Training day: 1. A trail running wake up call

Today was day one of new training with Jenny for a 15k. So here's how it went. It blew. We were set to do 2 miles. Well I did two miles. I just walked...a lot! Which is frustrating going from consistently running 7-8 miles last June and July to not even doing two. I am a month post op from the appendix almost bursting but I have no pain from that so I can't use it as an excuse. Though because of it I pretty much had to take the whole month off. Lame. But this was day one. It can only get better from here right? So we ran a canal road in West Jordan tonight. It was all dirt road. I have ran trails before and really liked it but this was a great wake up call at #1. Remembering how difficult that can be until you adjust your footing and #2. How out of shape I am for trail running. Which means I just need to do more of it. But that's the report and hopefully Monday I will have awesome news! No I'm not getting married Becky. ;-) peace out!!

A birthday letter for mom

      Well mom its your birthday. Happy birthday! I took flowers to you this morning. I hope you liked them. I always liked giving you flowers. Anything really. You were always so appreciative of things I gave you. Even when it was ugly costume jewelry when I was 10. Honestly its been kind of a rough day. I couldn't sleep last night because I was trying to figure out how I would handle your first birthday without you. I tend to have lots of dreams about you. All I ever get to do in them is give you one last hug or we make one last joke. As hard as those are to wake up from I always feel like I had a little piece of you for a second. Isn't it nice to recognize the tender mercies we are given sometimes? I think about you every day and find that little things remind me of you. I was eating a yogurt today and it reminded me of when I ate some yogurt from your fridge that turned out to be 4 months old and I called you to complain and you said "well....nice knowin ya!" :) So witty. I loved that about you.
       Dad sure misses you mom. I am trying to do what I can but I'm afraid I am not quite to your caliber. He loves you a lot and thinks of you often. Some days are harder than others and he tries to not let it show but I can tell. You were a great example to me of what unconditional love for your spouse means. You always did for him and him for you. You both are great examples to me. If every marriage was like yours I probably wouldn't be so scared of it. :) We had an Easter party with the family last week. You would have been sorely disappointed that no jello eggs made an appearance. Have no fear I'll step it up at the next party. You showed me how to be a great hostess. You and dad should be proud. We kids didn't turn out so bad, although we all sometimes wonder about Becky. (just kidding Becky!!)
        I'm buying a house mom. not sure if you knew that. I'm sure you do. You would have loved the house. I know you would have brought me a plant on closing day, bought me things to put on my front porch, helped me plant flowers, made a face at my idea for paint on one wall in the kitchen (let's just say it involves lemon yellow and silver :D), you would have stopped by "on your way home" even though this house is no where close to you just to say "hi". But I know you are still cheering me on and guiding me and I thank you for that.
      As the years pass and life continues to move forward I hope you never think I've forgotten you. I never could. You were and still are someone I try to be. I hope one day I'll get close. I know that I will always need your guidance and direction mom, please help me even if I forget to ask. Thank you for all you ever did for me and sticking with me during my terrible fourteens :). I look forward to the day when I will see you again and give you that hug I've been wanting to give you since the day you left. You were an amazing mom and grandmother. We couldn't have asked for anyone better. I love you and miss you. Happy birthday.
                                                              Love,
                                                                 Emily

Announcement! I was going to send a photo postcard...

I'm proud to announce the arrival of my bouncing baby...infected appendix! Doctors tell me he was large and ugly. I couldn't be more proud!! They wouldn't let me take him home though. Lame

Always blame law school

I have always said that law school made me stupid. While in law school and now out. I mean it trains you to think a certain way and because of that its shoved common sense out. I can't even tell you how many Ipods I have washed in the clothes washer during my law school career. Well ok actually I can. Two. Two!! That might not seem like a lot but I only attended law school for 2 1/2 years! Not good odds. And every time I'd sit there while the laundry is going and think "I have a feeling something is in the washer that should not be there." Ipod! Now that's not the only thing I have to justify my being dumber during and after law school. Here are a few examples:

#1. One day while going out to my car to go to school my neighbor in Moscow asked if I always wear my skirt on backwards. 

#2. I put foot lotion on my face thinking it was my face lotion.

#3. I drove all the way to Daybreak three days ago "to go home" when I haven't lived there in 8 months. 

And the most recent episode, I was getting ready to go on a run yesterday at about 9:00AM not that early, I'd been up since 7:30 anyway. So there I was putting on my running skirt etc. and I found my socks and shoes put on a sock and one shoe and laced it up and then looked for the other sock. I could not find it anywhere! I looked for almost 10 minutes until I realized it was on my foot the whole time....I'm awesome. And law school made me stupid.

Blood Sucker!

So this is my thumb...

This is my thumb cut on a mandolin while cutting some fruits and veggies for the juicer...

Now I don't think it looks that bad and the debate when it happened was whether a trip to get stitches was needed or not. Opted for not. The solutions where scotch taping a bandaid until it stopped bleeding and then super gluing it. Well super glue has worn off so now we just have poor little exposed thumb. Now I went to the mall today (yes I had the day off. Haha! Suckas!) :) and I was trying on some pants in Eddie Bauer and I was putting my jeans back on when my thumb got stuck in my zipper and ripped the skin off.  I suddenly found myself in the dressing room with a bloody thumb and unzipped pants. I decided I should go ask the ladies at the counter for a tissue or a paper towel or something so I didn't bleed all over their floor. As I was about to leave the dressing room I realized my pants were still unzipped. Yeah that wouldn't work. So I sucked on my thumb to try to stop the blood flow and tried to zip up the pants. FYI zipping up your pants without a thumb? Not so easy.

Lesson learned from this? I decided it was God's way of telling me not to spend anymore money. Especially since I just bought these beauties!

Aren't the wonderful?!

*I've decided my fingers need to go on a diet. Look at those sausages! 

A Moment *Updated*

This guy is Alex Smith. He was the quarterback for the University of Utah while I was going there. I was reading an article about him today. I like reading articles about him because one time in 2003 we had a moment.

I majored in Human Development and Family Studies in my undergrad and so this involved a lot of child development classes. I don't know what Mr. Smith majored in*, all I know is that we had a class together. I never really paid attention to him because #1. the class was in an auditorium and the professor always had the lights down to use the overhead thingy (yes I said thingy...I forgot what they are called). and #2. I always sat in the back and there were a ton of people in the class so I never noticed him, but knew he was in the class.

Now on to "our moment". One time while in class I happened to fall asleep during class...you know like you do. In my defense the lights were off! So there I was taking a wee nap, getting the info through osmosis, when someone sat down by me. You know when you are sleeping and suddenly you jerk awake? Yeah so that is what I did and I ended up kicking the person who sat next to me. Yup it was Alex Smith. I was really embarrassed and I think I might have choked on a saltine while telling him sorry. He gave me a funny look then joked that he was now injured for the next game. I laughed stupidly and said I'll be sure to not disclose my name so I didn't get attacked by the fans. He laughed and asked something about the class. I felt we had a moment. We connected for that small moment. I'm pretty sure I made a fool of myself like I always do. But I like to think we had something. *sigh* :) And yes Lara it would have been awesome if we had become study buddies! But I'm pretty sure the minute I kicked him that possibility flew out the window.

On another note I enjoy getting together for random lunches with old friends. So thanks Jenny and Steve! Since you both read this. :) It was a good time. I know people that don't really keep in contact with people they knew from high school or college and just drop people as soon as they move. I've never really been like that. I like to keep those connections. So its nice when I am able to. So thanks! And Steve maybe next time we will go to CB.

Alright all peace!

*My dear friend Lara informed me that Mr. Alex Smith majored in Economics AND got a Masters in Econ! He is one smart cookie. I took an economics class and so I feel I am an expert on the subject since I am a little slow when it comes to that. Its about saving money right? Right?! 

2011

The year is almost over so I thought I would do the obligatory end of the year post. This year had a lot of trials and triumphs for me. Trials, I'm honestly not ready to talk about. This Christmas was probably the worst I've ever had without my mom and all I could do was pray it ended quickly. I'm not ready to really address that yet...one day. Triumphs were for sure in abundance. I finished 15 races as I mentioned in my previous post. It was a big accomplishment for me and I've never been more proud of myself when it came to a running goal. Another triumph was having my first case as a lawyer in immigration court. It was an asylum case. Asylum cases are for people that have fear of returning to their home country due to some persecution. These cases are long and a lot of work. My case was fast and a lot of work. My client came to me at the end of May and their hearing was the middle of June. I had 3 days to write a brief and get evidence submitted. Thankfully the hearing turned out well and my client did not need to return to their home country. I have never considered myself a great writer but the judge said my brief was really well written and very persuasive even though he did not buy all of my arguments. He also told my client that if it wasn't for my brief and evidence the outcome of the trial would have been very different. So that's always nice to hear. :) I also got to finish my mentor program and now I am no longer a first year lawyer. Kind of  a relief. I haven't been disbarred yet. As my friend Christi said I'm really good at flying under their radar. :) Well for the rest of this post I think I'll let photos say the rest, they aren't in any particular order. Enjoy!