Cuarenta Anos Fiesta!

My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this year (December 16th). Since everybody was in town for the holiday, we decided to have a little celebration in their honor. Thanks Mandy for thinking of this and doing so much of the planning and organizing. We had a fabulous adult only evening (thanks to Ciera and Garet for watching all the munchkins!) We had appetizers, guacamole and chips and salsa, and great mocktail created by Megan (mint mojitos) and dinner of enchiladas, Mexican rice, black beans. Mandy made a fantastic tres leches cake for dessert. We topped off the evening with a pinata which included all the munchkins. The highlight was watching Mom whack the pinata and finally busting it open. I'll be sure to post pictures once they're available!

Someday, I'll win!

It's a little embarrassing when your 8 year old nephew can beat you at Wii tennis. Maybe the fact that I had to work all day and he did nothing but play Wii gave him an advantage. Watch out Grey, I'll get you next time!

"Wii" love the new gaming

For those of you who are gamers or have children, you know the insanity surrounding the Nintendo Wii. Well, I was aware of how difficult they were to acquire as my mother had decided to buy one for each of her children this year. Well, being the adult that I am, I decided that I didn't really need a Wii and would rather have something else. I don't know what I was thinking. As the Wii was set up and demonstrated yesterday, I thought, "well that might be fun, but I'm still glad I opted to get a new iPod instead." Later in the day, I went to find my Pops for something and got sucked in. It was decided that I needed to give the Wii a try. After one 3 game set of tennis, I was hooked! Finally, a game system has taken into account the fact that you lean, move and jostle the controller to get the game to do what you want. I'm now on the quest for a Wii of my own. Anybody willing to stand in line to get one for me?

Don't get me wrong, an iPod was a great Christmas gift and I love it and am grateful to have such generous parents. I'm just going to be spending a lot more time at Meggie's house playing her Wii.

I'm an aunt, again!

How cute are they? That's my new nephew, J. Gavin Stratton, being kissed by one of his sisters, Posh. I swear she's kissing him and not eating him!

Congratulations Justin, Michelle and family. See the birth announcement here.

Christmas "Bonus"

Each year the company I work for offers you the choice of a turkey, ham or roast and $50 as a Christmas gift to its employees. Sometime in November, the list circulates, and everybody signs up for the meat they want (I elected to get a turkey). The last work day before the Christmas holiday, the meat and a $50 gift certificate are distributed to each employee. As a new employee, I decided, it was best to wait until the end of the day to pick up my gifts. As I was leaving, I stopped off to get my turkey and $50. Well, I was informed that they had run out of turkey. My options were as follows: ham, roast or $25. I took the $25. Thanks for the great gift!

A magical time of year

Since I still have a real estate license and have paid all of my dues to that office, I decided I should go to the Holiday Party. (I don't want to offend any readers by referring to it as a Christmas party). My decision was based on a few factors: 1) The company I work for currently does not have a Holiday party, 2) There would be really good food at this party and 3) It's nice to get to wear that little black dress at least once a year. Well, the food was delicious (at least the items I ate). I mostly had asparagus, potatoes (both mashed and twice baked) and chocolate cake. Don't be surprised, I went back for seconds on dessert. It was really good cake and I workout hard to earn such treats! Upon arrival, I just assumed that there would be nothing but dinner and then home to bed early. But, no such luck. They had brought in the "West Jordan Magical" (at least that's what I heard when they introduced them). It was a group of teenagers wearing holiday attire complete with Santa hats (not those cheap ones, but really cool ones with no cheap white fur) singing Christmas songs and doing a little performance. Well, it was about half-way through the performance that their teacher stood up and introduced them as the Madrigals from West Jordan High. I must admit I was a bit disappointed to learn they were not called the "Magical", although I thought that would have been a much better name. They were actually quite entertaining. I was hoping they would perform "Holly, Jolly Christmas". I wanted to see if they were as good as my 3 year old niece Lyssa Lou (she's known all the word since she was 2 and its a riot to hear her sing it). Oh well, I guess they were afraid to compete with the talent of a 3 year old! To top the night off, as the party was winding down, I peek out the door and see a familiar face. We ran into M.A.H. and my brother-in-laws friend, Spencer. We had a good time chatting with them. It was a good time, but I was kept up way past my bedtime! I guess that's what the holidays are for!

It's like I'm a stylist

So, my little sister has her work Christmas party this Saturday. She has the dress, but needed shoes and jewelry to go with it. So, last night she came over to raid my shoes and jewelry. We were able to find the perfect accessories for her dress. She commented that I was like a stylist and loaning her some items for her big night out. She promised to tell everyone that her stylist helped her out; I hope she holds to that promise! I'll posts pictures after the big event!

Food and Football make a great holiday

I love Thanksgiving. All the yummy food, you're allowed to stuff yourself and some great football. This year is going to be just a small number of us, so we have opted for no turkey (or any meat for that matter) Now, I realize that many of you would be thinking, "what a waste!" "That's not really Thanksgiving!" However, I have to disagree. I enjoy the turkey, don't get me wrong. But my favorite part is all the sides and the dessert. Now, I can load up on potatoes, yams, rolls and cranberry fluff and not feel guilty for taking only a tiny piece of turkey. This year, I'll pile my plate high with all those delicious sides I love so much. And then, after being stuffed, I'll roll myself down the stairs to the theater room at my parents house to watch football on the largest screen imaginable in HD! And, after about an hour, I'll be ready for some pie. Since I've never been a very big pumpkin pie fan, I've had the responsibility of making the other pies. This year I will again make Caramel Apple Pie. I'll definitely be enjoying a piece of this yumminess while watching the Dallas Cowboys beat the NY Jets. What a great holiday! Don't worry, I will be up early Thursday morning and getting a long hard workout in preparation for all the eating that will take place.

Winner, Winner!!

Every month at sales meeting there are two $25 gift certificates given out. One to the person with the largest sales increase and then a drawing for all those who showed positive growth in the previous month. Well, after 5 months of employment, I was finally eligible for the monthly drawing. And, I won!! $25 to anywhere I want. I have to say thanks to Zac Cox for drawing my name. Now, I just have to decide where to spend it!

I think I might be getting dumber.....

or the New York Times crossword is getting harder. Everyday at work a fellow employee prints off the New York Times crossword puzzle from the BYU paper. I can usually finish the Monday and Tuesday version rather easily. But, not this week.....I was struggling with the Monday edition. At this rate, I'm not going to get a single answer on Friday. PS--if you've had more success with these two, don't tell me. It will only make me feel even less smart than I already do!

Christmas is in December, NOT November!

Seriously, what is it with skipping holidays. The day Halloween is over, everybody starts to put up their Christmas decor. Yesterday, I get to work and witness the hanging of Christmas wreaths. Well, I won't stand for it! Thanksgiving is a great holiday and deserves its own day. I have always (and will continue to) ban all Christmas decor until after Thanksgiving. Let's celebrate all of our holidays.

Steve & Berry's Grand Opening

I'm so excited that we finally have a Steve & Berry's in Salt Lake. Now, I can enjoy all the fun clothing from Sarah Jessica Parker's line Bitten!

What was I thinking?

Well, after completing my first triathlon earlier this year. I decided that it was time to try something different in the triathlon realm. So, I have signed up for my first Ironman 70.3 (or half-Ironman; the total distance of all three events adds up to 70.3 miles; hence the name) . It is exactly what it sounds like; all events are one-half of a true Ironman event. This race will entail a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run. I was very excited to sign-up for this race. Now, the reality of what I have actually done is sinking in. And I am filled with dread, fear and anxiety. However, you don't have to worry about me just not showing up for this race. After paying about $230 to participate, my only option is to train, train and train for this race! Fortunately, I have until next July for the actual race. In the meantime, if you can't find me, I'll be at the pool, on my bike or out for a run!

This is Halloween!

This is probably my favorite holiday! Seriously, you get to dress up and people give you candy (ah, to be a kid again!) Since it is no longer acceptable to trick-or-treat, I dedicate the entire day to eating nothing but candy and sugar laden treats. Bring on the sugar rush! The afternoon low is going to be miserable!

Are you a Potbelly fan?

And I'm not talking about a pig. Thanks to Mandy, I was turned onto this great little sandwich shop; Potbelly Sandwich Works. (I ate lunch there twice while in Chicago!) They have them all over Chicago, the Great Lakes region and Texas. However, there isn't one here in Utah. I really wish we had a cool, quirky place like this here! If you're ever near one, I highly recommend it; especially the sugar cookies!

Is there anything better than a movie in 3-D?

As if The Nightmare Before Christmas wasn't already good enough, they went and made it better! I know this is an old movie (the original came out in 1993) and its not even new in 3-D. But, I just got around to seeing the 3-D version this weekend and let me just say, it was fantastic! I just love a movie in 3-D! Remember Meet the Robinsons in 3-D? I loved that one as well. Now, if they could only perfect the technology so I could watch these movies in 3-D from the comfort of my own home!

People are so much happier after eating treats or Why I brought cookies to work.

Somehow last week I agreed to make cookies for one of the guys I work with (probably because he a: gave me a piece of pizza so I didn't starve and b: he was having surgery on his back.) So, today I brought cookies to work. It's amazing how nice everybody is to me. I guess bribery by junk food isn't just for small children; it also works on adults!

You're surfing the web anyway

As long as you're using the Internet at work, make it for a worthy cause!

Thanks Mandy for sharing!

As if Valentine's Day isn't bad enough!

While in Chicago I kept hearing talk on the radio of "Sweetest Day" but didn't really know what they were talking about. It wasn't just DJs, but all sorts of companies (grocery stores, department stores) were talking about this Sweetest Day. I was beginning to feel very stupid for not knowing what this holiday was all about. Well, take a look here to see what all the hype is about. And, since it is mostly celebrated in the Mid-West, no wonder I'd never heard of it. So, to all you Mid-Westerners out there, "Happy Sweetest Day!" And, to the rest of you, if you're looking for another holiday, feel free to add this to your list.

Chicago Blackhawks: Red Rising

Since I was in Chicago, I decided to take in some of the "local culture." I decided to head to a Blackhawks game. Their motto, I suppose, is "Red Rising." I'm not really sure what exactly it means, but it was all over the arena and on the scoreboard. There were some pretty interesting things that happened during the game.

1. The usher for my section was very concerned that people remain in their assigned seats. Keep in mind, I was in the "cheap seats" and the arena was only about 50% sold. However, she made a very big deal of rearranging the entire row in front of me until every person was in the seat that was listed on their ticket. Nobody really seemed to care about being in the correct seat except her (and some lame chicks that couldn't just move up one row where there was nobody sitting but me and two other guys.)

2. Apparently, if you are over 40 and can recognize a song by Modest Mouse within the first 30 seconds, you're cool. The 40 year old in front of me was very impressed with himself for knowing who the group was. The 50 and 60 year olds with him, didn't know what he was talking about, nor did they care!

3. I don't understand the point of "ice girls." They wear skimpy outfits and skate around during time outs pretending to clean up the ice. All the while a couple of guys are actually scraping the ice with snow shovels. I suppose they are meant to be the cheerleaders of hockey. There really is nothing they can do, kind of like cheerleaders at a professional basketball game. The only professional cheerleaders should be the originals, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders!

4. I was blown away by the lack of homeless people around the United Center. Yes, I know this sounds odd; but its true. The United Center is in the heart of downtown Chicago. Yes, there were homeless people asking for money. However, I encounter more homeless people asking for change when I go to the grocery store in Sugar House.

All in all, I had a great time and its nice to feel safe when in a major metropolitan area. And, why do nachos with fake cheese taste so good when at a sporting event?

A PT Cruiser is an upgrade?

Upon arrival to Chicago, I headed to the rental car counter to pick up my vehicle--a Chrysler Seabring, so I was told. They apparently decided to give me an "upgraded" vehicle--the Chrysler PT Cruiser. In my opinion, the PT cruiser is about the ugliest car on the road. And, as if that weren't enough, the car is metallic orange! I don't think anybody in their right mind would actually choose to drive the car I am cruisin' around Chicago in. Oh well, at least I have a car.

As a side note: You have to take a shuttle from the airport terminal to get your rental car. My shuttle bus driver a) asked me if I was a model (and he was serious!) and b) sang to provide entertainment for the passengers. People really will do (and say) anything to get a tip.

Fall sports + Yummy food = A relaxing Sunday

After being lazy for weeks (OK, maybe just days), I finally decided to cook all the yummy recipes I'd been planning on. So, last night, I made one of my favorite dishes: Mexican Lasagna and spicy creamed corn. And because my Cowboys lost to the Patriots (sad day.....my 'Boys are no longer undefeated) I decided I needed to make cookies (Oatmeal Scotties) to cheer me up! But, let me clarify, I really just made cookie dough, scooped it with a cookie scoop (the perfect portion size) and froze it......I'd rather eat frozen cookie dough than actual cookies. With all the yummy food, I had to invite people over to eat. And what better way to enjoy a good meal than in front of the TV watching Sunday Night Football and game 3 of the NLCS. I'm not a huge baseball fan (unless I'm at a game eating a hot dot and nachos!), but I've really been enjoying the playoffs this year. The Rockies are pretty unstoppable right now! The best part of my Sunday cooking spree, I have leftovers to eat for the next few nights. Now, I just have to decide what to make next week.....maybe some delish crock pot chili.

Can I join you for a run?

I've become a big fan of group workouts lately. I used to always opt out and train on my own, but lately I've been doing a lot more with groups (Masters swimming, group rides with the local triathlon club, speed work sessions, etc.) Well, work took me to Scottsdale, Arizona this week. My girlfriend told me I should check out the Scottsdale Running Co. Upon visiting their web site, I discovered they do group runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Lucky for me Tuesday was the only night I would be in town. I thought, what better way to spend my evening, as a party crasher of a local group run. I was amazed at the number of people who showed up for the run (about 30 to 40). All the group workouts I do have no more than 10 people involved. And, what a friendly, fun bunch of runners. However, I was given the reputation of being a little competitive (I can't help it, I like to win!) I think I was even compared to that stronger, faster animal in the jungle zeroing in on its prey an going in for the kill. At the end of it all, I ate some great sushi and, I got turned on to a great old fashioned ice cream parlor; the Sugar Bowl. I can't think of a better way to spend my time in Scottsdale: running, sushi and ice cream! (Don't worry, I will be hitting In-n-Out before I leave town!)

False Alarm

Working at a chemical company allows for all sorts of fun in a day! Today the alarm sounded (not once, but about 4 times). This alarm is to warn of a potentially hazardous chemical spill in one of the many buildings around the office (where I work.) When the alarm sounded this morning, nobody really moved too quickly. I was told when I started, if the alarm sounded, someone would come over the intercom with announcements and I was just to follow everybody to the designated meeting spot. Apparently everybody was given this information during "safety training" as nobody seemed to know what to do. And, it seems once the alarm sounds, everyone is locked out of the phone system so no announcements can be made over the intercom. I feel very safe! Don't worry, there was no chemical spill and nobody knows why or how the alarm was sounded. PS--I did learn that anybody can trigger the alarm by entering a certain code into the phone (I know the code and it can't be traced!) I hope the IT guys didn't fix this glitch as they were fixing other things.

Rainy Day + Scary Movie = Good Times!

With Halloween fast approaching, its time to get out all the scary, suspense movies. This weekend was the perfect weather for just such movies.....cold and rainy. If you haven't seen this yet, I recommend checking it out, its pretty good. One thing I've noticed about myself; whenever I watch scary or suspenseful movies, I have to keep my feet off the floor, weird. Why is this? Does anybody else do this?

Dear Meggie,

I'm glad you're back! I can't wait to hear all about your European adventures.

Loves,

Me

Really, I'm not drowning, I'm just trying to Butterfly!

I've started doing Masters Swimming on Friday nights. There are fewer people, so fewer chances of embarrassing myself! The Friday night instructor is a former butterfly swimmer in college, so she believes everyone should learn how to swim the butterfly. Well, it is probably the most difficult stroke to learn. If you do it correctly you look pretty cool and glide effortlessly through the water (or at least it appears that way). If you do it like me, you look like you just might drown. Hayna, I couldn't help but think of you as I was drinking half the water in the pool while trying to butterfly. Don't worry, I eventually gave up and stuck with freestyle!

Arcade Fire!

Thank you Meggie for introducing me to Arcade Fire and for telling me to see them live! What a fun band to watch. Enjoy my first introduction to the band.

Let's just say, I'm a Triathlete!

I can now officially call myself a "triathlete!" Yesterday I completed the Ogden Valley Tri and lived to tell about it! And, I actually had a great time and am looking forward to my next one. Here is a map of the entire course:

In case there is any doubt, I did the sprint race. Oh, you want details about my day, here they are. First, you have to got and get all your stuff set up in the transition area. You are given an assigned space for your bike, etc. I had been given very specific details (including a drawing) of what my transition area should look like. So, I began to lay out my stuff.....bike shoes, running shoes (no socks allowed....they waste precious seconds during transition), bike helmet sitting on top of the visor for running, sunglasses inside the bike helmet because you put them on first. I had dutifully taped (with electrical tape....almost as good a duct tape for a triathlete) my two energy gels to my bike. I would need to eat one upon leaving T1 (the swim to bike transition) and one right before returning to start the run. Again, there is no eating allowed in transition because this just wastes precious time when you could be gaining on your competition. Once transition was all set up, it was time to get ready for the swim. There were 8 waves (3 for the Olympic distance and 5 for the Sprint distance) and I was in the second to last wave. I put my wetsuit on (half way) and headed down to the water. When I was about 15 minutes from my start time, I zipped my wetsuit on and headed into the water to do a quick warm-up. I noticed that some woman had not put her wetsuit on properly and so offered to help her fix it. Shortly after that I saw a woman I had met at the course preview the following week. She commented about how nervous I looked (remember from my last post, I realized I could actually die doing this!) My new friend with the wetsuit said she thought I seemed so calm. Well, it didn't matter because the countdown had begun and I was going to start my first triathlon. The swim went much better than anticipated. I was a bit nervous and panicky, but quickly calmed down and reached the first buoy much sooner than I thought. Around the buoy and on to the next! Without much incident, a few grabs of my legs and running into other swimmers (all part of the game I've been told), I was out of the water. I was curious about my swim time (I wanted to finish the swim under 25 minutes and thought at a stretch I could be out of the water in under 20 minutes), so I hit my watch and looked down 15:35! I was very pleased with my swim. I began to take my wetsuit off as I ran up the beach to transition. Once in transition, I finished stripping my wetsuit, put on my bike shoes, sunglasses and helmet and was on my way out of transition. I ran to the mount line, hopped on my bike and headed for the road. Fortunately, I had no problems clipping into my pedals (for some reason, I decided it would be OK to put new pedals on my bike; thus requiring new cleats on my shoes, the night before a race.....crazy idea!) I got to the straight flat section and tore off my first gel, sucked it down and drank some of my Gatorade. Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Yes, they make it look so simple on the Tour de France, but it is actually quite difficult (in my opinion) to eat and drink while on the bike.....there is a lot of balance involved. I rode my way around the lake. I knew when I hit the damn I only had about 1.5 miles left until the transition area. I was thrilled because it meant getting off the bike and on with the run! I'm happy (or maybe sorry) to say, there was no falling off the bike for me! I made it through the entire ride, unclipped successfully and was back at transition. My bike was a bit disappointing (but really only after the fact when I saw, compared to others, how slow I really was) I wanted to complete the bike in under 1 hour (15 miles) and finished the bike in about 51 minutes. Time for the run. I racked my bike, threw off the helmet and bike shoes, slipped on my running shoes, grabbed my visor, race belt (with my number) and the extra gel that I had left out "just in case" (When I went to eat my second gel coming back to transition, it didn't open so I knew I'd have to eat one at the start of the run!) I was quite pleased with the quickness with which I exited from T2 (bike to run). I knew there was a hill out of transition up to the road, a downhill section and then another uphill before hitting the turn-around. I just wanted to get through this, my first triathlon! Before I knew it, I was at the last little uphill before the turn-around. Off the road and onto the trail. It got a bit tricky as this was a single track trail and not much room for passing, but I managed to pass quite a few people! Once I hit the bridge, I knew I was home free. Across the finish line! My goal for the race was merely to finish under 2 hours (and hopefully not fall off my bike!) Well, I'm happy to report that I met my goals. My official finish time was 1:38:44. Definitely under my 2 hour mark and pretty impressive for a first-timer (so I've been told!) You can look at my results here. You'll notice in looking at the place standings (overall, gender and division); my bike killed me in the end. Oh well, I can't do anything about this race, but now I know what I've got to work on. I'll be doing a lot more biking this winter! As a side note: When I say there is "no eating" in transition; this is not entirely accurate. You are allowed (by race rules) to eat in transition. However, when you know and get all your advice from the person who wins the whole thing; you have different "rules" than the rest of the crowd! Basically I was told I couldn't eat in transition, all my nutrition needed to be consumed on the bike or during the run.

I think I just threw-up a little

Why do I alwasy get the pre-race jitters and anxiety? It's not like I'm going to win it all, but I still experience this odd stress, anxiety, I think I might throw-up feeling. This time, however, I think it might be justified. Tomorrow, I'm doing my first triathlon. The Ogden Valley Triathlon in Eden, UT. Here are the thoughts running through my mind:

• I could actually die doing this race.
• The swim portion can be brutal with so many athletes; I could really be pulled under the water.
• I could fall off my bike (funny, yes, but also painful)
• What if I don't finish the bike in under 1 hour?
• Will I get beat by a fat girl?
• Why is my wave the last to start? I might actually be the last person to cross the finish line.
• What if I have to walk part of the run? I've never walked during a race before!

Well, even with all of this, I'm still going through with it. A wetsuit keeps you buoyant, and there will be lots of lifeguard, kayaks and boats during the swim. If I fall off my bike, it certainly won't be the first (and probably won't be the last)! And, I suppose, if I have to walk part of the run course, it won't be the end of the world. I have to remind myself, all I want to do is finish!

Tune in next week for the full race re-cap!

SLC swimming pool institue mandated bathroom breaks!

Due to the recent outbreak of Cryptosporidium in SLC, all pools are required to close for 10 minutes during every hour. The exception to this rule (at least where I swim, Steiner East) is during lap swim only times. I thought I went during the correct hours last night, but I was mistaken. Just as I had pushed off the wall for the second 200 of my 500m swim, I feel this tug on my leg. The other guy in my lane (who I do know) grabbed my leg to let me know we had to get out for the appropriate break. During this time, you'd think they would be checking chemical levels in the pool or something, but no! We were informed that the pool closing was really for a bathroom break. Are you kidding me?!? Fine, make the kids get out for a mandated bathroom break, but not the adults. Seriously, I think I'm old enough to make that decision for myself! The best part of this whole issue is they keep hyper-chlorinating the pools. Chlorine does not kill the parasite in question. So, now I just get to be extra chlorinated and have burning eyes after a swim! Luckily I have TriSwim!

Bicycle built for one

In training for a triathlon, I have learned my weakest discipline is not the swim as I would have suspected, but rather the bike. Who knew how hard it was to ride a bike and do it fast. (All those pros at the Tour de France make it look so easy!) Well, I did my first club ride last night. Fortunately, only three of us showed up (and I'm friend with everyone who was there.) I say fortunately because I didn't have to worry about getting dropped so quickly. Charity and Mikey were kind enough to stay with me or at least wait for me to catch up at the stop lights! They showed me a great ride along Wasatch Blvd. The best part was after we turned to head home, there is a great downhill section with swooping S-turns (and the road is basically deserted). Now, I just have to get better so I can really gain some speed and enjoy the ride! The best part of the whole evening, the beautiful sunset we got to witness after returning to the starting point of our ride. As a side note, I didn't fall off my bike once last night; and I had to clip in and out of my pedals about a dozen times. My 5 year old (and the 3 year old for that matter) nieces make fun of me because I still fall off a bike and they don't!

The best product ever!

OK, if you've never spent time in a pool, you just won't appreciate this. After taking up swimming a few months ago, I noticed that I constantly smelled like chlorine. No matter how much I showered, but on lotion, etc. I still had the lingering scent of "eau de chlorine." I recently learned about this great product...TriSwim. I absolutely love it. No longer do I smell like chlorine, but I now have a nice yummy citrus scent. And, for those of you with kids (or you blondies out there) this prevents that green tinged hair. It may be the end of summer, but I'll be swimming through the winter in a nice heated indoor pool (and not smelling like chlorine)!

What will Steve Jobs think of next?

I kid you not, that is an iPod vending machine. I saw this in the Las Vegas airport. Apparently, online and in store sales are good enough, Jobs has to take over the vending market as well!

California Girl

Sitting in my (rental) car eating In-n-Out (cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake) and listening to KROQ I thought, "Does life get any better than this?" And realized, it might; but for now, life is pretty good!

One of the Girls

A couple of weeks ago my sister-in-law had a 3 hour layover in the Salt Lake Airport. No fun for her, but lucky for me. I got to see my adorable nieces (l to r Addyson, Kaytlin and Macee), one who I met for the first time. Believe it or not, that chunk of cuteness I'm holding is only 4 months old. We had a great time racing on the moving sidewalks and running up and down the escalator. I only hope we wore them out enough that they immediately fell asleep on the airplane!

Can I get your John Hancock?

I just sat through a 2o minute meeting about how to sign documents. It seems so easy, but apparently there is a correct and incorrect way of doing things.

• One can never sign after their superior
• The highest ranking company official must sign the document last
• If you don't want to sign, just make your superior sign in your place
• And, if the correct person is not available, one superior or two inferior employees can sign in their behalf. The best part, the original person who was supposed to sign still takes all the responsibility.

What I learned, never sign anything and avoid all liability!

Next week's training: How to pass the buck.

Oh, to be "Forever 21"

I finally broke down and headed to the 2-story Forever 21 at the Gateway. Seriously, I need to think a little before I do such crazy things. First of all, an inexpensive store with cute fashions in Utah is going to be crowded on a normal day. But, the Saturday before school starts, well it was a zoo. Fortunately, I had learned the joy of trying on clothes without a fitting room last year when Meggie and I were at H&M in Boston. I tried on a few items, whilst standing in the middle of the store, then made my purchases. Upon finishing my checkout, I asked for a parking validation. I was informed that Forever 21 does not give validations. I guess if you want inexpensive fashion, you have to pay for your own parking. I am still questioning my reasons for shopping the Saturday before school starts, but I am happy with my new purchases.

Outdoor Retailers (or free swag fest 2007!)

Back in May, I posted about this great company named Skirt Sports. They are here for the Outdoor Retailers (OR) show. Basically, a bunch of outdoor companies come to display all their wares and get more of their products sold. They also debut any new stuff they may have. Because of my previous modeling experience with Skirt Sports, they asked me to come back and walk the floor in their product. Not only did I get free product from Skirt Sports, I learned a little trick from these women. As I went to every booth, I simply asked, "Do you have a pro deal?" These people give you a catalog and a special log-on code, and you get up to 60% off retail prices of their product! I also managed to pick up a few free items along the way, new shoes from Brooks, a headsweats visor, a running a jacket from Brooks and a new Timex watch! Now, I just have to decide what to buy with my great discount!

The Dog Days of Summer

Or, is there any sport but baseball to watch? (as I prefer to call them) Yes, this proves they are officially over! It may be only pre-season, but I'll take what I can get. Unfortunately I have to deal with this for another season. But, if it means watching my Cowboys play, I'll deal with T.O. for another season. He'd just better play well and leave the antics out of his game!

It's about time we punished those punks!

I have long voiced my hatred of longboarders in the Provo Canyon. However, are we being a bit ridiculous in our punishment of them? I recently saw this in the Salt Lake Tribune. And honestly, who's going to patrol the canyon? This punishment and issuing of citations will last for a month, tops. So, board on longboarders, just use a little caution and respect others in the canyon!

Did you get the memo?

As a side note, all employees will be issued carpet cleaner, a clean rag and shoe covers.

West Side Dining

When you work on the west side of town, your lunch options are limited. I have been eating a lot of Subway, but unlike Jared, I am unable to subsist on Subway alone! The other obvious options are fast food. If you've ever seen Super Size Me, you know McDonald's is out of the questions. So, yesterday I went to lunch with the VP of Research & Development and he introduced me to this great little deli, Granato. They are actually an importing store, but they have a deli counter. The food there is fantastic! There are 3 locations in the Salt Lake area, but if you're ever on the west side, call me and I'll meet you for lunch!

Summertime TV slump!

Last night as I was flipping channels, I stumbled across this new show on NBC.....The Singing Bee. A show where you actually follow a "singing bee" to see what word to sing next. And I must say, what a relief to know that Joey Fatone has found work. After N'Sync, who knew what would become of him (and his lack of talent.) Admittedly, I only watched for about 30 seconds. Seriously, is there anything besides reality television anymore? If you're looking for true reality television, watch the Tour de France. Sports, competition, great crashes (with carnage on the road) and Bob Roll, a man who if you tied his hands behind his back, couldn't talk. But, if you're a karaoke addict, you might enjoy The Singing Bee. For me, I'm gonna stick with the Tour. Besides, if you watch in prime time and get the code word of the day, you can enter to win cool prizes. What better way to spend the month of July.

Pack your bags (or boxes)!

Moving day is just around the corner (this Saturday to be exact) and until last night I hadn't packed a single item. And, I hate packing (and unpacking and everything else that is associated with moving) Fortunately, I have help. My two sisters in Utah and my mom came over last night and helped me begin the process of getting all my stuff packed. I have taken the approach of I don't care where anything goes as long as it is in a box and labeled! With their help I was able to get about half (I'm guesstimating) of my house packed in a couple of hours last night. I did learn one thing, don't let Meggie pack books. It took her an awfully long time to pack 3 boxes of books, mostly because she had to stop and read the cover of anything that looked interesting. I think she left my house with about a dozen books to borrow. Nonetheless, I was grateful for the help. Anybody else want to pack some boxes? Come on over, I'll let you get me packed and ready to move to SLC!

You wanna give it a "tri"?

Saturday was the Echo Triathlon preview. Basically, they take you out on the course and let you see what you will actually be racing the following week. I will not actually be doing the race on July 14th. But, just to prove how crazy I am, I went and did the preview! When you start hanging out with triathletes, the natural progression is to become a triathlete yourself. Because I want to eventually do a triathlon, my friend Mike decided it would be a good idea for me to go so I could experience an open water swim. And, as long as I was there swimming, I may as well bike and run too! Swimming in a lake is very different than swimming at the pool. First, the water is not clear, you can only see about two feet below you. Second, there are no lane markers and the water is much rougher. Despite all that, I managed to swim the 400 yards round trip that had been designated for the swim. I was a bit slower than usual, but we would also stop and wait for the group to catch up. Wearing a wet suit makes a huge difference as I could float no matter what. The most important thing to note here is that 2 people had to be pulled out of the lake by the lifeguards, and I was not one of them. After the swim, it was onto the bike. Fortunately, my friend Mike was kind enough to stay with me on the bike. (He has done numerous triathlons and is significantly faster than me on the bike, but he stuck with me the whole time!) I did what was probably my fastest bike and got a lot of tips on how to shift when riding hills. At one point, my chain popped off, but thanks to Mike's vast knowledge and experience, I was able to get my chain back on track without even stopping. I made the whole distance without falling off once! Now, I've just got to learn to drink while I'm biking. The last thing to do is run, my favorite part. It is the one discipline in a triathlon that I am confident and comfortable with. Unfortunately, by the time I got to run, I was pretty worn out. Nonetheless, I managed to do a decent run and finished what I had set out to do. I proved to myself that I can complete all three parts of a triathlon, even if I am a bit slower than I would like. I must admit that I have a greater respect and appreciation for those who currently do triathlons......it was tougher than I thought. However, I do see why people do them. Now, I just have to determine which triathlon I will choose to be my first---decisions, decisions!

BAM...not just for Emeril anymore!

This past weekend, I spent about 28 hours straight (yep, that's right, no sleep for me!) helping out some friends with the inaugural BAM triathlon. What an amazing event!! Rob, Mike, Erik and Charity (the race directors) put on an unbelievable race. I am shocked at the amount of time, effort and energy is required to put on a quality event. If you've never been "behind the scenes" of a race, you definitely need to do it (volunteer!!). I've never been so dirty, so tired and worked so hard all while having the time of my life! And honestly, how often do you get to 4-wheel over a run course at 3am to place 60" balloons for mile markers! Besides, there is something magical and amazing to watch a parking lot transform into a transition area with hundreds of empty bike racks, become completely filled with athletes bikes and gear bags and return back to that same parking lot in less than 12 hours! At the end of it all, I've got the sunburn, scraps, cuts and sore muscles to prove that I really did work (even if it all felt like fun!) At the end of it all, every triathlete says they will be returning next year to compete again. With 20 professional triathletes from around the world coming in and numerous others both local and across the country, this is bound to be the best race in Utah! With that being said, I've already decided that next year I won't be a volunteer, I have every intention of racing. So, if you're looking for a great race with lots of support, a fast bike course and a beautiful run course, come join me for BAM 2008!!

(Shirt) and Shoes Optional

Upon arrival to work today, I saw the following note on the door (much as I would love to take and scan said note, I don't want to get fired!) "If you are coming from the plant or have on dirty shoes, please slide them off. We just got the carpets cleaned and would like to keep them that way. Thanks, LET" (LET--CEO of my company) It's one thing when I go to some one's home and they ask me to remove my shoes, but at my place of employment. It just seems a bit unprofessional! The joys of working for a family (not my family!) owned business. Maybe today is "beach day" and nobody told me about it!

Pill popper or Vitamin-ahloic?

I realized today that I take 19 pills/supplements every morning. They all have a purpose. The combination is intended to make me a better, stronger, more fit athlete and to improve my overall health. Honestly, who eats enough iron and every other trace mineral in a day? So, my questions is this, am I a druggie or just someone who is health conscious? The word "druggie" does show up as part of spell check--what has the world come to?

Does iPod have an opinion?

So, I recently loaded a new version of iTunes onto my work computer. I need some music in my day to keep me happy (even if I can't dance because I'm in "cubieville"---my own private, totally exposed cubical!) So, I loaded a very small sampling of music that I thought would be work appropriate. There is enough music to get not quite through 2 days of work (I need to add more!) However, I've noticed something odd. I put the player on shuffle so I get an assortment of artists. When looking at iTunes this morning, there are songs with a "0" play count and songs with a "6" play count (and every number in between.) How are some songs played so many times and others not even make the cut? Does iTunes play some songs more than others because it likes them better?

Not so instant gratification

About a month ago, I saw this swim suit in "Women's Health" magazine. I fell in love with it and have been desperately wanting it. Well, I'm a firm believer in the reward program...even for myself. So, I set a little goal for myself. On Tuesday night, I reached that goal and have now ordered my new swim suit!

Look for me in that cute suit at a pool near you!

Working Girl

A few observations after a short time at a "real" job:

1. This working 8 to 5 is for the birds. Who decided on the 8 hour work day? And why did he think it was a good idea? (Yes, HE, I'm certain it was a man!)
2. Having to show up at an actual office at a specified time and stay until a specified time!?! What's that? I'm used to setting my own schedule! (yes, this also references #1)
3. I never realized what a bear commuting is! In the morning, I leave extra early and head to a gym 15 minutes from my office. But, in the afternoon, an hour or more to get home. Does that mean I get to leave at 4pm?
4. How is it that the guy I supervise/manage works fewer hours than me? Does this seem strange to anybody else? I can only hope I get paid a lot more than him!
5. Do they realize that work is cutting into my work-out time? I need my 2 hours a day at the gym!
6. A one hour lunch! Are these people crazy?!? I prefer at least 2 to 3 hours. Lunch is the most important part of the day!
7. There is no way I can make it to 6pm yoga (see #3)
8. Am I the only person not related in some way? It seems that way. About 90% of this company is family. But, not me!
9. I'm tired of the sympathetic reaction I get from people when I tell them I work in the pharmaceutical division (OK, so there are only 3 of us) However, give me a chance to succeed before you write me off (like all the others before me!)
10. Running errands on the weekend. Seriously, Saturday is not enough time to get everything done. I need at least one afternoon a week all to myself!

The bottom line is, I was not cut out for work. And if I do have to work, I need to set my own hours! I'd better start traveling soon so I can get out of this place more often. And to think, I gave up free Diet Coke, fresh baked cookies and all the freedom in the world for this. These people had better appreciate me!

Let's just be honest, I was meant to live a life of luxury!! Where's my rich husband!

Greeting cards galore!

If you are like me, you are always looking for great cards to give people (and they are usually impossible to find!) However, by sheer luck, I stumbled upon this great card company. They make cards with great pictures and great quotes. Here are just a few of my favorites!

New Job

Let me first say, I was not cut out to work Monday thru Friday, 8am to 5pm. Who invented this as a weekly work schedule anyway?!? That being said, I started my job yesterday. And yes, it is 8 to 5 and I don't like that part. However, everything else is pretty much good! I am employed by Thatcher Pharmaceutical. They are a chemical company who is just (OK, for like the last 5 years, but with little success) started in the pharmaceutical arena. I have been brought in to jump-start the sales, work with the major companies they supply to (I can't say because of all the confidentiality agreements, but think of me as Delco supplying to GM) and in general take over the management of the pharmaceutical division. I work for a great manager/boss/President of the company. We get along great and there is a lot of potential for growth. Unfortunately, I have to be here at 8am and don't leave until 5pm. This is going to seriously cut into my working out time! But, it will be nice to have a pay check again! Whenever I think of a full-time job, I can't help but think of the song (brought to fame by Seinfeld, in my opinion, just picture George riding a car up the stairwell while this tune is playing) "My baby takes the morning train, he works from 9 to 5 and then he takes it home again....." (I don't know the name or artist, but if you've ever seen the episode of Seinfeld, you know the song)

Not all yoga is created equal

I have started attending yoga more regularly, as opposed to sporadically as I used to. I have begun to truly love the practice of yoga and actually look forward to class. I think in part it is because our Thursday teacher, Liz, is so fantastic! She really knows how to get in a great balance of stretching poses, balancing poses and challenge poses that make it ideal for me.

Last night, I was reminded just why I hate "restorative yoga" as much as I do. First, it is basically a bunch of stretching, lying on the mat and child's pose. All fine for a 30 minute class, but 60 minutes of this and I'm just ready to scream! Its actually achieving the exact opposite effect that yoga should have for me. Couple this with an instructor that can't stop talking and most of what comes out of her mouth is just gibberish and I was ready to walk out of class! I did manage to stay for the entire class and I know the stretching did me good (since I hate to stretch after my typical workout!)

In the future, when we do restorative yoga, maybe I'll just wear my iPod with my own relaxing and soothing music and I might just enjoy it a little better.

Ballet West

Saturday night, I had the pleasure of attending the ballet with Natalie. She is a true lover of ballet and even takes ballet herself. Rather than doing an entire ballet, they performed parts of three different ballets. It is amazing to me what these men and women are able to do!

Even more exciting than the ballet itself, was the man sitting next to Natalie. He could not stop hitting on her! It was quite interesting to watch a man flirt with a woman at the ballet!

Even without the added excitement I had a fantastic time. Thanks Natalie!

Alyssa, just like her aunt Mel!

Can you say, "high maintenance!" Seriously, we are in the middle of a hike and the 3 year old has to stop to put on lip gloss! I guess I've trained her well!

At least I've also trained her to get in a workout no matter the time of day or how you are dressed!

Memorial Day Weekend 2007

Here is the proof, Stratton's really do hike! After eating a delicious breakfast up North Fork in American Fork Canyon, we decided we had better work off all that food, so up we went to Silver Lake Flats. Matt is not in the picture because someone had to take the picture! After getting back down, we took a few photos by one of the lakes. It's always fun to have a sister's photo!!

Utah fun, family fun!

This past weekend, my whole family was here in Utah, with the exception of my brother Travis (above) and his wife and 3 kids. It is always a good time when my family gets together! Again, this past weekend, we had a lot of fun (and missed Travis and family)! We hiked, we ate (a lot, but strangely, less than at normal Stratton functions), we laughed, we played pool (and more pool), we had foot races (Alyssa is quite fast down the sloping hill in Grandma's back yard!) It was sad to send Matt and Mandy back to Texas, but we will see them at Christmas! When Mandy finally emails me pics from the weekend (hint, hint!) I will post more of the festivities. As a side note: Travis is actually trying to ward off aliens (or some other such nonsense!) with the couch cushion on a trip to Las Vegas for the NFR in 2005! (Lots of good memories from that weekend!)

It's not a real thing, it's our thing!

If you know me, you have heard me talk about my friend Rhielle. She is my running buddy! And the best tent mate for Cross Country Camp a girl could ask for! Cross Country Camp is our own little creation. After really starting to hang out with Rhielle after the Moab Half marathon 2006, she asked if I wanted to do a vacation......nothing but camping and running trails every day! Last year we went to Durango and Telluride. Upon arriving in Durango, we learned about the Kennebeck Mountain Challenge. A 13 to 16 mile (nobody know the exact distance) mountain run. See how happy and cute we are before the race! The scenery was amazing and there were great trails to be run everywhere we went. That's why we are making it an annual thing. Everything I know about trail running I have learned from her. Because of her, I am no able to run and enjoy trails {even if I do fall and do some serious damage to myself.....Jupiter Peak Steeple Chase :)} Again this year we did the Moab half marathon. Rhielle is such a great friend she stayed with me all but the last 5K. The guys she works with even gave us the "Mono Pace Band" as I was recovering from mono at the time and had to maintain a much slower pace than I am used to. On Sunday morning, we hiked up to Delicate Arch to watch the sunset.....what a beautiful place to be! Rhielle has now started doing triathlons.....quite a feat when you consider she had never swam until January (seriously, not even swim lessons as a small child!) Not only has she done triathlons, but she took second place in her age division at the Woman of Steele triathlon in Bountiful over the weekend. Rhielle is a strong, amazing woman! I am proud to call her my friend......and I am a better person for knowing her.

Oh, it's a Meggie Jake original!

A few months ago, I headed to JoAnn's to pick out some fabric for my new "gym bag." Every time since then when I have asked Megan about its progress, I get a "it's not even cut out yet." Well, on Saturday I headed to my parents (where Meggie is now a resident) for Waffle Day! As I was waiting for my waffle to cook, Megan tells me to wait there as she has something for me. I then close my eyes and hold out my hand (as directed) and this beautiful bag is slipped over my wrist. I was shocked and amazed! It turned out even better than expected and I absolutely love it! Meggie really is AMAZING!! As a side note, this is actually a diaper bag. However, because of the numerous pockets inside and the great cell phone pouch on the strap (what a great feature!!) I wanted one as a gym/anything bag.....for those times when you have quite a bit to tote, but not enough for a huge duffel and you still want to look cute and fashionable. If you're interested in ordering one of these beauties {keep in mind, they are custom made, so it may take a few days (or even a couple weeks)to get one} you can contact Meggie Jake at meggiejake@gmail.com

Chad (Mel) fell down!

Yesterday, my friend Eva called me to go on a bike ride up the canyon. (She is training for a half-Ironman in August, and I haven't ridden my bike in about a year!) So, I agreed as I want to get on my bike again, and start training for a triathlon myself. I met her at the mouth of Provo Canyon and we preceded to head up the canyon. It was a gorgeous afternoon and I actually felt pretty good and quite comfortable on my bike. Numerous times I have ridden with others who have tried to explain all the gears and when and how to shift. However, it has never made sense, until yesterday. Eva is an amazing cyclist (OK, let's be honest, she's an amazing athlete and one of the most wonderful people I have ever met!). And, with her help, I was able to finally understand the gears on my bike and how and when to shift. Things were going great.....I'd even managed to clip in and out a few times with no trouble! (Those of you familiar with clipless pedals, can hopefully relate and understand how difficult they can be to use at first.) Well, we rode up South Fork to the girl scout camp. As I was turning around, I decided that I probably couldn't navigate the U-Turn without getting off my bike (I'm still a novice and not that good yet) I was making my U-turn to the left, but decided to clip out my right foot. The next thing I know, I'm tipping over and can't unclip my left foot. Very shortly, I was on the ground, bike on top of me. If you know anything about Stratton's, you know that we find it quite humorous when people fall off their bike! I assessed the damage....none to the bike and just a few scrapes and bruises to me. By the time we got back down the canyon, my right calf was pretty much a bloody mess! I had been bleeding for about 25 minutes and it just didn't look great. I got it all cleaned up (thanks to help from my mom) and have a nice bruise and a couple of puncture wounds (those chain-rings can make a mess of you if you're not careful!) Really, there's nothing that a little time and Imogene won't cure! All in all, it was a great ride, fantastic company and a fun afternoon. I just have a few "war wounds" to who for the day!

Artistic expression

On Friday night I went to an artists reception and showing of my friend Tony's MFA project at BYU. I am always amazed at the talent of others! I definitely did not get any artistic talent of which to speak. Fortunately, I am a great lover of others talents and can appreciate all their efforts and hard work. If you are in the Provo are, I highly recommend taking a short trip to the HFAC on BYUs campus. You can check out all of Tony's great art. And, for you photography fans, there are some really cool black & white photos on display as well. Great job Tony! I love the art work and am in awe at your talent!

Summer Vacation

So, last night was the season finale of The Office. If you have yet to watch (seriously, is there anybody who hasn't seen the office?) I highly recommend it. It is truly one of the greatest comedies on TV right now. It makes me very sad that the season is over and I must wait until the fall for more funnies from the office gang! Luckily, I own seasons 1 and 2 on DVD, so there is always "Office" fun to be had at my house.

Skirt Sports Next Top Model!

Last night Salt Lake Running Co. had their first ever "Diva's Night." Nicole DeBoom (pictured at left) was there to do a little presentation about triathlons (she won Ironman Wisconsin) and her line of athletic apparel, Skirt Sports. Because one of my friends works at Salt Lake Running, I was asked to be a model for the evening. My duties consisted of wearing cute workout attire, (hello, it was great skirts!) and talking to all the women that were there and telling them the benefits of the clothing I was wearing. My favorite item was the Roller Girl skirt, mostly because it has these neat little pockets in the "GirlShort" of the skirt. When I got up in front of everybody to show off my stuff, I pretty much took over the presentation from Nicole and went on and on about how great this item was. She loved how excited I was about her designs (of course, because I sold more product than anybody else!) And, she even said to me, "I think we could be best friends!" I whole-heartedly agreed, and have made a new "best-friend!" Nicole is a fantastic person who is so great to talk to. Although she is truly an "elite" athlete in the world of triathlons, she gave so many tips and helps to all the first time triathletes that were in attendance. She did mention that she didn't have a rep in the Salt Lake market and I told her to sign me up!

I can't wait for Cross Country Camp this summer......Rhielle and I will be going to Boulder this year and we are already planning on meeting up with Nicole and her staff for a run. I love being part of a sport where I can immediately find new friends that want to workout/train with you no matter your skill level.

I think the best part about Nicole, she's a total tom-boy who wears skirts to show off her feminine side.....the perfect combination of girly and tough.....my kind of woman!!

Parlez-vous Francais?

Nothing says "summer" to me quite like a French Pedicure! I just love the simplicity of white tips. And, as an added bonus, your toenails always match whatever you are wearing!

Fortunately, this morning, I managed to find the time to give my feet this, oh so summery look! It's amazing how just this change in my feet makes me happy. And, makes it feel so like summer again (as if temperatures in the 80s aren't enough)

Hunny lover!

me: "The amount of honey consumed in this house is phenomenal!" D: "I know, I just spent $23 on honey." me: "Twenty-three dollars!?! On honey? Seriously!!" Pooh, you've got nothing on us!

Converstaions of the single

me: "What about your acting jobs?" D: "Well, that's work!" N: "So's dating!!" Truer word have never been spoken.

Feeling Groovy!

After months of not feeling well, being exhausted and drained of all energy, I am finally feeling back to my old self! This week I have been able to do most of my usual workout at the gym without getting tired. And, I even have plenty of energy to get through the day. You never realize just how important your health and well being are until they are taken away from you. Even though I now feel good, I still have to take it easy. So, if you see me out running, biking, swimming or at the gym; remind me to take it easy! (At least until the fall, unfortunately) I have come up with a good motivation/mantra to help me in this endeavor: "Think of the jacket." So, when you see me, all you have to say is, "think of the jacket" and I'll know to slow down, relax and just enjoy my workout (until the fall!)

PS-- if you're wondering what "Think of the jacket" means, you'll just have to wait....that's another story for another post!

There is such thing as free lunch

Whoever said there's no such thing as a free lunch, obviously never worked in sales! It is nice to have people interested in receiving your business, so they are willing to buy you lunch. Typically, I only get "free stuff" from FATCO (First American Title); however today things were a bit different. Old Republic, which is right across the street, was having an open house and feeding lunch to all the Realtors in the area. I wonder when Access Title is going to buy me some lunch?

"Keep Looking Forward"

Last night I saw "Meet the Robinsons" in 3D! I highly recommend it to those with children and those without. It is a great story about not giving up.....always a feel good story line. And, the animation is fantastic. The Robinsons are such a great, quirky family and so full of love; you might ever find yourself a little teary eyed at the end. Especially as they pay homage to Walt Disney himself. It may be billed as a kids film, but it is for both old and young!

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." --Walt Disney

Let's hear it for the Boy!

After a stressful morning dealing with irritating people, how do you change the mood in the office? I say, bring on the 80s! There's nothing like a little Boy George to lift your spirits and get you dancing on a Friday afternoon! It's a good thing I'm all alone so I can really let my hair down. How can you not love the Boy!

The beating of my heart

About a month ago, I sent my heart rate monitor off to the Polar factory in New York for a little repair. The screen on the watch kept locking up and it showed that the battery was running low. So, to maintain the warranty and to keep in waterproof, it must be serviced by an authorized Polar repair shop. I packaged it all up and said goodbye to my training buddy. I will thrilled yesterday when not only was my watch returned, but they also gave my a new transmitter and strap (the part that actually goes around your chest to read your heart rate) Upon reviewing my invoice, I was only charged for the new battery. Unfortunately, as I began to reset the time, I noticed something very strange.....every time I hit a button, a message appeared on the screen saying "Warning, Low Battery"

So, my little watch is being sent back to New York for a new battery. They did send me a UPS label for faster shipping and did promise to send it back next day air; after they replace the battery!

Oh, sweet mystery of love!

I love the Hale Center Theater! Last night Megan, mom and I went and saw Thoroughly Modern Millie. I had no idea how great it was. Apparently, they both love this as they have both seen the movie and kept comparing the musical to the movie staring Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore. With or without knowledge of the movie, it was a great show. Besides, how can you not love a play with a line like, "I found an emerald kind of love!" I do believe Megan began tearing up on this line. (I don't know if it was from sentiment or from holding in the laughter) If you're looking for a fun night out, you can still get tickets; and I highly recommend it!

Wouldn't it be nice?

I love the world of blogging! What a great way to stay connected as family and friends. (Check out these great blogs as well: Mandy, Megan, Hannah) But even cooler, to get a shout out from Harry (Hanna's 62 year old Dad) who I met at the starting line of the 2006 Boston Marathon. I love the intra-web!! PS--I must agree with Hannah, runners are some of the best people you'll meet and Harry is one of the coolest!

Running on empty

Saturday was the 4th Annual Salt Lake City marathon & 5K and the 2nd Annual Salt Lake City half-marathon. I guess they figured they could get a little more money out of people if they included a half-marathon as well since some people are only half-crazy (as opposed to those who run a full marathon) Well, I must be all sorts of crazy since I have participated in the insanity every year....2 full marathons and now 2 half-marathons. This year was of particular significance. Since I have been a little "under the weather" (apparently mono does that to you), I needed to truthfully, not run the race at all. However, I had paid my $50 and I was going to earn my nice tech shirt they give you. I also determined that I would run the entire race with my friend Natalie Blades (that's Dr. Blades, by the way....stats professor extraordinaire at BYU) since it was her first half-marathon. I must admit that although this was my slowest half-marathon, it was also my most fun!! Natalie is a great running partner and it is quite exciting to cross the finish line with someone who has accomplished a major goal. There was a point where I began to wonder if our finish would be all that great, but she did it. She ran the entire way, just as she wanted; and we beat the male winner of the marathon! (We start and finish at the same place, and yes, I do realize that they ran twice as far as we did, but a girl's gotta have goals!) All in all it was a great race and a good time was had by all. She is even looking forward to her next half-marathon and this time, I will get her across the finish line in under two hours!! Way to go Natalie!

The best things in life are free

What a great idea, a "money-free" weekend. Check this out for some great ideas. Who knew saving money could be a weekend adventure! PS--Thanks to Mandy for turning me onto the site The Simple Dollar

One if by land

Today marks the one year anniversary of my participation in and completion of the Boston Marathon. Here are just a few pictures of that memory filled weekend. Stratton's always seen to want to climb on top of bronzed animals to have our picture taken. Some random woman even took our picture (on her own camera) because she thought we looked so cute!

Easter brunch and Wicked, what a fun way to spend the day before the race. However, I may have eaten a little too much (I left off the picture with the 27 desserts we consumed!)

Packet pick-up at the expo with my buddy Jim Grua.....I have a blue number because I was so fast I got to start in the first wave of runners!

Here I am 2 blocks from the finish line. Yes, I do realize I am running a different direction than the other runners, but I just had to stop and chat with my sisters before finishing. Besides, I was curious as to what exactly they were wearing.......

Yes, that is my face on their t-shirts. I had told them not 2 days earlier that they had better not do something like unto this; however, I was secretly very happy and flattered that they had gotten up early that morning (after I had left) to make these shirts just in support of me!

Because last year was such a fun time, I have been a little sad/disappointed that I was not running this year. That is, I was, until I learned what the weather conditions were like. After a major storm over the weekend the forecast for today is......3 to 5 inches of rain with 20 to 25 mph winds, gusts up to 50 mph, winds coming out of the east (the entire Boston Marathon is ran from west to east....in other words, strong head winds the entire 26.2 miles)....not ideal marathoning conditions. Besides, nothing can compete with the memories of last year! I will run Boston again, but that first year will always have some of the best memories!!