O! What a Duck Race!

This past Saturday, the 1st Annual Omaha Food Bank "O! What a Duck Race!" took place at Heartland of America Park and it was such a success! When I first volunteered to help out at the Food Bank I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Jewell, my boss, stuck me right in with everyone and for the three weeks prior to the duck race I was doing everything from selling duck adoptions to writing thank you notes to creating the duck olympics (medals and all).

24,500 rubber ducks were sold, raising over $100,000 for the Food Bank! The day was a blast and everyone in attendance had a fabulous FREE family day... I can't say enough good things about the Food Bank OR the duck race!

I'm leaving for California for a few days this afternoon because Jason is in Japan for a few days... I am so excited to see Farrah and Brian, and Kristen and Scott, too! They're old friends from the working days at Cottage Chic and I am excited to visit them in Monterey.
I just wanted to get some pics up for the duck race before leaving. Enjoy!

Wondeful (busy) weekend.

This weekend could not have been much better! It was jam packed full of excitement and fun times with Jason and other friends that I have met this summer.

Friday:
Jason and I went golfing and I played nine holes for my first time. I shot a -hold your breath- 75. Yes, for nine holes. However, I didn't cheat at all. I had NO mulligans, well, maybe one, and I counted all of my strokes. I even counted the ones when I swung and totally missed the ball. Jason was an amazing teacher and he was so patient, even when I was so bad.

After we played we went to Dick's sporting goods to see if they had any golf gloves on sale and they did. They also had their golf bags on sale, so I got an amazing pink golf bag and Jason bought head covers for me.

Oh, and I found a great deal on Craig's List earlier in the week and bought barely used clubs for 100 bucks. I LOVE THEM:) The bad was really ugly. So ugly that it was really a necessity to buy a new one. It smelled really bad too.

After golfing we cooked a very yummy dinner (shrimp alfredo) and every time I cook these days, I enjoy it more and more. I am looking forward to a cooking class that I'm going to take to mark off my 101 list.

We ended the night playing tennis at the gym on base. It was super hot in the gym and Jason definitely kicked my butt. I thought I played pretty decently. I lost 5-1, but we had a good time. It makes me excited to get back and play with Betsy on the SoPines courts:)

Saturday:
I am not someone to enjoy shooting a gun; however, I will say that there is a big feeling of empowerment and accomplishment after shooting a gun. Bob (Jason's roommate) took us to a gun range and it was awesome. We were shooting a 40 (I think that would be caliber) and it had a little kick back each time the trigger was pulled. It was incredible just to think that as I was standing there, pointing this gun at a target, I realized that I was basically holding the power of death in my hand. WOW. I didn't grow up around guns and every time I see one I think about seeing a gun for the first time...

Lindsay W. and I were at her family's beach home at Sunset beach. We were in 4th grade. Lew had to get something out of her parent's room before bed and when we walked into their bedroom, I saw her dad's pistol on the nightstand. I seriously thought he was going to kill someone, just because of the gun that he owned. Lew still picks on me to this day...
I am not sure what I believe on the gun control laws and all of that mess, but no matter what, I felt like a really big deal when I was hitting that target.

After we went to the range, we went flying. Bob recently got his private pilot's license and Jason is working on his. I had never flown in a plane that small, but it was beautiful flying over Nebraska on a sunny Saturday. We flew over some of Iowa and saw some of the flooding, too.

The plane
tight squeeze




We had plans to go to the Riverfest on Saturday evening, where the Nebraska state bbq championship is held. When we went down there, it was not what we expected. I think Jason, Brynn and I were all expecting something like the Springfest atmosphere but there were only about 12 total tents/vendors. They had given the awards, but the food wasn't being sold. I was definitely disappointed.


We went to the casino on Saturday night and won $80, so it was definitely a fantastic ending to a great day.


Sunday:
Both of my roommates are engaged and that is the ONLY reason that I would do what I will next talk about... we went to the Omaha Bridal Showcase. It was like 2,000 bridezilla's all in one area unconsciously spending tons of money on all sorts of crap. Yes, there was some really cute stuff there, but-HOLY COW, money was being thrown all over the place to these crazy vendors. It was great to hang out with Brynn and Brooke though. Brooke also brought Megan, another engaged friend... the best part, they had a photo booth that Brynn and I took silly photos in:) Always makes me smile!


The girls (Megan, Brooke, me and Brynn).

Adopt-A-Duck

For all of the curious minds... here are pictures of a day at work. Now, of course, not all of the days are as exciting as these; but everyday, somewhere around Omaha, this 12' duck is being blown up. There is a "Quacky" the mascot walking around luring people into adopt a duck and the lovely citizens of Nebraska are donating their money to help feed the homeless through the Omaha Food Bank.

On this day, we worked at Panera to take up duck adoption papers...

My 101

Back in December, after completing the Reindeer Run 5k, I was hanging out with Jenn K. and she was telling me about her 101 list and her blog. She was really the one who spurred me to start a blog and she definitely gave me the idea to do my 101 list. So Jenn, thanks for your inspiration and thanks for letting me steal some of your ideas;)

The purpose of my 101 list is to make a list of 101 goals to accomplish in the next 1,001 days. I think that this was started by bloggers on a website and it's grown into something HUGE! There are thousands of 101 list on the internet. Today, I will add mine.

Most of the goals on my list are things that I've always wanted to complete. Some of them are definitely going to be easy to accomplish while some of them might take a little more time. I am definitely up for the challenge and I can't wait to have a big fiesta on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

My new "job"

It's not really a job, I'm volunteering. Don't get too excited. Actually, about a week ago I decided that I was really tired of just going to the pool and doing nothing all day, so I began thinking of ways to volunteer. Of course, the first thing that pops into my head is the food bank. I did my research and emailed Joyce at the Omaha Food Bank, letting her know that I was interested in volunteering and to see if I could help out with anything. She was more than thrilled to get my email, and she asked if I could give three or four mornings or afternoons per week. I told her that I could do three mornings a week and last Tuesday was my first day on the job.

The food bank is hosting it's 1st Annual "O! What a Duck Race" that will take place on July 26th at Heartland of America Park, where ConAgra foods headquarters are located. At 1pm that afternoon, the food bank will release 20,000 rubber duckies into the lake and the first duck to cross the finish line will win a brand new car! One duck is $5 and you can buy them in "packs" from there. For example, you can buy a "6 quack" for $25 or a "Max Quack Pack" for $100. How flipping cute!?!?!

Also, each duck has a chance of winning ONE MILLION dollars... if your duck number matches the lucky number AND is the seventh duck to cross the finish line, you win!!! Yes, I realize those chances are slim, but how exciting is that chance!!!???!!! WOW!

Back to volunteering... I am doing odds and ends to make sure that things are going smoothly with the Duck Race. To go along with the duck race, the food bank is doing the "Duck Olympics" where teams of four do mini-relay races to compete for the grand prize and the Duck Trophy! One of my tasks was to create the trophy, so I really love it--- it's a big trophy with a HUGE rubber duckie on top! I'll take pictures and be sure to post soon. I helped organize some of the olympic activities and today I did quite a bit of data entry, making sure all of the adopted ducks will have numbers for our tagging party next week. Yep, that's right... we will HAND number all 20,000 ducks!

I love what I am doing and I really feel like I have been called to this organization. It's a great cause with great people to be surrounded with... if you're interested in adopting a duck (it's only five bucks), let me know!

Idiots.

The video below is a prime example of why fireworks are illegal in so many states. Obviously, they're totally LEGAL in Omaha, Nebraska. Yes, you MIGHT watch this video once and think it's really cool; however, this guy thought it was neccessary to do time after time after time. It was lame the first time, but it got old after the 10th time he blew the thing up. Another reason it's probably not the brightest idea to mix alcohol, fireworks and cars passing by...

Other than the bright people across the street from where we parked who probably wasted their entire pay check on these fireworks (I mean, seriously, they were lighting off fireworks that were big time professional fireworks!), the 4th of July fireworks over Rosenblatt stadium were great. I think if we're here next year we'll go ahead and actually go to the game so that we can sit on the field and watch them go up, but the construction site that we parked on was a great view! Not only did we see the Omaha fireworks, but we were up on a hill a bit so we were able to see fireworks across the plains... they were going off everywhere. Lucky for us, we were able to sit on top of Jason's Pathfinder and watch them all go off! They were beautiful and it was a gorgeous night.

Of course, every July 4th I always think of the "good ole' days" of mom's bbq ribs and having the Barbee's over for dinner and walking to Aberdeen lake, and then the more recent days of the 4th of July at the beach. The Tarte, cheeseburgers, Fat Harolds and fireworks on the beach... they're all good memories, but I had a great time in Omaha as well! Like I've heard my mom say a million times, "you're always making memories somewhere." I definitely love July 4th though... and I am definitely proud to be an American:)

To be a kid again...

Jason had off Friday and Monday, so it was nice to have a four day weekend with not too many plans. We went to the zoo Friday and had such a blast! The Henry Doorly Zoo is incredible! I have to admit; I think the last time I had been to a zoo was during a field trip in probably the third grade. Well, this zoo was bigger than any zoo that I could have imagined being in the middle of Omaha, Nebraska. I've never been to the San Diego zoo, but people say that this one is even better... I guess I'm biased because I can just imagine the "other" scenery around San Diego-- one day!

I could have sat and watched the monkeys forever--- they were by far my favorite thing. They just seemed so similar to humans; joking with one another, fighting, scrambling around. It was fantastic to watch them interact.

The lions and tigers and bears were great too. I think I have a harder time enjoying getting to see them because I am constantly thinking about how much they need a bigger space to walk around in, to run free in the woods, or the jungle or whatever their natural habitat is. I guess that is part of going to a zoo though--- and I also am thankful that they are well taken care of there also.

At the end of the day we (Justin, Brynn, Jason and me) took a steam engine train ride around the entire park so we were able to make sure we caught everything. We were able to see the elephants and zebras at that point, without having to walk an extra mile.

It was a blast being able to feel like a five year old again. I think more than anything, I enjoyed watching the little kids see these animals for the first time. They were so fascinated and overwhelmed. All of the little kids were so happy:) And, it was the 4th of July... I'm sure they were anticipating the fireworks as well!

Surprise, Surprise!

On Friday afternoon Jason asked me if I had any plans for Sunday after work. Of course, the answer is no... I don't really have any plans this summer, it's great! He said that he had plans and that I couldn't ask any questions.

Well, while working on Saturday, I had asked Katie, another co-worker, if she was working on Sunday. She said "No, I can't. I'm actually going to the Taylor Swift concert tomorrow night in Sioux City, IA." Automatically, I knew that is exactly what Jason's plans were! I asked Katie who was touring with her and her response was, "I don't know, some guy that I have never heard of." Lucky me, that some guy ended up being Dave Barnes!

Jason was definitely shocked that I ended up finding out what the surprise was. We were both really excited because we both love Dave Barnes and Jason has known for a year that I've wanted to see Taylor Swift.

Our seats were INCREDIBLE. They had personal headrests and lots of room... actually, they were in the very back row!!! They were perfect though-we had such a great time. Neither of us had ever been to Sioux City and come to find out, this was the first concert that they had ever sold out in that arena. It was still a pretty small venue, but it was definitely a big deal having those two perform in Iowa!

Taylor Swift is definitely 18! She's just still sort of awkward... dancing around on stage to really no beat at all. She probably said "thank you guys so much" and "I love you all so much" maybe 20 times during the show. That's really pretty much all she said... she's so cute though! She has an amazing voice-- and a bubbly exciting personality. She even did her own version of Rhianna's "Take a Bow." It was fabulous!

It was a perfect night and we had a blast driving through Iowa. It's very flat, surprise surprise. AND, one of the neatest parts of the night: I ran into Katie (the girl from work) in the girls bathroom!

Brynn's 24th Birthday

On Friday a small group of us went out to celebrate Brynn's 24th birthday! Jason couldn't go because he had class (he's working on his Masters of Economics), so I was a little bummed about that. None the less, the group who went had a great time! I had my first Kona Grill sushi experience and it was absolutely delicious. We had reservations for 8pm; however, when we arrived at the restaurant they had just given our table away. Well, lucky us... they ended up buying us a round of drinks since we had to wait an extra 20 minutes! Appletini, anyone? :)

We all ordered different sushi rolls and I was finally able to try something different besides my regular California and Philadelphia rolls. I don't even know what all I tried but I enjoyed most of them.

Kona Grill is located in Village Pointe in West Omaha and it's just a great outdoor shopping area. (So great that Jason and I went back on Saturday to do a little shopping...) After dinner we walked to the Funny Bone, a local comedy club. Justin, another friend who is also in the Air Force, had purchased a book of free tickets so we all went for free! It was a great night and the comedians were funny-- not too vulgar and had some pretty good lines. I actually liked the introductory guy better than the main act. Justin still has tons of free passes so I am definitely looking forward to going back again this summer.

While working on Saturday, I ended up finding out that Kona Grill actually does a reverse happy hour and from 9-12pm they offer half off sushi, appetizers and drinks. I think next time we'll do comedy club and THEN dinner!