Graduation!

Not so much NASCAR related, but none the less a huge day for me!

Back a few months ago I covered a two feet by three feet section of this door with pictures from last year’s NASCAR daily calendar, numbering each picture so I could rip one off each day until graduation day from Concordia. Well the projects are done, the finals taken; the townhouse packed and clean…for the most part (watching the Richmond race slowed things down a bit lol). Now I’m down to the lovely picture of Kasey Kahne marked with a “1” and that means commencement day is here! I’m a little scared because I don’t know what’s going to happen next. A little sad that all the people that I’ve become close friends with are going to be scattering to the winds as my friend Logan put it. But I’m also very excited to see what the next chapter of my life has in store for me! I’m taking a huge leap out of my comfort zone and I am going to stay with my aunt and uncle for awhile in southern Maryland or as my mom put it “like 10 states over” from Minnesota. Lol Actually my parents have been very supportive and that really gives me confidence that this is the right move. Normally I would be freaking out about living so far away from home and not having a job before making such a move, but I feel like it is all going to work out….and well if not I can at least say I tried. By the way thanks to my many friends here who sent me well wishes already on Facebook, I haven't had much time over the last few days to respond back but they are very much appreciated :)

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• Graduation

Fargo-Moorhead Flood

I'm sure a lot of people have heard about the flooding that has occurred in the Fargo-Moorhead area, but I thought I would share a few of the pictures that I had. I'm sorry I don't have any better ones, but I never had to help build dikes up or sandbag around houses. We would go to places like the Fargodome to help make the sandbags, which is where the photo with this blog was taken. Check out my photos to see a couple of others (since I don't know who to attach multiple pictures :))

We got to miss a whole week of classes to help sandbag and then last week we had to evacuate the campus as a precaution in case any of the water leaked out. I was glad to help out the Fargo-Moorhead community, but by the end of the week I was glad to get out of there for awhile. Classes for all the college here resume tomorrow.

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• Spring 2009 Flood, Red River, Fargo North Dakota, Moorhead Minnesota

Race Day Food

So with the Super Bowl behind us and the racing world's equivilant ahead of us, I was wondering what other people do for snack food for race day or other sporting events?

Last weekend I made this awesome Spinich and Artichoke dip and a sour cream bacon chedder dip. For race day in the past my family have gotten pizzas, subway, and sometimes even made a meat and cheese tray.

Anyway, I'm always looking for ideas to mix things up a bit so let me know what you like to do :)

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35 Random Things

This list of 25 (or in my case 35) things is pretty much taking over the world, so I'm finally getting around to do one of my own :)

1)I’ve shown a cow and my bull Augustus at our county fair.

2)When I was little I would watch the ninja turtles and during the theme song I would run around the living room and try to do the moves

3)I can pick things up with my toes (It was how I avoided dunking my head under water in my first year of swimming lessons)

4)My dream car has always been a Ford Mustang…convertible…Wind Veil Blue. There was a brief time when I wanted a Dodge Charger (see number 5) but I’ve come to my senses.

5)I’m horribly influenced by celebrity endorsements. I’ll stand in the pop aisle contemplating which NASCAR driver/team I should support and bought my Pumas because of Kasey Kahne.

6)Yes, I was one of those people who used to think that it was stupid that guys would drive around in circles for hours on end…the 2004 Pepsi 400 is when I finally saw the light :)

7)I’ll sing at the top of my lungs when I’m in my car alone, even break out my amazing rapping skills...”Yeah….you can’t front on that.”

8)One of my biggest pet peeves is people who go out in public wearing their PJs/sweats, re-do work, and idiot drivers.

9)Gerber Daisies are my favorite flowers.

10)I love getting dressed up, but unfortunately don’t have many occasions to do it.

11)My parents divorced when I was less than a year old, so I never knew then being together which has been a blessing. And, I got two amazing step-parents and 4 siblings out of the deal.

12)I have two brothers and two sisters

13)I have always wanted to be on Saturday Night Live, at one point as a cast member but now I’d just like to host.

14)Once you know me you’ll find I love to talk, but it usually takes me a bit to get comfortable talking…so don’t give up talking to me :)

15)I have mad skid steering skills. I can pick up a round bale using a spear without slowing down.

16)I love to travel and see new places; I always seem to learn something about myself every time I go somewhere. I still want to go to every race track on the NASCAR Cup circuit, Washington State, New York City, and Boston in the fall.

17)I’ve been playing the Violin since I was in the 4th grade, started taking piano my freshman year of high school (I had the best teacher ever), and have learned a little guitar on my own.

18)I like listening to AM radio, Joe Soucharay’s Garage Logic on AM1500 out of the Cities is my absolute favorite (and no it has nothing to do with racing, just common sense).

19)Every night before I go to bed I listen to Rowdy racing, to get my daily fix of racing news of course.

20)Adam West is my favorite Batman (although Christian Bale is a VERY close second), and I’m pretty sure if I would have had a crush on him if I would have been around in the 60s.

21)I once hated country music; now that’s the majority of my iPod…Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley are my favorites :)

22)I don’t get a tan during the summer, I get red or burn. I like Conan O’Brien’s theory of wearing a Beekeepers suit at the beach.

23)Deep down inside I’m pretty sure I have an inner June Clever, because I kind of like cleaning house…sadly I have done the dishes and made dinner in heels and a skirt.

24)I still have my childhood blanket and leaving it home the first week of my freshman year of college was one of the biggest mistakes ever.

25)A guy who acts like a true gentleman goes a long way with me. I like doors being opened for me, being taken out for dinner, flowers, and just little gestures showing they care.

26)Its funny, I had a hard time thinking of 25 at first and now I need more spots

27)I have a sarcastic sense of humor. I know…hard to believe right.

28)I wish I was better at keeping up with my friends and family. Know that I’m thinking of you and miss you.

29)I lost my Grandpa Richard around Christmas 2003 and I still miss him.

30)I don’t care what people say, the Green Lutheran Book of Worship is much better than With One Voice or the new Cranberry one.

31)I’m not big on change, but I’m working on being more tolerant.

32)I don’t know why but I have a thing for guys in cowboy hats, you can about imagine how happy I was when Kasey won the race at Texas a couple of years ago :)

33)I feel like a bum when I wear my glasses.

34)According to my sisters I’m milquetoast when it comes to water temp, I like my showers, pools, and lakes warm or it’s going to be an hour before I get my head underwater.

35)I miss playing softball too

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Really?

Although for most people this is a "who cares?" I just read that AJ's crew cheif for the 10 car was suspended for missing the flight home last weekend. I'm sure it was a call made by GEM but that is the oddest reason I have ever heard. Or am I missing something? and has anyone heard of any other suspensions for something unusual like that?

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A long overdue blog

I was looking at my profile today and realized I haven’t written anything since March! I guess with the end of the school year, summer, and now the beginning of yet another school year life has gotten way too busy. But enough excuses, since the cup and Nationwide series is headed back to Dover I had to write about my amazing trip out east this summer and to encourage you to check some of my photos out (time permitting I will get way more up soon!).

My aunt and uncle recently moved to the Washington DC area and decided to spend three weeks with them (hey, it was my last summer before I graduate and have to be a real adult, why not?). The plan was to go to DC for a few days and then to go to the Nationwide and Cup race at Dover. I was pretty excited because it was my first time flying somewhere by myself and it was going to be my first NASCAR race!!! My uncle picks me up from the airport and says that through his army unit he won two tickets to Pocono the following weekend! The trip hadn’t even started and it was already awesome! :)

We spent three days looking at sites in DC. All the major monuments, museums and the Smithsonian were amazing. I wouldn’t suggest going to see the treasury; there are no free samples, the building smells like money, and the tour was sort of boring. I was disappointed that the American history museum was closed for renovations, but at least I’ll have something to see the next time I go out there…not that it is ever possible to run out of things to look at in DC.

I was so excited when we arrived in Dover for the Nationwide race, although the threat of rain was there all day and I was afraid that we wouldn’t be able to see the race. Just as we got into the grandstands final practice was getting over and all of a sudden it started raining and people were leaving. This old guy sitting next to me was like, “the real fans tough it out in the grandstands.” Well my uncle and I didn’t want to get struck by lightning so we waited underneath with everyone else. Once it stopped raining we went back to our seats and the old guy was gone and he never came back for the race either…so much for being a “real fan.” It was a good race, a long wet day, but a good race. The next day the race was great until the big crash that happened and pretty much took out anyone I cheered for. Plus Kyle won…not cool.

The next Sunday we make the 4 hour drive to Pocono and did not realize how in the middle of nowhere it is. I already knew that the weekend was going to be good when Kasey won the pole and was fast in practice. It seems like if his team is hooked up, they are unbeatable. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to happen very often. Anyway, I couldn’t ask for better day. Free tickets, Kasey led most of the race, Kyle crashed out, and of course the most important thing KASEY WINS THE RACE!! I pretty much floated out of the track that day and didn’t care if it was another four hours on the road. In the words of SpongeBob Squarepants, it was “the BEST DAY EVER!!”...for your sake I won’t sing the song:)

Everyone always says that going to the races brings it all to a whole other level and they are absolutely right. The video and photos you see on TV and the Internet don’t even begin to capture all the sights and sounds of the race day. Plus having a scanner, pretty much is like the frosting on the cake for watching the race and highly recommend it if you go. I wouldn’t go to one with out it. The only downfall after going to a live race is need and desire to go again!

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A Rowdy mention in NASCAR Illustrated

I got my NASCAR Illustrated and was looking in a section they had this month on MP3 players. Within the article they talked about NASCAR related content you could put on the MP3 players and they mentioned Rowdy!! I thought that was very cool. Congrats you guys :)

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Daytona Commercials

Before I get to the commercials I have to say it was pretty great finish for the second year in a row. I did not see Newman coming there at all on the last lap. Plus I was really happy to see the GEM cars and Jr. up there in the top 10.

Anyway to the real point of this blog.
I haven't seen anyone else make any comments on the commericals yet, but part of that could be due to the fact that their wasn't really the usual load of new ones this year during the 500. Here's some of my thoughts on some of the ones that stood out to me. I'm pretty sure I missed a few so feel free to comment.

Dale Jr & AMP- I saw the camel one during the super bowl, but the gorilla one was pretty funny too!

Thank you Dale- I thought this was a pretty cool way for UPS to say thanks to DJ, I'm really going to miss his race the truck commercials after he's done.

Toyota fan control- I think this one probably got one of the biggest laughs out of me. The part where Tony bails out of his car was great :)

NAPA- Once again Mikey delivers for this company. The look on his face when he saw the car in pieces was great.

Kasey Kahne and Budweiser- I think he needs to seriously consider finding a new marketing team. I saw 1 commercial with him and Budweiser out of what seem like hundreds for Budweiser (although I loved the Clydesdale one with the rocky theme from the Super Bowl). Plus during the entire bud shootout they had NONE. Hopefully there will be some more down the road.

Coke Zero- I love that line about Tony not having any problem with being suspended.

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Unusual College Mascots

ESPN today came out with their list of the top 10 greatest nicknames in College basketball and my school was second on the list!!! I thought that was pretty cool considering we really aren't anything in the college sports world. Everyone always laughs when I tell them that our mascot is an ear of corn :) Does (or did) anyone else have an unusual mascot in college or high school?

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• Fear the Ear!!!

A brief book buy back rant

So today I went to the bookstore to sell back a few books from a pointless class I had to take because when you go to a liberal arts college that's what you do. You know we need "broaden our horizons and become more well rounded"...blah blah blah (that's another rant for another day).

Anyway for 4 books I think I originally paid around 90 dollars for them (thanks to Amazon it could have been more than double that). I got 27 dollars for the lot of them. Which after 2.5 years of going to school now, you'd think I'd learn that they are going to constantly screw me over but I guess I always hold out hope that maybe this time I'll have the books that are bringing in the big bucks. The thing that really ticks me off is they don't even resell those books for close to those prices.

Alright back to studying management, one more final to go!!!

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