Shhhhh... It's a Secret!

Psssst!  Hey you!  Yeah, you!  Pssssssst!  It's Rachel, and I gotta tell you something!  But you gotta promise not to tell Kellen, okay?  ...

So...  I went on Craigslist this morning, as I do most days.  I always check out the free section, and try to filter past the free non-working refrigerators and used toilets.  Today, though, I hit a jackpot.  I found a listing for used tires.

"Rachel," you may ask, "What's so great about used tires?"  Well, since you're so curious, I suppose I shall tell you.  When Kellen and I first started this project, we've been trying to get a tire.  He said, "Rachel, we need to get a tire.  We need to roll it down the driveway into the street into traffic."  Haha!  Why though?  "Because when I was growing up in Wyoming," Kellen told me, "We used to do that for fun."

Sure, it sounds awesome!  I want to do this!  I used to roll tires around the yard, but never down the street.  So yes, let's try and get a tire.  We asked probably dozens of people for tires, but no one responded.  Perhaps that's because we stated our intentions in the emails.  This time, however, I said we'd just be interested in one single tire.  Sure enough, I get a response.

I called the guy who said to call him to get directions to the tire.  His name is Rich, and he seemed like a very nice guy.  I really thought he was trying to help me out, so I lied to him.  He asked what I'd need the tire for, and I didn't want him to not tell me where the tire pile was!  I didn't want him to think I was nuts!  So I told him Kellen and I have a small child for whom we wanted to make a small tire swing for.  He then told me that the tires were near a nearby high school by the tech shop, and we could take whichever one we pleased.  Thanks very much, Rich!

So I then drug Jim along (he was with me at the time) and we snuck to the high school.  Kellen's in North Carolina, remember, on a work conference.  He knows nothing of this.  We pick out the nicest tire and throw it in my trunk, after Jim threw it around and bounced it up and down to get the water that collected from the recent rain showers out of it.  

I felt so giddy about this, and can't wait to see Kellen's face when he sees this latest Craigslist treasure.  It reminds me of the time we were at a local diner and he was talking about rolling tires down the street into traffic as a child, and a man at a nearby table started laughing his arse off, trying not to let us notice he was nearly crying form the laughter.  Perhaps this is one of our best finds yet!

Other than that, there's nothing new to report.  Watch my video, and don't tell Kellen!  

Happy trails!  

Rachel

End of Chopstick Challenge Before She Knew It!

Hello to all my friends inside of my computer!

It's Rachel, and I'm writing to update you on my chopstick challenge.  Holy wow, was it a long thirty days!  But yesterday was day 30.  I used a fork for breakfast today and felt like an idiot when I was having trouble working it.  Or maybe it's the fact that I was eating lettuce-y food, but that's no reason a metal fork shouldn't be able to pick it up. 

All in all, I only had a few times where I didn't use just a set of chopsticks and a knife.  Once, when eating watermelon while having a bad day, I used a spoon.  And I used a fork at a restaurant with my mother and grandmother after forgetting to pack chopsticks.  And that day of my year and a half anniversary with Jim where I went to Fazoli's twice without chopsticks.  But other than that, I stuck to using chopsticks, and I feel I did very well!  I'm proud of myself!

"What's next, Rachel?" you may ask.  Well, I'm thinking of writing and recording a song 1x a week for 5 weeks.  Starting on Sunday, so every Saturday or sooner I plan on uploading an original song.  Wish me luck!  I will need it. 

Oh, have you ever wondered how The Omega Virus board game ever turned out?  It's awesome.  Check out our video: 

I may go pick up an Easy Bake Oven today, if it's still available.  I've been corresponding with a lady about it, and after I'm off work at noon, I plan on going to go get it, along with getting some lunch at Arby's (I have a coupon for a free Roast Beef sammich with a drink purchase!).  Gosh, I'm cheap.  Haha!

Kellen's in North Carolina, but will be back tomorrow.  I miss that kid.  He's an animal dude at the humane society in town, so he got shipped out to a conference to learn more animal-y stuff to help the society out.  Well, it's more technical than that, but what do you really care anyway?  Haha!

Also--we've been planning some other fun adventures for y'all.  Wanna know what they are?  Maybe not, but I'll tell you anyway.

First:  Did you ever hear of the MyPlate.Gov new food pyramid?  It's a plate, where you basically fill half your plate with fruits and veggies.  Well, we're going to, starting Sunday, go for 90 days (or as long as possible) doing 3 MyPlates per day plus one snack.  I'm not sure how I'll be able to hold up, but Kellen seems determined.  That's okay with me...  I'm willing to try anything to shed a few pounds and feel healthier! 

So to do this, we'll monitor our weight and mood each day, and for sure eat just 3 plates of food, one for breakfast, one for lunch, one for supper.  For 90 days.  No one would do this for 90 days.  We'll blog about our progress, and see if this new MyPlate acutally works.  If it does, maybe we'll publish our findings on more than just our blog.  Haha!  Wish us luck, and wish me the strength to not get sick of cooking and meal planning!

Second:  We are going on a road trip this summer.  "Wow," you say, "That's great.  Where are you going?"  Well, hold onto your socks, because the answer may knock them off!  We're going on a road trip around Wisconsin to see offbeat roadside attractions.  We have 50 picked out, and have 72 hours (3 days) to see them all.  The kicker?  We're only paying gas and campsites and picnic groceries.  We are not going to buy any attractions, as we picked out 50 free ones.  We are also not paying for hotels, as it's cheaper by far to camp, and Kellen has a tent already.  And we're not buying meals out!  We're going to pack picnic food.  That'll be interesting with the MyPlate challenge.  But we'll do it!  Well, the only place we may eat out is at Cracker Barrel.  It's our favorite.  And we know there's one in Madison where we're seeing a few sites.  But that's beside the point.

We're going to photograph every sight we see, journal about it, and share it on the blog.  You're going to know about all our shenanigans, problems, and fun times.  And you will like it.  I guarantee it.  Besides, if you already like the blog--this is going to make you like it 100x more!  Look out for us to do this from July 15-18!

Let's see, what other updates may I possibly have?  ...  Hmm.

I'm going to the Kenny Chesney concert tomorrow.  My wonderful boyfriend Jim bought us tickets, so we get to go to Lambeau Field for a kickin' concert with Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington, Zac Brown Band, and of course, Kenny Chesney.  Jim said he heard there's supposed to be a special female guest at the concert, too.  I don't know who it would be though--but I'll find out tomorrow!  Yay!

If you have song ideas for me to write on, please let me know!  Comment!  I'm up for a challenge!  I love you all, and your ideas would be helpful for my next challenge!

Happy Trails,

Rachel (and Kellen in spirit all the way from North Carolina where he ate alligator!)