Hi Everyone!
This week is really busy at work! Here's what I'll be doing...
This week in Iowa is the 39th Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa- or
RAGBRAI (for short). What this is - is exactly what it says. It's a week long bike ride across the entire state of Iowa. It's a HUGE bike ride across the state of Iowa! 10,000+ riders, riding their bikes- on the same route- AT THE SAME TIME- across the state of Iowa. Lots of people, lots of partying, and lots of food (that's where I come in). My day job (the one that pays the bills) is for the State of Iowa as a Food Inspector. I inspect restaurants, bars, grocery stores, county fairs, festivals- any place food is sold to the public- I check it out to make sure it is safe. This is the job I have always wanted- it makes me happy!
It brings me Joy.
Webster's Dictionary defines Joy as: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; a state of happiness.
Everyone needs to have joy in their life. It doesn't have to come in a huge form- it doesn't have to knock you over with a big- "Hey! Here I am, here's your big bowl of sunshine today!"
Joy- to me, comes in the little things- like my daughter coloring a picture for me and writing, "You're the best Mom ever" on it, or a phone call from I friend I haven't spoken to in a year, or finding a five dollar bill at the bottom of my purse!
Joy is Happiness- big and small.
This week of RAGBRAI is not necessarily a joyous time for me- it's hot, crowded, smells bad, and quite honestly, I'm a mess by the end of the week. But- it's part of my job- and my job makes me happy!
My other "job" is the
Getting Cricky Design Team. My term is coming to an end- and that does not make me feel joyous *sad face* and you know what they say, "all good things must come to an end" *sad face again*. Kristal Andrew is amazing and she makes me happy *happy face*. She is the reason that I am focused on the feeling of Joy today.
One of Kristal's favorite things is her bicycle that her boys gave her for Mother's day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjAed6xMrvrrLIMcvlh_mJE3yxd9_kpqzdHVXSq4q2q-_sqa-tLDxs4bAfBcnUAYxakEg4miJZDh2DTQHxleAMWSIscjMo5dDw6AYg-tiZ1374ZIM2earFpLeVHimA0aGQXCMsaI7eRU/s320/New+Picture+%25281%2529.jpg) |
(photo borrowed from Kristal's Facebook page) |
This picture is what I am going to think of this week when I am at work. Do you see the look of pure Joy on her face!?! That's what I'll be thinking of when I am dealing with this.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7Jz7YLH5FiBrViDMzglNjk5AqW7z3X7KrGIrIdO0o3ZotM82n1Ua7xevF9w7tfyAgKOLAZciOJ0_ODsoScqdBYip4Ei8FA9IM0P-a98_WDMrcWzcSy9N3kRbFpMw3kZnIiIcwPa8Qqo/s1600/all-bikes.jpg) |
AND This... |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp97tcf2DLcrqDcMJKHyK4i0qB7oPmjU9eZAmGXa7hm4BsG1ZKyBB6Pb0A_pW7PfAPo5dRl7KRB_0HLFg39m0y6yujsProrDZKWZkvBtVr6jUps9FdvGBzDvzoiVd20jOE8xOZ6mybCI/s320/ragbrai-the-bike-ride-across-iowa-22.jpg) |
AND this...... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVoO_D-11suha700c2GLHkXzk-jOP1tVlr2C7eUVpn26gpQZIk0lnQfem8UT1y1MwrmVR0nUbaA6ztf-D9f_LjlMaali9nm6JUL3DgnQ321O1_rm5rg1u7YT5aGRaYFFQsiwvdSymhts/s1600/626-67_breakfast_burrito_300.jpg) |
Breakfast Burritos |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKjUkyLwoY6DpU-vVXPp-qF89J7CfSRdcMGKA3pA0pardz35uwyc2E-INAUNfRVPWGklmRORiKJ5NYhmDJcFPeshduQg2bmOGJjBrzlXjFRQPTcLCffKYNqWulj8-uNk7KAuQmWrWG98/s320/pork.jpg) |
Pork Chops |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lQgdj78Anv2s-gadkoaXg86TjXBfHrmbuIlMYEr4w5F6-MtVLYMwHpenHkXwvNZBUppvguN4C2Z0Mo3mId5XMYi5pKoaxJ3t8VC9wAh4jl9Fc60FgobkoIjH6SNPpDsFjMZi1oNJ7Y8/s320/pork2.jpg) |
Pork Chops From a bus that looks like a PIG! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbTp0fMgYN8HeSZuTPF5kVlvZpBlDXgdEcZeyStxZvbDdzbX7bPsNiTvZO4_o8tIMKNm44jUFayzfnltzgY9QsaL6S9LUib4KalAxm9BjO5jd6DVz5QjG3CYiQRzzasLFddTTLOQ2FDE/s320/molly-sweeney_RAGBRAI-family-tandem.jpg) |
The Wlison Family from Ames, IA 2010 |
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OK- this one is pretty cool. I actually saw them last year, and as they rode by- the cheers and applause from the crowd of people was amazing! I was so happy to witness a moment like that!
A moment of Joy.
In honor of Kristal and to kick start my RAGBRAI week, I made a project for the occasion.
It's a shaker card! (Thanks for the inspiration and Tutorial
Erika!)
The image was cut at 5" from Car Decals and the sentiment if from
K Andrew Designs Food for Thought set. All stamps are in stock again and ready to be shipped!!
I would love the hear what brings you Joy.
Thanks for stopping by today!