punch dancing out my rage

Last night (this morning?) at 2am I was ready to quit work, quit church, quit running and everything else and run away and curl up in a ball and hibernate until my stress level returned to normal (5 months min).

BUT! Today... well, this afternoon was really fantastic and I'm feeling great again and ready to tackle my super long to-do list.

Everything came to a head on tuesday afternoon when I found out I missed a meeting at work that I didn't even know about. So, not only did I have to explain things to my boss (who is always super cool about everything) I had to do the most degrading thing a structural engineer could ever do. I had to grovel at the feet of an architect. blerg! (FYI- it should always be the other way around.) It was not my proudest moment. So our meeting was rescheduled to this afternoon which meant I had to pretty much have the project finished. Problem was that I was only half way done. Last night I was at the office until 2am (but don't worry. I got to watch Project Runway while I was working) and got back this morning at 8am. I worked straight until the last second before I had to leave to get there on time. I wasn't as far along as I'd hoped and I knew I was already walking on thin glass with the architect/builder so I was very apprehensive about the meeting. Luckily he was in a good mood and I'm not going to lie. I was fantastic. I owned that meeting! My boss came with me as sort of a buffer and as we were on our way back to the office he lavishly praised me for how well I handled the meeting and that he was able to just sit back and listen. Until recently if he and I were at the same meeting I'd be the one sitting back not saying a word (call it what you may- my own inferiority comples, women in a male dominated workplace, whatev...) So it was a triumphant moment for me (and for him as my mentor) and made all the stress of the last few days dissappear. So once again, I love my job. Life is beautiful, etc, etc.

To top off the afternoon I made my coworkers watch a few scenes from Hot Rod. Hilarious? Yes. Hell yes. If you haven't seen it I highly suggest at least just watching this punch dancing sequence. Remind you of anything?


And if you need more motivation to run out to redbox and get this movie tonight here's the full preview:

remind me why i love running

by the way, did i tell you about my 10 mile run on saturday that made me want to quit running forever and how the first 4 miles were all uphill and that i missed a turn and went 1/2 a mile too far (up hill of course) and that i would have quit running after 5 miles but i was still 5 miles away from home and that i didn't have enough in me to fuel my body for 10 miles and that i almost passed out twice after i got home and that i got a blister? did i? did i tell you that?

and did i tell you how i had a bad dream about running a 5k in a mall where there was some chick that was trying to stop me from running and i was shooting staples at her with a staple gun and had to actually staple her shoulder so she would let me pass then how i could not for the life of me make my legs move to get up the stairs and how there was tons of other craziness that happened that i can't even remember now but i know it was awful and that this wasn't my first bad dream about running? did i? did i tell you that?

and did i tell you that i haven't had any time to go running since saturday even though i need to run for my physical and mental health and that i'm exhausted just thinking about how much crap i have to get done and how i have absolutely no time to do it and feel totally overwhelmed with everything to the point that i feel paralyzed about even starting anything on my to-do list? did i? did i tell you that?

but did i also tell you that i only have 9 more days until i leave for moab and i can't even wait and it's going to be so fun and amazing and that just thinking about finishing a half marathon makes me a little bit emotional and also excited that i'll be able to cross one more thing of my 30 for 30 list and also that i'm super excited? did i? did i tell you that?

and did i tell you that i registered our Wasatch Back team (Heaven or Hell) and already it is shaping up to be awesome and i am totally pumped up for the race? did i? did i tell you that?

Tonight I had a chat with God. And then He had a chat with me.

*Sorry that only a few of you will understand this. If you would like a translation I'll give you one but you'll have to ask. It needed to be written en francais because that's how it happened. Pardonnez mes fautes.

Ce soir je me suis mis a genoux en prier a mon Pere Celeste. J'etais completement epuisee alors, je lui ai exprime mes frustrations, mes craintes. Et puis il m'a dit (alma 34:37-41 avec quelques changements):

"Et maintenant, ma soeur bien-aimee, je desire que tu te souvienes de ces choses, et que tu travaillais a ton salut avec crainte devant Dieu, et que tu ne niais plus la venue du Christ; que tu ne combattais plus le Saint-Esprit, mais que tu le recevais et prenais sur toi le nom du Christ; que tu t'humiliais jusqu'a la poussiere, et adorais Dieu, en quelque lieu que tu te trouvais, en esprit et en verite; et que tu vivais quotidiennement dans les actions de graces pour les misericordes et les nombreuses benedictions qu'il t'accorde. Oui, et je t'exhorte aussi, ma soeur, a veiller a prier continuellement, afin de ne pas etre egares par les tentations du diable, afin qu'il n'ait pas le dessus sur toi, afin de ne pas devenir son sujet au dernier jour car voici, il ne te donne rien de bon en recompense. Et maintenant, ma soeur bien-aimee, je voudrais t'exhorter a avoir de la patience et a supporter les afflictions de toutes sortes, a ne pas injurier ceux qui te chassent a cause de ton 'etant celibataire' (j'ai acune idee comment ce dire meme en anglais), de peur que tu ne devenais pecheuse comme eux, mais a avoir de la patience et a supporter ces afflictions dans la ferme esperance que tu te reposerais un jour de toutes tes afflictions."

Et tout a coup, j'etais bien humblee. Et on puisse etre assure qu'il y avait des larmes.

You know I love to be:

TAGGED! by Melissa

What was I doing 10 tears ago: I was a 20 year old USU college student in the midst of the most fun year ever and living with 5 of my best friends. I don't think much studying went on that year but there were a lot of boarding trips, Bear Lake condo trips and tons of crazy fun. I thought I was pretty mature back then... oh, how was I wrong! I pulled out my old journal and found a couple of pretty funny passages I wrote almost exactly 10 years ago (dang, time flies!):

"So, you know how you think you are sure about how you feel about someone then a week later you can't understand why you felt that way or you are embarrassed that you did feel that way? Well, boys will do that to you." Oh sweet 20yr old Christy- that's what we call "cornflakin'". Don't worry... you will still be doing that 10 years later.

"T moved home a week ago. Saturday we got a new roommate. She's fresh off the mission so our apartment is experiencing the uncharted territory of Michael McLean and church music." That's just funny.

5 things on my to-do list today: 1- finish the bridal shower invitations and send them; 2- get treats for enrichment night; 3- run 5 miles; 4- clean my room; 5- do my taxes. I probably won't get any of it done.

What snacks do I enjoy: Trader Joe's Oriental Cracker Mix, dry roasted, unsalted almonds, Baked Cheetos, Oreos (with milk)

What would I do if I were suddenly a billionaire: Pay off my car, my house and my credit cards, save for retirement, travel back to La Reunion & Mauritius for a few months, pay for dental work (including invisalign braces and whitening), get laser hair removal, hire a personal chef and personal trainer, play 'What Not to Wear' with my wardrobe and go on a major shopping spree, buy a horse, buy a boat.

Three bad habits: 1- My bedroom is always messy; 2- I stay up late and sleep in late everyday; 3- I procrastinate everything.

Five places I've lived: 1- Orem, UT; 2- Logan, UT; 3- Las Vegas, NV; 4- Ste Marie & St Denis, La Reunion; 5- Quatre Borne, Mauritius

Five jobs I've had: 1- Piano teacher; 2- Telephone surveyor (worst job ever); 3- Data Entry; 4- USU Computer Lab Consultant; 5- Project Engineer

Five things people don't know about me: 1- I love responding with "that's what she said" or "your mom"; 2- I sleep sideways in bed (usually on the top half of the bed); 3- I hated reading until I graduated college and now I adore reading; 4- I'm innately shy and still have to work to overcome it; 5- I spend too much time on LDSLinkup and like figuring out who people are "In A Relationship" with and find great satisfaction in seeing their status change to "Married".

17 days 'til Moab

It feels like forever since I've posted about running and I have a ton to say. So buckle in.

1. Saturday I did a 6.2 mile run with Chloe, who was in town for the weekend. It wasn't my fasted run but definitely one of my favorites. Not only was the weather fantastic but the company was fantastic as well. It was the first time I've really run with someone and I loved it! It helps that Chloe is totally awesome and just one of those girls you can't help but want to be friends with. We had a pretty good pace and I felt great the whole time. It was a good reminder that not every run has to be about time. I get somewhat obessed with my minutes per mile, my total time and improving those times. So it was great to just not worry about it and go enjoy running for running. I definitely need to do that more often.
   Read Chloe's commentary here. The funny thing is that while she was running in a tank top I had a long sleeve tech tee and gloves on. Now that's the difference between a runner from Utah and a runner from Vegas.
2. Tuesday I did a 5.5 mile run. I've got a pretty good little route near my house that I've done a few times for my weekday runs. It has been so nice getting outside to run especially since things have warmed up a bit. The interesting part about being this far into my 1/2 marathon training is that what used to be my long runs are now my short runs. Now I find my self saying, "Oh, I only did 5 miles today." It makes me really feel like I'm a runner!
3. Today's run was actually not a run at all. I meant to get to the gym at 10pm so I could watch Project Runway but ended up getting there at 9:30pm. So I did 30 minutes of eliptical then ran into 3 of my girlfriends and decided to stay and walk on the treadmill with them and watch PR for an hour. It would have been totally fantastic except that all the headphone jacks on all the treadmills I tried (4 in all) were crap and I couldn't hear what Heidi, Tim, Nina, Michael and the designers were saying!That just wasn't acceptable. The sound jack on the 4th treadmill was fine but the decline button didn't work. So once I inclined to a 5 I had to stay there. Just another reason I hate treadmills. But Can I say that I totally love Christian? Seriously. Love. Lurve! Also, I wore my new running skirt that I got for $12 at the adidas outlet on saturday. It's super cute but I need some bodyglide on my big old thighs. tmi?
   
4. Today I entered the "Shave Your 5k Challenge" presented by Vanilla from Half-Fast. The idea is to improve your 5k time over the year. The winner is the one who shaves the most time from their "stubble" time to their "smooth" time. I love the idea behind this and I'm excited for the challenge. Luckily I just ran a 5k earlier this month so I've already got my "stubble" time. 31:04. I honestly don't believe I'll win but I sure as heck am going to try my hardest. This means I'll have to start encorporating some speed workouts into my training. Recommendations on how?
   
5. Only 17 more days until the Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon. I'm seriously so excited about this! I only get excited about challenges that I'm ready for and I feel like I'm going to be ready for this big challenge. It's something I've wanted to do for years and until recently didn't believe I could actually accomplish. Bring it on! I'm excited to run with Chloe, Anne and Jen as well! It's gonna be fun to be in Moab. The only thing I'm worried about is the altitude. I'm not sure how that is going to factor into my time. Hopefully it won't kill me!
6. I've got a 9 mile route planned out for my long run on saturday and I can't wait for it. Is that weird? To be excited to run 9 miles? I feel like someone flipped a switch in my head and I actually look forward to long runs instead of dreading them. Really weird.
7. I know I've mentioned it before but I'm IN LOVE with my fuel belt. Seriously it is fantastic!
8. I've been blogstalking a bunch of running blogs and they have really inspired me. Keep an eye out soon (soon is relative in the eyes of a procrastinator) for a links section for running blogs.
   
9. There's more swimming around in my head right now but I can't remember it because it's 1am and I've been up since 7am (that is SO early for me, you have no idea) so my brain isn't totally functioning (but when is it ever?). So I'd better just end this post.
   

Hope everyone is well. I love you all! Really I do.
Happy trails.

Support VD

Happy Valentine's Day everybody! I love you. I really do.

It's probably good that I don't have a Valentine today because if I did, this is the card I would get him:

So instead of making out like a teenager all night with my non-existant lover I'll be spending the night at the House of Blues with some people I love and some bands that I've recently fallen in love with- Editors and Hot Hot Heat. Woot!

an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

Can I just tell you how bad my life sucks?? OK, it doesn't really suck at all. I just thought I'd be dramatic for a moment. My life is actually pretty awesome.

You know what does suck though? Going to the dentist. I HATE it more than anything in the whole world! Confession: I went yesterday for the first time in 6 year. Yes. Six. Years. That's how bad I hate going. I realize that if I were going for my checkups every 6 months then going wouldn't be so bad. I get it. I just hate it. So I put it off. Yesterdays trip was out of shear necessity as I hadn't been able to chew on my right side or drink anything cold with out excruciating (dramatic exaggeration) pain for several days. So guess who got a root canal yesterday! ME! It was awful! I wouldn't even mind the procedure that much (ok, yes I would) if only my jaw didn't have to be cranked open for that long. Killer! I really impressed Dr D. Apparently I have 2 distal canals AND very long, skinny roots. I think that's the first time the word "skinny" has ever been used in reference to me.
But Dr H and Dr D took good care of me. Dr H is my best friend's dad (and pretty much my Vegas dad) and Dr D is her cousin so I think I got some extra special care. I'm all for preferential treatment. Good news is that I get to go back next week for a full exam (and a few fillings I'm sure) and a crown! Blerg! I should probably start brushing my teeth... It's a thought.

One doctors appointment just wasn't enough for one day. I also got my eyes checked and I'm glad to say that after 6 years they haven't gotten much worse. And I didn't have to have my eye lids cranked open and my eye drilled for an hour which was a huge bonus. So, now I'm on the search for awesome new frames. Good times!

Maybe I should have gotten my ears checked as well.

Who wants soup?

PS- I'm planning another trip to Europe which I'm WAY excited about. So if anyone has any suggestions...

Striding with behind the Striders

Saturday morning I woke up at the ungodly hour of 6:30am. I don't even wake up before 8:30am to go to work! So, why would I wake up that early on a saturday? To go running. Yes. Running. That's how broken my brain is about this sport.

I'd taken a week off of running because I was feeling super exhausted and super unmotivated. So having people to meet up with was just what I needed to kick myself back into gear. It was my first time running "with" the Summerlin Striders and they were beyond welcoming and encouraging. And it was a gorgeous morning to boot! There were around 15 people, mostly 40 somethings with 5 kids and most of them LDS, which was a nice bonding point. The core of the group has been running together for years but there were some new faces. Most were doing a 13 mile run but a few of us opted for the 8 mile route. My only hope was that I finished my 8 miles before everyone else finished their 13 and thank goodness I did (but not by much). I started at the back of the pack because I really didn't need to watch everyone pass me (which was inevitable). We all know I'm a slow runner and it was confirmed as I was behind everyone for the entirety of the run. It was a continuation of the mental game I always have to play trying to assure myself that I need only to run at my own pace. I'm not racing against others, I'm racing against myself. I'm not racing against others, I'm racing against myself. The last half of the run was all uphill and a KILLER! I've only been running flat terrain until now (which is a big mistake in my training I realize) so I was not used to the extra work it takes to go uphill and the added potential for blisters. I got my first "almost blister" of my running career due to that damn hill. I used my fuel belt for the first time nad LOVED IT! I only took 2 of the 4 bottles and had Gatorade in one and water in the other which was a nice combo. I couldn't even tell I had it on and it was so nice to have a pocket for my keys and lip balm, etc. Highly, highly recommended.
But, I will say that it was a really great run. I loved the Striders and am looking forward to running with them again! 8.5 miles, 1hr30+minutes (can't remember right now).

Last night I did 5 miles on the treadmill and it kicked my trash! I never run on the treadmill but I didn't feel like doing 27. 5 laps on the track and it was too dark to run outside. Let me tell you. It sucked. I really feel horrible for all you people who live in freezing cold weather and have to train on treadmills. And if I could just rub it in your face a little more- yesteday it got up to 70degrees here in Vegas. It was SO nice! If only the 115degree summer weren't right around the corner I'd be even happier about it. The upside of training on the treadmill was that I got to watch an hour of American Gladiators! AMAZING!

Maybe one of the coolest things I've ever seen

Guess who I saw at Baja Fresh today:

Dude is even freakier looking in real life. And he left a cologne trail 10 feet behind him. It was like walking into a really awful smelling brick wall.

Planet Unicorn, Heeey!

So happy to see that Planet Unicorn has a website.
I must have that ringtone!

Thoughts that went through my mind at the temple tonight:

• My sleeves are too short
• Maybe because my arms are too long
• I hate this dress
• I really want to give E a What-Not-To-Wear, clothing, makeup and hair makeover
  
• I wonder if it would work
• That man's wife looks way older than him
• She needs a makeover too
  
• Those shoes from JCrew were amazing
• I just couldn't drop $200+ on them though
• But I should because they were amazing
• I'm so confused by the GOP right now
  
• I hate McCain! How could this have happened?
• Seriously do republicans not understand how liberal he is?
• How could people have voted for him?
• He's an arrogant douche!
  
• Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate
• Only an hour left
• I'm wrestless
• I need to stand up!
• My fingernails are dirty
• I want to roll my knee-highs down to my ankles like a I used to in Primary
• My legs really itch
• I need some lotion major bad
• I can't believe it's been six years since I first went to the temple
• Concentrate!
  
• Only 30 minutes left
• I really need to stand up!
• I can't believe I made it this far without falling asleep
• I don't even know the last time that happened
• It's too bad T isn't cute because he's really cool
• It's too bad B isn't cool because he's really cute
• I wonder if C will call now that he has my phone number
• I'm seriously crushing on him
  
• Mentally composing hate email to friend's ex(?)boyfriend
• Mentally preparing speech to friend about dumping ex(?)boyfriend once and for all
  
• Concentrate! Concentrate! Concentrate!
• Only 10 minutes left
• I seriously need to stand up!
• That woman's face looks like wax
• What if it really was made of wax?
• That would be awesome!
  
• I need to clean my room
• I haven't seen my floor in weeks
  
• I can't wait to put my pajamas on
• Oh! Project Runway is on tonight!
• Should I stop at Taco Bell on the way home?
• Or just eat Chinese Chicken Salad at home?
• Man that session really went by fast.

Obviously I left all my cares at the front door. Obviously I learned a lot. Obviously I was enriched. Obviously I have serious concentration problems! Blerg!

GOP I'm heartily dissappointed in you.

Seriously. McDouche?
I give up on politics.

Super Tuesday!

Go out and vote (for Mitt) everybody!!

sunny california nothing!

The weekend was fantastic. I got to spend saturday with one of my best friends and her two kids, thing 1 and thing 2. As much as I want to get married and have kids sometimes I can't help but think how awesome my life is right now. I mean... I get to take long, hot showers whenever I want. I don't have to tell anyone where I'm going or what I'm buying. It's serious freedom and I'm enjoying every minute of it while it lasts.

Anyway... Sunday morning my sis and I took our bikes down to Huntington for the race. Guess what. Totally. Pouring. Rain. I think that was God's subtle way of telling me I should have been at church rather than participating in the race. But, whatevs. Despite the rain and the wind it was fun. But I sure was glad I wasn't attempting the marathon because 45 mins out in the rain was more than enough for me.

Official time: 31:05

BLERG! I blame not hitting my 30min goal on the cold rain. I should be seriously happy about this time since the last time I ran an official 5k (july '06) I finished in 37mins and I am happy... just not as happy as I would be if it were a minute faster.

Freezing before the race:

Soaking wet and sporting my finishing medal:

PS- ohmigosh... I had an awful dream last night that I got to the Wasatch Back Relay and realized that I'd forgotten to tell half of my team about it. So I only had half a team there and after two legs we realized that the other van didn't even show up and everyone but me wanted to give up so, with no team, I had no choice but to abandon the relay. It was heartbreaking! It's gotta mean something but I'm not sure I want to know what...

Happy weekend y'all!

Have an awesome weekend everybody!! I'm heading to California this weekend to hang with my sis, my friend and run a 5k. I'm so excited! I'm hoping to PR at 30mins. Wish me luck! xoxo

PS- I'll be in UT in 2 weeks if anyone wants to chill or run a 10k.