32 for 32 - recap

1. stop putting off going to the grand canyon and go to the grand canyon already - Check! Best 4 hour drive to see a big hole I've ever taken. It's just too bad about the Frosty fob.
   
2. read "Les Miserable" (unabridged) - Fail. I didn't even buy it.
   
3. get rid of everything in my closet that doesn't reflect my true style (attempt replenishing) - Fail. I still hate almost all of my clothes.
   
4. send Thank You cards - Fail. This does not mean that I was unthankful.
   
5. quit at least one of my jobs - Check! Too bad I unquit. Now I just have to requit.
   
6. ride a razor scooter in Europe - 1/2Check. I went. I saw an old man in a suit riding a razor scooter in Basel. Sadly, I did not ride a razor scooter while there. Bitchin' trip though! Please watch this video.
   
7. piece a quilt - Fail.
   
8. go to the temple monthly - Mega Fail. At least I went once. Yes. Just once. Oh man...
   
9. learn to make stir fry like my mom - Fail.
   
10. start a beach cruiser bike gang - Check! Best damn beach cruiser gang ever. We don't even need a beach! (Thank goodness the BlackWidow blogged everything for me)
    
11. turn a photo into a jigsaw puzzle - Fail. Sad fail. But you should see my puzzle collection. I'm thinking about building a special closet for it.
    
12. throw a fancy party - Fail.
    
13. crash a wedding - Fail.
    
14. go to calico ghost town - Check! Probably one of the most amazing days of my life.
15. go to 20 concerts/live shows - Check. Too easy. Best of? Fun. And Keane.
    
16. photoshoot at the dry lake bed - Fail. Meh.
    
17. go to a play - Fail.
    
18. have a mohawk... or fauxhawk - Fail. Didn't even have anywhere cool to wear one. Then again, isn't my life just a cool enough place to wear one?
    
19. do tin foil dinners - Fail.
    
20. keep my room clean for two consecutive weeks - Epic Fail. Couldn't even keep it clean for two consecutive days.
    
21. post more pics on le blog - Fail. Ya know... cuz I didn't even blog.
    
22. knit something - Fail.
    
23. attend a photography workshop - Check! Very, very successful check.
    
24. put shelves in my storage room - Fail.
    
25. learn to play the ukelele - Check! I learned 3 chords. Which means I can play one song... which is probably one more song than you know.
    
26. go hiking in Zion - Fail.
    
27. watch a meteor shower - Fail. Did we even have one of those this year?
    
28. go kayaking - Fail.
    
29. road trip with just one other person - Fail. Unless you count driving across town.
    
30. read the book of mormon in french - Fail. Again, I say: Oh man...
    
31. pay off my car loan - Check! Getting the title in the mail was the second best piece of mail I've ever gotten.
    
32. go to a rave - Fail.

9 of 32.
Considering the hell of a year it was I am actually amazed and proud that I even checked that many items off my list. Despite the hell of a year it was, it was a good year. A real good year.

but i like you

him: you don't watch House?
me: nope.
him: that surprises me. of anyone, I thought you would love it because he is witty and he hates people.
me: just like me!
him: yes. except for the witty part.
me: i hate you.

favorite song of all time

and i seriously mean of ALL TIME:

i wish by skee-lo

my favorite IM convo ever

him: herro
me: que pasa?
him: asian hello
me: mexican what's up

Well THIS made me happy

*photo via here

I look forward to weekends so much more now that I don't have to work every weekend... or if I do I get to work at doing something I love.

I just looked at my October calendar and the weekends are fillin' up fast! Lovesit!

What will your 5 October weekends look like?

Things I decided today:

• I will say my prayers every single morning & night
• I will go to the temple at least twice a month
• I will study the scriptures every single day
• I will prepare my sunday school lesson before I get to sacrament meeting
• I will write in my journal more often
• I will say thank you much more often... esp to people who annoy me
• I will stop going to the store on sunday
• I will try to go to sleep early and wake up early
• I will exercise and eat well
• I will keep my house and car clean

It's pretty sad how difficult everything on that list has been for me lately and how everything on that list seems completely impossible. But, after an amazing General Conference I'm motivated and energized to be the person I want to be and live the kind of life I want to live.

As Elder Scott said, Become what you want to be by being what you want to become.

Summer? Where did you go?

OK... so the "summer of fun" kind of turned into the "summer of work" and "other stuff" that made the time pass far too quickly. Not that I'm complaining. The less 100+ degree weather I have to live through, the better.

I've got lots to blog about but I feel the need to ease back into this blogging thing. So, here's a little treat. This is what happens when you hang out with cool people on a sunday night. And might I just say, my video editing skillz are off da hook. Fer realz.




Thanks to the viral internet sensation, F*bomb, for introducing the glory that is Robot Unicorn Attack!

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."