team that whore matching beer pong shirts. Needless to say, they must be well practiced.

Sunday started perfectly, breakfast with friends that I haven't seen in months. The eggs benedict was great and the conversation was even better. After filling my stomach and saying goodbye to my friends I headed back home to find that my green room was basically finished and Kim moved on to yard work. Seriously, do I really have friends this incredible? YES. We chopped the hell out of some seriously overgrown ferns and the backyard look a whole lot better now. I didn't realize the potential of it until today.

All in all it was the perfect weekend ( minus the losses in Cranium and beer pong). Here's to the weather staying beautiful and having friends who never cease to amaze me.

PS- I also just found out about the website pandora.com this weekend. Where has this gem been all my life? Commercial free radio and the music choice is always what I want. If you don't know about it, you need to check it out. If anyone else has any hidden gems, send them my way.

Correction

2009-04-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

After reviewing my last entry...I found a few errors. Most importantly, the "crap macaroni" salad was not crap...it was crab. Oops....must have been a Freudian slip :)

Happy Easter!!!!

PS- Mrs. P....what's the 411 on the paint color???

Get a Move On it!

2009-03-01T13:18:00.000-08:00

Patience...either you have it, or you don't. I totally think I am patient, I hold it together....I wait and wait without complaints. Right?! Well, that is what I think but I am sure there are many other people that have a different opinion about this, but so what. So, after waiting and waiting to find out if my parents offer on a new house was accepted by the sellers, by the bank, by the other bank and whether or not the inspection would pass, my patience finally were rewarded with a YES!!!

Jessica and I will be the beneficiaries of a new house in Shoreline, WA. It is beautiful, well at least it will be after a thorough cleaning. This house will need elbow grease, knee grease and a whole lot of TLC. BUT, after that, it will be AWESOME!

Capitol Hill has been my neighborhood for the past 3 years and I will definitely be sad to leave it. My first year was spent with my awesome roommate, Brock and we definitely took advantage of the nightlife, restaurants and the ability to be able to walk or bus where ever we wanted to go.

After that fun year, I decided to enter the real estate market and found a awesome condo about a block from my apartment. It has been my home for the last 2 years and has definitely taught me so much about real estate, home ownership and all of that adult stuff. But all good times have to come to an end right....nah. They will keep on rolling but in a different zip code. While all of the responsibilities of a house may seem a little overwhelming for some, I am excited about it. Call me naive but I have always found a way to get things done. My incredible support group always rallies when my efforts fall short.

Speaking of rallying, I may need some of that come moving day. We decided to pay someone for their elbow grease when it comes to cleaning, so that is out of the way. However, once the house is showered in bleach, the moving begins. I am hoping to rally a few friends to help my parents move. There is not a lot of stuff but definitely some heavy things that my dad's back needs to avoid. I am sure there will be plenty of food and beverages to reward those who help, so if you want to help, let me know what your drink of choice is...I will go to Costco and provide.

Well you have read about my fabulous times on Capitol Hill and they can be duplicated by you! YOU can move into my pad and experience the fun for yourself. I am trying to get the max price for this baby but if I know you and I trust you, I may be able to come down a little. I would love to have someone in here that I know will keep it spotless so I can finally sell it when times improve.

So SPREAD THE WORD AND HELP A SISTA OUT!!! Check the link for pictures and details. Have a good March, hopefully St. Patrick will push a little luck in all of our paths.

PS- My condo is sitting pretty on the bottom right corner of the fabulous park in the center of the picture. (Things to consider, suntanning in the park, walking to shop downtown, never having to pay for another cab home at night...just walk, you will burn the calories. Oh, and there is a Dick's two blocks away to satisfy all late night cravings. You know you want to.)

What Gets me through the tough ones

2009-01-30T12:22:00.000-08:00

So, usually I don't use this blog as a kleenex to sob on but I figured that I would answer one of the questions people commonly ask me about my health situation...."How do you deal with this and stay positive?"

I figured I would put a list together of things that "get me through the day".

Jessica's smile
My family's unconditional love
The little corners of craziness each of my friends let me invade
Team Enji, Cori, Mo....Fuck yeah! (sorry for the swearing, it's a quote)
The kids and people I work with at Region 4...yes, even the ones that drive me nuts :)
Frenchie's attitude and success thus far in her own battle
Andrew Moritz's amazing attitude towards his own war
Tommie (my cat)
Watching the Dawgs...even if this year has almost been unbearable. Thank God for men's team
latte's
Duncan, Jill and Elise
Music from Adele, Coldplay, Alicia
Faith
My sisters from momma June and the ones from my step momma Coach G
Facebook
Obama

Those are all things that I hold close to my heart. On the REALLY tough days, when things seem a little hopeless, there is a poem that I read that brings me out of the darkness. It was given to me by another Melissa. She has helped me more than she will even know just by passing this along. Thanks MO!!!!

INVICTUS

OUT OF THE NIGHT THAT COVER ME.
BLACK AS THE PIT FROM POLE TO POLE
I THANK WHATEVER GODS MY BE
FOR MY UNCONQUERABLE SOUL.

IN THE FELL CLUTCH OF CIRCUMSTANCE
I HAVE NOT WINCED NOR CRIED ALOUD.
UNDER THE BLUDGEONINGS OF CHANCE
MY HEAD IS BLOODY, BUT UNBOWED.

BEYOND THIS PLACE OF WRATH AND TEARS
LOOMS BUT THE HORROR OF THE SHADE,
AND YET THE MENACE OF THE YEARS
FINDS AND SHALL FIND ME UNAFRAID.

IT MATTERS NOT HOW STRAIT THE GATE.
HOW CHARGED WITH PUNISHMENTS THE SCROLL
I AM THE MASTER OF MY FATE:
I AM THE CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL.

-WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY

Thank you.

Happy Birthday T-Town!!!

2009-01-11T22:47:00.000-08:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you.....I could keep them coming but I guess you guys get the point. Today is a great day...it is the birthday of one, Miss Takiyah Jackson. If you don't know her, you are missing out. If you do, well then, you know how amazing she is. Last night I was fortunate enough to celebrate her birthday with her and her closest friends. She decided that she wanted to make this birthday special and throw a charity event. My foundation, The Melissa Erickson Foundation, was the lucky beneficiary. She really went all out for this event. Not only did she rent out an amazing location, Sole Repair, but she had a DJ, food, full bar, picture booth, slide show, raffle, trivia contest, and the AMAZING Choklate perform live. If you haven't heard of Choklate, you are really missing out. Her soulful voice and inspiring lyrics are smooth and melodic. She is a local woman who has garnered international attention and affection.

The love I felt last night was immeasurable. Takiyah's heart is huge! She is beautiful inside and out and I am honored to call her my friend. It was definitely a night to remember. I didn't get a chance to take pictures so hopefully I will be getting some from all of you photags out there *wink*.

THANKS AGAIN TAKIYAH...I LOVE YA!

Over it!

2008-12-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

I am over the sun...bring back the clouds and rain. I will take that any day over ice and frozen car doors. I also just found out that my office never closes. Yeah that is right, as a Washington state worker, I roll through ice, snow, rain and traffic to command my post. Not a huge complaint, it could be waaaay worse, I am thankful for my job and the heat that is pumped through the building.

I am thankful for my blessings but can a girl get some 40 degree weather...is that too much to ask for?! Is this Seattle or Denver???

Correction

2008-12-04T14:34:00.000-08:00

Please scratch off that first "thank you". Sun in DECEMBER is WAY BETTER!!!

And massages from the best massage therapist ever, Elisabeth, are not too shabby either.

The end.

Thanks a Lot

2008-11-30T16:54:00.000-08:00

This is my 2008's thanks:
-mother nature- sun in November is awesome
-we the people- Obama
-ma, pa, Kris and the rest of the fam
-Kathy Griffin- you make Palin fun...or funny...or make fun of her. D) All of the above, final answer.
-UW teams that win
-Scinnomon Ladypants
-friends, friends, friends and friends
-Mini Vans
-Ms. Keys
-Vegas' most awesome married ladies
-Top Shop...it makes Cori smile. Among other things, cough cough, carmy
-the one and only, Tommie Girl
-Americanos with eggnog
-sister's heart
-advances in medicine
-Coldplay's lyrics
-my round feet
-the peeps at my j.o.b.
-buddabye
-my mom's awesomeness at Cranium. Square, square, square.....rectangle.
-homes with two rooms
-Tina Fey
-February 1st, 2008
-JoeJoe's kitchen masterpieces

Cheers to 08....here's to 09

It's not just the leaves that are a CHANGING

2008-11-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

Welp my friends...just when I think I am going to get more consistent with this blogging thing, I fall off the map :)

The last couple of weeks have been pretty hectic...between all the election hype, work, searching for the perfect house and trying to keep my house clean, I haven't had a second to update the good old blog. But now that a counter has been added to it, I do see that people actually look at this thing. So let me fill you in on what's been going on in my world.

The day before Halloween I found out some terrible news...a good friend of mine, Michelle French, we call her Frenchie, was diagnosed with non-hodkins lymphoma. Of course all of the whys, how comes and why I outta's ran through my brain but then I remembered the how unlucky this specific disease was. It struck the wrong person...Frenchie is probably one of the hardest workers and most positive people I know. I can honestly say that I have never seen her frown. Even when shaving her hair off she had a huge smile on her face. She is amazing and an amazing inspiration. So that was my end to October...good riddance.

November started with a bang...a bang by the name of Obama! I am so happy that I do not have to hear another campaign commercial for a few years. Even happier that my ballot mimicked the results. I was pretty sure I was going to need to join one of my friends overseas until times got better. After looking at cnn.com throughout the day to see if I could catch a hint of a democratic lead, I finally started to hear great reports as I was catching the first UW women's exhibition game. I am pretty sure I cheered the loudest when I heard that Obama took Virginia and Florida. I hurried home after an exciting second half (or last 5 minutes and OT) and waited until Jessica got home so we could join the masses and celebrate in the streets. Mobs of people had many intersections of Broadway blocked off as they celebrated Change and diversity. It was an amazing thing to be apart of....people celebrating in the streets and the police sitting back, taking pictures and enjoying the beginning of a new era. YES WE CAN!

Last week was topped of with an amazing performance by Brett Dennen. If you haven't heard of him, take it from me, check him out. I was introduced to him by Jessica and Keeler...both of them raved about this "pacific northwest, Jack Johnson-ish" singer. Watching him live at the Triple Door was a great way to get over the usual Wednesday/Hump Day blues.

Pretty much everything after that is boring. I am excited to report that I soon will be moving out of my small little coop and into a new house. My parents are selling the last of the South Dakota fields and investing in a rental house. Thankfully I will get to benefit on that and move into a place with a little more space. SO, if you know of anyone who would like to by an awesome studio in an upbeat and ever-changing neighborhood, tell them to give me a shout.

Talk to you soon....laters.

It's almost November???

2008-10-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

Whoa....I am truly slacking!!!! I can't believe it has almost been a month since I was last on here. I know, I know....many people have given me a hard time so be easy my friends. I will get better at this. It is fall, after all and fall = hibernation. So I guess that is what I have filled my days....and nights with. Wake up....work....home.....reality TV and then off to bed. See, I told you things are boring over here. Well....fall also equals hoops season and I know I am not the only one in Seattle praying that UW basketball can bring us all out of mourning. I don't have to mention all of the lost seasons of football and such, you guys live it with me. So, I am putting all of my hopes in the Dawgs. Don't let me down. I am just saying....we have John Brockman and a great group around him. I think that is a recipe for success.

I am also counting on Tia's team to really show some personality. She has 8 of her own "style" of players mixing with a core group of vets...this should be fun.

Lastly, if the dawgs let me down, I always have rec ball. Now, I know what you are thinking....not exactly high action. But I will have to say that I was a little disappointed that I missed Sarah Duncan getting thrown off the court this week. I could just imagine her face getting red and all she wants to do is explode and let out every cuss word in the book. Knowing her, she probably said something completely witty that the ref didn't understand, combined with a couple of F-bombs and there she went, to the sidelines to blow her nose in her socks (I know, the weird things you remember watching your teammates do for 4 years always stick with you). Even more entertaining was probably the reaction of Jill....I am sure she smiled and rolled her eyes. See, rec ball CAN have a little drama in it.

So, this is my direction for the next couple of weeks. Waiting patiently until the dawgs take the court again so I can put all my hopes into them and quick waiting on the football teams first win (I am still waiting...I didn't give up hope yet).

I promise to get better at this...bear with me!

Writer's Cramp

2008-10-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

Yep...that dang cramp got me again....not enough gatorade I guess. Well, I guess that just leaves me one thing to write about...September updates. I would have to say that this was an excellent month. Not only is my mom one year older (she doesn't look a day over 38) but I am as well. That's right, the big 30 is here.

I had an amazing birthday and was so thankful to everyone who shared it with me, whether physically or in spirit. We headed up to the Tulalip Casino for dinner and gambling. I must say, the casino is beautiful and I hear the spa is even better. I am excited to be able to check the spa out first hand soon. We stuffed ourselves at the buffet and then rolled on to the tables. I spent most of my time on the blackjack table and faired well. It was such a fantastic night that I decided to continue celebrating it the next day too. After visiting with Cori and crew at her goodbye brunch, I was off to take part in one of the most memorable events of my life. I had told my friend Swen that for my birthday I wanted to meet Alicia Keys. Of course I was joking but she took it to heart. The day of my birthday, she found out that she had been invited to meet Alicia before her concert. She remembered how much Alicia inspires me and decided to pass the opportunity on to me!!! I couldn't believe it! I spent a half an hour sitting in the same room as her and listening to her talk about her favorite things, her travels and outings in Seattle, etc. She was so down to earth and more beautiful in person, inside and out. After a quick autograph and a hug she left us to prepare for the concert. Swen, Jaime and I found our seats, 3 row, and prepared for an amazing show. I don't think I stopped smiling for a week after the fun I had both on my birthday and the day after.

The rest of my September was spent saying goodbye to Cori (tear) and spending as much time in the sun as possible. I was lucky to usher out summer at Golden Gardens where I watched two friends marry as well as watched the sun set on a memorable summer. Fall didn't waste anytime on showing its cold and wet head. I am excited for things to slow down and ready to hibernate in front of the TV. Thankfully football and my favorite TV series are in full effect as they will be my entertainment until the sun comes back.

Be the Change

2008-09-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

I finally have something to write about...thank you to those who sent some suggestions as my creative edge was lacking. Someone suggested I should jump on the political bandwagon and tell a little about my views. Now, by no means am I an expert on this stuff but I definitely have an opinion....a pretty strong one at that. So strong that if a certain old man and crazy woman are elected, I may have to move to Turkey with Cori until conditions improve. Seriously.

I have always leaned left when it came to choosing sides. It actually hurts my feelings that elephants have been associated with "those who shall not be named" as the elephant is by far my most favorite animal. I don't know the history behind the elephant and the mule thing but it just confuses me that the righties would pick and animal that is so strongly dominated by the female species, as their symbol. As a matter of fact, the male elephants live in solitude their whole lives, except when called upon to procreate. It is the females that live together, lead by the matriarch, the eldest, most wise elephant. The elephant is a symbol of wisdom and independence. I guess I am just having trouble making the connection....maybe some of you guys are too.

So to continue with the political theme, I want to share an amazing story. I have told this to a few people and every single person has reacted the same way..."that just gave me goose bumps!"

A few weeks ago, my uncle Mike was invited to listen to Barack Obama speak in Montana. My uncle is a proud Vietnam vet and was thrilled at the invitation. Of course he enjoyed the speech and afterwards he jumped up to meet Obama. He extended his hand and thanked him for coming to Billings. My uncle then pulled out an envelope containing a news article about me and told Obama about my story and the issues that I have been dealing with. He handed Obama the envelope and asked him to please read it. Of course Obama's security swooped in to intercept the envelope but Obama politely declined their service and placed the envelope in his pocket, assuring my uncle that he would read it. My Mom thought for sure that during Obama's next speech, he would mention it. Oh Mom, keep dreaming :)

Well, there was no mention of me in his speech but what was to come was a complete surprise. My Dad came home from work yesterday to find a large envelope wedged in between the screen and front door. It was addressed to me, in care of my parents. My Dad took the liberty of opening it and immediately called me. I could tell as soon as he said hello on the phone that he was smiling from ear to ear. He said that I received I letter and a picture from Barack Obama himself!!! The letter made reference to my uncle's meeting as well as my parents move to Washington state to be closer to my sister and I. He said that my family is in his thoughts and prayers. I still can't believe it and I probably won't until I see it first hand. This just reassures me that I have picked the right man to vote for.

Someone who is real, who values family and cares about the future of the people and this nation. The people who care about Change. The people who do not share the same beliefs of a man who has failed his country for 8 years and hides behind his successes of getting us through the worst terrorist attack to date, only to go after the wrong people and cause more American deaths than those who lost their lives almost 7 years ago. Of course there are more examples but we are moving forward here.

Obama is a man that will push the limits set by others in order to secure equal rights for all. Not just those who fit someone else's views as "right" and "wrong". He will allow the matriarchs of our country the right to choose what is best for their future instead of holding us to someone else's values. He will help our children continue to grow in society that promotes equal rights for each of them, not just the privileged few. He is cultivating a culture of acceptance of all by learning from the mistakes of our past and aligning each of us as equals. He is helping all by opening doors to people who have felt nothing but solitude and dissimilarities. Doesn't this echo what the United States stood for hundreds of years ago? Allowing the freedom to choose instead of being controlled by the few elected elite?

So this is my view and this is my story. This is what I stand for and this is what I hope for. Sorry if this may be offensive to some but hopefully it will provoke some thought. If you are reading this then I know you care about me. If you care about me then I know you care about the future of issues like stem cell research and equal rights. Let's not concentrate on how individuals can remain rich but instead make the lives of everyone enriched.

fridgid feet

2008-09-04T20:49:00.000-07:00

please send any ideas how to warm up my feet....seriously guys. bad circulation=super cold feet. i could put socks on but then my feet feel like they fall asleep. i really don't know what is worse. send the suggestions. and while you are at it...send me some fun topics to blog about because i have hit a blogging wall.

Chicken Wings and Weiners

2008-08-26T20:35:00.000-07:00

Now that the Olympics are over I can finally dedicate my time to the blog. So on Saturday instead of tuning into the closing ceremonies (let's be honest, I probably would have cried) I attended a BBQ at Penny and Loree's beautiful home. Jessica and I arrived around 2:30pm and met Penny on the driveway, busy frying up some wings in her outdoor deep fryer. As soon as I smelled the grease I basically decided to undo my belt buckle a notch, forget any food restrictions I had set prior and EAT AWAY!!! After a quick lift up the steps from the muscles of the group, Kayla and Emily I posted myself in the kitchen waiting patiently to taste the first round of wings. WAY BETTER then they even smelled! We continued to chat away until the guests arrived.

Soon enough people started to trickle in and Kayla began displaying her culinary skills. Yes, not only is she the muscles but she doubles as Chief Grillmaster. After a few heckles from the peanut gallery, the hot dogs were complete and it was time to enjoy the food. Loree and Penny had a beautiful spread of food and everyone must have smelled it because the backyard filled up fast. I enjoyed catching up with everyone and hearing stories of this summer's happenings. We ate and talked into the evening before we were rushed inside by darkness. The party continued with beer pong and music. I am not sure how much of the keg was drank but I am pretty sure we didn't leave much. A few of us decided that the night could definitely not end so we headed out to a bar on Capitol Hill. We basically closed it down and wrapped up an amazing night.

So I need to throw out some special thanks:

Penny and Loree- Huge thanks for opening up your home, cooking, being amazing hosts and just being awesome. I can't wait until we can do it again....even if it is on a much smaller scale. I owe you guys dinner. Name the date and we will do it!!!

Kayla, Emily, Sarah and Jessica--Thank you guys too...you are basically house guests of L and P's so I am sure you all did a lot to help them get this together.

Ty and Tootsie-- Thanks for being the life of the party ;)

RB, Kit, Janet, Mom, Dad, Larry and Judy--Thanks for putting up with all the loud and craziness, I am so happy you guys came.

Besties--I always thank you and I always love you.

Bethany--Gets the longest traveled award. All the way from NYC via Chicago.

Kyle--Being one of the only guys amongst all the ladies, I am sure it wasn't that hard ;)

HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME, SUPPORTED AND DONATED!!!! Because of you guys, the foundation raised a little over $1,000!!!! That is huge!

I love you all and I thank you more than I possibly can.

Simply Obsessed

2008-08-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok....so I have been meaning to do my weekly blog for some time now. However, I am a woman possessed. Ever since I was a wee little thing, I can remember planting myself in front of the TV and watching every minute of the Olympics that I possibly can. The theme song gives me goose bumps every time. My favorite sport to watch as a kid: GYMNASTICS. Mary Lou Retton was the Alpha. She was simply amazing. Not to mention Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Flo Jo with her fierce nails.

Many years later, I begged my mom to let me be a gymnast like the Dominiques (Dawes and Moceanu). But she said...no go...you are going to be too tall and there are no gymnastic gyms in rural South Dakota. So I had to put my dream off another 4 years. By that time, my mom was right, even though we moved to Denver where there were plenty of gyms, I was too tall. Besides, I had another thing on my mind. HOOPS. By the time the next Olympics rolled around, Teresa Edwards was the main poster on my wall. I was usually too busy playing my own ball to actually watch as much as I wanted, but I definitely was able to squeeze in a few games. As well as keep dreaming about the perfect beam routine :) I can actually remember sitting in my camp dorm room in '96 at a bball camp in Pennsylvania and watching Kerri Strug complete her vault despite a fractured ankle. Ironically, the next day at camp I sprained my ankle. Her performance must have left a lasting impression on me because despite a fatty cankle, I taped up and hobbled up and down the court.

The next 2 Olympics were watched as much as possible but again, too much sport for me to actually pay close attention. So that brings me to 2008. I have been watching so much Olympics that when I finally was able to pull myself away from the TV to eat, I was craving Chinese food. Thanks to Jessica for running out to House of Hong for some yummy Kung Pao Chicken :)

So, which sports have kept me sleepless??? Well, it of course started out with the opening ceremonies. You have to start it out right. Just hearing the music and watching the presentation brought me to tears. The tears continued for a different reason as the camara kept glancing at George W, probably wishing he had a hot dog and some nachos. Despite that, the ceremony was amazing. First up, fencing. I think I would definitely take that sport up. You get to wear a sweet Tin Man suit that lights up while tagging your opponent with a sabre (I think that is what the sword is called). And to top it off, you get to yell and taunt after you hit them. One match to 15...nice, quick and sweet.

After fencing, I watched a little air rifle before I set the Tivo and went to sleep. The next morning brought 8 hours of recorded bliss. A little women's soccer and some women's hoops (Go Sue!!!) for breakfast. That was a quick meal as they worked the Czechs. Some women's volleyball, Logan Tom is an animal. A little bit of women's beach volleyball. Not my favorite team of Misty and Karri, yet still dominating. And of course, men's hoops. I am really hoping the guys live up to their name, The Redeem Team.

As you can see, I could go on and on about my two week sport-a-thon but I am thinking I should go ahead and wrap it up. If you need me, I will either be at work or in front of the TV watching the Americans' work. I am still trying to figure out a way to get a TV into my office at work so I can watch Phelps continue his Olympic run for 8 gold medals!!!! So, that is all for now....gotta direct my attention to Beijing.

ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM.

85 miles of pure joy

2008-08-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

So when does pain = joy? In my life....finishing the last 300 hundred test the beginning of your senior year, getting a deep tissue massage, brain freezes from sno cones, getting a tattoo and exerting your body for a good cause, just to name a few. Although, I didn't really feel the pain of the last one, I know some pretty sweet people that did. Last weekend I attended, and some of my best friends rode, in the 85 mile Double Day Bike Ride for ALS. I really didn't know what to think when I first arrived Saturday morning at the crack of dawn. Jessica, Enji, Kimmie, Cori, Carly and I road tripped an hour north to the Skagit Valley to embark on this adventure. We reached Conway School, set up our little tent city on the soccer field and started to get registered for the ride. Soon to follow were Heather, Jennie and Takiyah. As over 200 riders showed up, I was amazed to see so many people gathered for one cause. I mean, I guess I wasn't surprised but it was a little overwhelming to know that all of these people were affected in one way or another by the same thing, that damn 3 letter acronym.

As the crew took off into the morning I was greeted by a long lost friend, Miss PB herself. I was so overjoyed to see my good friend from high school, Anna Peters. To be honest, it has been so long since I was connected to my high school years. Once I left Littleton I guess unintentionally I became disconnected from that world. Anyways, Anna and I caught up on old times, places and faces and waited for my parents to show up. Once they did, the four of us took off to catch up with the biker beauties. After a few wrong turns and some much needed gas we caught them in the town of La Conner. The bikers were about halfway finished with the ride and most of my team was in good spirits and ready to get going. Jessica seemed a little pooped and by the look of her smile, probably wanted to stick around with us and eat lunch. But I know her well and I know there was no giving up. She continued on and my parents, Anna and I went to lunch. The food was good, the wine better....you can even ask my shoes, right mom :) We walked around a little more and then set off to catch the bikers.

After passing a few we finally made it to the finish line to welcome everyone home. Well except Heather, she is an iron woman and beat us all. She quickly packed up and headed back to Seattle so she could make it to church the next morning. After some R&R and a couple of beers, courtesy of Alex, we all headed to the school where a huge pasta dinner was awaiting us. I was wishing that I had burned enough calories to actually gorge myself with pasta but obviously not. I decided to splurge anyways....I figured the calories wouldn't count this weekend. The food was great as well as the banquet and presentations. There were prizes, like the Almond Roca that Kimmie won and the prizes that Boline and Alex missed because they were not there to claim them...next year guys. And there was also tears. To hear the stories of the brave people that ALS has overcome and their unstoppable family members that ride to keep their memories alive, were enough to fill the room with tears and tissues. There was obviously not a dry eye in the place and it didn't help when Jessica stood up and spoke for me. Every time I know that my story is going to be told, by me or others, I think this is going to be the time that my emotions do not spill over. Welp, it wasn't this one....I was boohooing just like everyone else. The night ended with dessert and laughter but emotions definitely ran wild throughout the weekend.

We finished off the night with a campfire, smores, big booty and a couple safety meetings had by the pres, vice pres and secretary ;) The next morning was wet and cold but the pancakes and rubber eggs filled Enj, Cori, Carly and Kimmie's stomachs and prepared them for day 2 of the ride. 45 more miles through rain, hills all on top of already aching butts. The crew made it, a couple of them with police escorts. Despite the rain and cold, the second day's scenery was beautiful. I found a couple of vacation homes on the lake that I will be buying once I nab the winning lotto ticket.

The ALS double day was incredible. My friends and everyone that I met there are AMAZING! The acceptance I gained over my disability and illness are unparalleled. Thank you to everyone that attended, donated, prayed and supported myself, the riders and the families. Can't wait to see everyone at the next event...whether it be next year or in the near future. HUGE THANKS!!!

So a few days after the ride, I talked with my friends who sacrificed their butts and asked how they felt. A few of them said that their legs or rears were sore. A couple had a little bit of a sun burn. And all of them said that they had a lot of joy. Joy that wasn't found artificially in front of a TV or by the greatness of retail therapy. Joy that was found when people sacrificed their body for someone who is no longer able to do if for themselves. Joy that definitely derived from pain.

Testing....1, 2, 3....

2008-07-31T23:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, so let me figure this little blogging thing out....I honestly only have a couple of minutes cause it is late and I have to work tomorrow. First....MAJOR shout outs to Arista, Betty and Stone Soup. Without them...I would still be writing with a pen and paper :) So, there is lots to say but you guys are gonna have to be patient cause my eyes are closing. And, let's be honest, no one has this address yet, so really I am the only one reading this. Unless, peeps are catching up weeks later.

So good night for now and more to come. THANK YOU ARISTA!!!!