Summer of Fun Kickoff!

!KA-BOOM!

Know how to start of a good summer of fun?

*fireworks in the desert*

One good thing about living in Las Vegas is its proximity to Moapa. The only good thing about Moapa is the firework store. We happened by there the other night with the express intention of buying some explosives... but, shhh! They're illegal. Don't tell.

Tif got a really big sparkler.

I jumped over fire... succesfully.

Josh is a nerd. He creeps into photos. He can't jump over fire very well. Thus, it becomes imperative to shoot Roman Candles at him.

A small sampling of our goods.

Is this a hurricane?

I never really want to do my long runs. Does anyone? I'm really good at talking myself out of them, justifying the need to postpone them (then never getting around to doing them) 0r just running out of time to do them. It's easy to do that when you don't want to do something.

This week's long run- 8 miles. Eight.

The facts:
a- I cannot run that far on a treadmill. Anything over 3 miles and that spinning belt makes me lose my mind.

b- I cannot run that far on the indoor track at the gym. Lit'rally running in circles should not apply to distance (and I use that term loosely) running (I also use that term loosely). Even if I could stand to go that far on a 6-1/4 laps/mi track I'm positive that after a few miles I'd lose count of how many laps I'd run and just give up.

The weather report in LV for what seems like forever:
Windy.

Not just windy but scary windy. The kind of wind that blows garbage cans down the street, upturns trees (seriously, part of someone else's tree was in my yard the other day) and sounds like a horror flick.
Is there such thing as torrential wind?

My options:
a- Skip the long run this week. T minus 4 weeks 'til race day. Still plenty of time to train. This is the lie I tell myself.
b- Run. Run outside. Run in the torrential wind.

I decide to run before I skillfully talk myself out of going.

Laundry's not done so I grab my smelly pants, jogbra and shirt. At least I have clean socks (I think). Requisite wrist band... well turn that puppy inside out and it's so fresh and so clean (clean). Hydro belt: check. Ipod: check. Off we go.

My chosen route:
4 miles uphill. Turn around. 4 miles home.

Mile 1- Uphill. Just getting started. I'm always tired in mile 1. Wind sucks but it's too early to stop and walk.
Mile 2- Flat. In the groove. Good tunes. Holy gusty wind.
Mile 3 & 4- Fight! Fight the hill! Fight the wind! Wind sucks.

Here's the weird thing. I felt better, faster, stronger running uphill into the wind then I ever do on flat ground on a calm day. Why? Because I have to fight. It certainly isn't boring attacking the forces of nature. Plus, when I get home I get to post on facebook that I ran uphill into the wind for 4 miles and all my non-runner friends will be all "That's crazy! You are so awesome!"

Let's be honest for a second: Praise. That's a big part of why I run; so people tell me how awesome I am. I know I'm not awesome (yes, I am) but I sure do love hearing it (because I am) .

Mile 5 & 6- I swear this hill was steeper when I was running up it! But, I love the wind! It's lit'rally pushing me home. All I have to do is lift my feet and it basically does the work for me. Though, somewhere in mile 6 the wind makes me kick my own ankle. That hurt.
Mile 7 & 8- Feeling good. Almost home. Plus, the wind is still pushing me. This is so easy!

I did it. I feel awesome! Runner's high? I don't get that while I'm running. I get that as soon as I finish my run because I'm done! And I don't have to run anymore... until tomorrow.

Stats: 8 miles. 83 minutes.

more tales from lunchladyland

...and then my coworker said, "i just yanked on that thing and it came!"
...and then i was all, "that's what she said."

Stream of Consciousness: BOLD!

I was inspired my Marta's latest post about stream of consciousness writing.

I kind of can’t believe I did it. I also can’t stop with this boldness. It’s the new me!

I met a cute boy last weekend. I couldn’t stop looking at him, watching him in my peripheral. I even snuck (though it didn’t look too sneaky) a photo of him. Later that night I facebook stalked him (friend of a friend of a friend, you know). Yes, I’m a stalker, and a damn good one at that. I didn’t want that day’s meeting to be the last contact. After 3 days of deliberating and building up courage I decided to send him a message via facebook. I didn’t bother mentioning how I found him. He’s a guy. He probably won’t even wonder.

Once I made the decision to be uncharacteristically and ridiculously bold I acted. In fact I didn’t even spend time thinking about it because I knew I could talk myself out of it. I just did it. Bold and brazen. I emailed him, told him I’m up for getting together and left the rest to fate. We’ll see what fate does with it.

It felt good to be bold. So good in fact that I decided to be bold with 4 other boys- one I recently went on one date with, one I’d like to go on a date with, one from the past and one with whom I’ve never managed to get out of the ‘friendzone’.

I made a decision about an hour before I sent that first email. I am going to go after what I want. I’m going to make things happen in my life. When you look at all the really lucky people in the world there is one common trait. These are people who are not afraid to be bold and take risks. The risks don’t always pay off but sometimes they do. And those are great pay offs.

Of course, there is the likelihood that I’ll be rejected by some or all of these boys. And that’s ok because at least I’ll know. And once I know I’ll be able to close the door of wondering and move on, move forward.

How will YOU be uncharacteristically and ridiculously bold?

And just for funzies, here's a picture of my friends that i happen to fancy (the picture, not the friends, you know).

Jacob & Lisa: give them a baby

Apparently this has turned into a Mom Blog. But, I'm not the mom.

Meet my dear friend Lisa and her husband Jacob (who I'm sure would be my dear friend if we lived anywhere near each other and spent any quality time together because the guy is awesome). There is a very special spot in my heart for these guys. I'm not sure why but you know when people come into your life and you just adore them? That's what happened when I met Lisa and subsequently Jacob.
These guys were just approved to adopt! Hurrah!
You can read their beautiful profile HERE.

Please, if you or anyone you know of is looking for some awesome parents, consider them. If I had a baby I'd give it to them because I'm 100% sure they will be way better parents than I could ever be!

lover boys

As long as there are little boys in the world there will be reasons for me to fall in love.

While in Utah I fell in love with 2 new boys. What can I say? My friends make cute kids!

Sam. All 14inches and 1lb15oz of him. This guy decided to come 3 months early and is now fattening up in the NICU. Grow, baby boy! Grow!


Grey. He gives the best baby hugs I've ever had and even smacked an open mouth kiss on me. Ridiculously cute.

*totally stole these pics from his parents

5 days in UT + pictures = awesome

Everytime I leave Utah I think maybe I shouldn't be leaving. It's home and I love it.

Driving. Driving Driving.
I know it's super vain to post (mediocre) pictures of myself on le blog (even though it's my blog and I can do whatever I want) but, I just wanted you to see my blue hair because I love it. I'm so badass (not really).

My crazy Auntie Lu and Jane. Tongan dances... well there are just not words enough to discribe.
See what I mean? Seriously. Are you seeing this?! I didn't even try to be stealthy in order to get this picture.
My sis and me. We be good posers.
Meeting up with my favorite SuperBonBon. Love. Love. Love.
Bein' all cute and junk in downtown Provo.
Workin' it with the locals.
So much cotton candy! Cotton Candy with PopRocks! Genius!
Conference with the ladies.
Other really good stuff happened but I don't have pictures to prove it.

Dear Utah, you always treat me right. I'm ready to come back.

Church of Calico

Did I tell you about the time we went to Calico Ghost Town?

The Black Widow summed it up nicely so you'll have to go here to check it out.
All I can say is: MAGICAL!

Jack, a Bible and a Smoking Gun

Goodbye, Vegas. Hello, Utah.

I'm heading up north for a long weekend (me and all the other Mormons making the semiannual pilgrimage). Me, I'm just going home. R&R.

Thought I'd make a mix for the drive. I like driving alone but I need entertainment.

"This is a long drive for someone with nothing to think about"
1. Animal - Neon Trees *New fav band
2. Burden of Tomorrow - Tallest Man On Earth
3. Unloveable - Babybird *Soul wrenching, anyone?
4. We Will Walk - Matisyahu
5. All the Pretty Girls - fun.
6. Middle Distance Runner - Sea Wolf
7. Lasso - Phoenix *Have I mentioned how much I love Phoenix?
8. Float On - Modest Mouse *This song is on almost every single mix I make.
9. Fireflies - Owl City *Guilty pleasure
10. Walking On A Dream - Empire of the Sun
11. Hot Venom - Miniature Tigers
12. Spaceman - The Killers
13. Fire & Rain - Mat Kearney *Crush
14. Selfish Jean - Travis
15. I'm A Machine - Shark Speed
16. 1983 - Neon Trees
17. Rome - Phoenix *Seriously, I really like them!
18. Tik Tok (cover) - Air Raid Anthem *SOOO much better than the original

Most likely I'll just be listening to The Killers "Day & Age" and The Neon Trees "Habits" albums the whole way. I cannot get enough of them this week.

Email me if you want a copy of the mix. I'll send ya a disc.

school is cool

The other day in lunchladyland a group of 1st graders was asking me what I'm doing for spring break.

me: I'm going to Utah!
girl: I'm going to Atlanta. (She walks away)
boy: (whispering) Doesn't she mean Atlantis?
me: No, sweetheart. She means Atlanta.

I love that I live in a world where people truly believe in mythical cities.