What’s up Tall Girl?

‘What’s up Tall Girl?’

I hear this phrase about twice a week on my walk to work.  It’s always from the same man and it’s usually right around the capital as I make my way around it.  It doesn’t bother me, in fact I usually look up, grin, maybe wave, and keep on walking.

The first few times he said it, he would then say, ‘Did you play ball?’  I’d answer it the exact same way until he finally said, ‘Didn’t I talk to you yesterday?’   It’s almost like he didn’t recognize me at first but now we have a mutual ‘morning thing’….and I like it.  It’s like being Norm from Cheers.

So, let’s see….what IS up?

I met another tall girl here in Madison.  My sister (6’1″) came to visit me a couple of weeks ago and we hopped around all day, having a drink and sometimes an appetizer, in as many places as possible.  We bellied up to a bar right in the downtown square and this is where we met our tall bartender.  She was 6’1″.  My sister and I started chatting with her about our different height experiences and this girl was so cool!  I love it when you meet tall, cool, chicks.  I think I made a friend and even better, we exchanged digits.

I got my heart busted up…again.  I let someone back into my life and probably should’ve waited til things were a little clearer before trying to jump back in.  It’s not like you can simply stop loving someone at the drop of a hat and I thought that he was ready to compromise and work towards the same goals.  At least that was the message I was getting…I guess just because it’s love doesn’t mean it will work.  Love does not conquer all, people!  Remember that…  Smile through the hurt (and eat).  Okay, don’t really eat but you know the drill.

Yum, yum gimme some!

I am going to Mexico in about a month!!!  I will probably be the tallest girl there,but I’m ready to have a good time.  I’m going with 3 of my closest girlfriends and I have a feeling we are going to make some great memories.  I’ve known these girls since college and I simply can’t wait to see them and share a lot of laughs.  I’ve never been to Mexico so I’m picturing tequila, beaches, tans, and some debauchery that I probably won’t be able to share.  Ha!

So while my 2013 so far has had multiple stops and starts and right at the moment I’m not ‘feeling it’, things can only get better.  This Tall Girl has low expectations and high hopes.  What more can you ask for?  Cheers to that!

I found this beer in Bruges and I think it’s the most wonderful, spicy beer ever! Cheers!

Tall girl in a new city

I’ve lived in Portland for almost 5 1/2 years.  I moved here in April of 2007 from Denver, CO where I had lived since July of 2003.  I moved for my dream job and my dream city both of which were happening at the same time.  I was excited, happy, bursting with energy and ready to embrace both city living and my wonderful new job.

One of the pictures from my going away party from Denver, CO back in 2007. That’s almost 6 years ago!

But now, my rose-colored glasses have fogged a bit and I think it’s time for a change.  I lived in Des Moines, IA for about 5 years before Denver and I’m thinking it’s time to get back to the Mid-West.  I miss my family and I miss seeing my nieces and nephew growing up.  And I really miss my sisters and my parents (and Grandma!)  So what’s a tall-girl to do?  I think it’s time to get closer to home.

Once I had made the decision I had to figure out where in the mid-west I should end up.  I picked 4 cities: Des Moines, IA; Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; Madison, WI; and Chicago, IL.  I figured any job within this 4-point radius would be feasible provided it fit within my salary range.  AND, more importantly, it had to fit within my ‘happiness’ range.  This means that my next job must make me happy.  I want to lead a team and help people.  I used to do this and it made me extremely happy.   It’s SO important to me that I be happy doing what I love.

SO….what does this all mean….

I recently found the job that looks like it could be that perfect fit.  And it happened to be in Madison, WI.  Everything happened so quickly it was a blur.  And now, as of yesterday, I’m in Madison, WI.  I’m beyond thrilled.  I have that feeling again…the one that makes me want to embrace the city and the job.  I’m ecstatic and in my gut (which is the most important tell-tale sign), my gut says this is the right move.

There’s a tall club here and one in Milwaukee that I’m planning on joining.  I’m living downtown next to the capital so I’ll be within walking distance to all of the ‘weirdness’ that everyone here has assured me I will see.  There’s a University here where I can see college football and tailgate (although I will never leave my IA Hawks).  And best of all, I’m within 5 hours of my family.  I can actually come home for Christmas this year and maybe Thanksgiving too!  Bring on the homemade egg-nog!

So, with a fresh new city and a fresh new outlook I’m ready to get out and make some memories to share with you.  Now, if only my furniture would arrive….

More to come….in Madison, WI!

So you wanna start a Tall Club, eh?

You’re tall.  You feel like you hang out with a lot of tall people.  You think it would be fun to start a tall club.  So you talk to your other tall friends and everyone seems to think it would be fun and a great idea.  Now what?  Well, that’s what I’m here for!  I’ve got the inside info on how you can start your very own tall club and also how you too can become affiliated with Tall Clubs International.

The basic requirements:

1. Men must be a minimum of 6’2″ and women must be a minimum of 5’10”.
2. All members must be at least 21 years of age.
3. Start-up clubs should be active for 6 months prior to application for membership
4. Minimum membership prior to application for membership is 15 members.
5. TCI annual dues are $3 per member, minimum of $45, due in January of each year.

The basic steps

1. Name your club and elect officers
2. Publicize your club (Facebook, Twitter, Meet-Up, etc)
3. Begin having regular meetings and social events to attract more members
4. Write your bylaws (samples available)
5. Open a bank account and start collecting dues to fund events
6. Once you have 15 members it’s time to apply for members ship!  (you must have authorization by a majority vote of your members directing the club president to seek membership through TCI)
7. Contact TCI’s Vice President of Membership (tci-membership@tall.org) at least 60 days prior to the annual convention (usually the last weekend in June) to submit your application for membership.  You will need:

• Letter of Application from your Club President
• Letter of Sponsorship from another TCI club in good standing (find one that’s close in proximity to you or perhaps make friends with someone in a club OR contact me and I’ll direct you to someone close to you)
• Send a check for 1/2 of the annual dues (minimum $22.50 for 15 members)
• List of founding members (Include: names, officially measured height barefoot, zip code, and email address)

If all is in order, your new club will be nominated for membership at the annual Delegates meeting during Convention.

Some of my tall club members at Convention in Las Vegas in 2009 when I won Miss Tall International.

Why should I become affiliated with Tall Clubs International (TCI)?

• Charity–TCI is affiliated with several charities so your funds go to some great charities such as Marfan Syndrome and Habitat for Humanity.
• Parents–TCI is a little like your parent.  You have your local club and then TCI above your local club.  It’s a great dynamic.
• Parties–do you like to party?  Yeah, me too.  And so do many of the TCI members.
• Tall People–do you like to party with tall people?  Yeah, me too…..see where I’m going with this?
• Tall Stores–what better place to swap stories about tall stores or even better swap clothes.  Or how about this, many tall stores offer discounts to members of TCI!!!
• Miss Tall International–Are you single, female, and always wanted to wear a crown and a sash?  Perhaps you should consider running for Miss Tall International.
• Ummmm…FUN–I don’t think I need to expand on this

Me and my tall friend Jan. This was taken at a Tall Christmas party!

Now, if you’d like to start a tall club please do!  If you would like more information on this please feel free to contact TCI Vice President (currently Genie Williamson) at tci-membership@tall.org.

I can also assist if you would like to contact me at misstallgirlramblings@gmail.com.  I can direct you to clubs near you or directly to TCI for further assistance.

My TALL Summer

One my most favorite things to do is take fun pictures especially while I’m traveling.  While my summer may not have been my best summer on record, I did get to take a few pretty good pictures and I got to take an awesome trip with my family.

Our trip was ‘Up North’ fishing with my family.  We rented a cabin on North Star Lake MN (about 5 hours north of Minneapolis) with 8 adults and my 4 year old niece, Baileigh, who is the most adorable little kid EVER.  (I should insert here that all my nieces and nephews are the most adorable kids EVER!)  Anyway, this cabin is truly awesome in a surprising way.  There’s no TV.  That’s right my family actually had to talk and do things together.  It was wonderful and I’m a little shocked that we all had as much fun as we did.

My niece loves to sing.  One night while she was in the shower and the rest of us were sitting in the living room area, she started to sing. “And I rock this club, and I go all night singing Aye-Oh…..let’s go!”  It was the funniest thing ever.  She got the words all wrong, but it was hilarious.   That would be our song of the weekend.  She also learned how to use the end of a jump rope as her microphone (thanks Aunt Holli!)

'And I rock this club...'

I also need to mention that I found my new favorite chair.  It was on our way to the Lake although I don’t remember which city it was in, the chair of course was dedicated to Paul Bunyan.  Anytime there is a large piece of patio furniture sitting in a parking lot it seems to beckon to me to sit back and relax.  So I did.

I think I finally found the perfect chair!

Now one other thing that we usually do when we take these family vacations is we play volleyball.  Almost everyone is over 6′ tall (with only one exception!) and I have to imagine that if we were against someone other than ourselves we could be quite intimidating.   This year it was the Jennings’ girls against the significant others.  My mom was our one and only spectator and she clapped for both teams so it didn’t exactly feel like a real game.  However, I’m very proud to say that the Jennings’ girls won!!!

Bump, Set, Spike!

We spent much of our time fishing, boating, kayaking, playing games, eating…it was a nice and relaxing.  My family is really fun.  I never did catch a fish but then, neither did my dad.  Heather was the big winner with a 45″ muskie.  We threw it back.  Muskies aren’t a good fish to eat…I learned that from the guy who helped us catch it.  Hmmm…I guess I could say I had an educational summer.

The Tall Convention

Where has Holli been???  Yes, I have taken a little vacation from writing but now I’m back because I have stories.  And I have to tell you where I’ve been.

Last week the annual Tall Clubs International Convention was held in Seattle, WA and let me tell you I had one of the best times ever!!!  I laughed and I partied until 3:00 am just like I was young (er) again.  It was an incredible time.

Ylian shot video after video and they are awesome!!!  I’m unfortunately not going to say much on my first day back at blogging I will, however, leave you with this wonderful link to go check out the videos for yourself.  Don’t stop at the first one, there are about 10 videos from 2011 as well as many videos from previous Portland Skyliner events.

Incidentally, Miss Talisha Tolliver is your new Miss Tall International 2011!!!

Miss Tall International 2011, Talisha Tolliver

You all should be checking out your local TALL clubs because this is too much fun not to share!!!

Tiny Colombians got me drunk

What a wonderful weekend this was! Friday night I went to the opera, which was my first time in the city and a very enjoyable experience. Saturday night, I saw a different Opera simimulcast at AT&T Park (very cool). But sandwiched in between both of these opera filled evenings was the wedding my friends Juan Pablo and Natasha.

Juanatasha (as they shall henceforth be named) were married out in Newt Hollow at Briones Regional Park (Pleasant Hill/Martinez). It was a beautiful ceremony on a sunny day with just the right amount of ocean breeze making its way over the hills. Ceremony’s like this help to remind me of just how important love is in this rough world and how two people can actually find each other and fall in love.

Then the tiny Columbians got me drunk.

I honestly don’t remember who’s mother/aunt/grandmother this woman was but she kept pouring me a Columbian booze, Auguadiente out of a carton. (Auguadiente is a 29% liqour.) I attempted to tell her, “No, I’m good. I’m already drunk.” Either she didn’t understand or didn’t care because when I asked, “Why?” she gestured with her hands how big I am and said, “Grande! Grande!” I kid you not. This was so entertaining, all of the international students from my program gathered around to watch as she got me and a tiny fellow student drunk.

If you are interested in seeing more photos, check out the Facebook Page for the blog. You can join in the upper right hand corner. I have to search out the photos other people took, but I’ll filter them out and just show you the ones that display me standing next to the tiny people.

Congratulations Juanatasha! May you marriage be blissful, your bank accounts be joint and your prenuptial agreements in order!

*UPDATE* Average height in Colombia is 5’2″. Check it here.