Saturday, September 22, 2012

ten

Ten years ago I had just completed high school, traveled to Germany/Sicely by myself for a month, and moved into Smith hall at Drury University.

I can't believe it was that long ago.

Marahall class of 2012 had their 10 year reunion last night and just the fb updates and whatnot have got me thinking about high school, insecurities, growth and contentment... as well as jealousy, and general feeling of unimportantness... and classifications in school, etc.

Perhaps there will be a better thought out post sometime later.

-mrp-

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Monday, September 17, 2012

a bit political... just a tiny bit

Whit and I had a discussion the other day about how some people put political posts up on fb... and while in general, I'm okay with people sharing their political beliefs and voicing what they believe to be true/good on facebook, I HATE when that's the only thing they EVER post.

Because that's not all there is about life.  While that might be REALLY important to some people, there are SO many other things to post and share that will encourage others and just make for a better, happier world.  Why not mix a few of those posts in too?!

In any case... since I have had this talk with Whit, I have decided that I'm not posting anything political on there... but here, well... you came here to see what I was thinking!  So you get to see it :).

This is great:

http://front.moveon.org/five-guys-took-a-boy-band-anthem-and-created-one-of-the-best-romney-parodies-hands-down/

-maike rinaye-

ps: I don't like Romney... okay, sure... but I also know that I don't know a TON about him... so there... I still like this though.


Saturday, September 15, 2012

“People can have the Model T in any color – so long as it’s black.” ― Henry Ford

Back in 2007, I went from this:


to this:


It was the first adult purchase I REALLY made... all.by.my.self.

I remember driving it off the lot for the first time, and listening to Colbie Caillat.... I also might have teared up driving it off the lot... how bizarre, right?  I'm not sure exactly why, but it was such a cool feeling to feel like I was making this huge decision, and I had gotten through it, and I had a brand new car.  That's right, 2007, 600 miles on it [they drove it in from like, Pennsalvania or something], first owner of it... not my best financial decision, but I don't regret it.  I was single in a city with not a lot of friends and no family.  I needed to have security in my car not breaking down.

The first year I had it, someone not only broke the drivers side mirror off of it, but it was also walked over; literally  someone [with huge feet], stepped on the hood of the car, up the windshield and over the top of it... who does that?!].... [that's what we get for living in the sketchy part of town], and miraculously my sunroof didn't break.

In any case, I love my car.  And now, it is no longer owned by the bank :).  COMPLETELY PAID OFF!

I'm so excited; you have no idea.  I know we still have a long way to being debt free, but this big monthly payment is no longer on my list.

Yay.

*maike rinaye*

Thursday, August 30, 2012

dirty

I don't take a shower immediately after I complete a run. I think it's because I fear I might accidentally drown by attempting to gulp air but only getting water.

-mrp-

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Hmmm...

This morning I was thinking about art.. well, more or less.

I was designing a t-shirt in my head and thinking that I could make it for so-and-so, and I like the idea, but I couldn't actually sell/make money from it because of the likeness to a certain Disney character....

But then I thought... damn, tattoos do it all the time: make money from Disney characters/trademarked logo's, etc... what's the difference?  Each artists sells his/her work on a canvas of sorts, each artist creates it with their own hand, each get's paid for the end results.  So why do tattoo artists get to tattoo trade marked characters and other artists don't?

Hmm....

I think the world might be a better more creative place if tattoo artists weren't allowed to tattoo trademark characters on their clients.

But I suppose that's another conversation in general.

-mrp-

Monday, August 20, 2012

Potatoes...

"Do you have potatoes in your ears?  How many times do I have to say it!?!?"

No, who would have potatoes in their ear?  What a ridiculous phrase.

My mother use to say this to us, exasperated from repeating whatever it was two or three... or [God-forbid], four times.  But every time, it sounded completely absurd.

I have been watching my niece and nephew this summer (9 and 12). And throughout the summer there are certain things that I've been noticing about myself.  Most recently, for example, the kids have been saying "what?" and "huh?", what seems like constantly..... And my response (after grinding my teeth and taking a breath to not be as annoyed) was, "you need to clear out the potatoes out of your ears!" .... Ridiculous.

So a few weeks ago the question/prompt was to talk about one way you are like your mother (my question actually).  Jenkins and I both agreed we could write a book about this, and picking one was a bit of a challenge.  But I think really, every day I am realizing more and more ways I am like my mom.

Besides the potatoes, there are quite a few embarrassing ways that I'm like my mother.  For example, we both like stuff, and coupons.  And because of that, clutter is a constant battle to keep at bay.  We also always have a to-do list as long as our arms, which we have a problem focusing our efforts on to check things off the list.  We also are pretty good at loosing track of time/being late for things because we thought maybe we could get one more thing into the time before we were meant to be somewhere.

But there are pretty awesome ways I'm like my mom too.  We both have dreams of all the things we want to do some day [go back to Europe, hike/camp certain places, etc], we like to volunteer to make the world a better place and to love people in ways the world doesn't always.  We like to talk.  We, for the most part, don't care what the world does think about us [see my mom's crazy cowboy hat that she wears EVERYWHERE], we both have a bachelors degree, and we both like dressing up in general :).

My mom has always been so supportive of me, of my adventuring, of my not exactly job-secure degree choice, of my moving to other states, and the list goes on.

My mom's a bad ass.  I hope to someday achieve her bad-ass-ness [smile].

-maike rinaye-






Oh, I also look like my mom, I think I might have failed to mention that part of likeness :)

better

In 8th grade they made us run the mile.... and timed us.... I KNOW I walked for a lot [if not most] of it, but I have no idea what my time was [unfortunately].  I'm pretty sure it wasn't pretty.

This morning I ran the mile in 12 minutes.

Not awesome, I realize this... BUT, I ran it all... one total mile :).  Someday I'll actually run like, on a track and see what kind of time, when I push myself, I can do the mile in [hopefully less than 10 minutes].

But, I believe I'm more fit now than when I was in 8th grade.

Go me.

-maike rinaye-

Sunday, August 12, 2012

darn...

So, while running in California this week, I have figured out that there is only about half my rout that I can get Pandora on (we're a little bit out in bfe).... so now I'm trying to make the decision of Pandora for half my run, or Christmas music that's already loaded on my phone...

Decisions decisions...

-mrp-

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Saturday, August 04, 2012

day 2

Day 2 of running = successful.
I ran for 10 MIN, walked 5 MIN then ran 10 MIN and walked 5.... the gym I go to has individual tvs and when I was walking my final 5 MIN out, the Olympic runners started their run.
It was enough to get me to run another 10 MIN.
So, all together, 45 MIN on the treadmill and just over 3 miles all together.
All that to say, I think I'm signing up for the RAD run... :).
-mrp-
Ps: I have more thoughts on running, but I'll save them for another entry.
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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

In other news...

... happy baby pose is THE most embarrassing yoga pose EVER... sheesh.

-mrp-

Also, it might be the end of the world

... cause last night, I ran... right?!.. RUNNING, on a treadmill!... no one was even chasing me!

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm pretty physically fit, but running has always been one of those things for me that I have despised.  Probably something to do with middle school/high school, when we had to endure running a mile and being timed, and I was always at the end.

Not to mention that running has always been a bit boring for me.  I like classes a lot, and if I'm not doing a yoga/zumba/belly dancing class, then I'm probably going to do the eliptical for as long as it takes me to read a magazine, and then do weights... 'cause I want to be strong and toned.

Anyway, if I'm on a treadmill, I'm doing a quick walk.. not running.

But then one of the blogs I read featured this:http://www.colormerad.com/races/indianapolis.html

Right!?... and I thought, THIS I could run for.  How fun does it look!!!!  And it's in Indy on a weekend that I currently do not have anything booked.

BUT seeing that I have not run before, I thought, I need to make sure I can do this before I embarrass myself :).

And it turns out, I kinda liked running.. liked how I felt after running.  So I'm gonna try to do it again a few times this week and see how it turns out.

-mrp-

Storms...

Woke up this morning to CRAZY storms, that felt like the lightning and thunder were erupting from right out side our window, and then pelting small stones (hail) against the window.

My first thought, "I should find some pants to put on, 'cause when the tree falls on our house, and we have to run out, there's no chance I'll be able to find them quickly enough".

But then I decided it was too hot in our room to put pants on.

-mrp-

Sunday, July 22, 2012

“No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.” ― Laurie Colwin

This past weeks blog challengers question:


If you could acquire a talent (without any extra effort), what would it be? Why?


So, a few years ago [three actually], my bff, my boyfriend, and one of his friends packed into the G6 and headed up to Canada... to celebrate July 4th :).

While we were up there one night, all in my little tent, the boyfriends friend posed a similar question to the group as well.  My answer: Cooking.


They all laughed because their answers were like, flying or becoming invincible, but I'm totally serious.  I want to be able to cook better, without having to learn anything.  The main reason, I think, is because it's such a good thing to know, how to cook, how to make something taste great, how to make it healthy.  But we're so inundated with ways to not cook [I seriously didn't know one could make mac-n-cheese from scratch until I was in middle school and we made it for Home Ec Class].  Not to mention that knowledge about cooking is SOOO wide.  Like, cooking steak vs making an awesome salad vs making a casserole.  And then the different genres all have different seasons and ways to cook, and things to combine.  It's just so much knowledge to absorb to be good at cooking!

I think also, I want to be good at it, but I haven't really cared about it all that much.  For me it isn't a fun thing to know about or how to do.  Fun is showing off that I can juggle [which I can], or that I can draw a pretty good sketch of your butt [also which I can], or being able to sing the entire song to Baby Got Back.  That's fun and weird and cool.

All that to say, I want to be good at it, so slowly but surely I've been learning more about it, from all sorts of people [Beth and Jill in Columbus each took a night to walk me through some of their favorite dishes a year and a half ago when I visited in the winter].... [and Ronalds Grandma Leota taught me how to make a peacan pie (Ronald's favorite), last winter as well].

And honestly, since we've been trying to pay down debt, cooking has seemed the best entertainment.  When you aren't trying to spend money there are a few things you have to have, and food falls into that category, so why not try to make it fun, right?  So it functions as a necessity and entertainment!

I'm always looking for a new recipe to try, so if you have any, feel free to pass them on :).

-maike rinaye-




Saturday, July 21, 2012

X-mas... and money

We have 22 weeks until X-mas, after today, there will be 156 full days until X-mas, and 22 paydays between then and now [if you get paid everyweek]... if I want to spend $500 on Christmas gifts this year, I need to save $23/week starting now.

Ya, it's July and I sure did start thinking about X-mas now.

-mrp-

“I want to write a book about shoes that’s full of footnotes.” ― Jarod Kintz

I love shoes.  Almost everyone knows this :).

And since April, I have had a gift card to Zappos stuck away in my desk drawer waiting to be used.

Now, since April, I have probably gone to Zappos 8-10 times to look through all the shoes in my size; and to choose a few, and think, and then take a few off the list, and add others and think... in any case.  I currently have it narrowed down to three different pairs.  And I can't freakin decide.

Damn having so many options to choose from! [sigh].

Thoughts?  Anyone think that one of these screams Maike more than the others?

If we had more money, I would most likely be walking [ha ha], home with more than one.

*maike rinaye*


CURRENTLY IN YOUR SHOPPING CART
YOUR ITEMSITEM PRICEQUANTITYPRICE
SUBTOTAL (3 ITEMS):$143.97
STANDARD GROUND SHIPPING:FREE
* ESTIMATED TAX TO BE COLLECTED:$0.00
GRAND TOTAL:$143.97
Reebok Lifestyle Classic Nylon Slim

Reebok Lifestyle Classic Nylon Slim

  • SKU: #7723529
  • COLOR: BEAT/TIN GREY/ROSETTE/WHITE/BLACK/PURE SILVER
  • SIZE: 9.5
  • WIDTH: B - MEDIUM
$43.99
SALE!
$54.99
$43.99
Reebok Lifestyle Classic Nylon Slim

Reebok Lifestyle Classic Nylon Slim

  • SKU: #7723529
  • COLOR: BLACK PLUM/AUBERGINE/CHARGED GREEN/WHITE
  • SIZE: 9.5
  • WIDTH: B - MEDIUM
$54.99
$54.99
KangaROOS Combat Racer

KangaROOS Combat Racer

  • SKU: #7610940
  • COLOR: TURQUOISE/GREY/NAVY
  • SIZE: 9.5
  • WIDTH: B - MEDIUM
$44.99
SALE!
$55.00
$44.99

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

the lawn of relationships

Last night I was sitting very still on my back porch ('cause if I moved much the stupid motion sensor light would turn on). I found myself thinking about fireflys, grass and the neighbors.
I came to this conclusion:
Relationships are like lawns.
So my green grass in the back yard is, well... not so green.  And while I was outside sitting still I had put the sprinkler on and was watering the very dry brown patch of yard that we call grass.  Normally in Indiana one does not have to ever water their grass. There's enough rain it stays green and grows more than you think it possibly can.
But this year is different, because something like 70% of the country is experiencing a drought. Which means I water the grass occasionally.
In regards to relationships, sometimes a realationship starts out green and full of life and healthy because there is so much love being poured into it.  But then, for whatever reason, when the love stops being poured in, the grass starts to change colors and die. Sometimes if there is no love being poured in, people give up and call it dead.
But other times, we can start to water it and revive it from that dry brown unhealthy mess! Now, it can't be just one or two random showers of love, but intentional and routine and different love than what normally falls from the sky. It has to be nurtured and cared for and noticed.
And I think, 90% of the time, when there are people who step up and choose to water that grass, it will turn green again.
*maike rinaye*
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

“All men are born with a nose and ten fingers, but no one was born with a knowledge of God” Voltaire

Yesterday we did drinks with another couple... and after some non-classy remarks, I told him that occasionally I felt like punching him in the nose... he asked why, and I said that the things he said made me think of an annoying 13 year old... who I also wanted to punch in the nose...

Later during the night, after I might have made a penis innuendo joke, he laughed and said, "That makes me want to punch you in the nose"...

Which made me wonder, why did I add nose onto it?  Why not just punch you in the face?  When he said it back to me, all I could think of was puppets... and him as a puppet... like this puppet, but with a giant nose.



like this maybe:


Because if you punched that puppet in the face, you would really only be punching him in the nose...

I don't actually want to punch anyone in the nose.  If I were going to punch someone I think the jaw/cheek/belly/arm/chest would be better.  Noses are just too awkward to punch.

Also, if my Uncle George was a Muppet, he would be Rowlf .

Lastly, Miss Piggy is still my favorite... she is so amazing.



*maike rinaye*

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." -- James Michener

Current Blog Challengers Question:

What's one of your favorite family vacation memories?


This one is hard for me.  Because quite honestly, I have SO many great vacation memories.  My mother once explained to me that we didn't get a plethora of new clothes and new toys because for her, the family vacation was more important than those things.


I also read just the other day about how experiences make people more happy than stuff.


So because of that, almost every summer, all 5 of my family members would pack into the Pontiac Wagon, or later the Jeep Grand Cherokee, tow our pop up camper, and head off to spend the 2 week vacation time Dad had off of work.


We traveled all over the USA.  And living in New Mexico, this was a LONG drive to just about anywhere.


... back to the initial question though...


Gosh... to pick one of my favorite vacation memories is so hard.... I've literally been sitting here staring at the screen thinking of vacation moments the past five minutes.

I guess I'll go with a Michigan one.

The first LONG trip we took with the Jeep and the pop-up was for a family reunion in Michigan.  Uncle Fred owned the family farm [dad's side/grandma Tillen's side].  And for probably 10 years, every 2-3 years they would host the family reunion.

So this was a time when most of our Michigan family drove in, and then a few from Indiana, and then us from New Mexico.  And. it. was. awesome.

Every time it was awesome.  The farm is on about 60 acres [I think] of land right off of Lake Huron [which was always FREEZING cold].

Every morning Dad would walk down to the lake in his swim suit, with a bar of soap, and do his bathing there... in the freezing water.  And every morning he would try to convince us to go with him... which I occassionally did, but SURE didn't get into that cold water.

The days were spent lounging around, wandering in the woods, playing with the numerous dogs that people brought with them, and then the evenings were spent by a big old fire pit that people would just hang out around, and smoke, and eat, and drink [of course].

It was lovely, and of course the fire pit time was probably my FAVORITE.  'Cause this was the time the old stories come out.  Especially if my aunts and uncles were there.  They would talk about old houses they lived in, and trouble they got into, and one would make an accusation about the other, and the other would deny it completely.  It was great.  And the years that my grandmother went to the farm, were awesome.

She was so happy on the farm.  Happy to be with family, happy to be in Michigan, just happy.  It was great.

So there you have it.  I LOVE memories of our old family vacations.  Vacations and traveling are the best.

*maike rinaye*

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

genesis 16:13

".... You are the God who sees me."

-mrp-

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Monday, July 09, 2012

bikinis

Swimming breast stroke in a triangle top bikini = fine

Swimming free style in triangle top bikini = not good

Monday advice.

-mrp-

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