Monday, Monday

(dun un, dun un... come on, you know you want to sing it)

Well. This weekend. Let's just breeze past the Texas game, shall we? Sigh.

Anyways.

BFF L and I had super fun afternoon on Friday which involved lunch and queso (obviously), Party City adventures (don't even ask, because I have no answers):

Target trip, Pier 1 adventures and then sitting in my car and people watching.

Because seeing the Hotel ZaZa Yukon pull up to Party City had us very intrigued. And then the guy in the UT polo who seemed to be friends with the Hotel ZaZa guy. We imagine this was for some sort of game watching party, but, couldn't be sure as we were unable to make it to ZaZa as she was photographing a wedding and I was working/sleeping/sick whilst attempting to watch the game from my house.

And then I pulled myself together and had a lovely girls night at mi casa wherein we (and by "we" I mean "me") ate way too much pizza and laughed ourselves silly. I love this. My soul needed it.

Then, when my alarm went off at 4:15 on Sunday morning, I hopped out of bed feeling woozy and having trouble walking. My ankle has been giving me fits lately and it was swollen like whoa. So, I made the judgement call to go back to bed and ditch out on my 20 miler. Which was probably not my best move as MCM is in like three weeks, but, I don't want to risk getting hurt.

Honestly? I slept until 10:15AM. That's the latest I've slept in YEARS. And I don't even feel a little bit guilty. I've been working every weekend since August and running my long runs on Sunday before church--so, obviously, my body needed to rest. I can do this. I can run MCM. It's OK to take a break.

But, the best part of my weekend?

This new beauty:

Y'all, I got a new car! I got a new car!

The hubs drove her down from Montana and she arrived yesterday afternoon. I'm a bit annoyed that he got to drive my car before I did, but, eeekkk, she is so gangster. I feel like Phoebe when she gets the mink coat--I must go places, I need to be seen.

It's a bittersweet farewell to my Sasha, but, it'll be so nice to have space again. Between shclepping kids, dogs and bikes around, an SUV has been much needed these last few years.

Here's the kicker: She doesn't have a name! Yes, I name my cars. The husband is calling her Esmeralda. Just, no. I mean, I could be swayed, but, for now, no. I was thinking Vivian, but, now that I've had her for a day, I don't think she's a Vivian. Then I thought Karen--like Karen on Will & Grace. What do you think? Any good ideas for a name?

And everything was all so wonderful and rainbows--until I remembered I need a new TollTag for her. And that's what I'll be doing at lunch today. Kill.me.now. Ugh.

Hope y'all had a spectacular weekend!

My People

I paced a race over the weekend. It was my first time doing it. I was really honored and humbled to be asked.

Y’all? It was so.much.fun! Can I just pace every single race? Oh my gosh. Yes, there is pressure, but, it’s not the pressure I put on myself to PR every.single.time. It was way more fun than running a race normally. Although, I won’t lie, around mile 7 I was kinda like “OK, can I go home now?”—which I usually get around mile 7 anyways, so, this was nothing new.

I had so much fun. Chatting with other runners, seeing old friends, and just getting out there. I finally felt like I fit in. Like, we were all friends. We have a common bond, after all: running. Such a blessing.

This coming from the girl who never fit in, ever. Even as a cheerleader I was the outcast… I was kind of a wild child.

Cheerleaders were not supposed to be wild. We were supposed to be the girls next door—not in Hugh Hefner kind of way! Did you know that my high school sweetheart used to call me “Trouble”? Funny, right. Me? Trouble. I die laughing!

But with runners? I fit in. I now finally have found “my people” and I love them.

Who are “your people”?

I have an awesome life. Don't be jealous.

(sense the tone)

Let me explain how my weekend went down.

Saturday:

Worked in the pouring rain for several hours. That was fun. I resembled a drowned rat—why I even bothered putting on makeup is beyond me. Seriously, looked like hell. I’m sorry to anyone who saw me on Saturday.

Went home. Ate lunch. HOT shower. Bones-a-thon. Then, more Bones. Carbloading. A few episodes of Sons of Anarchy (SAMCRO) before bed.

Sunday:

Up early to run a race. Had a super fun kick butt 13.1. Breakfast burrito. Work. Home. Shower. SAMCRO-a-thon. Bones. More SAMCRO.

I know, I live a very, very exciting life. Very glam and such.

But, on the upside, I spent the weekend with these fine boys, so, it’s a win in my book.

Special Agent Seeley Booth (“You’re all Special Agent Seeley Booth and Doctor Brennan,” “Don’t be an accused murderer, don’t go to jail, have a Christmas pageant in your own home,”. I might have watched that episode twice over the weekend. Maybe.)

And Jax Teller. Be still my heart.

(Could my TV crushes be any more opposite ends of the spectrum?)

What’d you do this weekend?

(images from here, and here)

Damnit

Remember how a long time ago I was all "I'm not going to get sucked back into Lost"? And then I was all "I didn't even watch the series finale"? Because I'm so above getting sucked into TV shows again or some crap like that.

I lie.

I blame Thursday night TV.

As long as I can remember, Thursday has been the night that reigned supreme in terms of must stay up to watch all my shows type thing.

There was Seinfeld.

Then Friends.

And Will & Grace.

Then The Office.

And Grey's.

Bones.

The Mentalist.

Community.

It's a very busy night for a gal without DVR (I know, the horror, right?!).

Suffice to say, well played, Community, Bones, The Office and The Mentalist, well played. I'm sucked back in. And, I'm a very sleepy gal this morning.

What are your favorite Thursday night shows?

Breaking Up is Hard To Do

(done in the sing songy voice, obviously)

Y’all. Y’all. It had to come eventually.

The end of my longest relationship to date.

Seven years. Almost to the day.

Seven years ago my life was changed.

I went from bus riding, randomly getting hit because people don’t know how to stop at red lights, begging my roommate for a ride—to—woo whoo I have my own car again (I didn't bring a car to college--mistake number uno). Sweet baby Jesus, I am free. Only not really because no one ever went anywhere because if you lost your parking space (which you always did) it would take a good 2 hours to find another one. No joke.

That’s right, my life was forever changed with my sweet girl, Sasha. AKA my 2003 Honda Accord (yes, I name my car. And yes, she's a she).

She and I have been through a lot together. She survived the trip from Utah with my dad (poor girl). She drove me home and back several times. She survived a crash on the country roads where I thought it would be a good idea to try and flip a car (read: I over corrected a turn and lost control. Fun times). Also? You can roll a Honda. It’s just hard to do, but, I am gifted enough to do it. This was the crash in which I lost my mother’s wedding ring (I was wearing it) but the windows automatically rolled down so I could climb out the window. True story.

She’s driven me to almost all my marathons, to the beach and so much more.

I’m going to miss her. I’m going to miss being able to park her in my garage! I’m going to miss her gas mileage.

But, all good things must come to an end and she’ll go onto live a happy life with my cousin in Arizona (be good to her, Serene!).

Now, I just need to name my new car. Which I don’t actually have yet. It’s in Montana. Long story.

I can’t wait to introduce y’all!

Judgement Free Zone

True Story:

I was almost late to church yesterday because I got sucked into a 90210 marathon on SoapNet.

For real. (you will not judge me for this)

I was out of town and working on 9/02/10 so I was unable to enjoy the amazingness of 90210 day--I figure 9/19/10 is better than nothing, yes?

I freaking loved that show. I can't even tell you.

We lived in the sticks for years and when we finally moved into town and had cable I was so excited to watch 90210 again that I don't think I turned my TV off for three whole days. It was glorious.

And I'm not even a little bit ashamed that I drove like a crazy person to get to church. Donna Martin is totally worth it.

I'm totally naming my firstborn child Donna Martin.

(image from here)

Please join me on this emotional rollercoaster

(you can bring booze if you want. In fact, it's recommended)
So, here's how yesterday played out:

1. Am having an emotional breakdown because listening to Sublime on the way to work makes me deliriously happy, but, also gives me the sads because it reminds me of high school and my mom and my high school sweetheart and then I remember that hey, guess what, you're NOT 18 anymore, you're NOT skinny anymore, you haven't talked to your high school sweetheart in SIX years, and oh yeah, you're mom has been dead for SEVEN years. So then I cry.

2. And then there was this whole text message exchange that we just don't even need to talk about. Suffice to say that I was teetering on Courtney Love crazy territory, but, kept it fairly Lindsay Lohan. I'm holding back on the C. Love. I suspect that may eventually seep out in the form of verbal/text vomit. Lucky I have my photographer BFF to talk sense into me. Anyways, the text exchange took up most of my energy yesterday and was exhausting. But, a blessing too.

3. I go to Kroger to get a salad for lunch because I really want Taco Bell, but, there isn't one near my office and I figure I'm feeling fat, so, a salad it is. As I'm pulling out of the parking garage (in which I do not get signal) my sissy calls me. This is the last time I will see her number on my called ID for 18 months. Gulp. And we talk and I tell her how proud I am of her and how much I love her and will miss her so much, but, I'm so happy for her. We talk for a few minutes and then I start crying and tell her I have to hang up and she needs to make some more phone calls. And then I cry for an hour because it's actually happening. I won't get to text her about celebrity gossip, talk about Bones with her, go shopping or be judgemental with her for 18 whole months.

--Note--

At this point, it's already been an exhausting day. I'm ready to pull the covers over my head and go to sleep at 3:15. Too bad I get busy at work at my master plan of leaving early has failed and before I know it, it's 4:59 and I'm still knee deep in work.

4. Then, that evening, as we're heading off to youth group and my stomach has finally calmed down (because I decided it would be a good idea to continue the text message exchange while trying to cook dinner. Read: stupid. Also? Leads to almost chopping your finger off) I get a call from my dad (he can be blamed for the text message exchange, but, I'll yell at him about that later. He's already in trouble for missing my mom's birthday last week). I'm not really in the mood to talk to my dad because I'm exhausted, remember? And parents are exhausting in general. But! But! He called to tell me that the California State Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal, thus upholding an original verdict. You don't really need to know the backstory, suffice to say: my mom died seven years ago, we went to court. We won. It got appealed. And then appealed again. And then again to the State Supreme Court. And we've been on pins and needles about it for months. Until last night. And then I started screaming and crying and I was so happy I just couldn't believe it. And wanted a cookie.

This was at 6:50PM and I had thoroughly used all my energy reserves for the next two days at this point.

Which is why I fell asleep at 8:40 last night. And am still tired.

Whew. Emotional day over at Casa de SP.

How are you doing?

Oh, and because this post needs a picture, here's a cute one of me and my BFF Lara while I was in California in August. I love her times five hundred billion.
(please ignore that I look kind of chubs and am smiling like a chipmunk. This is a recent development and annoying the hell out of me)

Meet My Friends Mike & Liz (seriously, meet them)

You guys, I want to introduce you to some very good friends of mine. Meet Mike & Liz. (see their picture and link on my sidebar? Aren't they cute?)

Mike & Liz are two of the best people I know. And I know a lot of pretty darn good people, but these two, they are special. Even though I haven’t seen either of them in FIVE YEARS, they each hold a special place in my heart. And, thanks to the wonder of blogging, I’ve been able to stay in touch with them, and that means so much to me!

I want to tell you about them because I want as many people as possible to get to know them because, they’re hoping to adopt. They have been married for nearly six years, and will make crazy good parents.

When I found out from Liz that they were hoping to adopt, I started crying—for several reasons. One, because they so deserve to be parents. They are the best people and deserve to be a mommy and a daddy, and two, because I’m so excited for them and hope and pray that there will be an amazing birthmother out there for them. I know there will be. This baby will be loved like whoa.

So, Mike & Liz. Meet them. They’re awesome.

Mike is super duper special to me because he’s the missionary that baptized me. Squee! He sat through my endless questions and he figuratively, of course, held my hand every step of the way. He and Elder Laws were the best missionaries. He may never know how special he is to me, but, he really is.

Liz was in the relief society (Liz, were you the President or was it Alicia? I can’t remember!) when I joined the church and her fun attitude and gentle spirit were always on display. She was funny, approachable and real. She has a kick butt sense of humor too (well, they both do). An amazing teacher and an amazing friend.

These two make friends everywhere they go. We all love them. Oh, and Liz gives awesome hugs. For reals, y’all.

But, most importantly, they are two of the most dedicated and caring people I know. They are selfless and kind, funny and warmhearted. And, they live in Denver, and y’all know my love of Colorado.

So, please, click on over to Mike and Liz’s blog, get to know them, spread the button love, and let’s find these two a birthmom. I want nothing more than to spoil their kiddo with all the love in the world.

Keep them in your prayers, please—I can’t wait to share the happy news that they are parents. God is good, He will do His work. I know this.

PS. In case you couldn't tell, I really love Mike & Liz. And really want them to be parents. You should too. So, keep them in mind if you know of anyone who might be looking to place a child for adoption. OK? Promise? Promise? Good.

The one with the canoe

Yes, this is my life.

I go to Chicago for work over the weekend, and I come home to find that my husband has procured a canoe.

Yes, that's right. We have a canoe. It was in our living room (is now in the garage).

I'm going to let you all marinate on that for a bit.

(are you finished marinating?)

Oh, and the reason we have said canoe? "It was $100 on Craig's List!". This is seriously the most proud he's ever been.

I mean, we can use it for canoeing and camping and stuff. Ya know, cause I'm so outdoorsy and enjoy that kind of thing. Jeezus.

Perhaps we just move all our furniture out of the living room and use is as seating a la Friends (note: this is not my worst idea)? (image)

So, anyone wanna go camping?

A tribute to my favorite missionary EVER,

Also known as: my sister in law, Rachel. Or, sissy. Sugar. Babe. Mrs. Ryan Gosling.

My amazing sister in law is leaving for the Missionary Training Center today, where she'll get prepped and "trained" and then leave on October 5th for a full time mission in Canada. I'll miss her, but, am so thrilled for her. She's amazing and will do amazing things. Yet another reason I love her so much.

If it wasn’t for Rachel, I wouldn’t be in love with Psych, dangerously obsessed with Bones (Angel!) had someone to watch Buffy reruns with and someone who makes the best banana bread ever.

For real, she does and it’s addictive. She is the real reason I gained 15 pounds last year.

She’s the funniest person you’ll ever meet and has the kindest heart. She’s Smart and silly and sassy and just plain fun.

She’s the person I discuss Bones with and send text messages to about our TV shows and celebrity gossip. She’s my example in who I want to be when I grow up. And, she’s younger than me. Which she never lets me forget.

She’s my voice of reason when I get all worked up and pissy. She supports me through the crazy and laughs at my phobias (well, both my sisters in law do this. I detest lizards and geckos and they both think this is hilarious. Especially since Rachel lived in Hawaii and would try to remind me that geckos are good because they eat the cockroaches. Can we please discuss how freaking big these geckos must be to eat a cockroach? GROSS).

She became auntie to my furbabies and helped me paint my dining room. We have wicked car ride karaoke sessions and had fun girl nights with makeup and chick flicks.

We were both in college at the same time, and she was always my inspiration. She did so much. She’s such a great example of laughter through the struggles.

She’s an amazing aunt to our nephew, an amazing sister, an amazing daughter and friend. She’s the only person I’d want to belt out Frank Sinatra to, and the only person who shares my love of black and white movies.

I love her more than I thought I could love an “in law”. She and Rebecca are my sisters and I’m so grateful for them.

Rach, I miss you already. I know that you’ll do great things over these next 18 months. I will miss you more than words can say but am so happy for you. Track down Ryan Gosling and marry him, k? I promise I won’t try to make out with him at your wedding.

Rebecca and I will be OK. We’ll watch Bones and Supernatural without you. But, it won’t be the same.

April 2012: You+Me+Bones marathon+Pancake House. I can’t freaking wait.

Hurry home. I won’t let Bones and Booth get married without you.

(Isn't it funny how we all have a totally gummy smile? Sisters!)

9/8/48

Today is my mom's birthday. She would have been 62. But a freakin' awesome 62, let me tell ya.

It's always a hard day for me. I can't believe that seven years ago was the last birthday I celebrated with her. It seems like just yesterday. And it seems like forever. Does that make sense?

I realize that I'm not unique in losing a parent--I mean, that's how it's supposed to work, right? Children outliving their parents is normal and all.

But, losing your mom in an earthquake, three days before Christmas when you're home from college for winter break has gotta mess with you in some way. And, it has. It does. It sucks. Let's just be real. Losing a parent--no matter how--totally sucks booty.

I wonder who she would be now. What kind of grandmother she'd be to my future children (although, I don't really have to wonder: she'd be the best grandma ever). I wonder if she would have made my wedding dress (she was a crazy good seamstress) and if I'd ever figure out how to make her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I wonder what she'd think of my husband, and my house. If she and I would have taken my post college trip to Europe and if we'd still vacation in Tortola.

It's hard to believe I've lived almost 7 years without her. It's even harder to believe that I've got the rest of my life ahead of me without her.

She was my best friend. She was the person who loved me most on this earth. She was my mom.

I hope that I can share the experiences she and I had with my future daughter. I hope we'll spend days watching Little Women and making cookies. I hope we'll go to the museums in DC and spend the afternoon eating pizza on the Mall. I hope we'll vacation to the beach and make memories in the islands. I hope I learn how to sew and can hem her jeans. I hope I will be able to make the world's best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies too.

But mostly, I hope I'm the person she wanted me to be.

Rock you like a hurricane

(shut up, I couldn't resist!)

So, I survived my weekend work trip in Virginia Beach and Hurricane Earl. Which, I'm not trying to be melodramatic or anything--it all turned out fine, but, I was nervous to go. Especially when the damn flight attendants were literally yelling through the PA system upon our landing to "buckle up, there's a hurricane coming!". Really? Really? Must you frighten the passengers?

But, anyway. I'm home. I survived Hurricane Weekend 2010. But, barely. You see, it wasn't the hurricane that nearly killed me. It was something else entirely (do I have you interested now?).

My weekend in summary:

Pro: HD TV in the hotel room. This equals Bones in HD. Which means David Boreanaz in HD. I think that is self explanatory (and yes, me might be a dirty cheater of a husband, but, he's Angel for crying out loud. And, I'm sorry, you know my love of all things FBI/CIA related, yes? Agent Booth. Also, can he and Bones just get together already? I don't have the energy for this anymore)

Con: The people in the hotel room next door to me throwing a freaking party until 2AM on Sunday morning. If you follow me on Twitter, you know I was on my last nerve about it. I went over and asked them to please try and keep it down, because it was 11:40 and I had to get up at 3:45 and had been on my feet for 9.5 hours. I was exhausted. I thought this was the polite thing to do rather than call the front desk. So, the response? "Well, you'll need to go to another hotel or stay at someones apartment, b*tch." WTF? So, I hoped they'd at least try to calm down. No dice. So, I call the front desk. They call them. No dice. Manager comes up to their room. No dice. Then? They order room service. And party it up until 2AM. Wanted.to.stab.someone. And the worst part? They had kids! And this wasn't like they had sick or fussy children--that I would have been fine with--no, they had two toddlers in there, running up and down the room, playing, etc. I was just floored, I mean, it's 2AM, why aren't you at least trying to keep quiet so your children can sleep?

And that's the reason I passed the exit to my house TWICE, passed my street and pulled into the wrong driveway. Because, 2 hours of sleep does not a safe driver make.

And then I passed out for 5 hours (thus totally missing church--which was the reason I took the first flight out of Virginia Beach in the first place!) and recovered by watching Ryan Reynolds movies all day. Because Ryan Reynolds=yummy (and another reason to hate Scarlett Johannson).

Yep, I survived a hurricane, but almost died from lack of sleep.

What'd you do?

Also, in case you were wondering, Agent Booth in HD looks like this. Only much better. (and blogger is being weird and I don't know why it won't center the picture!)

(photo from here)