Christie Koester YourVoices Star Tribune Blogger!

Never a dull moment, is there? What a crazy week it’s been! More below.

1. Visit from the parents

It's Pete! Our family dog! We love him!!!

I swear I have the coolest parents ever. I know, I know. Everyone thinks they have the greatest parents and we all should feel special! We didn’t get to do too much considering our family dog, Pete, is on his last leg and can’t be left alone. Karl thinks he has many years ahead of him and just loves the attention. Pete howls now, for no apparent reason. He sounds like a dying cow. We didn’t want to scare the new neighbors. Instead we took shifts: mom and I got pedicures and the guys watched Pete. The guys went to the horse track and we watched Pete. That dog is so spoiled, but we all love him to pieces and I’m not sure what my mom is going to do when he goes. Someone will have to provide her with grandchildren soon after to keep her spirits up (Mark and Tot...hint, hint). Anyway, we ate in every night, which was HEALTHY and incredibly cheap (my dad won big at the track and bought us steaks at Sam’s Club...a whole $54 win!!). We also went on nightly walks to Dairy Queen and my mom and I went shopping! Fun times were had by all. It’s so hard being five hours away from them. It’s not like I can hop in the car for dinner...

2. I’m a blogger for the Star Tribune
I am so excited about this! Every week I get to blog about happenings, events, thoughts, or whatever my heart desires and I will be featured on Star Tribune’s website!! I noticed the bloggers who get the most responses are the ones who write about politics. Unfortunately, I don’t have a passion for politics; however, I have a feeling I’ll be blogging about President Obama and Congressman John Kline both sending us a wedding congratulations card - HAND SIGNED. If that’s what it takes to get the attention of Minnesota... Anyway, here is a link to my first blog. It’s about customer service. I deal with it everyday, so yes, I think about it often. Let’s just say I’m amazed by people in today’s world.

3. Book Status
With my parents being up, I had very little time to write. Okay, I had none at all. I did write for 20 minutes on Monday after work, during my oil change and before sand volleyball. Have I mentioned how much I love Walser Mazda in Burnsville? I get free popcorn AND car wash...PLUS my oil change was FREE. Now that’s awesome customer service! Oh, back to writing...yes, I will be writing this weekend! My goal is to be on Chapter 18 by Sunday night. I can do it. Next week is going to be crazier than this week. I have volleyball, a happy hour, dentist appointment, a few "big" meetings, the peddle pub for a friend's bday, a wedding and a huge Shakopee Derby Day volleyball tournament on Saturday!! And just in case you forgot what I’m writing about, here’s a link! http://www.christiekoester.com/

4. Excuse me....August is next week?
Honestly, where has the summer gone? I thought last summer was fast planning a wedding, but this one surpasses all of them. Next summer I promise not to fill up every weekend. I promise to do the things Karl and I like and want to do! And I promise to kick back and enjoy the moments more.
 
5. Our house situation
Where do I even start? Karl and I both have town homes. Back in 2003, it looked like we were both ahead of the game. At age 22, I was a home owner (that’s crazy!), and a couple years later so was he. When we met, we both had places we were proud of. We never expected the market to turn upside down on us. Now, Karl has a renter in his place, but we’re not sure for how long. When do we sell? Will we make any money? It’s a constant nagging thought in the back of my mind. All we can do is hope and pray everything will fall into place. It usually does. But what a pain!

6. My husband
I love you, Karl. Thanks for always making me smile!

My brother Smike eating weird food in China...

7. My brother Mike
I call him Smike because he smiles more than anyone I have ever met. On Saturday, he goes to China for two weeks. He travels more than anyone I know. He will miss his birthday completely...well, kind of. He'll be on an airplane flying through a million time zones. And physically MISS the whole day of August 9! But he does get to eat weird foods...like that strange thing he's holding in his hands in the enclosed picture. So I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SMIKE! You are a great brother! Oh, and Happy Anniversary Mark and Tot:) You both are awesome too.

8. Inception
I’m dying to see this movie. I already know I’m going to love it. I know I’m going to stay awake at night thinking about it and I know I’m going to want to write about it. So maybe we’ll go this weekend:) Have you seen it? Thoughts?

My friend is one who takes me for who I am. - Henry David Thoreau