Believe in the Beautiful

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A “Job” Description

What if the process of finding the perfect man/woman was the same as the job application process?

First, there would be a “Job Description.” The man/woman seeking a partner would place the description on a “networking” site…why not Facebook, Twitter, Google +, LinkedIn, and everywhere else one could think of. It would look something like this:

JOB TITLE: Boyfriend
SCHEDULE: Negotiable; holidays, special events and family functions required.
STATUS: Exclusive relationship
QUALIFICATIONS:
Screening #1 – Fun, good sense of humor, honest, trustworthy and all around a great person to be around. Must love dogs, enjoy sports and accept my love for country music (a love of it yourself is not required). Football fan required (Vikings fan a plus, Packers fans are very much frowned upon…). Must enjoy baseball games and have a love for travelling.
Screening #2 (The true test.) – My dog, Lucy, must adore you. My brother, Trevor, must approve of you. You must full-heartedly accept Brit as my soul mate.

That’s just an example.

Next would be the application process. A man/woman interested in this position would then inquire about said position. Questions may be asked before applying. A possible informational meeting could be arranged. Once a prospective applicant had made a decision on whether it would be a right fit, they would then “apply” for the position.

Then, the person writing the description would go through all applications and filter before conducting phone screenings to narrow it down. Once the collection of applicants had been narrowed to a more manageable number, interviews would be conducted.

The interviews would be used to really make sure that both parties would benefit from the partnership and are still interested. Once a decision had been made, the man/woman would be contacted and the relationship would begin.

Interesting concept, huh? In no way am I saying this would ever work, although it is very similar to a dating site – and apparently people find love on those. Maybe someone will be brave enough to try out the “application” process and let me know how it goes. Or maybe it’s just best to go about it the traditional way. Awkwardly meet, awkwardly talk for however long it takes one of you to ask the other out, go on an awkward but perfect first date…you know the drill. However it may be…at least now I have a pretty solid start on what I’m looking for.

Where did all the time go?

First-year was an experiment. I found myself meeting new people, realizing I didn’t really like some of those people, meeting more new people, finding out they really weren’t my friends (you get the picture). Between finding classes, registering for the first time, the “big” research paper and being away from home…the first two semesters of college went by way too fast.

Sophomore year wasn’t any slower. I had found my footing. Stayed up at school more often. Met even more new friends, this time around most of them turned out to be keepers. I was able to have the experience of being a Resident Assistant in the sophomore dorms; it was here that I was able to grow as an individual and start to figure out who I was. Then there was deciding where to study abroad and applying to study abroad. Not to mention I had to find an internship for the summer, preferably one that paid.

Luckily, I found an internship that had everything I wanted and more all wrapped into it. The summer started off about as terrible as possible, but turned into one of the best summers of my life thus far. My internship at Canterbury was amazing and opened me up to many possibilities. It didn’t hurt that I got to hang out with Kevin Gorg and Paul Allen every race day! Winning money on the races didn’t hurt either.

Fall semester of my junior year I ventured off to Salzburg, Austria for an experience of a lifetime. I made some lifelong friends and memories I will never forget. I had the chance to see the Oberammergau Passion Play, drank beer at Oktoberfest in Munich, listened to music in an Irish pub in the heart of Galway, stood under the lights of the Eifel Tower in Paris, roamed the streets of Amsterdam, took a bus to Germany on my own, drove to Venice, walked the streets of Rome, spent Christmas in Frankfurt, went on a Pub Crawl in Prague, spontaneously jumped on a train to Budapest for a weekend, saw the Harry Potter premiere in London and lived for four months in the gorgeous city of Salzburg. Needless to say, those four months went by like the blink of an eye.

Spring semester of my junior year proved to be a turning point in my life. I met one of my best friends; a woman who will hopefully always be a huge part of my life. I discovered an independence I never knew I had. I developed an appreciation for myself and those close to me. I also realized what I wanted to do with my life and who I wanted to be. Going into the summer before my final semester I figured I had it all worked out.

It’s now my senior year and final semester of college. I currently have 74 days until I graduate, 22 in-class days remaining and only 9 Saturdays left (not including holidays/breaks) in my college career. Now the question remains – What am I going to do with those 74 days?

Between job applications, projects, papers, exams, classes, sleeping, eating, social time and, well, breathing – it’s all pretty much planned. Every 74 of those days. Those 74 are going to fly by and before I know it, I am going to be off in the real world doing “big people” things. It’s scary how fast the time has gone by. But I cherish every memory, every moment. Because they have led me to this point. Right where I want to be.

A Best Friend with Unconditional Love

A “This I Believe” essay.

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When I am home, Lucy sleeps in my bed.

Lucy is the best. She and I have grown very close over the past few years. I have gone through a lot. I found out my dad would not be able to financially support me through college, I went off to college, I lost a friend to alcohol, my dad went through a terrible divorce and I broke up with my boyfriend of three and a half years. Only Lucy was with me through it all.

Lucy is a 4-year-old, yellow lab with the biggest heart I know. From the first day we brought Lucy home she has been one of my best friends. My mom only allows Lucy in the kitchen because she sheds, but she’s my cuddle buddy when I go home.

Lucy knows what I am thinking and feeling.  I don’t ever have to say a word to her. If I need someone to walk with, she is excited to let me hold the other end of the leash. If I need to lie in bed all day, she is sleeping away the day with me. Most importantly, if I need a friendly face to greet me at the door with excitement, she is jumping up and down as soon as it opens.

No matter the time of day, how long we’ve been apart, what I have done that day or whatever else happens in life, Lucy loves me. She can’t wait to open her eyes from her nap to find me walking into the kitchen. I’m never greeted without a viciously wagging tail and an overly happy pep. She doesn’t care where I’ve been, just that I am there with her in that moment. She’s in it for me, unconditionally.

Lucy is truly one of my best friends and this I believe.

Repost: Wiener Photos… Not That Weiner

See my blog post on Canterbury Park’s – Straight From The Horses Mouth

Official blog link:  Wiener Photos… Not that Weiner

Catch the next wiener dog races out at Canterbury Park on Sunday, June 26th. Live racing starts at 1:30pm and the wiener dogs will hit the track following the third race. Admission is just $5! You don’t want to miss this!!!

Then, on Monday, July 4th…the top 12 wieners meet again for the Wiener Dog Championships! FREE HORMEL HOT DOGS + Hot Dog Eating Contest. Greatest place to be for the 4th – CANTERBURY PARK!

SEE YOU THERE!

Good Enough For Me

I don’t have to be good enough for you. I just have to be good enough for me.

“Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.” – Sophia Loren

My stomach needs to be full every day – it doesn’t have to be flat with a perfected 6-pack. My butt has to allow me to sit for hours in the classroom – it doesn’t have to be the perfect shape for “smacking.” My boobs need to be healthy and ready for children – they don’t have to be perfectly shaped and sized for your pleasure. My skin needs to be cancer free - not deep tanned to make me “hotter.” My eyes must allow me to experience the wonders of this world - they don’t have to sparkle in the sunlight just to catch your eyes.  My clothes keep me warm and appropriately covered for my surroundings – they’re not on me to reveal anything for you.

My boobs may not be luscious, my butt may be a little too big, my skin may not be perfect, my eyes may just be natural, I may just wear sweatpants every day and my stomach/abs may just be okay – but that’s good enough for me.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.” – Miss Piggy



There is a beautiful and wonderful girl in my life. She strives to be more than what she is today. She stepped beyond what was expected of her this year and got into college. But she struggles – and I wish every day that she could see how beautiful she really is. Others can’t see it in her. They don’t see the care that she holds in her heart for those who are less fortunate than her. They don’t understand she would do anything to make someone else happy, even if it meant she was unhappy in the process. They write her off. It’s not fair. I hope one day she can see that she does not have to be good enough for these others – because if she is good enough for herself, that is what really matters.

“Beauty isn’t worth thinking about; what’s important is your mind.  You don’t want a fifty-dollar haircut on a fifty-cent head.”  – Garrison Keillor

Can you determine my knowledge by looking at the clevage I am showing? Can you feel my love by looking at the size of my backside? Can you get to know me for me by looking at the (lack of) make-up on my face?

The answer is, no. No you can’t. If that’s all you care about…then you aren’t good enough for me anyways. I know I’m an intelligent, compassionate and caring woman – no matter how much you want to look at me. I’m good enough for me.

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Living Life as a Giraffe

A giraffe is lofty. Who knows what she is thinking up there? She stands up in the trees, with her feet planted firmly on the ground. With her long legs she runs short distances at 35 miles per hour and 10 at long distances. As she travels in her pack of about six, the open grasslands are her home. With her 21-inch tongue she enjoys acacias at the tops of the trees where few other animals can reach. Individuality is the definition of giraffe, not only from the animal kingdom, but within their own kind; no two giraffes have the same coat, each one unique.

I would like to find every bit of my individuality and learn to use it in my own way. I am an Eagle at home, a Bennie at school. I am a woman, a student, an athlete; but what really makes me, me? Obviously a giraffe is not going to tell me how to find exactly who Kate is, but at least these beautiful creatures can give me a start. Like a giraffe, I will find my spots that make me stand out and wear them loud and proud; towering above the trees, or life, with grace and elegance, unlike any other.

Need a good laugh?