dearest city of grand rapids

why do you make me shovel my side walk in fear of a fine, yet you do not seem to follow the same rules?? You are not playing fair! you are making my walks a tad slippery. Please attend to fuller and knapp and you will have a happier citizen. Thank you!

Today has two big events:
-Men gold medal hockey game. Usa usa usa!! [and closing ceremonies]
-john mayer concert!!! Nothing like getting to enjoy a Christmas present in February [thank you jeff and betsy!!]

thank you lindsay.

for introducing me [and now friends] to the worlds most addicting game ever.

Lineup

My new mission would be when I discover someone with the iphone or the touch. I ask first a. do you have to game lineup? B. if the answer is no. I politely request that they download it.

I have converted up to [i think] five people, shall not stop there!

A few cases and side effects of this game:
1. less talking at my lunch break. More playing. We are fair and take turns [learning to share!]
2. anti social. Examples: a. sitting in cars at lunch breaks [shatto] b. playing before a movie, instead of talking to long lost friends. c. playing at friends houses, instead of watching tv and talking Results in convos like yup …umm yeah..right. yup. What did you say?? [you have to concentrate while playing!]
3. allows people to connect over new strategies and ways to get more points. [It is all about patience in the beginning and use two hands]
4. hoping and begging work changes phone companies as to allow me to get the iphone. Good thing my cousin was already on board.

All this fun and my highest score is ONLY at 3600. I must persevere and practice more! That has become a daily mission.

I leave you with a warning.
Beware of this game.
The case results show: if you try it, you will become addicted.

Happy Friday!!!

sugar free syrup.

Third year running. National pancake day at ihop. I hop do you hop. We hopped. Only about a 20 min wait for a short stack of pancakes [and a little more goodness!] I vote the tradition holds true for another year.



sidenote: reporting second item was baked in the oven tonight and not burned. so it will be a happy birthday to colleen.

Location: Monroe place

Date night with miss shatto. And what a date it was. Cinco de mayo!
First no awkward pauses, good conversation.
Food delicious, dessert fabulous and free.
Little Olympics and lineup.
Check exchange was easy.
She took charge and decided our next destination and company.
The goodbyes were simply.
AND she has already texted the next day.
Sounds great, gentleman take note!!!!!
So next time you plan for a ladies night out and everyone comes back with legit excuse, do not let it hold you back from still going out. :)

ten thoughts on a saturday from the arlington couch:

[this is going to be a new installment on the traveling opi's blog. ten thoughts. not on a certain day, just random occurrence. allow you to peek in my brain]

1. I love cereal. All cereal. Today fruitloops. Last night late night snack honeycombs. Yesterday afternoon honeycomb cinnamon. I like Varity. I have five box of cereal open currently.
2. saw dear john. Rate, rental.
3. dollar beer and hot dog griffens game silly stuff. #5 is hot.
4. if coldstone is closing. All you have to do is ask a boy to hold the rolling door up [while being closed] and yell please please please stay open. We really want icecream. Noooo we have a pregnant woman and she has a craving. It works. Got my sweetcream and m&ms!!
5. I enjoy watching the Olympics. Snowboarding is awesome. Mens skating tad…hmm. Moguls ouch!! Go usa hockey!
6. lady gaga is now number thirteen on vh1 countdown…come on little monsters vote!
7. on the lent 2010 experiential calendar: feb 25 states: Do something that you’ve been putting off or trying to avoid.
8. question: what would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be? [not looking for your answers on this, I am only posing this question from the book purpose driving life. Made me think. So maybe you too]
9. book, furious longing of God: a. until the love of God that knows no boundary, limit, or breaking point is internalized through personal decision; until the furious longing of God seizes the imagination; until the heart is conjoined to the mind through sheer grace, nothing happens. B. Our religion never begins with what we do for God. It always starts with what God has done for us, the great and wondrous things that God dreamed of and achieved for us in Christ Jesus. C. you are blessed! Be-you-ti-ful. Be you. Just be. Love supports you. You are blessed! You have learned the purpose of life: LOVE. D. God loves me, just the as I am.
10. read an email this morning that gave me goosebumps. God is evident and working, pray is powerful. Will continue to pray and pray some more. Sometimes when you are at a loss for words, all you can reassure with is. Pray. But shouldn’t that be the greatest reassurance??? i am still learning....

and now we are back at it

up at 6:30. Leave at 7 for Orlando. say good bye to the parents until march 6. delayed an hour due to crew mandatory rest!?!? arrive in gr, arrive at my house. off to work. off to the y. home. unpack, laundry, and finally the bachelor.

Recap of the Floridian vacation:
one day full of sun! One nascar race. Lots of family time and quality time. Lots of sleeping. Lots of relaxing. reading and sudoku. Olympics. Fun adventures: mall, krispie kremes, quality bars. walks and beach runs. All this goodness makes it a success in my mind.
FIRST MORNING:

OUT TO EAT!

HIDING BY THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, IN THE PARKING LOT TO FEEL THE WARMTH [told betsy this is one of the weirder place i have slept before and her response, especially in your bathing suit!]

AT THE RACE: [six layers and comforter]



ON A WALK [valentines night aka pink day was just the girls, race went way over. so we went for a walk and to dinner, very good!]




Here is a brainteaser for you:
Today as I boarded the airplane home to good old gr, I had to use the bano. I just do not understand this. Why do they have a sign that reads if you smoke there is a $2200 fine. BUT then on the door there is an ashtray? Hmm does not make any sense to my brain.

blah blah blah soooo blog blog blog

this bar stool has become my destination for the last two days [temp reads 43 again]
checked facebook... times a hundred...no new status updates
checked gmail...times a hundred...no new emails
checked radar...times a hundred...cloud moving a snail pace


I finally understand how the older people in florida may be a tad over weight. Bc when it is cold all you can do it eat and sit and eat and sit and then change locations and eat and sit.

The lipinski family made the best of the clouds and wind yesterday by:

First started out the day with a walk:

second went to the new movie valentines day, two huge buckets of popcorn:


third took another nap, bc the two above items took it out of me!!!

Fourth head to the race track bc we thought the weather let up, but it didn’t!! Sooo we head to krispe kremes instead:

fifth watched the opening ceremonies and feel asleep on the couch again!

so far I have check two things off my vacation essentials:
hit up publix and went for a morning powerwalk.


here is another funny sign we discovered:


nine minutes for it to becoming sunny according to weather.com....hmmm
or maybe just time to go and eat lunch since i have been sitting for an hour!! :)