Stopping Hunger

Last night I had the opportunity to volunteer to help pack meals with the Stop Hunger Now organization. These meals are then sent around the world to people who don't have regular access to food.

More than 300 students, faculty, and staff from my college volunteered (mostly students) and we packaged 75,000 meals! We averaged about 500 per minute, which is crazy to think about.

The first part of the evening I was packaging meals. I was the bag holder while the other four people at my station poured their ingredient into the funnel. Then the second half of the evening I was loading the packaged meals into the boxes to be shipped out.

Two sealed meals went on each square, then I put them into the box.

Two meals went on each square.

Then I put them in the box.

In what seemed like no time at all, we were done! I thought it was going to take all evening since we were supposed to be there from 4-7pm, but we actually only worked from 5-6:15. 4-5pm was registration and going over how to do everything and 6:15-7pm was doorprizes and pizza!

the sealing station at the end.

I had a great time at this event and I think the majority of our students did too. It was great to see so many people come together and work together for something that is so important. It was timed perfectly too with the holidays coming up and everyone being thankful for everything they have.

October Stuff

October came and went pretty quickly and it looks like November is going to be the same way. Christmas will be here before we know it and I'm pretty darn excited for it! That being said, no Christmas decorations will be going up in my home until after December 1. That's my rule and I'm sticking to it. I may or may not listen to 94.7 while in the car because it makes me happy.

So here are a few pictures from October.

I did a little pumpkin carving right before Thanksgiving. It's probably the first time in years I've carved a pumpkin and I was pretty pleased how it turned out. Yes, it's currently still on my back step, covered in snow, rotten and the "O" is kind of shriveled and laying down.

 

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 Tyler's soccer team did well in their tournament run this year and I made it to their district semi-final and district championship games. They lost in the final, but we joined them for LaRosa's pizza after the game and with the exception of one girl, they were all in good spirits. They even believed that Molly and I were the two coaches girlfriends. Sorry ladies, just the sisters. But it was really entertaining to watch them giggle and secretly try to take pictures before we spilled the beans. But some of them we really had to convince and Molly pulled out the baby pictures. Classic sister move.

We did a little family girls outing and went to see the  Lion King while it was in Columbus. This was the first broadway production I'd been to since I saw Cinderella in the 10th grade and it was amazing. So crazy how they make people look like giraffes and lions. And Elephants! Molly was not excited about going at all, but after it was over she was considering going again!

I spent the final week of October in Louisville for a work convention. It was fun but very, very exhausting! I think I slept for 12 hours multiple nights in a row after I got back to Columbus.

fraternity selfie

standard Arkansas Razorback photo.

And that completes October!

101 Things to do in 1001 Days - Round 3

Way back in 2008 I started a list of 101 Things to do in 1001 Days and then I did a second round a few years later. Well, it's time for a third! At the bottom of this post you can see my first two attempts.


There are obviously not 101 things on this list. It's definitely a work in progress, so if you think of something I should add, leave a comment.


Start: November 14, 2014
End: August 11, 2017

Travel
Go to California
Go to Texas (June 16-19, 2015)
Go to New Orleans (12/31/14-1/2/15)
Go to Niagara Falls (May 2-3, 2015)
Visit 5 new states (Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas)
Go on another cruise
Travel to another country (Canada, May 2-3, 2015, Honduras, May 2016, October 2016)
Visit Mt Rushmore
Go to Times Square on NYE
Ride an alpine slide
Go to Bora Bora
See the Northern Lights
Visit the Great Wall of China
Swim in the Pacific Ocean (Honduras, May 19, 2016)
Go to Mexico and the Xel-ha water park


Entertainment
Go to Buckeye Superfest Country Concert thing in June (missed it in 2015, 2016 and 2017)
Go ziplining at Hocking Hills
Go hiking
Go to an Ohio State away football game (Sugar Bowl, January 1, 2015)
Go skiing at least once a winter (2015, 2016, 2017)
Read 15 books each year (The One and Only by Emily Giffin, The Lovesick Cure by Pamela Morsi)
Go to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park
Go to a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium
Go to an MLB Opening Day game
Go to a Bengals game
Go to the Kentucky Derby
Go to a UNC game in Chapel Hill
See a Broadway show in NYC
Go scuba diving or snorkeling
Actually learn how to ride a horse and do it often
Do an extreme sport - paragliding or skydiving
Take a hot air balloon ride
Go to an away Ohio State game in each Big Ten Conference stadium
Visit Old Man's Cave
Hike to Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Visit the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patt
Ride on an "old fashion" train
Go boating - like a houseboat trip
Go canoeing

Health & Wellness
Run in five 5K races per year (2015 - 5, 2016 - 1, 2017 1)
Run one half-marathon each year - including the Nike Run DC and Tinkerbell Half (2016 - Cap City)
Run a full marathon once
Actually complete the 90 day Insanity exercise program
Hike some part of a trail - like the Appalachian Trail
Participate in Pelotonia 
Take a physical wellness class each semester (S16 - group fitness)


For others
Volunteer for as many races as I run
Do "25 Days of Giving" in December
Host a surprise party for someone
Pay for the bill behind me at a drive-thru
Go on a mission trip to another country - Not necessarily a "mission trip" but close.


Just Because
Start a business
Adopt a dog
Learn to play the piano
Buy a house



Round 1 Results (2008-2011)
Round 2 Results (2011-2014)

Parade explosion

I already mentioned my attendence to the Ohio State Homecoming Parade, but that was just one of four parades I went to in 4 days back in the middle of October!

My nephew was in the Baby Parade at the Pumpkin Show in Circleville (parade #1), so I went down to watch him and I actually ended up walking in the parade with him and my sister Heather. He was so cute, but unfortunately didn't win the "cutest baby" award. I still think he was cute. :)

He wouldn't look at the camera.

Parade Selfie.

That night I went back to the pumpkin show to watch the Parade of Bands (#2). It's probably my favorite parade because it's nothing but bands - high school bands, community bands, flag girls, etc. This year the Ohio State Marching Band was there. They're always last and they took forever to get thru the route because they stop to play a few songs every now and then. Of course, they stopped a little ways before us, then not again. Next time I got to watch them, I will not stand at the end of the parade route! But it was a fun night at the Circlville Pumpkin Show - minus having to pay $20 to park! That's highway robbery!! (But it was for a good cause I guess!)

OSU Marching Band

Then the next day I went to the OSU Homecoming Parade (#3), then no parade on Saturday, and home for the Fall Festival of the Leaves Parade on Sunday (#4). I didn't take any pictures at that parade, but it was the most eventful parade of the 4. At the end of the parade, right as the horses were walking in front of us, one got spooked, reared up on it's back legs and then fell backwards on top of the rider! I didn't see it all happen because I was busy looking at the lady riding the horse behind it that was carrying a pig in a tutu (yes, she had a piglet in a tutu!!). But the guy couldn't move his legs and I'm 110% sure he had broken his hip. So the EMS came to take him out and the log trucks couldn't come thru. It was crazy!!

So no more parades for a while here. Now that it's cold, I don't know of any going on anyway, except for the Jingle Bell Parade in late November. I never make it home for that anymore because it's always during an Ohio State game. But I do have some great memories of being in it when I was in gymnastics (we tumbled thru the whole thing) or going to watch it with Mam and Papaw. One year it snowed these giant snowflakes and it was so pretty. Another year the Santa float fell right in front of us (and the judges!).

Any parades that you look forward to each year?

OSU Homecoming

Ohio State's homecoming was a few weeks ago, and the fraternity I advise is known for their homecoming floats in the parade. So I spent a few evenings that week helping them out with the pomping, which is taking small sheets of tissue paper and stuffing them in chicken wire. There is a technique to it and I was taught the correct way to do it at my very first float build session last year. I was not doing it correctly prior to this. #mybad

The guys get SO into the float build and I get so giddy to see a group of 35 college age boys so into the largest craft project I've ever seen. There is no detail missed when doing these floats. If it doesn't look right, they'll tear it apart and do it again. This is why they've won this float competition the past four years. I can't take credit for anything because they come up with the idea on their own. They might consult me about certain details, etc. I can take credit for how they decorated the 'championship trophies' on the 2013 float. I did tell them to use clear plastic and put a light inside to make it shine. I like to think that's why they won, but I'm pretty sure it was the 1/16 exact scale of Ohio Stadium and the larger than life Brutus that kissed the national championship trophy. :)

Between all the guys and an entire week, I think they put around 450 man hours into this project. They came in just a tad over budget, but since they won, they actually made money thanks to a nice $1,000 first place prize. And of course, no one slept all week.

No OSHAA rules were violated during this process.

Brutus is going to stomp the Rutgers helmet into the ground.

Sometime around 1am.

Finished product from the front. (The shorty shorts make me uncomfortable.)

In the parade.

I am a proud advisor, but there really wasn't any other floats that compared to this one. Very proud of them and all their hardwork. They represent the fraternity well and most days I'll claim them. :)

Molly and I went to the parade and sat with the guys that were not riding on the float and then watched the pep rally in the Ohio Union. It was hot and sweaty, but there were some really cool balloon artwork pieces around. I especially liked this balloon block o.

{My coat is the 2013 version of this one.}

On Saturday, I actually got to go to the homecoming game with Stacie. Cara was also in town and she and Molly ended up going to the game too, but they were on the opposite side of the stadium as me. But I had a great time and even though it rained, I stayed dry in the suite! :)

Molly, myself and Cara at the O Zone prior to the game.

Stacie and I before the game.

Stacie and I at the game.

They have the BEST cupcakes in the trustees suite! :)

TBDBITL

It was a cold, wet game, so there weren't a lot of people left for Carmen Ohio.

Even though it was cold, we warmed up with hot chocolate and coffee before leaving! :)

It was great to see so many friends - old and new - during homecoming weekend. I love later games too, because then there is more time for socializing with everyone at tailgates. And thank you Stacie for letting me be your date to the game again. :)

Ohio State is so special to me because it is my school. I graduated from OSU. The diploma on my office wall says The Ohio State University. When I sing Carmen Ohio I know every single word because it is my alma matter. I don't just cheer for the football team 14 days out of the year. Sometimes I get so annoyed with people that didn't go to my school, but still claim to be the biggest Buckeye fan or sing Carmen Ohio like it's their own song. Maybe that's wrong of me, but I'm pretty loyal to my school and I am so glad that I chose to be a Buckeye 12 years ago. I can't think of another university I'd want to be a part of for the rest of my life. I'm a proud alum.