Bucket List: Mounds (Not the Candy)

Yesterday, I ran my first 5K. The 2nd Annual Saluki Dawg Jog started at 8am outside of the SIU stadium. The race began with a big hill, yeesh! Brandon ran with me (stitches and all) the whole way. Yeah, I slowed him down but he really motivated me. I didn't walk! My final time was 34:54. Meaning I ran around an 11 minute mile pace. 3.1 miles is the farthest I've ever run without stopping in my life, so hey there's that. The rest of the results are posted here.


After the race, we showered and then headed north to Belleville with Brandon's parents. The Clarkes had their first Vintage baseball game of the season against the Stags. It was hot hot hot. Luckily there was a big tree that provided shade for most of the game, but after 3 hours the 90 degree weather was getting to us. The nice part was that the Moose Lodge ran a snack bar for us - so we got hamburgers and hotdogs. Brandon hated to be on the sidelines, too bad...

Since we were so close to St. Louis, I convinced the family to go to Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, IL. We have driven by so many times that it was finally time to cross it off the Bucket List. Cahokia Mounds is the largest pre-historic Indian community in America north of Mexico. There were over 120 mounds in the region with Cahokia as the center of a large chiefdom. Surprisingly, the largest mound, named Monks Mound was named after French monks who settled nearby and planted trees and fruits on the terraces of the largest mound in the 1800s.

Monks Mound is over 100 feet tall and was built in stages by Indians who carried baskets of mud by hand. 

It takes 158 steps to climb to the top.

The view was certainly worth it from the top. Although our heads are in the way, we had an amazing view of the St. Louis skyline, including the Arch.

On the way home, we drove through Red Bud and could help but to purchase a lotto ticket from the winning Mega Millions store:

Red Bud Motomart

May the odds be ever in your favor!

Checking-In

Busy busy! So ready for the holidays!! Here's what's been going on:

• Tuesday night we did our gift exchange with Brandon's parents. I got Knute and Nancy a gift certificate to Cummare's - neither of them have eaten there yet. They got me a Paula Deen set of pots - awesome.
• Before that, Brandon got rear-ended while showing me where on campus where I go to take tests. We're ok. His back bumper needs to be repaired.
• Today I headed to the SIU campus to take my first test for my online class. I had to go to the Distance Education office. I was nervous! They made me turn off my cell phone and place my purse in a cabinet. Then I went into the testing room and logged into blackboard. I whipped out my post-it with my Dawg Tag. I put in the wrong password on the first try... I clicked on the link for exam 1 and then the proctor entered the password. Then I took my test. It wasn't bad at all, I got a 94!
• We had a ridiculous spread of Christmas treats at work today.
• I gotta pack, I'm going home Saturday!

Brandon's Graduation

On Saturday, Brandon graduated from SIU with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. There were two ceremonies and Brandon's school was in the afternoon ceremony that began at 1:30.

The ceremony was held in the arena. It was packed!

They read everyone's names which was special but looong.

Brandon shaking hands with Chancellor Cheng

So proud!

Afterwards we ate at Golden Corral. Classy, I know :) But that's ok because I had my graduation dinner at Friendly's.

There are certain times when I really miss my family. Case in point: when the Irdmusas go to a buffet they eat slowly and make it a 5-7 course meal.  Not the Shultzes, they grab 2 or 3 plates of food all at once. I brought back my first plate of salad and a dinner roll and they were shocked. "Is that all you're eating?" NO OF COURSE NOT. Sigh...  I need to teach them how to make multiple trips to the buffet: salad, soup, entree x2, dessert - savoring each course.

College x3

Well, I got into college again. This time I'm a Saluki!

I had a minor freak out when I realized that I was one prerequisite course short for my EVMS PA program application. Brandon looked up courses at SIU for me to take last minute and he found the perfect Human Physiology course online. But Mitra aren't you already taking that? Yes... but by taking this class I can meet the March 1 deadline. Necessary because EVMS is a school I've wanted to go to for years! This online course costs twice as much as my classes at Logan -- but it'll be worth it when I get in... then I can cancel my Spring courses (cross your fingers people!). In the meantime, go dawgs!

Anyone know if this status gives me access to the rec??

Weekend Update

Last Friday, Brandon took me to the Jerry Clover memorial fundraiser at the Murphysboro Elks Lodge. Jackson Junction played some rockin country tunes. (Living here has made me crazy for country!) Over $5,000 was raised for the family. I also bumped into my Anatomy teacher who said "you can't use this as blackmail" Darn. Hehe. My Saturday looked a lot like the one two weeks ago.

Murphysboro Soccer

SIU Football

We lost :( The weather was gorgeous :)

And random... Brandon was so excited to show me that he programed his radio to the only two stations he listens to... haha

Last Saturday

I missed out on this...

Praise the Lard!

After watching a BBQ Pit Masters episode on this competition I was really bummed I missed out this year! But I really was too lazy to go out in the rain. Things did clear up in the afternoon for the SIU tailgate and football game.

This was my first time at the new stadium. Very niiice! The game was a nail biter. SIU pulled it off with a win 20 to 18 over Missouri State.

Pinch Dragon

We ended the night at Pinch where Hairbanger's Ball was playing in the beer garden. Typical Carbondale behavior? I think yes.

Sinners & Saints

Yesterday, I experienced a Carbondale rite of passage at Pinch Penny Pub's 10th Annual Polar Bear Party. It was basically a big drunken frat party for SIU students featuring mass Corona consumption. The bar and beer garden opened at 10am. We got there around 4pm and waited half an hour to get in! The cover was $5 but the beers were only $1.50. The place was packed and there were hundreds of crushed Corona cans littering the ground. The weather during the afternoon was really nice and we didn't need our jackets until the sun went down.We left after a couple hours but ventured back around 11pm. The crowds had died down by then but a lot of people were inside the bar area staying warm. One of their signature drinks is a "green dragon" which was explained to me as being like a long island but made with sour mix. It was bright green and tasted like a lime popsicle to me. Well, I just did a google search of the drink and got back some results for a marijuana drink -- it was not that!

This morning I ventured out to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Carbondale for the 10 o'clock service. The church is located across from the Pulliam Hall clocktower (shown in my blog header). It was a very intimate service with just about 30 people present - including a piano player and just 2 choir members. The service progressed very similarly to that of St. Dunstan's. The main thing that was new to me were the bells used during communion. I also had an embarrassing moment at the altar when I thought the chalicist skipped me. I was holding my wafer so that I could dip it in the wine. When he didn't stop for me, I just ate my wafer and left. Turns out that they have a separate bowl of wine for those who dip and I should have just waited. Lesson learned :) Actually, the best part about the morning was getting to meet Father Roderick. He recently moved to the area from Fredericksburg, VA. His family still lives in Northern Virginia and in fact his daughter lives in Alexandria and is coming to visit next week. A nice coincidence.

My So. IL Bucket List

Here is my list of places to go and things I need to do while I'm in Southern Illinois:

• Visit the John A. Logan Museum right here in Murphysboro! 
• Go bowling at the SIU Student Center
• Eat a Winston's Bagel 
• Go kayaking on Lake Murphysboro and maybe fishing too?
• Investigate the "Egyptian Corner" - a middle eastern restaurant and hookah bar in a former gas station
• Visit at least 6 of the 11 wineries on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail
• Check out the Superman Museum in Metropolis, IL. If possible, attend during the 2011 Superman Celebration June 9-12
• Go hiking in Giant City State Park and dine at the Giant City Lodge  
• Visit the Popeye Museum  in Chester, IL
• Go horseback riding
• Take a photo at the Bald Knob Cross in Alto Pass, IL 
• Enjoy a home-style meal at Pioneer's Cabin restaurant in Percy, IL
• Hike the Little Grand Canyon Trail
• Take amtrak - Illini Service or the The Saluki 
• Visit Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, IL

Items I've completed already!

• Jetski on Kinkaid Lake 
• Watch a Murphysboro Clarkes vintage baseball game
• Attend an SIU Football game
• Attend an SIU Basketball game
• Attend the Murphysboro Apple Festival and take a photo with Captain Applesauce

So what do you think, did I miss anything?

I live here!

We made it to Murphysboro early Monday morning.

Brandon and I are staying at his parents house until we find a place of our own. We're pretty close to finding an apartment - I'll keep you updated. (Spoiler alert: it's across from a cemetery)

The drive out here was tortuous! It was a 14 hour drive that was preceded by a 5 hour packing spree because we underestimated the amount of crap in our apartment. While we are in waiting for an apartment, we have unloaded everything in the basement and garage. It's a mess!

On Monday, we eventually woke up and headed to campus. Brandon bought some textbooks and it brought back memories of college days for me :)

 

We both jumped into work and school right away so our days have been busy. Although the forecast for tomorrow is snow - maybe we'll get a snow day?