angietalk: Sunday Six - 7/24/11 (gigantic post!)

1. marissa joined a neighborhood swim team this summer. most of the neighborhoods here with pools participate in the swim competitions. she turned 9 only about 5 days before practices started so she was competing against kids who were 9 and 10 - most of whom had participated before. she had a GREAT time - but sadly didn't win any ribbons. she made huge improvements towards the end and we are considering a year-round program. will keep you posted for sure!

here she is with her BFF maria when their two teams competed against each other

her "official" photo. i love this girl so much!!

2. bye-bye redbull! no, we're not moving (yet)...but redbull announced a couple weeks ago that they are no longer going to race in NASCAR's premier series. am i sad? not really. i feel really blessed that my husband had the forethought to go ahead and go back to school. he'll graduate a few short weeks after the end of the 2011 racing season. our plan for the last couple of years has been to get out of racing so the timing might just be perfect. while there are rumors the team is being bought (there may be an announcement in early august) we are still planning to pursue other opportunities, and potentially a move back west, closer to our loved ones.

Report: Red Bull leaving NASCAR after season
By The Associated Press
June 20, 2011 6:29 PM, EDT
The owner of energy drink Red Bull plans to leave NASCAR at the end of this season, The Associated Press has learned.

Multiple people familiar with the decision say a team official traveled to Michigan International Speedway and told industry leaders Sunday of the impending move. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made to team employees.

"Red Bull Racing Team is currently seeking outside investors as we evaluate next steps in the Sprint Cup Series," said a statement from the team. "We are not at liberty to comment on details while negotiations are under way. Red Bull fully supports NASCAR and will continue its investment in America's premier form of motorsports for the remainder of the 2011 season. The team's focus will not waiver as we fight for victories and a position in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup."

Red Bull is both the owner and sponsor of the two-car NASCAR team. The team has struggled since its 2007 entry into NASCAR and consistently has been plagued by rumors and speculation that the Austrian ownership group will leave the auto racing series.

No reason for Red Bull's leaving has been given, but the energy drink markets to the 18-to-34 age group -- the demographic NASCAR has consistently lost in its current ratings slide.

The team had a horrendous debut season in 2007, when Brian Vickers failed to qualify for 13 of 36 races. He finished 38th in the final Sprint Cup standings.

A.J. Allmendinger missed 19 races that year and was 43rd in the final points.

Jay Frye, a respected team manager in NASCAR, was brought on the next season as general manager, and the team slowly improved. But Allmendinger was let go late in 2008 for Scott Speed, who had been let go from Red Bull's Formula One team.

Like Allmendinger, Speed was not ready for NASCAR's top level, and the lack of experience in Red Bull's second driver hindered Vickers' development. Speed was let go at the end of last year and is currently suing Red Bull.

Vickers won a race in 2009 and made the Chase, only to be sidelined most of last year with blood clots. He's back this season, and the team has Kasey Kahne on loan from Hendrick Motorsports, but still isn't among the top NASCAR organizations.

Kahne has five top-10 finishes and is 19th in points; Vickers has five top-10 finishes and is 24th in points.

Kahne moves to Hendrick Motorsports at the end of this year, and Vickers is in the final year of his contract. It's not clear what will happen to development driver Cole Whitt, who is ranked second in the Truck Series standings, or to the Red Bull employees.

It's possible Frye could line up investors to buy the race team from Red Bull. He's twice before run race teams that way with varying success.

Red Bull, meanwhile, also owns a pair of two-car Formula One teams. Current points leader Sebastian Vettel is the reigning world champion and has won five of seven Grand Prix races this season.

3. am i expecting? um, no. i'm expecting that i don't look like i'm expecting and i'm certainly expecting that even if i DID look like i was, that someone would have the presence of mind NOT to ask me if i'm expecting. the night of july 4th we were walking (in the DARK) to watch the fireworks. we ran into a lady from church who said, "i didn't know you were expecting!" ok so i was wearing a hoodie with a kangaroo pouch, into which i had put my lens cover and my cell phone. she REACHES out to touch my vacant belly..."oh it's just your cell phone." yes, well, i expect you to get your dang hands off of me! sheesh.

4. i had a lovely low-key birthday this year. we took the kids to the movies to see CARS 2. after we had yummy ice cream at cold stone. a few nights later i enjoyed dinner out with some of my favorite gals. i got some sweet jewelry and good smelly stuff. what more can you ask for? flowers! yes, i got some pretty flowers too!

5. here is what it looks like when the moms all go out and the kids are left at home with the dads...who were outside cleaning the boat...

6. we are finally to the point of paint in the basement. there is still so much to be done! but we are so happy to be this far. here are a few of the latest photos.

from the media room - looking towards the kitchen