We had the opportunity to have a photographer take some pictures of him at a meet on June 24, 2017. Here are a few favorites.
Ryan Olson swimming
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Ryan Olson Swimming
Ryan is in the process of speaking with coaches at several colleges and universities across the US. It's an exciting time, and it will be fun to see where he ends up!
We had the opportunity to have a photographer take some pictures of him at a meet on June 24, 2017. Here are a few favorites.
We had the opportunity to have a photographer take some pictures of him at a meet on June 24, 2017. Here are a few favorites.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Epic Room Makeover Contest Entry
I have been a single mom for ten years. Because of my limited budget, many things in my home are hand-me-downs. In fact, my home itself is even a hand-me-down! I live in the home where I grew up. It was built in 1972, and still has some of the original fixtures!
My favorite original fixture (read sarcasm) is the white-with-little-rocks conglomerate fireplace. It screams 1970s! I have wondered many times over the years what I can do to make it more modern. But anything I think of could turn out disastrous and make it worse. It needs help. (As you can see, I try to hide it with family pictures and other things that make me happy.)
The entryway is a 1970s + DIY disaster. I installed the green and gold sticky back vinyl tile myself. When I first did it, I was so proud. The fact that it’s still there, and so outdated? I’m mortified. You are the first person (people!) not related by blood to know I am personally responsible for this awful corner of the living room.
My 12-year-old son and I are very social, and love to have groups of friends over for parties. However, over the ten years we’ve lived in this home, each gathering has contributed a new stain to the carpet, the furniture, or both. We could chronicle the party food progression from Kool-Aid and Flavor-Blasted-Goldfish to Gatorade and chips & salsa from the stains on the carpet and couches. (And, for those of you squirming that food is allowed in the living room…I am constantly plagued with that regret.)
I’ve made inexpensive improvements over the years, such as adding throw pillows to the couches to provide some color and variety. I also added drapery panels, not only to provide some color but to shade the TV from the sun.
Speaking of the TV, it stands alone in the bare corner. It is functional for our family, but hardly sylish.
The lighting in the room is HORRIBLE! There is one light fixture above the door. Other than that, our light comes from two table lamps and one floor lamp. I have seen beautiful things done with lighting to update rooms like this. I would love to explore that option!
We’re SO ready for a change! We’re ready to have our mismatched hand-me-down room transformed into a space we can be proud of. I’m ready for the first thing people see when they come to our home to be something that truly reflects who we are, instead of an embarrassing mumbo-jumbo of outdated fixtures and furnishings. And, since my son is eight months away from being a teenager, I’m sure he would LOVE to have a less-mortifying living room when his friends come over!
Please consider us for the Epic Room Makeover!
UPDATE 9/7: Voting is open! Mine is #79: "Single mom & tween son need living room!"
http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/08/epic-room-makeover-giveaway-contest-2012.html
You may vote for us beginning September 7 here:
http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/08/epic-room-makeover-giveaway-contest-2012.html
My favorite original fixture (read sarcasm) is the white-with-little-rocks conglomerate fireplace. It screams 1970s! I have wondered many times over the years what I can do to make it more modern. But anything I think of could turn out disastrous and make it worse. It needs help. (As you can see, I try to hide it with family pictures and other things that make me happy.)
The entryway is a 1970s + DIY disaster. I installed the green and gold sticky back vinyl tile myself. When I first did it, I was so proud. The fact that it’s still there, and so outdated? I’m mortified. You are the first person (people!) not related by blood to know I am personally responsible for this awful corner of the living room.
My 12-year-old son and I are very social, and love to have groups of friends over for parties. However, over the ten years we’ve lived in this home, each gathering has contributed a new stain to the carpet, the furniture, or both. We could chronicle the party food progression from Kool-Aid and Flavor-Blasted-Goldfish to Gatorade and chips & salsa from the stains on the carpet and couches. (And, for those of you squirming that food is allowed in the living room…I am constantly plagued with that regret.)
I’ve made inexpensive improvements over the years, such as adding throw pillows to the couches to provide some color and variety. I also added drapery panels, not only to provide some color but to shade the TV from the sun.
Speaking of the TV, it stands alone in the bare corner. It is functional for our family, but hardly sylish.
The lighting in the room is HORRIBLE! There is one light fixture above the door. Other than that, our light comes from two table lamps and one floor lamp. I have seen beautiful things done with lighting to update rooms like this. I would love to explore that option!
We’re SO ready for a change! We’re ready to have our mismatched hand-me-down room transformed into a space we can be proud of. I’m ready for the first thing people see when they come to our home to be something that truly reflects who we are, instead of an embarrassing mumbo-jumbo of outdated fixtures and furnishings. And, since my son is eight months away from being a teenager, I’m sure he would LOVE to have a less-mortifying living room when his friends come over!
Please consider us for the Epic Room Makeover!
UPDATE 9/7: Voting is open! Mine is #79: "Single mom & tween son need living room!"
http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/08/epic-room-makeover-giveaway-contest-2012.html
You may vote for us beginning September 7 here:
http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/08/epic-room-makeover-giveaway-contest-2012.html
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Olympic Trials Update
I know you're all patiently (?) waiting for our blog posts about the Olympic Trials. (Melissa) ;) Since I have a work conference this coming week, and I'm also trying to squeeze in annual evaluations of my 32 employees before the end of the fiscal year (July 31), it may be a while before the posts are written. Sorry!
If you're our friends on Facebook, please take a look at our Olympic Trials photo album for a few (about 200) teasers. We were on the 12th row of the arena, so we have some pretty awesome pictures. And, yes, we talked with Michael Phelps (on the very last day), and his mom (the very first day), and we got Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay to do the Big-O sign!
If you need some additional reading, an Omaha-based media outlet now has the claim of being the first to write about Ryan! They have named him the "Most Likely to be a 16 Year Old Swimmer at the 2016 Swim Trials!" (Disclaimer: They are new friends we met at the Trials who have a blog about sites and events in Omaha.) Here's the link: http://www.weheartomaha.blogspot.com/2012/07/2012-olympic-swim-trials-our-swimmer.html
I'll try to get my posts up before the Olympics start. We've been told that our minute-by-minute Facebook updates from Omaha got many people excited about the Trials. Many said they watched the evening coverage because they knew we were there. Several people also mentioned that they have a new excitement for swimming due to our thorough updates and excitement about the Trials. Maybe I can do the same for the Olympics.
Stay tuned...
If you're our friends on Facebook, please take a look at our Olympic Trials photo album for a few (about 200) teasers. We were on the 12th row of the arena, so we have some pretty awesome pictures. And, yes, we talked with Michael Phelps (on the very last day), and his mom (the very first day), and we got Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay to do the Big-O sign!
If you need some additional reading, an Omaha-based media outlet now has the claim of being the first to write about Ryan! They have named him the "Most Likely to be a 16 Year Old Swimmer at the 2016 Swim Trials!" (Disclaimer: They are new friends we met at the Trials who have a blog about sites and events in Omaha.) Here's the link: http://www.weheartomaha.blogspot.com/2012/07/2012-olympic-swim-trials-our-swimmer.html
I'll try to get my posts up before the Olympics start. We've been told that our minute-by-minute Facebook updates from Omaha got many people excited about the Trials. Many said they watched the evening coverage because they knew we were there. Several people also mentioned that they have a new excitement for swimming due to our thorough updates and excitement about the Trials. Maybe I can do the same for the Olympics.
Stay tuned...
Friday, June 29, 2012
Olympic Trials ~ Day 5 (June 29)
Prelims:
We found out that a good friend of ours was also at Trials with his family! Lars is the young man who went back and swam the end of the 400 IM with Ryan in this post. He is now at BYU, so we hadn’t seen him for a while. As we were sitting waiting for the prelims to start, we spotted Lars! Ryan ran over and was able to talk with him for a few minutes. It was fun to see someone we knew there!
Women’s 100 free – 14 heats; Rachel Bootsma in Heat 11; Kara Lynn Joyce, Dana Vollmer, Jessica Hardy in Heat 12; Lauren Perdue, Shannon Vreeland, Natalie Coghlin, Amanda Weir, Elizabeth Pelton, Christine Magnuson in Heat 13; Missy Franklin, Allison Schmitt in Heat 14.
Men’s 200 back – 11 heats; Matt Grevers & Ryan Murphy in Heat 9; Tyler Clary & Nick Thoman in Heat 10; Ryan Lochte in Heat 11.
Matt…
Tyler…
Ryan…
Women’s 200 breast – 13 heats; Micah Lawrence& Ariana Kukors in Heat 11; Annie Chandler & Amanda Beard in Heat 12; Rebecca Soni & Caitlin Leverenz in Heat 13.
Amanda…
Rebecca…
Men’s 200 IM – 13 heats; Conor Dwyer in Heat 11; Michael Phelps in Heat 12; Ryan Lochte & Peter Vanderkaay in Heat 13.
Michael…
Ryan…
AquaZone/Hilton:
We knew that Aaron Piersol was going to be at the AquaZone, so we headed there as soon as prelims ended. Ryan was able to wear yet another gold medal, and meet the medalist! Aaron Piersol is another one of my favorite swimmers. He has now retired, but he was a silver medalist in 2000 in Sydney, gold medalist in 2004 in Athens, and a gold medalist in 2008 in Beijing.
After we saw Aaron, we decided to walk around downtown Omaha. The entire week we were there, it was over 100 degrees, and about 90% humidity! I had no idea that Omaha was so humid! Today was the “coolest” day, so we took our walk around town.
We saw Kathleen Hersey on the Marriott…
And swimmers on the sidewalks…
The Gene Leahy Pedestrian Mall is beautiful! It runs down the middle of downtown Omaha, and has several quirky benches and some HUGE slides!
As we walked by the ConAgra headquarters, they had a huge screen set up where they had been showing the Trials live. They were showing an interview with Aaron Piersol!
Ry with Chef Boyardee…
We had planned to walk along the waterfront and over the Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge, but we were so extremely hot that we decided to do those another day. We headed back to the C-Link and Hilton to cool down.
We saw…
Elizabeth Beisel, who signed Ryan’s shirt…
Cullen Jones, who had headphones on & wasn’t acknowledging fans, so Ryan walked alongside for a good photo…
Nathan Adrian (who is ALWAYS smiling like this!) approaching Ryan for a high five…
Caitlin Leverenz…
Ricky Berens and Rebecca Soni...
Finals:
Men’s 200 breast – 1=Scott Weltz (2:09.01); 1=Clark Burckle (2:09.97); Eric Shanteau 3rd, Brendan Hansen 4th.
Women’s 100 free (semis) – Lia Neal, Allison Schmitt, Elizabeth Pelton in Heat 1; Natalie Coughlin, Amanda Weir, Dana Vollmer, Jessica Hardy, Missy Franklin in Heat 2.
Men’s 200 back (semis) – Tyler Clary & Nick Thoman in Heat 1; Ryan Lochte & Ryan Murphy in Heat 2.
Ryan Lochte…
Bob Costas’ interview tonight was with Missy Franklin. Because of her heavy security throughout the Trials, this was the closest that we ever were to her.
Men’s 200 breast medal (Scott Weltz & Clark Burckle) -
Women’s 200 fly – 1=Cammile Adams (2:06.52); 2=Kathleen Hersey (2:07.72).
Men’s 100 free – 1=Nathan Adrian (48.10); 2=Cullen Jones (48.46); Matt Grevers 3rd, Ricky Berens 4th, Jason Lezak 6th, Garrett Weber-Gale 8th).
Matt and Nathan…
Jason…
Ricky…
Nathan…
Results…
Women’s 200 breast (semis) – Breeja Larson & Micah Lawrence in Heat 1; Amanda Bears, Rebecca Soni, Caitlin Leverenz in Heat 2.
Amanda & Rebecca…
Still getting used to charging my camera on a daily basis due to thousands of sport-setting pictures taken, my camera died before the evening events were over.
Women’s 200 fly medal – Cammile Adams & Kathleen Hersey
Men’s 200 IM (semis) – 1=Ryan Lochte & Michael Phelps in Heat 1; Peter Vanderkaay & Conor Dwyer in Heat 2.
Men’s 100 free medal – Nathan Adrian & Cullen Jones
As Ryan and I drove the 30 minutes back to Rachael’s house, we talked about what an amazing day it was, and how it far surpassed our expectations. I said, “I can’t imagine that tomorrow could be any better!”
We found out that a good friend of ours was also at Trials with his family! Lars is the young man who went back and swam the end of the 400 IM with Ryan in this post. He is now at BYU, so we hadn’t seen him for a while. As we were sitting waiting for the prelims to start, we spotted Lars! Ryan ran over and was able to talk with him for a few minutes. It was fun to see someone we knew there!
Women’s 100 free – 14 heats; Rachel Bootsma in Heat 11; Kara Lynn Joyce, Dana Vollmer, Jessica Hardy in Heat 12; Lauren Perdue, Shannon Vreeland, Natalie Coghlin, Amanda Weir, Elizabeth Pelton, Christine Magnuson in Heat 13; Missy Franklin, Allison Schmitt in Heat 14.
Men’s 200 back – 11 heats; Matt Grevers & Ryan Murphy in Heat 9; Tyler Clary & Nick Thoman in Heat 10; Ryan Lochte in Heat 11.
Matt…
Tyler…
Ryan…
Women’s 200 breast – 13 heats; Micah Lawrence& Ariana Kukors in Heat 11; Annie Chandler & Amanda Beard in Heat 12; Rebecca Soni & Caitlin Leverenz in Heat 13.
Amanda…
Rebecca…
Men’s 200 IM – 13 heats; Conor Dwyer in Heat 11; Michael Phelps in Heat 12; Ryan Lochte & Peter Vanderkaay in Heat 13.
Michael…
Ryan…
AquaZone/Hilton:
We knew that Aaron Piersol was going to be at the AquaZone, so we headed there as soon as prelims ended. Ryan was able to wear yet another gold medal, and meet the medalist! Aaron Piersol is another one of my favorite swimmers. He has now retired, but he was a silver medalist in 2000 in Sydney, gold medalist in 2004 in Athens, and a gold medalist in 2008 in Beijing.
After we saw Aaron, we decided to walk around downtown Omaha. The entire week we were there, it was over 100 degrees, and about 90% humidity! I had no idea that Omaha was so humid! Today was the “coolest” day, so we took our walk around town.
We saw Kathleen Hersey on the Marriott…
And swimmers on the sidewalks…
The Gene Leahy Pedestrian Mall is beautiful! It runs down the middle of downtown Omaha, and has several quirky benches and some HUGE slides!
As we walked by the ConAgra headquarters, they had a huge screen set up where they had been showing the Trials live. They were showing an interview with Aaron Piersol!
Ry with Chef Boyardee…
We had planned to walk along the waterfront and over the Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge, but we were so extremely hot that we decided to do those another day. We headed back to the C-Link and Hilton to cool down.
We saw…
Elizabeth Beisel, who signed Ryan’s shirt…
Cullen Jones, who had headphones on & wasn’t acknowledging fans, so Ryan walked alongside for a good photo…
Nathan Adrian (who is ALWAYS smiling like this!) approaching Ryan for a high five…
Caitlin Leverenz…
Ricky Berens and Rebecca Soni...
Finals:
Men’s 200 breast – 1=Scott Weltz (2:09.01); 1=Clark Burckle (2:09.97); Eric Shanteau 3rd, Brendan Hansen 4th.
Women’s 100 free (semis) – Lia Neal, Allison Schmitt, Elizabeth Pelton in Heat 1; Natalie Coughlin, Amanda Weir, Dana Vollmer, Jessica Hardy, Missy Franklin in Heat 2.
Men’s 200 back (semis) – Tyler Clary & Nick Thoman in Heat 1; Ryan Lochte & Ryan Murphy in Heat 2.
Ryan Lochte…
Bob Costas’ interview tonight was with Missy Franklin. Because of her heavy security throughout the Trials, this was the closest that we ever were to her.
Men’s 200 breast medal (Scott Weltz & Clark Burckle) -
Women’s 200 fly – 1=Cammile Adams (2:06.52); 2=Kathleen Hersey (2:07.72).
Men’s 100 free – 1=Nathan Adrian (48.10); 2=Cullen Jones (48.46); Matt Grevers 3rd, Ricky Berens 4th, Jason Lezak 6th, Garrett Weber-Gale 8th).
Matt and Nathan…
Jason…
Ricky…
Nathan…
Results…
Women’s 200 breast (semis) – Breeja Larson & Micah Lawrence in Heat 1; Amanda Bears, Rebecca Soni, Caitlin Leverenz in Heat 2.
Amanda & Rebecca…
Still getting used to charging my camera on a daily basis due to thousands of sport-setting pictures taken, my camera died before the evening events were over.
Women’s 200 fly medal – Cammile Adams & Kathleen Hersey
Men’s 200 IM (semis) – 1=Ryan Lochte & Michael Phelps in Heat 1; Peter Vanderkaay & Conor Dwyer in Heat 2.
Men’s 100 free medal – Nathan Adrian & Cullen Jones
As Ryan and I drove the 30 minutes back to Rachael’s house, we talked about what an amazing day it was, and how it far surpassed our expectations. I said, “I can’t imagine that tomorrow could be any better!”
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