Athetics & Recreation Center Skybreaking!

On Friday we had our Skybreaking Ceremony at the University for our new Athletics & Recreation Center!  It was a nice way to welcome this new dome to our campus!  Right now it doesn't look like much inside, but it should be a nice addition when its all finished!


A look inside the dome before the ceremony begins!  It is huge!


A quick shot of the setup!


The sign saying we are the Super Bowl 2012 Practice Facility!


Mayor Greg Ballard speaking...


And finally... the releasing of the balloons!

What a place :)

War on Cops?

For the first time in my life, Dan's job is finally starting to scare me.  The thought of something bad happening to him has been on the top of my mind as of lately.  I'm sure its because of the cop that was just killed recently, but even more so than that, I am more aware that the percentage of cops being killed every year is reaching higher levels!

According to National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, an organization that tracks police casualties, there have already been as many officer deaths in January 2011 as there were in January of last year. The organization reported that officer deaths were up 43 percent in 2010 compared to 2009.  There were 160 in the line of duty deaths in 2010.

I can't help but think about the families that are affected by this sort of thing.... it breaks my heart to hear about the wives and children that are left behind when their husbands have been killed during a routine traffic stop or serving a warrant.  I have found myself crying when I see the new reports of another police officer that was killed in the line of duty.  It is just beginning to hit a little too close to home for me...


I never dreamed it would be me,
my name for all eternity,
recorded here at this hallowed place,
alas, my name, no more my face.
"In the line of duty" I hear them say;
...my family now the price will pay,
my folded flag stained with tears;
we only had those few short years.
The badge no longer on my chest,
I sleep now in eternal rest;
my sword I pass to those behind,
and pray they keep this thought in mind;
I never dreamed it would be me,
and with heavy heart and bended knee;
I ask for all here from the past,
Dear God, let my name be the last.

~RIP Officer David Moore~
May God Bless the Police Officers that risk their lives to keep our communities safe!

Background A.D.D.!

Okay, so I get a little A.D.D. on my blog background.  I can't stick with one for all that long because it just bores me!!!

What do you think of the new Valentine one! OoOoOo la la!

Spinruts

Although I spent most of my weekend training students for Phonathon... I did find a little time for some fun.  Myla, Suzy, Emily, and I got together and went to see one of the Directors in the Alumni House play in his band at Cheeseburger and Paradise.  It was a pretty fun time!  I didn't get off work until around 9:00 at night, so I ended up going over to Myla's afterward to have a couple of drinks.  We didn't get to Cheeseburger and Paradise until 11:00... and ended up staying until 1:00 in the morning.


Here's Myla and I with our delicious drinks!


Emily and Suzy!


The four of us!


Andy with his band... the Spinruts!!


Andy jammin'!

I hope everyone else enjoyed their weekend!!!

The Things I'll Never Get Use To...

By far the hardest thing about being married to a cop is the long hours they work, their weird schedules, and them missing holidays/gatherings.  It is just something that I'll never be able to get use to.  Even after living with Dan for 3 years I hate hate HATE it when he leaves for work at night.  It always seems like we just get settled in for the evening and then he is gone.  He is always telling me that I should be use to this by now, but I know that I never will.  During those few months that I work long hours because of Phonathon we only see each other in passing... it's "Hi" when I pass him coming home from work in the evening and he is leaving and "Hi" when he is coming home from work in the morning and I'm leaving.  It makes having a "normal" relationship a little hard.

Dan has a weird schedule... the days that I have off he doesn't and the days he has off I don't.  This makes doing fun things together hard mostly because he is sleeping when I'm off work and I'm working when he is off.  BLAH!  I know that there will probably never be a time that we have the same days off to enjoy together, but it would be nice :)

The last thing that I'll never get use to is him working holidays that I don't have to.  I hardly ever get to actually spend Christmas, Thanksgiving, or New Years with my husband.  Birthdays and anniversaries are hit and miss too.  It's okay I suppose... I understand that police officers have to work when most people don't... but it gets hard after a while of not having them around on special occassions.

I know what your all thinking.... suck it up... that's what being a cop wife is all about :)

Arrested Development!

A bunch of us at work are participating in the RUIndyFit Program here.  We are going to be recording our steps everyday throughout May.  I think that the goal is to get at least 10,000 steps a day.  This will be hard for me unless I do my regular workouts.  If I don't do anything but work during the day I usually only get between 3,000 and 4,000 steps because I sit on my rump most of the time.  I know... pathetic!

We had to come up with a team name so Heather, a friend at work, came up with Arrested Development.  I guess it use to be a show on TV about a dysfunctional family???  I have never seen it, but we decided that we were exactly that... and we all work in the development office!  It fits perfectly!!!  HAHA!  She is so clever!


Here's a pictures of the show and it's cast!

I'm kind of looking forward to the this step challenge.  I have kind of fallen off my running obsession and I'm hoping this will get me back into the swing.  Heaven knows I wouldn't want to let my teammates down :)

Cabin Fever!

It's only January and the Rhoton Family is already stir crazy!  Of course we do our normal everyday things such as go to work, school, out with friends, etc... but we don't spend a whole lot of time outside in the winter.  Most of you know, it's not my thing... AT ALL!  Even though all of the Rhoton's are suffering from cabin fever, our Remington Bear is probably the worse at the moment...


I think I'm a pretty good "dog mom" for the most part.  I baby my 82 pound boy more than I should I'm sure, but the one thing I won't do is take him for walks in the winter.  There's just no way I'm walking 3 miles in sub degree temperatures!  BRRR!  Not having a fenced in yard causes a bit of a problem for Remi as well because most of the time when we are outside he is leashed up.  Do I feel awful and like the worst mom ever??? Of course... but not bad enough to take the sweet boy for the walk he dreams of.  He'll have to settle for nice view from the window :)  Only one more month until we'll hit March! Hang in there Remington!

Oh how I miss them....

Here are some new pics of Max, Blakely and Hannah... my wonderful nieces and nephew in AZ!  We are in need of a serious visit out there!  They are growing up before my eyes!!!


Max... doesn't he look handsome!


Blakely... I think she is such a PRETTY baby!!!


And of course my sweet Hannah... she looks so gangsta in this pic!

I miss you three so much!

D.I.Y. Veggie Burgers...

Okay, so I have been dying to try to make my own veggie burgers.  I mean, come on... how hard could it be really.  My favorite store bought veggie burger is Amy's brand.  YUM!  They are so good that even Dan likes them.  Anyways, tonight we decided to embarked on our own veggie burger adventure!

Things you are going to need:
  2 potatoes
  1 green pepper
  1 can of white beans (any kind will do, we used Northern)
  2 cloves garlic
  2 T. flour
  1/2 t. salt
  Ground pepper (to your liking)
  1/4 cup basil


First, get all your stuff together.  We actually doubled this recipe, but I wouldn't if I made it again... the amounts I listed above would have been perfect.


Next, cut your potatoes into fourths.  You are going to boil these in water until they are soft.


Open your can of beans and pour them into a strainer... rinse them off with cold water.


Chop your green peppers into small pieces


Chop your cloves of garlic into tiny pieces


Now go check on your potatoes... are they soft yet?


Once your potatoes are nice and soft, drain the water, and your going to put EVERYTHING into a large bowl and mash it all up with a fork.  Your going to do this until the beans and potatoes hold together, but not so mashed that you end up with mashed potatoes.


This is what it will end up looking like....


Now your going to make your mashed up mess into patties.


Like I said, don't double this recipe unless you want major leftovers!!!


Throw them in a skillet for 5-6 minutes on each side. Don't forget the cooking spray or they will stick very badly!


Once they are finished put them on a bun with some cheese and ranch dressing or BBQ sauce.  They are ready to eat!

Would I make them again you ask???  Well, they weren't bad... but they also didn't have much taste to them.  We also were disappointed because they didn't keep their shape very well.  It was pretty much like eating a mashed potato sandwich. 


However, I better get use to them because I have A LOT of leftovers to eat....

Why I love Dan's coffee!

I only get Dan's coffee on Friday and Saturday mornings since those are his days off work and he is up early enough to fix it for me.  I would fix it for myself, but his coffee pot is off limits to me since he is a bit OCD about it... (sadly, I think my compulsions are rubbing off on him)!  ANYWAYS!!!!  I look forward to those mornings so much because I love love LOVE his coffee!  Well, maybe it's not "his" coffee, but instead all the stuff I put in it to make it taste good that I love.  I add probably a half a cup of half and half and a LOAD of sugar!  YUM!  It reminds me being a little girl and sitting on the front porch with my Grandma Fowler.  She always use to let me drink some coffee that was full of milk and sugar :)  


I have very fond memories of those days with her :)

Semester II Phonathon...

I know... it is hard to believe that I'm blogging about this already isn't it?  I mean I just finished up with Semester I Phonathon a month or so ago... but the students will be back on Monday from their long Christmas vacation and once again I'll be running around like a mad man trying to get ready for them :)

This upcoming Phonathon is always harder to prepare for since there is a lot less time than what I would have during the summer... and because of that I think it is a lot more stressful!  There is just so much to do and not enough time!!!  These past few weeks I have been working on the manuals, scripts, cheat sheets, and emails... then next week it will be the crazy process of hiring students, working with the interns, and printing/putting everything together... and then the long 10 hours of Phonathon training that upcoming weekend.


I'm really trying to keep myself calm and organized, but I can't help but feel the anxiety rising in me.  I'm not sleeping well because I constantly have Phonathon and work on my brain, I have not been taking those much needed lunch breaks so I can fit more stuff into my day, and I find myself telling myself that things are going to be okay and it will all be over with soon to calm myself a bit.

I know that it will all come together and be just fine like always, but me being the type of person I am (anxious), it can be hard stop myself from stressing out and becoming a nut case during this time!!!  Hopefully one day I'll be able to get these feelings under control a bit better :)

Semester II Phonathon... look out cause here we come :)

Play hard & Rest hard!

One of the things that I think is heartwarming about Remington is how hard he plays!  He loves playing with old clothes and old sheets.  He will run around with anything you give him like it is a brand new toy from PetSmart!  But the best thing is these toys don't cost us a thing!!!!  He will wrap them all around himself and rip them apart to his little hearts content!  However, when he is done playing he's done!

After playing it is time to rest and he will do it pretty much where ever he is at the moment!  Below are some pictures I took of him right after he was done with playtime :)

 

He always brings a smile to my face!

Rhoton Randomness!

Well, it's another edition of Rhoton Randomness!!!  I can tell just how excited you all are.  Since not a whole lot has been going on around here I figured that I would give you a dose of random things happening...

Since we took Remington to the vet his hot spot has been getting better and better...


Hot spot day 2


Hot spot day 3


Hot spot day 4

I got my hair cut and highlighted on Saturday!!!


Front


Back

I finished painting a pot for my friend Debbie :)


Pot front


Pot back


Pot detail... I really love the wiggly eyes :)

Debbie and I replanted Thor this morning...


Look at those roots!


Getting him nice and cozy in his new home!


Here he is!  I think he's pretty happy :)

That's all for this edition of Rhoton Randomness!

Remington's Lump Update!!!

Well, our Remington Bear will live to see another day.  Please, don't tell me, "I told you so"... I have already heard that enough from Dan!!!  After worrying my little head off, the lump ended up being nothing but a hot spot that had pretty much gotten infected.  The lump was just a lot of dried blood and pus that had matted the hair down around the area.  The vet shaved the area down and cleaned the spot really good!  20 minutes and 65 dollars later Remington was on his way home to nap the afternoon away.


What can I say, even though I'll have to hear about how overprotective and paranoid I am about our dog... and of course the wasted money that was spent... I don't regret it... the piece of mind knowing that Remington is happy and healthy is worth every penny :)

What I've learned the most from owning a dog is that it isn't for the fate of heart.  From 10 weeks old to almost 2 years I have grown so extremely attached to Remington I really cannot imagine life without him.  I honestly would not give a second thought to risking my own life to save his.  When I think about my "dream dog" he is it!  The thought of him someday not being a part of Dan and I's family... well... let's just not even think about that...

We found a lump!!!

On Remington!!! I'm very worried!  Last night, while Dan was loving on our Remington Bear he discovered a dime size lump right behind his ear.  On further investigation... digging through loads of fur... we were able to see that it looks kind of like a giant scab.  I thought at first that maybe he had scratched a spot raw back there, but now I'm having second thoughts.  I have googled some pictures of cancerous lumps on other dogs and they look very similar to Remington's!!!!

My motherly instincts are kicking in and I'm wanting to take him to the vet!!!  I mean I would rather spend the money, yet have the piece of mind knowing it was nothing than to not take him and find out that it is something serious! Dan on the other hand thinks I'm over reacting.... uhhhggg.... I can't help it... he's my BABY!

I asked Dan to take another look at it and afterward he finally agreed that we should take him.  Not only does it look bad, Remington also cries when we touch it.  I'll keep you posted on what we find out!

Falling Behind...

Okay, this is kind of a sentimental post today... I know, no one wants to read those, but I have let it out I suppose.  I'm feeling left out and like I'm falling behind in life.  It's a bit hard for me to explain really.  Here's how this feeling all started...

I had not talked to my best friend, Kristin, is quite some time.  That is just how it happens sometimes, we get wrapped up in other things and time gets away from us.  Anyways, after the New Year was over I decided to give her a call.  She just had a baby about 4 months ago, Andrew, so we chatted about him most of the conversation... eating, pooping, him growing up way too fast... you know, the normal things Mom's talk about.  Well, here lies the problem... I'm not a Mom. When I got off the phone I realized that I really didn't have much to add to the conversation.  Of course, I love hearing about Andrew and all the sweet things he does... and I love knowing that Kristin is enjoying her time as a mother... but all together I just didn't have much to to say about my life at the moment.

I told Dan later that night that I feel like my friends are just way ahead of me in their lives.  I look around everyday and I am overwhelmed with some of my closest friends now having babies.  Kristin, Lindsey, Rachel, Kayla, and the list goes on and on.  It makes me sad to know that Dan and I just aren't ready for that yet... sad to know that all my friends kids will be like 5 or 6 years old before I probably even want to get pregnant. Believe me, I know there is no rush, but when everyone else around you is taking that next step in life sometimes you can't help but feel like you should be doing the same thing...

Do I wanna have kids someday??? Of course!!!  But I also want to enjoy time together with Dan (just the two of us), get more established in my career, go on vacations, hopefully buy the house that we want to stay in FOREVER, take naps on the weekends, and treat my dog as my baby.  So I guess in the meantime, instead of feeling left out and like I'm falling behind I just need to enjoy the children that are around me until Dan and I are ready for that next big step...

No matter what... it's still hard to feel like the odd man out sometimes...

Not as bad as I thought....

After catching up on my running blogs this weekend I realized that I'm not nearly as bad off as I thought.  Since I haven't ran (or done anything for that matter) for the past month, I'm a little nervous to start up again.  I was running 3 miles with no problems before the Thanksgiving Holiday, however, because of the long break I'm worried that I'll be back to barely being able to breathe as I run one mile!  I have been kicking myself for being too lazy and carefree to get on the treadmill!!!!  WHAT WAS I THINKING!

But, I was please to see that many of my fellow runners who blog have also been taking a LONG break from their normal workout plans.  They even write about how much it benefits their running to do this sometimes.  It lets your muscles heal up and rest as well as your mind.  PHEW!  Little did I know I was doing something right? I'm going for my first run in a month tonight at the gym.  I'll probably only log a mile or two (not wanting to push too hard too fast), but I'm hoping that it doesn't take my body too long to get back into the swing of things.


I have 10 months to prepare for the Hudson Park Mini Marathon that I'm hoping to run in October.  Plenty of time to work up to 13.1 miles :)  I'm just looking forward to some nice weather when I finally can run outside again!

Vegetarian Lasagna!

When we went to Ohio for Christmas my mother-in-law introduced us to a great recipe!!!  Vegetarian Lasagna!  It is so good.  Here's how you make it.


First boil some water in a large pot.  Add some olive oil so the lasagna noodles don't stick together.


While your waiting for your water to boil, get the other things you will need for this recipe together.  A package of lasagna noodles, two packages of mozzarella cheese, two cans of Alfredo sauce, and a container of cottage cheese.


You're also going to need two packages of steamable vegetables of your choice.  We personally like broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.


Once your water is boiling, add your lasagna noodles :)


Once the noodles are nice and soft you're going to start layering your lasagna.  First, lay down a layer of noodles, then some mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, then some Alfredo sauce...


And lastly, your steamed vegetables.  You're going to keep doing this until your pan is almost full.


After you're done layering... your lasagna is going to look something like this.


You're going to cook the lasagna at 350 degrees for 40 minutes and it should come out looking something like this!  DELICIOUS!
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