New Year!

Wow I am WAY behind but oh well! So I thought I would share with all of you in blog world one of my goals for this year. My friends and I want to run the Florida Keys Ragnar next January, which by the way is this. How cool! And a great challenge! FYI we are still looking for runners so if you are interested in going to Florida in January 2012 (not only Florida but the Keys!) let me know! We seriously need like 6 more runners. Anyway, so I am planning on doing Ragnar but I had/have race anxiety. I made a goal of doing one race a month. But I was scared to death of doing it! There was a New Year's Day 5K and I wanted to do it but I was scared. So my AWESOME mom signed up so I would too. Then my dad did and my brother Dave. It was a lot of fun! I had a better time than I expected and I enjoyed it. I was grateful that everyone did it with me. My mom and dad walked the whole time and they finished. I was so proud of mom for doing it. Want some pictures? Who doesn't?!

 The ladies after the race. Woot!

 The fam

My next race is the Bountiful Sweetheart 5K. February 12th. March is the 26th, another 5K. April is the Thanksgiving Point run through the tulips (on this one I'm debating between the 5k or half marathon). So those are my next couple races. FYI this is what I'm looking at for July. (Looks awesome doesn't it?!) April is iffy on if I do the half or not. I don't know if I am up to that point yet on my training. I'm thinking June...but half marathon's scare me because people who do half marathons tend to be ubber serious about it. That is what scares me but I need to just not care about them. So we'll see. By the way I love to have others to do the race with so sign up with me! But just so you know I am sloooow so I don't expect you to run with me. :)
Alright everyone! I just wanted to share my goal with you because I think it makes me more accountable. So enjoy! Peace out all!

A Quickie but a goodie! (Maybe)

I realized that I had not posted here since September. Sinner! I know. There really isn't too much to report. First off I was sworn in as an attorney two weeks ago, I have a corneal melt on my eyeball, and I am waddling like a duck today because I'm sorry from my 5 mile run on MONDAY! Monday! I mean really...I wasn't THAT sore yesterday but today you decide to be sore. Weird.
Speaking of weird. I had to chat online with the Comcast people today and the person helping me was "Francis". That's kind of a gender neutral name. So I ended our conversation with "Thanks sir!" Then I realized that "Sir" might be "Ma'am". I mean really with Francis you never know! So I quickly tried to correct it with "ma'am?". Francis did not respond for a bit and talked about other things. But right before we ended he/she said "I'm in between sir and ma'am". Uh what? So of course I got all sorts of different ideas as to what THAT could mean. I asked Francis what that meant and they never answered. Rude.
Ok last thing is my "Things That Must Stay" list. So here we go.
#1: The snow. I know loads of you are going to hate me for saying this but I'm stoked for the snow. Jen and I are going to try out snowshoeing. So depending on how that goes I might be on the "boo snow" bandwagon if the snowshoeing doesn't pan out.
#2: Jenny. Really I've loved hanging out with this girl again. She's a good time. Church and activities wouldn't be the same with out her.
#3: Larsipan. My day is not complete without hearing from her at least once during the day.
#4: Apple cider!! Yup even my "gross" (I don't think its gross but some people do) sugar-free cider makes me incredibly happy and warm.
#5: This picture. I love it. He didn't know how to use the camera.

#6: Living in the middle of two condos! I haven't had to turn the heat on once, even today with the snow! My neighbors keep me warm. :)
#7: Going to work at 7:30 this morning. I know that's weird coming from me the late sleeper person but really I'm glad because then I can be done at 1:00 and still get in about 6 hours of work. Woot! (Yes I'm still lame part time).
#8: Eleanor's Bake Shop and Janelle's kids. Eleanor's is my friend's family bakery and they do gluten free things. My not having a gluten problem still loves it. I love when I am weak and buy a cupcake there and Janelle's kids are there as well. I usually end up eating about 1/4 of the cupcake and the rest I give to Oliver. Keeps the calories down. Thanks Oliver! Which by the way I am including the BEST picture of him to go along with this. Really its just awesome. He was not happy on Saturday night.

Ok I think that's it. Peace out everyone!

What Constitutes Someone as a "Runner"?

I was thinking about this question while on my run this afternoon. So what does make someone a runner? Someone who runs 20 miles a week? Someone who runs marathons? Has all the running gadgets? I don't think so. I think a runner is someone who loves the feel of the pavement under their feet. It doesn't matter if you run one minute or one hour. A runner is someone who will get out and hit the road in rain, snow or blistering heat. If you have to walk during your run it doesn't matter you are a runner. So dang it! I'm a runner! I might not look like one but I am. A runner is someone who loves the sport and all they need are some running shoes and open road. I love it! So those of you that think you can't run or you aren't a runner believe me you are and you can do it.

I also wanted to do a confessions of a runner:
#1: I HATE running while I am doing it, yet love it at the end when the endorphins show up.
#2: If I see an attractive guy I will run faster until I pass him.
#3: I don't care how unattractive I look with the belly hanging out and flopping all over at least I'm out there.
#4: I love playing AC/DC and pretending I'm Ironman.
#5: I'm not afraid to use my t-shirt as a tissue during a run.
#6: I only wash my running clothes once a week.
#7: I really want to do this race.

Well all I'm out! Enjoy!

A few thoughts on 9/11...take it as you will

Since this is September 11 I have been thinking about what happened on this day 9 years ago. I am going to divide my musings into two thoughts. The first being my thoughts on that day and where I was and the second on my thoughts today about it.
On September 11, 2001 I was going to school at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. I had graduated from high school earlier in the year and was excited about college. I remember waking that day not really thinking anything but recalling a conversation I had with my friend Carri in her room the night before. We were talking about be prepared for either the end of the world or the end of our life. Were we prepared to meet our maker when that time came? I think all freshman at some point take that spiritual step. Either to keep the teachings we have been taught since we were little or to venture off on our own and explore new avenues. I recall thinking which step I was going to take...and I had decided the night before to stick to what I believed and grew up believing. I walked to my first class of the day psychology. Before class started I heard people say things like "did you hear what happened in New York?" "There was a plane crash." I didn't think much about it. Because at that time in my life New York seemed like such a far away place and a bit of a fantasy. Somewhere I wanted to visit but figured I wouldn't do for a while. (I'm yet to visit NYC to this day). My professor at that time had not heard about the news either so class carried on like normal. Class ended and I quickly went to my next class. I entered my English 2010 class and my professor entered quickly and said "there has been an attack on America. I am canceling class. Please go home and call your loved ones just to tell them you love them." And he left. I walked back to my apartment quickly and my roommates already had the television on. I walked in the door just in time to see the second plane fly into the second building. I don't recall much after that. I remember sitting there with my roommates watching the tv well into the late afternoon. I remember that the normally busy and rowdy college town was unusually quiet. We received a phone call from our bishop telling us that Pres. Hinckely was giving a talk that night and all of my roommates went. Including one who had decided to take their spiritual path away from the LDS church. I don't remember what Pres. Hinckely said but I remember going over that conversation I had had with Carri over and over in my head. I consider two events in my life that really woke me up in regards to my spirituality. The first was when I was a sophomore at Hunter High School. On April 20, 1999 two kids opened fire on their classmates at Columbine High School in Colorado. I remember reading a story about a girl who was killed because one of the shooters asked her to deny God. She would not do it and he shot her. My very first thought that if it was me I would have denied. That was a huge moment for me. Would I really? Could I really deny? Eventually my answer changed I wouldn't deny God. That carried me through until that moment when I sat in the chapel remembering what I had talked to Carri about. How could God allow this? I still don't have an answer to that but I think I understand the principle of agency better. We all make choices and those choices no matter small effect others. The rest of that week, month, year after the attack is a bit of a blur. I moved on I continued with my school and work. But around this time of year every year I look back on to that day. I know that my experience pales in comparison to those in New York who witnessed this horror or lost someone due to a choice of others. For them I pray that one day they will find the answers they are looking for.
The second part I wish to address is what I feel today. I was sitting in the car wash place today waiting for my car when Fox News (I know some of you love Fox News, but I'm not fan so either skip this portion or don't get too offended) had a few people on about September 11. A survivor was one of the guests. At first they started talking about the bravery of the Firefighters and NYPD but then they decided to criticize Pres. Obama's speech he had given earlier in the day. From what I got from his speech was that we do need to be tolerant. Fox News did not agree with this portion of his speech. But here is what I got from his speech. We as Americans need to be the bigger person. Not do things like burn a Koran or hate people because of their religion. That is what the extremists do, not us. We don't need to be like them. We shouldn't be like them. We have a right to do things like that thanks to people who fought and continue to fight for that freedom. Because we have to right to do it doesn't mean we should. We need to be the better person and be more tolerant and loving. I personally do not have a problem with a mosque around ground zero BUT I can understand why others would not like it. I think that their opinions and feelings should be taken into serious consideration. "We will not sacrifice the liberties we cherish or hunker down behind walls of suspicion and mistrust," Pres. Obama. People often think that I am anti-American because I do immigration law. That is so far from the truth. I love this country and I know of the freedoms, rights and values that we have and are blessed to have and I want others to have those opportunities as well.
There is evil every where in this world and there is hate everywhere. I don't want to talk about that evil when I talk about September 11 to future generations. That essentially is what those that attacked America want. They want to be known as the ones that hurt Americans. Why give them that pleasure? We shouldn't. I want to tell future generations about the bravery of those first responders and the unity that we as Americans finally found but have since then lost. I want to tell them that there are people fighting to keep us safe from other attacks and while there is evil out there there is also much more good. I want to tell them that while the terrorist hoped to put terror into our hearts we did not let them. We have stood tall and strong and continue to do so. I want to tell future generations that I am proud to be an American. I am thankful for those people that lost their lives to save others and I am grateful for those in Iraq and Afghanistan and other areas in the world that are fighting for me, my family, friends and to make things better for those that so desperately need our help. Thank you and I pray you all will stay safe.

Update: I just had a thought...would I still be this tolerant if I had lost a loved one? I would hope so but I can't say for sure.

Cake Shop

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that my friend Janelle and her family are opening a bakery on August 21st! They specialize in gluten free treats. But honestly I have eaten plenty of Janelle's gluten free things and they are tasty!  So here is the blog and they have a facebook page as well. eleanorsbakeshop.blogspot.com
Go and support local businesses! :)

What a Weekend!

 Actually my weekend wasn't that exciting. Ha! Psych! Sorry. I did go to Antelope Island though. Which for those that are not familiar with this island it is in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. They have loads of trails and you can get int he water if you wish...its really salty...hence the name Great Salt Lake. Now I was dog sitting this weekend and so I decided to take him with me. He however was not allowed on a lot of the trails. That was sure awesome. But we did hike Buffalo Point...it was only .41 miles one way. Lame. But we were hiking back down and it had been cloudy and stormy well we are going down and I feel the hairs on my arm stand up and I think ut oh! No bueno so I have us start to run. Right when we did a huge flash of lightening hit over head followed immediately with thunder. Needless to say I got great exercise running down the mountain. Considering I was the tallest thing up there I opted to not chance getting struck by lightening. Got some great pics though. :D Now for those of you that don't know me I am scared of cows. Yup you read right scared of cows. So Antelope Island is home to over 700 buffalo and they have had buffalo since 1893. (yes I stopped and read every information sign...I'm a nerd) So seeing buffalo was a little unnerving especially since they are much bigger than cows. But I got pictures of ones close to my car AND I even got out and took one outside of my car! Whoa! Needless to say it wasn't an ubber exercisy day but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I have big plans to go for a run today with the heart monitor. Which I still love by the way. :) Eating hasn't been too terrible but I need to work on it. Mostly portions. I want to lose almost 30 pounds by the end of October. I can do that right? Sure I can! Anyway, here are some photos for you all.

He was my hiking buddy! Thanks Sammy!

Making an Effort and Things That Must Stay

I know, I know! It has been ages since I wrote a post. Yes well things have been busy. Or I have nothing to say...take your pick. But I'm posting now so snuggle down and enjoy. My friend Larsipan and I were talking about how we should maybe make an effort to be more personable. Meaning we would do our hair and makeup on a daily basis. Let me tell you I was not stoked at the idea. I have perfected, perfected I tell you, the "roll out of bed, quick shower and go" look. Let me tell you that look of a hair in a bun and lotion on my face took months to get just right! I mean I mixed it up sometimes...I did my hair in a braid once in a while. Not buying it are you? Me neither. So Lars and I are making an effort. Today is day three of making an effort. Day two and three went well. I did my hair and makeup. (I honestly don't know what we are supposed to have happen by doing this but whatever I'll go with it) Today did not go well because I forgot to set my alarm so no makeup but I think I still looked ok. Better than no effort so I'm counting it. In actuality I do feel better about myself since I've started making an effort so we'll keep it up.

Now on to "Things that must....stay". I've decided I tend to be too negative about things and too annoyed about things. I've decided to be more positive. So I'm finding things that are good and must stay opposed to must go.
#1: Me finding was to never have to use a razor ever again. Using wax and veet. Woot woot!
#2: Fresh cherries
#3: My CSA farm share that I get every Wednesday.
#4: My friends and family
#5: Utah...I know I complain a lot about Utah but I really do love it. I just need to explore a bit before I make it my permanent home.
#6: My new backpacking backpack for Havasupai.
#7: My awesome tan line!
#8: Cakeballs...if you never had one you are missing out!
#9: Janelle getting her bakery!
#10: My tomato plant moving from the critical condition stage to stable condition.
#11: Going to a movie with my cousin.

There you go all! Peace!