Kari on the Olympic Opening Ceremony

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I've been meaning to document this for a while, and figured with the closing ceremony tonight, this is my last chance.

My mother is quite possibly the sweetest woman I know. But every once in a while, she has a snarky side that comes out that I absolutely love. I got a quick glimpse of it the last time I was home when the two of us watched the Olympic opening ceremony (it was On Demand) and I quickly learned that she had a lot to say about it. In case you missed it or wanted a different perspective, here is a quick recap from the eyes of Kari:


Chronologically...


"These people sound boring, probably because they are." - Mom on the announcers.

She wasn't the only one annoyed by Matt Lauer. Check out Shut Up Matt Lauer for more. Image credit.

Image credit.

"Look at that frightening baby, what is that?!?!" - Mom

Giant Voldemort Image Credit

In response to the announcer saying "[JK Rowling's] books made it cool to read again""No they didn't. Goosebumps did!" -  Mom

Image credit

"Yea, right." - Mom

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"This is just weird." - Mom

Image Credit

"Looks like a mess." - Mom

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"Probably could've used a little less grass." - Mom



And my personal favorite:

"What are they gonna do with all that grass after this?" - Mom

Privacy Tips from TED

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Want to protect your privacy? Here, some resources:

• Collusion. This Firefox tool, which Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs introduced in the TEDTalk “Tracking the Trackers,” records the breadth of companies capturing data about you as you search. Collusion developer Atul Varma spoke to the TED blog in February about the tool, its uses, and what inspired it.
• Tor Project. This free software protects your privacy by bouncing communications all around the world, via a network run by volunteers.
• Do Not Track Plus. This app goes beyond browser-based controls and blocks data collection as you search.
• Lookout. A mobile security app that is available for Android and iPhones.
  
• European Digital Rights. Founded in 2002, this organization is a clearinghouse of news when it comes to digital civil rights, including telecommunication data retention.
• American Civil Liberties Union. This organization is dedicated to protecting rights in the United States, and considers civil liberties in the digital age one of their key issues.

Read the original article

Modern Journalism According to Ira Glass

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"While this is the golden age of this kind of reporting and writing, it's also a golden age for crap journalism. And for some of the most amazing technological advances for stuffing it down your throat. A lot of daily reporting and news 'commentary' just reinforces everything we already think about the world. IT lacks the sense of discovery, the curiosity, the uncorny, human-size drama that's part of all these stories. A lot of daily reporting makes the world seem small and stupider." - Ira Glass

The Best List

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No intro can adequately explain this if you weren't there, but I want to share it.

Best Best List: Theo's Best List

Best Star: The Sun
Best Cluster of States: The United States
Best Sweatshirt: Red-hooded
Best Color in a Dark Room: Black
Best Combination of a Pen and a Pencil: Erasable Pen
Best 'so ugly/it's cute' animal: The Sloth
Best Basketball Player: Wally Szczerbiak
Best Wedding Band: Diamond Ring
Best Birthday Song: Happy Birthday to You
Best Patriotic Chant: The Pledge of Allegiance
Best Color for an Alien: Green
Best Canine: Dog
Best Part of Turkey: Gizzard
Best Spanish Partner: (tie) Luis and Wax Luis
Best Wizardry Movie: Harry Potter
Best Round Sphere: Ball
Best Hot Lunch: Calzones
Worst Grass: Crab Grass
Best Thanksgiving Food: Turkey
Best Substitute for a Swear Word: (tie) Smurf and Ropebue
Best Old Movie Character: Jem Finch
Best Ice Cream Serving Restaurant: Dairy Queen
Best Tree: Christmas
Best Snow-Involving Sport: Snowboarding
Worst Piano Player: Emily
Best Burger: Cheese
Best Space Business: NASA
Best Grandpa/Math Teacher: Dahlberg
Best Phone: Cellular
Luckiest Rodent: Possum
Best Neutral Color: (tie) Black and White
Best Normal Place to get Pierced: Ear
Best Cat Toy Store: Delca Cat Toys Co.
Best Doll: Wax Troll
Best thing of Anything Idea by Emily: Dead Sheep Eating a Bucket of Wax
Stinkiest Animal: Skunk
Worst Whale-Tagger: Bruce
Best Frickin' Beam: Laser
Best Dad Smurf: Papa Smurf
Best Camper/House: Trailer
Best Food: Hot
Best Teeth Decorations: Braces
Best Juice: Orange
Best Blood-Sucking Insect: Mosquito
Best Blood Sucking Animal: (tie) Bat and Wax Bat
Best Blood-Sucking Person: Dracula
Best Posture: Leg-leg
Best Day: Saturday
Best Way of Beating a Team in Basketball: Burying Them
Best Moldy Cheese: Blue Cheese
Best Time-Keeping Device: Clock
Best Protable Bathroom: Port-a-Potty

Best Thing of Anything: Mr. Dalhberg trying to jump wax hurdles with a troll wig on

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Quote

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My dad was the greatest dad in the world because you were the worst.
My dad went to Bronx side high school where he was the student editor of the paper.
When he graduated he went to Rutgers, where he majored in Biochemistry.

He met my mom in a bookstore
and he asked her to marry him in Norwalk, Connecticut.
And every summer we'd go back to Toby Pond and he would ask her to marry him again.

The day I was born he pressed leaves between wax paper
and they still hang there in the bedroom window.
He wanted to become a scientist but he became a jeweler so he could earn money for our family.

He loved the smell of gasoline.
He hated tomatoes.
He never talked to me like I was a kid.
So in a way, your boots are heavier than mine.

                       -Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

What have MCWB players been doing this summer?

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Jasmine Johnson: I have been having a fabulous summer working the Loras all sports camp in Dubuque, Iowa. I have met some amazing people and have had the opportunity to teach superstar kids play all kinds of sports as well as working along side my very best friend and fellow teammate Kim Coleman!
Kim Coleman: I spent my summer working at Loras All Sports Camp where i had a blast training for basketball, meeting tons of people, hanging out with Kerry Kost and of course playing with kids. I also worked at Ace Hardware and had the privilege of coaching an AAU travel team. Summer has been great, but I'm extremely excited for the season!
Kaley Corban: Today was the first day in my life that I tried a peanut butter AND JELLY sandwich! Growing up, I only ate peanut butter sandwiches cut down the middle..such a picky eater!

Where are they now? Lisa (Curry) Cooley

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1. Give us some updates! Where are you living, any recent life accomplishments?
I am currently living in Libertyville, IL with my husband and two dogs. I recently changed roles from executive account manager to purchasing agent. I am also celebrating my 6th year at CDW.

2. How has a Monmouth College degree helped your career pursuits?
It's allowed me to stand out from my peers because of the diversity of classes that I took while in school. Not all colleges encourage their students to branch out and discover other interests.

3. Favorite on or off the court basketball memory?
There are so many memories, it's hard to narrow it down without exposing someone! I will say one of my favorites was playing hide and seek in Fulton and sliding down the staircase on mattresses over Christmas break .

4. What do you miss most about playing basketball at Monmouth College?
I miss listening to the national anthem after warmups right before the start of the game, knowing it was time to get to work and go after the WIN!

Where are they now? Tanesha Hughes

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1. Give us some updates! Where are you living, any recent life accomplishments?
I live in the St. Louis, Missouri area with my 1 year old son Khyeer :). Since I've left Monmouth I completed my Master's in Information Systems degree from University of Phoenix. I just started my own business, Tanesha's Creations, where I make creative and unique items for special events and also help plan parties, receptions, etc. My website is www.taneshascreations.com and I'm also on Facebook. www.facebook.com/taneshascreations (Go like my business page). This is in addition to my full-time job as a software specialist.

2. How has a Monmouth College degree helped your career pursuits?
At Monmouth I was able to participate in different groups, activities and sports all year long and still focus on my studies as a computer science major. When I went in for my interview my interviewer, now supervisor, explained to me how the multiple activites along with the GPA and degree, has put me at the top of the list because it shows I'm able to be a team member and work with others, among other things. Along the journey to get my degree we covered many different topics and different aspects of computer science, so when it came to the real world job I knew some of everything.

3. Favorite on or off the court basketball memory?
It's IMPOSSIBLE to only name one memory. There's Los Angeles, Barbados, Bingo nights, Coach Martin and his trivia, the skit Lynsey, Mitt and I made, Sports formal...the list goes on. I miss all the girls and still remain best friends with some of them.

4. What do you miss most about playing basketball at Monmouth College?
Honestly, I miss just being able to put on my jersey and play. Monmouth College and all of the extra that came along with it, those were the best years of my life. :')

Seven Shopping Havens

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Who doesn't enjoy shopping? 

I do.  I probably enjoy it more than most and I surely enjoy more than my wallet does. 

Oh well, life is short, cliche cliche cliche.

I don't do the 5th Avenue luxury shopping thing though.  I don't like designer things, I don't care to dress any nicer than my uniform of t-shirts and jeans.  I don't carry nice purses.  I can't wear jewelery at work and don't much care for it.  I'm low maintenance. 

I do like sales.  I actually love a bargain.  I love when that box on my reciept says:

Total Spent:  $50.00Total Saved: $150.00
...or something amazing like that.  My dad always tells my mom not to even bother coming home unless she saves more than she spends.  She takes it very seriously and its awesome. 

I love the rush.  Who doesn't like a bit of adrenaline? 

Here are some of my favorite places to shop.
Seven Shopping Havens

• 99¢ Only Stores - I fell in love with this store when I lived in Las Vegas.  I was making lucrative amounts of money, but I loved to spend it at the dollar store.  I have never enjoyed ANY dollar store as much as this one.  Everything is only 99¢ or like 2/99¢ or 3/99¢.  Its easy to know how much you're spending and is really fun to just see how far $10 will take ya.  (hint: ITS REALLY FAR)
• Home Depot - Do I really need to explain this orange heaven?  Have I not explained my massive love enough to you?  Guess not.  Look forward to that post tomorrow then, I guess. 
• Target - My first love.  My first job.  A dream come true, really.  Allow me to explain the ways I used to and still love this place:
  
  • I look amazing in red.  That said, I hate khaki.  
  • I am an excellent ambassador for Target.  Both when they employed me and since then.
  • I still shop there, years after employment.  I know a lot of people who avoid places they used to work as something was ruined for them
  • Normal folks(non target employees) don't know how to read the clearance tags and tell if they are really getting a deal.  Most have caught on as to where to find the clearance shelves though, which is awesome. 
  • Smells the same no matter where you are.  I've been to a target almost everywhere I've traveled and its always a great way to feel like I was back home.  Is that weird?
  • They have the best Black Friday sales, I have been every year for 4 or more.  It is always my first stop and the one I look forward to the most.  
  • You can get everything you need there.  EVERYTHING.  Food, rugs, clothes, drugs, furniture, candy, cat litter, paint rollers, lightbulbs, alcohol, toothbrushes and so on.
• Home Goods - A cousin store to Marshall's.  I've never been to a stand alone Marshall's...I don't think.  I don't even know how I met this store.  I do know that I love it.  I go sporadically to catch the new waves of their stock.  I have so many incredible finds from there.  Stuff I never knew I was looking for but totally needed!  I don't know how to explain my love of this store with mere words.
• Goodwill/Thrift Stores - I like Goodwill.  It has always been my favorite.  I venture into the others but the snob in me really appreciates a certain level of cleanliness and standards.  I find incredible things here and enjoy looking for them even more. 
• IKEA - Haven't I explained this before?  I love this Swedish Yellow & Blue Kingdom.  I think their furniture is great and affordable and allows you to change your style with your lifestyle.  They have bomb-a$$ cinnamon rolls that are ¢heap!!!  Hot dogs too, and mac and cheese and of course those Swedish meatballs.  I'd guess that 80# of my furniture hails from this Mecca.
• Bookmans - A Tucson original with outposts here in Phoenix, this is the best place to go book hunting.  You will never pay full price, mostly about 50% and books are in good condition and there is absolutely something for EVERYONE there.  They have expanded past books into media and other vintage and antique items.  Please, refrain from telling me if you have never been.  I don't even want to know.  You may find more, here.  They also support a lot of great causes and are anti-censorship.  I'm down.

I gotta know where you love to shop!  Tell me all of your secrets!!!  Hit the comments right away!

Movie Quotes: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

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I am sorry to say that this is not the movie you'll be watching.
The movie you are about to see, is extremely unpleasant.
If you wish to see a film about a happy little elf,
I'm sure there is too plenty of seating in theater number 2.
However, if you like stories about clever and reasonably attractive 
orphans, suspicious spies, carnivorus leeches, italian food, and secret
organizations, then stay. 
- Lemony Snicket, Narrator


Mr. Poe: Children, I'm afraid I must inform you that.. 

extremely unfortunate event. 
I'm very very sorry to tell you this 
but your parents perished in a fire destroyed your entire home.
Lemony: If you have ever lost someone very important to you,
then you already know how it feels, and if you haven't,
you cannot possibly imagine it. 


I don't know if you ever noticed this,
but first impressions are often entirely.. wrong.
- Lemony


Sanctuary, is a word which the heir means, 
a small safe place in a traveling world.
Like an oasis in a vast desert, or an island in a stormy sea.
The Baudelaire's joy that evening in a sanc they had built together, 
but in their hearts they knew that the traveling world,
lay just outside, a world which I'm sad can be describe 
in two dismal words.
- Lemony


And if their guardian can't rescue them,
and they, would rescue, their guardian.
- Lemony


This story is about the Baudelaire's and they are sort of people
who know that there's always something.
Something to invent, something to read, something to bite
and something to do to make a sanctuary, no matter how small.
- Lemony

1 Month, 2 Days

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Exactly one month ago Saturday, I became engaged to Mr. RH.  I truly cannot believe it's been only one month - it feels like we have lived several lifetimes since then.

Damnit, why am I cheesing so hard in this picture?! 
As soon as I put that bling on my finger, I got advice from near and far and wide:  "enjoy your engagement, it goes too fast, just savor the moment!"

As much as we've tried, the past month has been a heck of a time.

Mr. RH has been student teaching, working a part-time job, putting up with all my craziness (full-time job!), and trying to make a little time for me every day even though he never gets a minute to himself.

He never complains (well, much)  (or unless I try to curb his Starbucks habit) and he is forever reassuring me that he wants nothing more than to marry me AND he even wants to help with plans for the wedding (when and where I want him to, of course).

In the past month, we've had our fair share of trials.  Mr. RH's car broke down and ultimately bit the dust.  We've had money woes and in-my-head woes.  We both got a cold and I swear I'm still recovering.  I've been anxious and clingy and try to spend most of my free time fretting over Mr. RH and wondering if I am enough for him.

On Saturday, we got to chill out for the evening with The Hunger Games DVD and yummy leftover pizza and soup.  We got to talk and reconnect a little bit.  It was simply wonderful.  (Only 82 days until Mr. RH finishes student teaching for the semester.)  (It seemed shorter when I didn't know the exact number.)

Needless to say, the past month (and two days!) have been less than carefree and easy... but I've got the right guy by my side.  And that has made all the difference.

Tuesday Tidbits

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I can't really particularly articulate myself because it's so dreary outside... seems like a perfect time for a random bullets post, right?

Good call.

• I haven't really posted much about my gardening efforts this summer... due to Indiana's drought... it's been rough around here.  However, for the first time ever, my bell pepper plants have gone crazy.  For the first time ever, I've got red pepper plants that are producing more than one pepper.  I honestly didn't think such a thing was possible.
  
  See this pic below... you can see 4 peppers and that's only half of one plant!  Now if they would just turn red.

•  I'm also suuuper excited for my mum to start blooming.

• I was complaining to Mr. RH how everyone and their brother has been tweeting about Gone Girl and I didn't even know what it was... he brought this home on Saturday for our date night. 

• He also brought this.

 

• I've had my unpainted nails on display for the past couple weeks... it's really kinda depressing.  I want to paint them but I know it won't last as long as a Shellac manicure and that's just a bummer.

• Work is kicking my butt and it's not even close to Christmas yet.  And the sad thing is that Christmas isn't even the end of the madness.... is it February yet?! 

•  I'm ready to get this wedding-planning show on the road. Of course, it's easy to say that when the email is in someone else's court.  Ahem, church, ahem.

• I've been in a cooking mood lately... I baked a potato recipe from Pinterest and tried to duplicate Panera's Creamy Tomato Soup... mmmm.  I should probably blog that recipe, it was tasty.

• Is it Friday yet??

Hope you're having a great week so far!!

Wedding Wednesday

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Soo.... wedding things are happening around here.  Kinda-sorta.  I've got the ball rolling with the church - unfortunately, the church moves at the speed of extremely-slow-things.  For serious.

So I expect to hear back from the church coordinator in 2-3 days - at which point Mr. RH and I have to meet up with a priest, which will probably take a couple weeks to coordinate.

Needless to say, I'm not grumpy about how slow that process is AT ALL. 

To add insult to injury, Mr. RH has the flu.  And now I am living in constant fear of The Vomit myself.

So, since I have come to a standstill with getting the date set up (and can't book reception or photographer until after I get the church), I've really let the whole wedding process sink in. 

And it's been hitting me harder and harder how much I miss my mom.

And I'm not really sure WHY, exactly.  It could be because she knows everyone who is anyone at church and could surely help get the process rolling.  It could be because she was a bit of a photography expert and could probably find me the best photographer within a reasonable budget (as opposed to the unreasonable photography budget I have in my head).

It could be because it hit me yesterday that possibly no one in my family would want to throw me a wedding shower.  That my mom has multiple sisters and I have a dozen aunts but that maybe it's just too painful for them all without her there.

And that's where it really gets me.  I wish just for once I had an overbearing mom to criticize any and all thoughts I have related to the wedding.  That she could bitch and moan about how she doesn't approve of the wedding dress. 

It's hitting me over the head on Pinterest lately.  The multi-generational wedding photos.  Pictures of both sets of parents with the bride and groom.  Pictures with mothers' and grandmothers' wedding bands. 

And I know it's just me feeling self-conscious and overwhelmed, but I just wish she were here to tell me that everything's going to be fine, that I'm being over-dramatic, and to stop worrying about it already. 

Before we were engaged, I told Mr. RH multiple times that I was dreading planning a wedding without my mom.  That the thought of having to go through it without her made me want to elope and skip the whole thing.  At the time, I was being dramatic and just trying to steel myself... I just didn't know how much it would actually hurt. 


And the silly thing is... I am surrounded by incredible friends, great coworkers, the whole nine yards.  I am certainly not the saddest girl to plan a wedding.  It just feels that way when I'm feeling sorry for myself.  And I doubt this will be the last thing I have to say on the topic. 

Treat Yo Self

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Last night, I spent some time with Mr. RH and left his apartment in a huff.  It wasn't intentional, per se, but I was definitely having some unkind thoughts on the way home.  And when I'm huffy, I get a little sloppy.

I hop into the car, throw my sherpa-like 3 bags of my belongings onto the passenger seat... and then I drive.  As soon as I pull out of the parking lot, I hear the voicemail alert noise on my phone.  No big deal, let me just grab my phone and listen.

So I dig.  And dig. And omfg where is my phone.  It's funny, because I had the thought as I was leaving Mr. RH's apartment that I didn't triple-check to make sure I had my phone...but alas, every 2 minutes on the dot, I hear it chirp.

Took me 14 minutes to get home, approximately.  I kept moving bags from the passenger seat to my lap to the back seat, waiting to see if the "beep" moved and if maybe I had misplaced my phone into the wrong bag.

The purse, which I suspected held the phone, has long had a ripped interior lining on the outside pocket.  The outside pocket is the easiest place to dump a phone... but I never do because goodness knows what happens to things that slip inside the lining.  Ick.

After a very frustrating 14 minutes in the car, I had to use another phone to call my phone (THREE TIMES!) before I found my phone.  Wedged between the passenger seat and the door, where I must've dropped it before Mr. RH and I picked up dinner.

All of this long-windedness to say, basically, holy sh*tballs I need a new purse!!

Every time I post that I need a new bag, everyone tells me I need a Coach bag.  Cause that's what people have and apparently it's the best.

No offense to All The People, but I'm not buying a Coach bag.  They're just expensive and I can't justify a bag more than $100 cause I regularly leave it on the (FILTHY!) floor at work and I just don't care enough for my purses.  They get thrown in and out of cars on the regular... so a fancy bag just won't do.

My current bag is pretty pathetic... it looks very similar to this (very sad) bag I found on Amazon.

Minus the stripey-strap thing.  Mine is just plain solid pale-silver.  Big giant tote with 3 compartments that had me lugging around my Kindle Fire AND Harry Potter hardbacks at the same time with no problem.

I like a nice-sized bag... but with this, I was lugging everything I owned everywhere.  Slightly problematic for my back.

I like leather cause they seem to stay pretty clean for me - and I like at least a small outside pocket to throw my phone and keys in for easy retrieval. 

So.  You probably have a favorite bag, right, oh stylish readers?!  Give me your wisdom, I'm desperate. 

Favorite bag?  Brand?  Anything?  Please and thank you... it's time for me to treat myself.  Cause I clearly don't do that enough already.

 Happy Friday!!

LOFT-y Monday

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I had grand plans of blogs this week... but I worked almost 12 hours yesterday (by my own damn choice) and today I have to travel to Indy for work.  Can you sense the yawns through the computer? 

Anyways, I never knew how long it took to put together a shopping/outfit post until I did one.  And let me just say that I'm in a time crunch but I'm curious for honest opinions... pretty please?

Ok, so @theratpack07 reminded me a week or so ago that I needed white cocktail dresses for the inevitable "year leading up to the wedding" stuff.  And I was 2 steps ahead of her but totally agreed.  Enter an awesome LOFT sale last week. 

I ordered 2 sizes in each dress... although it's become clear to me that "vanity" sizing doesn't even come close to describing the LOFT size skew.

PS. Please don't judge the wrinkles.  I ACTUALLY STEAMED THE WRINKLY ONE... they were just mangled from their mail travels.  I believe it can be remedied.  Also, the shoes are the shoes I'm wearing to work in 15 minutes.  So judge away, whatever.  I know they don't necessarily work.

First off, the bigger size white dress.  Small-ish waist belt didn't much help the situation.


In theory, I like.  In actuality... meh? 

So I sized down.  Left, unbelted.  Center, added a thicker belt.  Right, it's a weeee bit slim on the old thighs.  Maybe they'll be smaller next year?  (Hahahahahahahaha omg just died laughing.)



So the white dress(es) above... it's probably not built for my shape.  But it's white and very bachelorette party/bridal shower/etc.  I'm guessing I'll need 2-3 for events next year.  Hopefully in the summer cause omg the pale.  This 5 am photo shoot hides the paleness cause of the indoor lighting and darkness.

And then we have the 2nd dress.  It's an antique-white/peach color.  Can't really be describes.  The fabric has a beautiful silver metallic all through it, which really lends itself to awesome accessories.


Not sure that photo helps at all.  I tried!

And the dress.  Without a belt (and the included one is hideous), it's a sad sack (LEFT).  Center and right, a little more details and with the necessitated belt.  Featuring the Ring That Made This All Possible. 



So, be good internet friends and tell me how awesome and ugly the dresess are.  BE HONEST.

Hopefully heading with the BFFs tomorrow to Indy for a full day of shopping and decompressing.  Good vibes for all of us please?  We are all very well but anxious for some stuff going down tomorrow. 

Thanks for the opinions and finger-crossing for good news.

HAPPY MONDAY!  xx

What Are MCWB Players Doing This Summer?

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Kyli Anderson: My summer has been filled with hanging out with myfriends (who will be heading off to college soon), getting ready for my ownjourney to college (Monmouth), and working for my uncle. He owns Woodley AerialSpray. I help out in the office getting the maps of the fields that need cropdusted to the pilots. It hasn't been a very busy season this year! Can't waitfor school to start and the basketball season!

Movie Quotes: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

To contact us Click HERE

I am sorry to say that this is not the movie you'll be watching.
The movie you are about to see, is extremely unpleasant.
If you wish to see a film about a happy little elf,
I'm sure there is too plenty of seating in theater number 2.
However, if you like stories about clever and reasonably attractive 
orphans, suspicious spies, carnivorus leeches, italian food, and secret
organizations, then stay. 
- Lemony Snicket, Narrator


Mr. Poe: Children, I'm afraid I must inform you that.. 

extremely unfortunate event. 
I'm very very sorry to tell you this 
but your parents perished in a fire destroyed your entire home.
Lemony: If you have ever lost someone very important to you,
then you already know how it feels, and if you haven't,
you cannot possibly imagine it. 


I don't know if you ever noticed this,
but first impressions are often entirely.. wrong.
- Lemony


Sanctuary, is a word which the heir means, 
a small safe place in a traveling world.
Like an oasis in a vast desert, or an island in a stormy sea.
The Baudelaire's joy that evening in a sanc they had built together, 
but in their hearts they knew that the traveling world,
lay just outside, a world which I'm sad can be describe 
in two dismal words.
- Lemony


And if their guardian can't rescue them,
and they, would rescue, their guardian.
- Lemony


This story is about the Baudelaire's and they are sort of people
who know that there's always something.
Something to invent, something to read, something to bite
and something to do to make a sanctuary, no matter how small.
- Lemony

Movie Quotes: Why Stop Now

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Dave: You're the one in.
Eli: I'm the one what, Dave?
You believed in me, but you're dellusional.
And you have no idea of the sh*t I put myself through today, 
just to get here.


My problem is not as big as you think.
- Melissa


Sprinkles: What's happenin'?
Eli: Sorry.. ah.. we're just doing some introductions, 
and also he's insulting me.



Sprinkles: Yo mozart, how you become this, 
like this crazy music genious kid?
Eli: Crazy maybe, not a genious.
Sprinkles: No, no, I'm not buying that, not even for 2 dollars. 
Nobody does anything great without heart being into it.
What I wanna know is, what does do for your heart?
Eli: Wants me disappear.
Sprinkles: I get it.


Eli: You like doing this for a living?
Sprinkles: Mozart, I don't know.
I walked that road and travel that path,
but I'm okay with it.


You young boy, you gotta get it.
you gotta fight for what you love, man.
You'd understand me?


Don't ever lay down, not even once. 
If you do, you never get back up.
- Sprinkles


But you're a pretentious pain in the ass!
- Eli

Movie Quotes: The Magic of Belle Isle

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Girls, it's not polite to stare.
- Charlotte


Finnegan: What's he yellin' at?
Henry: Life.


Henry: I think you should hear what he has to say.
Monte: And what might be the topic of that conversation.
Nobody cares about a writer, and nobody reads.
Henry: Nobody reads you because you don't write.
Monte: Drinking is the very demanding profession,
and I can't hold down two jobs at once.
Henry: You've always been your own words in you.


Step your ideas in the suggestion's box on your way out.
- Monte

Finnegan: You write stories?Monte: I used to.Finnegan: My favorite stories from outer space.Monte: Extra-terestials have their place, and I have met too.But you don't have to leave this planet to tell a good story.Finnegan: How, how do you make them laugh.Monte: Imagination.. the most powerful forceever made available to humankind.
There are people in life you avoid and others you go out of the way to bump into.- Monte, reading a letter
I'm gonna answer your question and return for glits of silence.- Monte
Monte: Can you keep a secret?Finnegan: Even if they torture me.
It's John Milton once said, "the mind is its own place."- Monte
See with your minds eye.- Monte
Carl: Do you always wear a white hat?Monte: I wear a white hat Diego so folks can tell a good guyif I'm the bad guy if in case I've done void.What's with the gaggles.Carl: Then no one knows I'm Carl.Monte: Good thinking.
You drawn from your own experiences.- Monte
Most times real life doesn't measure up to what's in our heads,but every now and then it comes pretty close.- Monte
I don't believed in last chances Joe, I've met too many of them.- Monte

Movie Quotes: Katy Perry: Part of Me

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Katy tells us that, "it's OKAY to standout."
- Melanie

You made me think that being weird is OKAY.
- Razaele

..and it's OKAY to be DIFFERENT and UNIQUE 
and it's okay to express yourself.
- Zachary

Have fun and you can't take it too seriously.
Just like it's impossible.
- Skyler 

Since I was nine, my dream is always been the same,
to be on stage, like a glittering custome,
and to hear thousands of people sing along with me.
This moment is my childhood dream.. come true.
- Katy

My goal when I'm playing shows, is super simple.
it's just to make people smile, and to enjoy themselves.
To have like a heart full of hope, and happiness,
and to leave that show with just 
kind of like shimmer in their eyes.
- Katy

The whole time she just kept sayin' 
I just wanna be the first Katy Perry,
I don't wanna be the next anybody,
I just wanna be the first Katy.
- Angelica Cob-Baehler


A baby can't have a baby, and I'm still a baby.
- Katy


Being in love is the dream and then the reality of making it work,
with the marriage is not like the movies.
There's a lot more compromise, a lot more sacrifice.
You know where else just does don't work.
- Katy


You have two options:
You can cancel the show,
or you can do your best.
- 

The bad that comes along with the good is a journey.
- Katy

Mind you, I already have a brilliant life
All I need to do is like remind myself that I have it.
- Katy


Just stay strong
and stay with your vision.
- Xavier

Big Red Interview: Chelsea Gross

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Big Red: What is your major/year are you at Monmouth College?
Chelsea Gross: Physical Education- Non-teaching. I am a seniorat Monmouth College

Big Red: What is your summer internship?Chelsea Gross: I worked for the Peoria Chiefs Minor LeagueBaseball Team

Big Red: How did you learn about this internship?Chelsea Gross: I knew about other classmates who did theirinternships for other minor league teams, and I remember going to the PeoriaChiefs games when I was younger and really liked the environment and Peoria soI thought I would give it a shot.

Big Red: Why did you take this internship?Chelsea Gross: I thought it was a great opportunity and my trainerBob Foster said it would be very beneficial to me and thought it would be agreat experience. I knew this would be a great start to get familiar with whatmy future occupation may entail.

Big Red: Your primary job duties/responsibilities are?Chelsea Gross:My job is to mainly promote the Chiefs throughout the Peoria and surroundingcommunities throughout the week. I also am very involved with the crowd duringthe games, such as doing baseball chants to get the crowd excited, throwingT-shirts, and doing on-field games during the innings to keep the crowdentertained. Each game has different events that happen at the ballpark and itis one of my responsibilities to make sure everything is set up right and thenis executed as planned. It is very busy most of the time because there are somany events that take place during each game that need to be ran smoothly whilekeeping the crowd happy and entertained.

Big Red: Whatis the best part of your internship?Chelsea Gross: Everything. This internship had no negativeaspects. I would have to say our “team” had a lot of fun during the games whileentertaining the crowd and cheering on our team.

Big Red: What is the most challenging part of yourinternship? Chelsea Gross: Definitely getting everything set up on timeand having everyone on the same page. We have so many exciting things thathappen almost every inning and there are about five to six of us on field whoneed to all communicate and execute together in order to make sure things runright. I do not think that everyone knows how much we do behind the scenes tomake sure the crowd is happy and also representing the Chiefs positively.

Big Red: What is one thing your team/teammates/coaches atMonmouth College taught you that helped you with your internship?Chelsea Gross: Teamwork, hard work, and respect. You areconstantly working with many different people with different opinions ondifferent levels. I work with the owner of the Peoria Chiefs, my boss, and manyco-workers who are all working together to keep the Chiefs honorablereputation. Being a part of a team has also taught me how to be a hard workerand to give 100%. It takes a lot of hard work to be involved with a minorleague Class A baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. We are tryingto promote a positive background for the Chiefs to continue our connection withthe Chicago Cubs. There are many games in a row each week that I am constantlyworking endless hours with a large amount of people while also having to reportback to my boss and then the owner is not always the easiest task to do. Bybeing a member of the Monmouth College basketball team I have learned how to respectothers. I have a head coach, and many assistant coaches as well as my teammatesand opposing members. Being respectful is something you are taught when you area member of the Monmouth College Women’s basketball team no matter how tough itgets. We are a team and how we act comes back on the coaches, our team, and ourcollege. It is the same with a job, I am on a team and I have to show respecttowards my co-workers, my boss, and the Chiefs in order to work in aconstructive environment which makes it easier to get work done and to keep apositive reputation for the community.

Big Red: What's one thing you've learned that youare taking back to your team/teammates/coaches at Monmouth College?
Chelsea Gross: To be a good and constructive leader. I am asenior now and after working for the Chiefs this summer I have developed betterleadership skills that I plan to carry out through my last season as a memberof the Monmouth College Women’s Basketball team.

Big Red: How is this internship going to prepare you foryour future?ChelseaGross: It will help me get a taste of what my future occupation is going toentail. What skills I need to work on and others that I need to keep workinghard at. It has also helped to show me what I really am interested in doing andother things that are not down my path. This internship has been a veryimportant learning experience for me that I will use down the road to help medevelop into a successful individual in the work force.

Assistant Coach: Allison Dynes

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Meet the Coaching Staff 2012-13: Allison DynesHIGH SCHOOL:Eight-time letter winner for the Bravettes of Annawan High School (four inbasketball, and two each in volleyball and track). She finished her high schoolcareer as Annawan's all-time leading scorer with 1,624 points and is now 2^ndin all-time scoring. She is also 2^nd on the list of single seasonscoring with 587 points. As a senior, she averaged 15.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 6.1 apgand 2.3 spg. She was named her team's MVP after leading the team in scoring,assists and free throw percentage. She was named fourth team all-state by theIBCA, special mention all-state by the Champaign News Gazette and honorablemention all-state by the Associated Press. She also earned All-Area Player ofthe Year (twice) and was Pacesetter (three times) from the Moline Dispatch. Shewas a three-time first team all-conference selection and a first team Quad CityTimes All-Area as a senior. While in high school, she was president of theNational Honor Society and Annawan All-Stars 4-H Club. She was also involved inmany other student organizations, clubs, and mentoring programs.

COLLEGE: Allisonplayed a year at Carl Sandburg College, a member of the NJCAA D2 basketballassociation where her team finished 5^th in the nation in herfreshman campaign. She then took her talents to Briar Cliff University in SiouxCity, IA where she played post for the JV team and back-up point guard forvarsity. She became JV assistant for BCU in her final two years of college. Inher junior year of college, she also coached the Sioux City HOOPLA 7^thgrade AAU team. That summer she took her coaching talents to Lake Como, PAwhere she was a basketball and volleyball coach to kids ages 6-15 as well as acounselor to over 15 fifteen year old girls. Her senior year of college shefounded Sioux City CHAOS, a 14U AAU girls basketball team and traveledthroughout South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri.
After college graduation she worked for Paddle Diva, astand-up paddle boarding company on Long Island, NY, whose main focus isempowering women through sport. She then coached for Columbus Crossover, an AAUorganization based out of Columbus, OH before ultimately coming back toIllinois. She is currently attending Western Illinois University where she is agraduate student studying sports management.

Assistant Coach: Haley Jones

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Haley Jones
Monmouth College Graduate '12
Knoxville High School-3 time team MVP, all-time leading scorer (basketball)
      National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar

College- ICC: All-Region, Academic All-American, President's List
             Monmouth College:All-Conference (2 years), Free throw record (career and season), Dean's List
                   Track: 2nd place in 400 hurdles at conference :)

Currently attending Western Illinois University for her master'sin sport management and volunteering in the compliance department.

According to Jasmine Johnson...

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If our coaching staff were replaced by your parents…whowould be the best to fill the following roles & why J
Please answer the following questions with a team member’sparent & why you think they are best suited for this role:
1.      Tie ball game & we need a great set to winthe game. Who should draw up the play? Jasmine-Mr.Corban because he is THE MAN! I think he would know exactly what we needed to do.

2.      There is a conflict amongst the team, who shouldstep in and be the mediator to resolve the issue?Jasmine-Kim’s Dad because he’s a basketball coach with that stern basketball coachesvoice so I think he could shut us all up real quick.

3.      You ladies can get huuuungry! Who would puttogether the best pre-game spread?Jasmine-Colleen and Kathleen’s parents always have something spectacular for us to eatwhether it’s a four course meal or cookies and cake after the game.

4.      Bonding time! Who would put together a funactivity & what would it be? Jasmine-Momma Tiffsquirrel! She is very funny so I think she could come up withsomething great for all of us to do!

5.      It’s preseason & we’ve got to get you ladiesin shape! Who would be the best strength & condition coach & why?Jasmine-Marla’s mom because she works at the jail so I know she would whip us rightinto shape and she wouldn’t take any mess from anyone!

6.      Who would be the best academic tutor to help uskeep our grades up?Jasmine-Kaley’smom is a teacher so I’m sure she could help with all of our classes. I shouldprobably ask her about this accounting spreadsheet due Monday…

 

Where are they now? Mallory (Mulvihill) Green

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1. Give us some updates! Where are you living, any recent life accomplishments?
I live in Wauconda, IL right on the lake and it's amazing. I just got married to my high school sweetheart (as lame as that sounds) in July, finished my Masters from Roosevelt University in Integrated Marketing and Communications, started a new job and I can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings me.

2. How has a Monmouth College degree helped your career pursuits?
I think right out of college, I was a little lost. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to, and I honestly wished I had done a lot of things differently while in college. I think I was too busy enjoying my youth!! But, I really, really loved all my English classes and by writing for the college newspaper, I kind of realized that I enjoyed to creatively write. Those English classes were tough and the professors expected perfection, and I think that mindset (even though I may have found it obnoxious at the time) helped me throughout grad school and in my current job.

3. Favorite on or off the court basketball memory?
Tough to say. On the court, I think I'd have to go with hitting a 3-pointer as a freshman to put us up against Knox. It was right at the end of the game so the gym was PACKED. The experience of that Knox rivalry as a freshman was awesome and to hit what ended up being a game winner, was amazing. Ms. Lisa Curry set the screen to free me up. Off the court, living with Laura Hurckes (Jahn), Cassie Jensen and of course, Becky Wakeland (Dixon). Some of the best times of my life. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard.

4. What do you miss most about playing basketball at Monmouth College?
I miss the competitiveness of it all. I struggled a little bit with myself during college, but the one thing I always brought every day to practice was my competitiveness. Even now, I hate to lose. I miss just playing for fun because I loved the game. Oh and defense, I miss playing defense. I loved when the girl I was defending would cuss at me. Best feeling ever.