Not to be Out-Done...

Not to be out-done by my cousins, I figured I'd better get on updating my blog.

It is only a few days until Crystal's wedding. There are a lot of fires to put out before then, and I am glad that I can act as a firefighter on her behalf. I'm sure she's feeling a little overwhelmed right now, but she really has everything under control; she just doesn't know it yet...

I went to North Carolina a couple weeks ago to check out Crystal's new digs in Salisbury and experience a little of the south. After taking off and touching down at the St. Louis twice in one day, I finally made it to Charlotte, where Crystal and Dana picked me up at the airport. We had a quick dinner, then headed north to get some rest before the half marathon that we were doing in the morning.

Sunday was shopping-palooza with Crystal's friend Heather. We did our share to strengthen the economy, and ate some pretty good chow while we were at it.

Around 9am on Monday we headed south again to rent some mountain bikes and hit the trails at the US National Whitewater Training Center. Although we were very much beginners on a more intermediate course, we still did well and no one broke anything during the ride. After a little investigating, we found the locker rooms and showers at the Center, then a great little place to have lunch. This looked like quite the spot. I think I could come back and spend at couple of days at this one place trying out all the activities. It certainly didn't hurt that the temps were into the upper 70's and lower 80's all weekend, too!

Of course, we followed that up with some more shopping...

The weather back home in Iowa was freezing rain/snow/sleet/crap on Tuesday, so rather than spend the day and night in the St. Louis airport, I called the airline and switched my flight to Wednesday. That meant another glorious day in 80 degrees and my flip-flops rather than sliding through the ice.

Right before I left for the south, Team Vardo held its annual end-of-season banquet. We ate, drank, and had a very merry time recalling all the adventures of the team in 2007. Between the photo slideshow, the white elephant gift exchange, and the pre-recorded message from Stephen Hawkin, I was left nearly speechless. Alas, I did end up making a little speech about the history of the team and how much it meant to me, but it is hard to put into words what this strange little compilation of folks has meant to me.

I was also celebrating the fact that five days previous I had completed my EMT class. We ended with our practical exam. Practicals always cause me to break out into a cold sweat, and this one was no different. As it turns out, I had little to be nervous about. But it sure does feel good to be done!!

I am looking so forward to having all many of my girlfriends in town for the wedding next week. We welcomed a new baby (Harrison Burkhardt) into "the Clique," and I've got to tell you, this is one very cute kid. Poor guy doesn't know what he is in for when the girls get their hands on him!