le tour preview...

2008 le Tour de France: July 5th -July 27th


Should be an interesting 3 weeks in July considering that none of the genuine Tour favorites are participating...

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Happy Father's Day!

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Oh, the HUMIDITY!!!

Today is the day that all the new 2008 corps members move into Moody Towers and descend upon all the Targets and Wal-marts in the general vicinity. My job for registration is "IAH Greeter" - yes, I get to go to Bush International and greet any of our CMs flying in for institute.

Considering the stress/excitement that these folks are probably going through - I find it very nice of Teach For America to have us meet/greet/help the new arrivals as they launch themselves into five weeks of TFA-Teacher Boot Camp.

My school is on its way to being ready for these corps members...I've got one more day to put on the final touches! YIKES!

Yesterday, I joined the gym here at UH - pretty nice facility and probably bigger than KU's. However, have you ever been running knowing full well that you're giving yourself a blister? Well, I had that feeling as I was in the middle of my run yesterday morning and so when I stopped, I turned around to see the damage only to find: the back of ankle/foot and shoe covered in blood. Quite a sight. And I really wish there was maybe a different signal sent to your brain (Dr. Reddig do you know anything about this??) that would let you know that you are indeed bleeding and not just some pain.

-mitzi

a busy month

It's hard to believe that it is already June 1st - the last month seemed to just fly by with all the travels here and there. I'm currently in Houston, TX and will be here until July 15th working at the institute held here for the incoming 2008 corps members. However, perhaps I should recap the last 31 days:

May 1-4/Houston, TX/Half-Staff Conference: I flew to Houston to meet some of the team that I will be working with here in Houston and also to find out what exactly I will be doing here the next six weeks. To briefly explain - I will be in charge of all operations and logistics at Wainwright Elementary School. About 60 corps member will be teaching about 300 students this summer and it's my job to make sure they are able to due so by organizing and implementing any systems needed. Yes, I get paid to be organized. It's a good gig.

May 9-11/Ames, IA/Amy's Graduation: I celebrated Amy's Masters graduation from Iowa State University with Blair, Nate, Joe, and Amy's parents - it was a quick weekend...but I'm so glad I got to go and see my friend achieve the next level of academics! Congrats, Amy!

May 16-18/Kalamazoo, MI/Road trip with Betsy: My friend (and former co-worker), Betsy, has family that lives in Kalamazoo and since it has always been a place that I've wanted to go - we decided to take a weekend and visit my dad's old college stomping grounds. We stayed with Betsy's grandmother - who is an excellent pianist and played for 2 hours while I sang showtunes! Betsy and I also enjoy a meal and a beer at Kalamazoo's own "Bell's Brewery" - it doesn't compare to Free State - but what does? We finished the trip with a walk around K College - a beautiful campus!

May 23-25/Chicago, IL/RA Reunion: Four of us recruitment associates from the 2006-07 Big Midwest Recruitment Team gathered in Chicago to enjoy each other's company - indeed it was great to see all of them!!

May 26/Jefferson City, MO/Hickory Grove Visit: For the first time, I went to the Hickory Grove by myself - it was so nice to visit with Oma and hear all the stories that she has from when she first met Opa and how he was such a romantic! The Keel men certainly set the bar high!

May 27-May31/Lawrence, KS/Home: I love being home and in Lawrence. It was so exciting to finally meet Tux II and to be taken care of by Mom and Dad. With 2 trips to Free State, a visit with Grandpa Mac, and meals out on the screened-in porch, I have my 'home-fix' for at least a few weeks.

May 31/Dallas, TX/2 Beiers, 2 Davises, 1 Keel: Thankfully the Davis/Beier clan graciously hosted me on my trip to Houston. We had a lovely evening at a wine bar and then back at Katie's place. It is so nice to have friends all over!

June 1/Houston, TX/Institute: Well, here I am at Moody Towers - my residence for the next 6 weeks. It is pretty incredibly how fast I was able to set up my room - I guess living in Douthart for 4 years helped develop that skill. So far everything is pretty relaxed, but tomorrow everything will kick into gear to get our corps members ready to start teaching in just 2 weeks!

~mitzi

back in chicago...

I turned my heat off before I left for KS a little over week ago thinking that I wouldn't have to turn it back on until maybe October...ha. The wintry weather that has been hanging around the past three days has made me once again click the little switch to 'on'. What's sad is that I only have it on 60 - and it still comes on to heat this apartment. Come on, Chicago - it's the middle of April. At least today, the sun is out - so hopefully I can take a stroll to a coffee shop and do some Sunday reading. Gotta soak up this sun before it goes away again.

My week in KS was really great. Mom and Dad's new "BBB&B" (formerly known as 'The Girls' Room', you all can take a guess at what those 4 B's stand for) is a really nice addition to home...I still marvel at the fact that there were 3 of us living in that room until Katie headed up the Hill. I took quite a trip down memory lane as I went through Sterlite container after Sterlite container filled with the remnants of what used to be in that old room...and of course kept some of those precious keepsakes that I'll soon forget about until we have to clean out the garage someday.

Although, I was planning to go home no matter what happened with the NCAA tournament, it was sure nice to be there for the 2 big wins over UNC and Memphis - and then heading to Mass. St. to celebrate. I'm still in shock that we actually claimed the championship - it's unreal how basketball can give you so much pride in your alma mater. What a game! What a season! What a team!

In case you want to relive the moment that had all of us screaming - check out these videos from a few choice locations.

In NYC:


In Brooklyn:


The Granada (Lawrence, KS):


Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, KS):


And of course, the Alamodome (some profanity):

brings a tear to the eye...

Flight home using Southwest Rewards: $5
2 beers at Free State: $6.50
Being in Lawrence when KU won the 2008 Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament: Priceless

much later...

When I went to look to see if I had any new comments on my blog - I realized that it had been a month since I last blogged. So here's an update of sorts...

Towards the end of February, my friend and former co-worker, Casey, decided it was time for a visit in Chicago. So for 2 weeks, I kind of lived a "vacation" by reliving some of our past times here. It was a great two weeks that included a trip to Goose Island Brewery on a Sunday afternoon. Thinking that we would enjoy a brew that is not found in stores - we ordered the reserved Imperial I.P.A. - only to find out that it was served in a tulip glass at $10/glass. I definitely had a "I guess we're not in KS anymore" moment thinking that I was at the 'local' brewery - where all the beers cost the same (Freestate!!). Needless to say, we enjoyed the $10 beer...and then switch to the traditional I.P.A. for the rest of our time at the brewery.

Also, I found a new place near my apartment that's great for watching games and grabbing a veggie (or of meat variety) burger...and I actually have already been there by myself for dinner and a game. I was pretty proud of myself for taking that step in my life...I never thought I would eat dinner out by myself, but this place is welcoming enough to let me do so. Thank you, High Dive!

During all of this, I also made a quick trip down to Ames, IA to visit Amy and see her apartment...and a KU basketball game! Although it was cold...it was great to see Amy and her life in Iowa.

I just got back from a little over a week in Dayton - it was quite the whirlwind week looking back...realizing how much my life has changed since the Buschelmans introduced me to the show "Lost". I've resisted for several seasons (3.5) but little did I know about the power of "Lost". You can watch all the episodes online for free...so just give it a shot and see if you're intrigued by the lives of Oceanic Flight 815.

Other events from Dayton: Caught a 24-hour stomach flu from either Liesel/Dom, received some excellent gifts from Eric's trip to the New Belgium Brewery, introduced Dom to his new favorite game: Finger Buzzing, enjoyed a thin and crispy cheese pizza with my sister, and of course - enjoyed the Jayhawks' victories in this year's Big XII tourney (as well as a few others here)!! I'll be back there in July...but I certainly enjoy my traditional trips to Ohio in October and March!

And in other news: I was offered a position on the Houston institute staff and decided to accept the offer. So I'll be in TX for about 7 weeks this summer working as a school operations manager...and then will take some time off before I start up again here in Chicago. I don't know for sure what position I'll be in this coming year...I might stay with talent recruitment or I may do something else within the organization.

~mitzi

politician or public servant

People Always Hate Politicians Until They Need One

I got into the legislation business only in order to tirelessly serve the good people of Kansas's 3rd District. But what do I get in return? ...

back home...

After a whirlwind week of traveling to and from Los Angeles and Philadelphia...it is good to be back in the Central timezone. I'm a little exhausted from the several hours spent in airports, airplanes, and taxi cabs - but it was great to go to both of these places and see some sites that I might have never thought to go see on my own. From the famed cement hand and foot prints along Hollywood Blvd. to the historical home of the Declaration of Independence...the cities of angels and brotherly love were certainly intriguing - and definitely warmer than the frigid temperatures of this windy city.

In other news, I have an interview for a position on the staff that supports the summer institute in Houston for this coming June/July. It's the school operations manager role - which means, you run all the logistics/operations for one of the schools that incoming corps members teach at during their 5 weeks of training. This is just part-time/summer job - so I would live in Houston for 6-7 weeks during the summer and then return back to my regular job. If I get it - it will be a really great experience to have within the organization...so if you have a moment to think of me at 4:30pm CST this Tuesday - I'd appreciate it!

And since I have tomorrow off for President's Day - check this out:

PRESIDENT’S DAY

Back in Seventeen ninety-six
Is when this Holiday began
For the birthday of ol’ George
At least that was the plan.
It was his last full year
Of his Presidency
Born February twenty-second
Or the Eleventh, ‘cause you see
The old calendar was different
Than the one we use today
And some celebrated one
Some people on the other day.
By the early Nineteenth Century
Celebrated every year
Birthnight Balls were held
Taverns reveled in good cheer.
Public figures gave their speeches
And Receptions given by a few
Then along came ol’ Abe Lincoln
His Birthday in February too.
In Eighteen and sixty-five
The year after Booth’s fatal shot
Both House’s of Congress gathered
For a Memorial and solemn thought.
Not a Federal Holiday like George’s
But legal in more than one State
And then a Resolution was enacted
Back in Nineteen sixty-eight.
They made the third Monday of the month
To make for a three day weekend
To honor Washington and Lincoln
And this story comes to it’s end.

~Del "Abe" Jones~
01-28-2005

top 10 in football, basketball, and...

Once again - Lawrence, KS has proven itself.

some talent...

I randomly saw this video and was impressed...so I thought I would share.

getting started...

As I begin this next year of my life, I sit thinking about the last several birthdays I've celebrated with friends and family. While I didn't do much on my actual birthday besides watch KU lose in Manhattan, KS for the first time in my lifetime...I did have a wonderful birthday celebration over the past month - visits with Blair and the Reddigs; packages coming from Kansas, Ohio, and Iowa; the flowers that technically came from both the east and west coasts; and all the e-mails the phone calls wishing me a happy day. Thank you to everyone! While my family and friends don't live right down the street - I know that I'm still close with all of them and well, that's something I can always hold on to when I'm feeling lonely.

This weekend, I finally got started on my new year's resolution list. I planned that my first Chicago site would be the Chicago History Museum. It seemed like a good starting place. My plans were almost scratched due to the admission price ($14)...which seemed steep for a general museum. However, I found out that you can check-out passes at the public library - so that's just what I did! Technically, another adult and 2 children could have come along with me for free, but when the museum employee asked me, "How many are with you?" - I just said, "Oh, it's just me!" I checked my coat, took my audio tour iPod, and headed off to learned how this Windy City came to be.

This museum certainly has some great exhibits - a Lincoln gallery brought back memories of the family trip to D.C. and our tour of Ford's Theatre. The exhibits with the founding "Checaugo" and the establishment of Fort Dearborn helped me figure out that the reason for all the crazy diagonal streets was that they were old Indian trails that the city planners kept in place as the grid-system was being laid out. Learning how this 'Second City' is really second to none ibecause it is the birthplace of so many things that we often take for granted...the retail department stores like Marshal Field, Macy's, Sears, Crate and Barrel; and other companies like Schwinn bicycles and the Playboy Bunny. Sadly, one of these things that its start in Chicago is the Pill - which was not included on the audio tour. Interesting...

Learning more about the Great Fire, the Haymarket riots, Race riots - brought back a lot of Mr. Ortmann's U.S. history class discussions. I find it interesting that the two cities I've live in have dealt with such turmoil and have both burned to the ground, but rose from the ashes. Of course, my favorite area was the Jazz section - even though it was pretty small in comparison to the rest of the exhibits. And yes, there was the Chicago's sports exhibits - including a pair of Michael Jordan's shoes. I only wish there was some interactive exhibit were you leaned the 'Super Bowl Shuffle'.

Overall, a interesting visit for the historian in me. I feel that with all these outings I'll be making - I should probably have some sort of rating.

Taking time, price, accessibility, and overall enjoyment into account, on a scale of 1-5. 1 being don't waste your time and 5 being a must see in Chicago.

Chicago History Museum: 4

Until next time...

-mitzi

Kansas Day...

Who doesn't love a sunflower?

I was born in Texas
I was bred in Kansas
When I get married I'll be wed in Kansas
There's a true blue gal who promised she would wait
She's a sunflower from the Sunflower State

She's a sunflower, she's my sunflower
And I know we'll never part
She's my sunflower, she's my one flower
She's a flower of my heart

I was fair in Kansas, clouds are rare in Kansas
Never saw a place that could compare with Kansas
So I'm going home to keep a wedding date
With a sunflower from the Sunflower State

She's a sunflower, she's my sunflower
And I know we'll never part
She's a sunflower, she's my one flower
She's a flower of my heart

Can't keep waiting...

It's been a wonderful Christmas here in Kansas and I'm glad to be home. The past year has had its ups and downs and here I am again thinking about the new year and what is in store for me. I think in past years (including this one) I've always thought that things would come to me - you don't have to go out and find them. So, yes - I've spent several days/nights waiting for something - and finally in the past couple of days...after talks with my closest friends and family - I am now committed to stop waiting for things. I need to generate my own life and not wait for someone else to catch up - if that makes sense.

I think that in my homesickness and missing of friends - I've let myself off the hook as far as being the "independent woman". I've counted on those two things to reason with myself that I don't need to be doing anything. I can't just remain idle until something pops up. I guess I'm tired of waiting and have decided to resolve that I need to embrace my independence and take on whatever is out there to see and do (in moderation, of course!). So with my new digital camera in hand and a new spirit to enjoy the life and situation I'm in...here's to 2008 and my to do list...whether the items are completed by me with my friends/family - or just me. And I'm asking my loyal readers to keep my honest...as my postings should be more about my explorations than my eyebrows. :)

Prosit Neu Jahr!!

-mitzi

I will ALWAYS cheer against Missouri...

MU Shirt: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/11/12/we-burned-your-town-to-the-ground/

KU Response: http://www.jayhawkertees.com/

A month later...

The last month has been pretty good with trips here and there...and with the Chicago weather settling into the pre-winter chill. My winter coat is finally out and I'm never without my scarf. I'll never forget walking to my December finals in flip-flops back in Kansas, but I doubt that we'll have that kind of weather again anytime before late March up here.

Last month I headed to St. Louis to see one of my good friends with Teach For America get married. I was lucky to be able to spend some time with the St. Louis Keels and work out of the St. Louis regional office for a week. I received a private tour of the Arch from my cousin who now works there- and I have to say that in a competition of the Arch vs. the Sears Tower - the Arch will always win. We also went to the Body Worlds exhibit at the Science Center. It was pretty incredible and if it comes to a city near you - I highly recommend it...the human development section was so revealing and who knows, maybe the people that see this exhibit will think twice about what the human life really is inside the womb.

At Jackie's bachelorette party

The Keel Girls - at the Botanical Gardens

I also took my annual fall trip to Dayton, OH to just relax and enjoy some Kansas football with my family! It still blows my mind what this football team has done. I mean, I'm sitting here in my living room and the KU/OSU game is going to be on television to say the least - but on ABC - so I don't even have to go to a bar to watch it...mind-blowing!! ROCK CHALK!! Some non-football highlights from Dayton: Liesel's Falafel w/ avocado spread, Eric's espresso and cappuccino, inheriting some old VHS-formatted movies...and well Dominic just being so cute!

I'm trying to get more involved with the young adult group at the cathedral here in Chicago and I'm trying decide if I should just register at that church instead of St. Helen's...I talked to a few people last night and I learned that there is a church fairly close to me that uses the Latin Rite - I've never been to a Latin Mass, so I think I'll check it out just to see what it's all about.

I'm headed to Madison next weekend - to spend Thanksgiving week preparing for the arrival of the rest of the family....I can only hope that I'll be able to play Wii all week long!!!!

My odyssey years?

This article was sent to me...enjoy and ponder....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/opinion/09brooks.html

"Man, you girls can eat!"

Time is a monster that cannot be reasoned with.
It responds like a snail to our impatience,
then it races like a gazelle when you can't catch a breath.

-from the movie, Simon Birch

It was such a beautiful weekend in Chicago. The weather, the scenery, and the company. From the Thursday evening to this afternoon - every moment was wonderful. A late night meal on Division, A trip to IKEA, the man on the sidewalk who exclaimed to Sarah, "You are stunning.", an evening in Wicker Park with a bottle of wine, a few tears, and tons of laughter, a morning nap, a waiter who tried to compliment us as we finished our deep dish pizza, the lady with the hat in the Confession line, the Bean at night, a walk along the Chicago River, the Green Door, Margie's ice cream to-go, an endearing movie, having someone to go to Mass with, chocolate mousse, and raspberry cheesecake...

Every time I get to spend time with people I love in this city - I enjoy it all the more and realize that with all the traffic and crowded sidewalks - it is truly a wonderful place to live at this point in my life.

~mitzi

nothing in particular...

Since it has been almost 3 weeks since my last post, I figure I should probably post another post. Although, compared to my siblings' blogs - I don't have that much excitement to report. Nothing like a child taken his/her first steps or saying their first words. But for those of you who like just see what is much ado about Mitzi, here you go:

Yesterday, I headed back to "Milano" - a hair salon that reminds me of "Babette". I think about how much I'm paying to get my eyebrows fixed up, but then I realize that Sheri (an eyebrow specialist) spends over 30 minutes re-shaping, plucking, trimming, and waxing...and well, that makes feel better about myself and the money I've spent. Plus, I found out that my eyebrows have been waxed incorrectly for past several years...so now I'm actually trying to grow them back in. I know crazy, crazy stuff going on here for the Chicago girl. Anyhow, the homework that I receive from Sheri is to simply do nothing. Yeah, she's that awesome. Plus, she is totally excited that my sisters might be coming in for a "girl's weekend". :)! Also, in Sheri's 4+ years of eyebrow grooming, she has never seen eyebrows like mine...apparently the don't grow the same way that most eyebrows grow --- maybe I should tell her that I burned one completely off due to a daytime firework mishap when I was a kid. Hmmm.

Work is going really well. As many of you already know...Teach For America is looking to open a site in Kansas City starting next fall. So that's something on the table...while I do enjoy my current job, I know that I probably won't stay in it for that long. I'm not making any decisions...just really looking at the options and gathering them. Then come, February/March/April...I'll have to figure out something or another. Right now, I'm "leaning" towards staying in Chicago, mainly because I don't want to deal with the effort and cost of moving. I really like my apartment and my neighborhood too. And it's nice to be a weekend trip away from Madison and Dayton.

I'm going to be making a trip to St. Louis next month for a friend's wedding and also some over-due time w/ the St. Louis Keels. I'm hoping to do some sight-seeing...actually, just checking out the Brewery.

Until next time... :)



-mitzi

is it really football season already?

Now, I realized that we are now almost a week past Labor Day - but I don't think I'm ready for football season. Not that I don't enjoy football...I guess I'm just not ready for it to be September. I think I now understand how people forget the years that certain things happen because once you begin a job that has no specific "season" like a school year...everything just runs together. Hmmm.

Probably another reason that I'm not looking forward to September taking over and October coming in from behind is that I know that I'm going to have to give up my sandals/flip flops. Yes, weird thing to be emotionally upset about, but I like the freedom of sandals. Then again, I should look at this change as a chance to get rid of a bunch of flip flops that I've purchased over the years and are now simply a thin layer of foamy plastic separating my foot from the evils of Chicago's streets and sidewalks.

I do look forward to wearing sweaters...and hooded sweatshirts on Saturday mornings - there's something about those two things that make the fall and winter wonderful!

Anyhow, in other news - life is going pretty well. I got back from Los Angeles on Friday and I have to say that LA is pretty nice and I definitely like it much better than NYC. The conference that I planned all the logistics for went really well and people seemed to be happy with my work. I'm glad to have the position that I do...definitely less stressful than last year...and I'm definitely sleeping better - but that could be the new mattress :).

The apartment is still good besides the lack of cell phone service. I decided to forget the hanging-pot contraption for this stage in my life and went with some simple hooks to hang-up Grandma's copper-bottom pots. I'm really impressed with my apartment and I'm glad that it is such a conglomerate of my family's items that have been passed along.

I'm making Acorn Pie tonight...definitely a "fall" dish and hopefully it will get me more in the mood for September. I also feel like I should eat a vegetable other than lettuce and carrots. Sorry, Mom - no green beans ;)!