The Physique Rating

I am curious about this physique rating phenomenon.  Apparently a perfect score is a 9, and the lowest a 1. I find it to be a slap in the face that a 10 doesn’t even exist.  This has been brought to my attention after taking my two well-rounded cats to the kitty Dr. yesterday.  They both scored a 5.  I think the veterinarian was in a generous mood, lets be honest.  I am pretty sure 16 pound cats are considered overweight if not obese.  Moving on........... My bathroom scale has told me that I am an 8 for the past 3 years.  My question is this, what does a girl have to do to score a 9?  It’s impossible. Keith and I have tried and tried.  I will tell you the problem.  The problem is that the bathroom scale has been in society for far too long.  It has already adopted the philosophy of striving for the body you will never have.  It has set unreasonable expectations.  I bet that that stupid scale doesn’t even have the ability for a 9 to pop up on the screen. 

Let’s face it....... There is no such thing as perfect, only pretty close.  Vella and Mahoney couldn’t be happier and they are sitting on a 5.  I think I’ll take my 8 and toast into the New Year. 

Thanks for reading

~JenniferMarie

November in a Nutshell

My poor blog has been neglected lately.  Upon returning from Hawaii late Halloween night, I was up early for a drive to work.  With four hours of sleep and a week vacation behind me, who knew what the week in store? Luckily the weather was warm in the city.  Running along Ocean beach in the sunshine made the transition from Hawaii a little easier.  The Giants won the World Series that Monday. The energy in San Francisco was unbelievable.  I watched and cringed as the Giants played their final game.  When it was over I headed to the roof of my friends SF apartment watched fireworks, and listened cars honking and people screaming.  The San Bruno explosion had occurred my first week in the city.  I remember driving over the Bay Bridge and listening to the radio.  The energy in the city was subdued.  I had patients crying.  They had lost friends, and lost homes.  It was hard for me.  It felt like a close to home 9/11.  The Giants in the World Series was exactly what the city needed.  The residence had something to cheer about.

That same week I went house hunting.  I found myself disappointed and frustrated about what I was finding.  I had called Keith to let out my frustration.  He quickly sent me an address to a home in Millbrae.  I was in the area, and gave the number a call.  The owner of the home was actually there waiting for another prospect that hadn’t shown.  It was a sign!  I fell in love with the place and the area.  It was within our budget, had a garage, 2 bedrooms, a bike commute from work, near great riding, and in a quiet neighborhood close to shopping.  These were our criteria, which yes made it difficult to find a place.  Let the background checks begin!  Keith and I received our keys the day before Thanksgiving.  I had a lot to be thankful for this year; graduate school completion, new job, new home, Miss California Pageant, reconnecting with an old friend (Rita), making new friends, healthy kitties, and continuing love from Keith, friends, and family.  I am also thankful for Brian Hillier and Paul Zierke for helping us move in the rain the day after Thanksgiving.  Much appreciated.  Thank you for the Hillier family and Rita and Adam for allowing me to stay in your homes while Keith and I searched for a place.

Between the Giants and the move, I participated in the Miss California Pageant.  I met a lot of wonderful women, had a wonderful time, and learned a lot.  I hope my little sister Kayleen decides to compete in the future.  I think she would be wonderful.  It was nice to have my brother, parents, and boyfriend there to support me.  It was defiantly a wonderful opportunity.

That was November in a Nutshell.  We are now a little over a week into December.  It is full of Holiday parties and cheer.  Keith is getting settled into his new job, and the kitties have adjusted quite well.  I made my first payment to my school loan.  Here is to 10 years of paying it back!  Sweet.  Well, I guess barrowing was worth it.  I did nail a killer job.

Thanks for reading.

JenniferMarie

Carcassonne and Craters

Yesterday was day 5 in Maui.  I didn’t get a chance to blog about the day because Brian, Amy, Keith and I were playing Carcassonne late into the evening.  I figured I would just fill you in as I sip my morning cup of Kona coffee.

I would say that yesterday was a successful family day.  Brian and Keith decided to accompany me on my morning run.  Their speed was much faster then my typical beach jog, but I kept up. 

We all made the trip to the Haleakala Crater.  We didn’t see the sun set or rise, which is supposedly a breathtaking experience.  I am not sure if the Hillier family would ever be able to wake up at 3am to see such a sight, and we got there a little too early to just wait around for the sun to set.  I thought that the crater was breathtaking, even without a rising or setting sun.  Kathy (Keith’s mom) seemed to be a little disappointed about the craters size.  I guess she was expecting much bigger.  If you ask me it is quite large.  The next time I visit I would love to make it a day trip.  My dream would be to watch the sun rise and then hike down into the crater.  We were not sure the hike would be safe for the entire family, so we didn’t make that journey this trip.

On the way to the Haleakala Crater we made a stop at the Maui Agricultural Research Center (MARC) and the Kula Botanical Gardens.  The highlight of the MARC was that I got to peak into the Biochemistry Lab.  This isn’t allowed and is actually off limits, but I was “searching for the bathroom.”  At least that’s what I was going to say if someone said something.  I am a total science geek and it is unfair to tempt me with microscopes and staff only signs.  It only makes me want to “scope” the place out.  I wish the facility would have done a little tour of the lab or explained their research a bit.  I think that would have made the stop a little more enlightening, but it was free.  My 2^nd favorite part of the MARC was the Rose garden.  I found out that mine and Keith birthday (1984) flower was named “Intrigued.”  It was a pretty little purple rose.  No one else in the family had a birthday rose.  They didn’t go back that far.

The Kula Botanical Gardens was $10 per person, but well worth it.  There is NO senior discount, trust me, Kathy asked a few times.  However, there is a AAA discount of $8.50 per person.  The garden was beautiful and well kept with benches, lawns, trails, flowers, plants, mini waterfalls, streams, ponds, and animals.  It is a perfect venue for a small wedding.  The best part was cracking macadamia nuts and eating them.  Keith even ate off the tree this time.  I would highly recommend this for a family stop.  It is one that is fun for everyone.

We drove back to the condo and Kathryn made the family some delicious chicken tacos.  You know exactly how I ended my night, Carcassonne.

Thanks for reading (Mahalo!)

Jennifer Marie

Rewriting Maui Revealed

Today we drove the scenic windy road to Hana.  The first day I got sick on the plane and the second I got sick on the short drive to the Waihee Ridge Trail.  I was not going to be caught nauseas again.  I started the morning off with a single chewable Dramamine.  Yes a chewable.  I prefer the orange flavor of the chewable tablet over the soap taste of the non-chewable.  That soapy taste is enough to make me vomit, which is completely counterintuitive being that I am trying to prevent vomiting.  Besides, absorption starts in the mouth so the chewable tablets are likely to be more efficient nausea preventers anyway.  The problem was that I became extremely exhausted.  I could barely keep my eyes open for the drive. I actually remember dreaming about fire works and the Giants game.  I hear they won actually.  Anyway, when I purchased the Dramamine I noticed that there was a non-drowsy form, but I completely bypassed it.  I assumed that the non drowsy formula wouldn’t be as effective, like that of Nyquil.  I swear the orange non-drowsy formula doesn’t work like the real thing..... the green one.

Let me start off by saying that the trip was not my idea by any means.  Keith’s dad and sister were the ones who really wanted to go.  We told them that it was an all day trip and that it was probably going to rain.  In an attempt to avoid the “We always do what you guys want to do,” phrase we went.  My friends Mike and Kath actually recommended the trip, so I figured it would be worth a shot even if I am prone to motion sickness.  The plan was to leave at 7am and meet at the Kahanu Gardens.  Ray and Katherine were not ready to leave, so we left before them and headed off for the journey.  About an hour into the drive we received a text message from Katherine, “We are turning back.”  I guess they didn’t want to endure the rain.  I really have no idea, but we were already on the way so we pressed on. 

We made our first stop at Pua’a Ka’a.  According to the Maui Revealed book we were supposed to make a 5-10 min hike up a trail in order to find the perfect photo-op under a waterfall.  Needless to say we hiked for 2 hours in the pouring rain and deep mud and found no such waterfall.  The adventure was actually one that tested my comfort zone.  We crossed rushing water and narrow bridges.  We did find this old building, which looked like an excellent opportunity to seek shelter from the rain.  Inside was this old wheel.  Brian decided it would be a great idea to tell Keith to give it a little turn.  All of a sudden water came rushing down the bank.  It turns out that wheel opened a dam ahead.  We quickly closed the dam and continued on our way.  We ended up hiking around and found ourselves back at the main road about 200 yards from the car.  We were surrounded by numerous “keep out” and “no trespassing” signs.  OOPS.

Stop number two was the Kahanu Gardens.  Ahead was a sign that read “Road Closed.”  It had been raining so hard that the road was a little flooded and the garden was closed.  We crossed anyway.  Brian drove the car through the water and we walked around the closed garden.  It was nice because we didn’t have to pay the 10 dollar fee and we had the place to ourselves.  Amy and I found some really cool shells on the beach.  We really had to be careful around the coconut trees though.  Those things burrow in the ground when they fall from the trees and could potentially be quite dangerous if you are standing in the wrong place at the wrong time.  We actually attempted to crack one open.  It looks so much easier in the movies.  We were not successful.  We went to leave and were unable to cross the road.  In the hour that we had been touring the garden the road had completely flooded and there was no way we could drive through. We ended up finding an alternative route through private property and muddy roads.

Stop number 3 was the Black Sand Beaches and Caves.  This was actually the only stop we made that I didn’t feel like I was breaking a law.  We did make a few “adventure pee stops” on the way in addition to these listed, but I don't count those.  We attempted to find a fresh water swimming hole, but ended up hiking in wet muddy terrain once again,  only to find nothing.  We did see some awesome caves and stuck our feet in the black sand though.

Overall I would say that the trip was a success.  I guess you could say that we found a few new adventures that could be written in the next addition of Maui Revealed.  The day was coming to an end so we drove back down the mountain.  The rain diminished and the sun was shinning.  Score, a rainbow.   

Thanks for reading,

JenniferMarie

Diving Deep 36 Feet

Day 3 is wrapping up in Hawaii.  Keith is working the BBQ and I am filling the world in on the days adventures.

As you probably know I love mornings.  I love to wake up before the world and sip my coffee in peace, followed by a bike ride or a run.  It is the most relaxing situation and starts my day off just right.  Hawaii has even more so magnified the glory in my mornings in a way that I never thought were possible.  It is the “me” time that takes place during the family vacation.  I listen to the waves crash against the rocks, and think about the thoughts I allowed to rest over night.  Don’t get me wrong; I love family, but sometimes its nice to take a moment for you.

The family decided to partake in the beach today.  The weather was perfect so we took advantage.  Keith did a bit of snorkeling with his brother, while I sat on the beach with the rest of the family.  I am trying to even out my cycling tan lines before the Miss California USA pageant......... kind of crucial!  At the end of the day I ended up with a red lobster body and Keith with every vessel in his eyes bleeding.  After 26 years he is still falling for those older brother “I dare you tricks.”  I am the oldest, so I know these games.  It turns out Keith dove a little too deep in an attempt to figure out the water depth for Brian, his older brother.  Conclusion, 36 feet.

As we walked along the beach watching the Hawaii sun lay to rest, I thought about tomorrow morning’s coffee being sipped in peace.

A word from the big snail....... hang loose, chill, whatever that sign means.

Keith and I did a little bit of cloths shopping today. haha

Thanks for reading!

JenniferMarie

Aloha from Hawaii!!!

I am in Hawaii with Keith’s family for the week. We arrived at the Kahului Airport yesterday morning. We took a shuttle over to enterprise to pick up our two Dodge Chargers. One of them is red and I absolutely love seeing Keith’s mom drive it. Just picture Sophia Petrillo from The Golden Girls driving a huge red Dodge Charger....... quite funny. I’m not even sure she can see over the dashboard. We made ourselves at home at the Maui Kamaole Condos. We are just a hop and a skip away from Kamaole Beach 3, so we went for a short walk and swim last night before hitting the hay.

This morning I woke up early and had my typical 2 cups of coffee and a banana followed by an hour run. Keith, Amy, and Brian did a little snorkeling while I was out, then we all met up to hike Waihee Ridge Trail. The trail was an out and back 2.5 miles uphill, then down. Unfortunately, it was foggy at the top and we were unable to see the view from the top. The best part was eating the random fruits from the trees. Keith doesn’t want anything to do with my tree eating habits. He says he is waiting for me to get sick. I am just banking on my stomach of steal.

Here is the trail we did today. We found it in the Maui Revealed book that Kelly Fiock let us borrow. Thanks Kelly!

http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/waihee_ridge_trail/

Here are a few pictures.

Thanks for reading!

JenniferMarie

Lucky n Life

I couldn’t be more thankful then I am right now. I am finally home in Sac after being in Daly City since Monday. I absolutely love my new job at Seton Medical Center. My co-workers are wonderful and my patients never allow a dull moment. I feel blessed that Seton was willing to give a new graduate a chance over several other candidates that applied for the position. I think I am still in a little bit of shock that I was able to land a full time/benefited career in an economy like this. I guess an Exercise Physiologists job isn’t the hardest to come by when Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the US. I guess I chose the right major. I enjoy going to work everyday and practicing what I love. It makes me feel like all the things I went through in college were worth it. It saddens me to hear young people and the media try to break down whether or not college is financially worthwhile. There is more to college then the job at the end of the tunnel. The relationships that I built during both my undergraduate and graduate years of college have impacted my life in such a way that has shaped me into who I am today. I have stayed up late, pulled all nighters, laughed, and even cried with my peers. I will never forget my friends that were apart of my college journey. Now that the journey is over, it is time to move onto the next. Keith and I are in the process of moving to the city. We will now start a new chapter and build new relationships that will impact our lives. The previous chapters will never be forgotten, but new chapters must be written in order to prevent individuals from becoming stagnant.

Thank you everyone who has helped me in the past and the present.

Thanks for reading once again.

Love you guys and gals,

JenniferMarie

Urban Cow Half Marathon

Most of you know that I am partial to cycling. During the year I do very little, if any, running. I spend hours on the bike commuting, cruising, training, and racing. In September a few of my girlfriends (Jenny, Amanda, Whitney) and I decided to register for the CIM relay on December 5th. I figured I needed to put the old running shoes on if I was going to survive. I didn't want to be the one to die during our relay. I decided to participate in the Urban Cow 1/2 marathon. It starts right here in Land Park. I figured I could just wake up and walk over. I hate the 8am start times and 1-3 hour drives for cycling. I don't intend to wake up early every weekend during the off season too. This was going to be perfect. The problem was that I only had a month to prepare.

My friend Kath gave me a training plan that was 12 weeks long. I just skipped right to the 8 week mark because I didn't have the 3 months. I was hoping that my cycling fitness would help me out a little. I tried my best to follow the schedule. I substituted the Wednesday running speed work day for a cycling speed day. I was having a hard time running fast enough on the slower pace days anyway, and it was a good excuse to ride my bike. Keith and I would compare my cycling data to my running data. I could race my MTB bike at an average heart rate of 185 for an hour and a half, but I couldn't get my HR over 119 while running. Ya I was slow, my muscles just didn't respond quickly to the running thing. I just continued to train and decided to bring Keiths fathers dog along on each run. She was getting a little chubby so I figured she would benefit. I'm sure she enjoyed every bit of the training.

Well, today was the day of Urban Cow, my first half marathon. I must say I completely surprised myself. I finished about 10/15 minutes faster then I thought I would. I guessed that I would run about a 10 min mile pace. I guess the dog slows me down. ha. She had to sit out for the big race today though. I didn't have time to stop for her bathroom breaks. I only had to make one pee stop! I was planning on two.

Keith came out to watch me which was quite encouraging. I looked for him in every crowd. It was like a "Where is Waldo" game for me. He just looked so cute with the camera. I love that boy. He had to leave for work right after the finish, and I went searching for a family friend (Mary). I found her! I enjoyed hanging out and catching up:) I also bumped into Vee and Jill. You won't find them in the results. haha. Tagalongs.... wait is that a cookie? Yummmmm. I must say Vee and Jill were quite ambitious and decided to run a half marathon at the last minute (this morning).

As you probably figured, I am an extremest and randomly just do things. Today I was thinking about qualifying for the Boston marathon. I looked up the qualifying time (3:40:59). Hmmmm Maybe next year. haha. As of right now I am not sure I will be able to stand after sitting so long to write this blog. I hurt. I also wish I would have known about this arm pit chafing thing. People mentioned thigh chafing, but my hips are so wide there is no way my legs would ever rub together...... apparently my arms rub quite a bit against my shirt though. I don't even know what to do to prevent that. I have butt butter. Do I use that? hmmm. I put a little Neosporin on my armpit rashes after my shower. It seems to be feeling better. I finished the day with a Chipotle Burrito. I ran into Rich there. I swear I am always seeing someone from the Land Park crew at Chipotle or Big Spoon. A girl can just never spurge without it being known. I figured the 13 mile run was enough to justify the burrito though. Maybe someone would like to accompany me to Big Spoon later.

Well here are the results of my first half marathon!:

Finish Time: 02:00:03

Pace: 09:10

Overall 956 of 3117

Female 361 of 1972

Female 25-29: 52 of 307

Here are some pictures, CHEESE.

The warm up

The Start

The Run

I'm DONE!

Thanks for reading!

Cardiology III

Life sure is becoming a little hectic right now. A few months ago I was worried about not being able to find a job and wasn't really sure what I should be doing to occupy my time. I hate having nothing to do. This used to frustrate my mother when I was a child. She used to say, "JenniferMarie, can you just relax?" I guess not. I had to be kept busy. It worked out in her favor though. She would have me do dishes or put away groceries. I still go over there and start cleaning on Holidays. My MS advisor used to comment on my lack of ability to sit still. I would sit in my office chair in the most awkward positions. At REI I tend to windex the mirrors daily. Anyway, to avoid the possibly of being bored I registered for 2 marathons and a century, entered Miss California USA, and applied for 100 jobs. As it turns out Urban cow marathon is this Sunday, pageant orientation is the 9th and 10th, Foxy Falls century the 16th, and new hire orientation for my new exercise physiologist position is this Monday. WOW. Last week I took a certification test and was in Brynne's wedding. hmmmmm. My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy and says that I just enjoy being stressed out. Who knows. What I do know is that I love my new Cardiology III Stethoscope. Keith went with me to pick it up today. The acoustics are amazing and it's copper color is unique. I love it. I can't wait to get to work.

I do have a Vella and Mahoney story too. Today I left for SF around 8am and Vella managed to get shut into the bike room. Vella has the quietest little meow ever, so she can't be heard. It turns out that Mahoney can hear her just fine and SCREAMED so loud Keith went searching. Keith heard a faint little meow and scratching at the door. There was Vella. Mahoney saved the day. Good boy. O ya, we also tested the Cardiology III out on the cats. They have the fastest little heart rates. We are guessing around 100 bpm. That's crazy being that all they do is sleep.

On a serious note, my Dad's best friend past away yesterday. He is really having a hard time. If you know or see him, just give him a hug or a little prayer.

Jen

The Weekend Recap- Folsom Cyclebration

This weekend was one of the last hurrahs for most of the local cyclist. It was Folsom Cyclebration. Keith decided to race the road and mountain bike omnium, totaling 6 races in three days. He is one pooped pickle right now, sound asleep. Mahoney just meowed in his ear though and gave him a little scare. Mahoney doesn’t understand why we are both in bed right now. Poor confused kitty.

Friday was the MTB TT and the Road TT. As you know from my previous blog, I was in SF.Keith broke the MTB course record (16:01.58) previously held by Clint Claassen (16:02). WOW that is close! I think the only thing closer is the Phelps and Cavic finish in the Beijing Olympics.Following the record setting MTB TT, Keith headed over to the Road TT and scored an impressive 11^th against a tough field.

Saturday began with a little relaxation. The MTB ST wasn’t until 1pm for me and 2pm for Keith.I actually didn’t decide to race until the last minute. Keith figured it would be beneficial for me to go on a long road ride and save myself a little money. I didn’t listen and decided to race anyway. I honestly think he was just trying to get out of fixing the flat on my MTB that I got during the Wed night PC race. Anyhow, Keith and I both won the tough 8 lap MTB ST race. The Stanford boys, Cortney, and Chris came out to cheer us on. I must say Bicycle Planet put on an awesome race. They gave both Keith and I Serfas True 150 Lumen lights for winning. If you don’t have one you should swing over and pick one up. They are rechargeable, always a plus. I hate looking for batteries that I don’t have. Following the race I headed off to work an evening shift, and Keith raced the Road Crit finishing 19^th (I think). He later went to a BBQ with friends.We both arrived home a little after midnight.

This morning the alarm went off at 6am. I wasn’t really feeling like I wanted to get up after a late night. I had to do it for 2 reasons: 1) My coworker Garrett was awesome enough to work my shift so that I could race. 2) Asa worked her buns off building today’s MTB CX course. It went through the Folsom prison and the zoo. You can’t ride that everyday. Keith got everything ready and I just made sure I got in the car. The course was fun. The Expert split was pretty difficult with tight turns, single track, rocks, and loose dirt. The rest of the course was perfect for me with lot of hills and plenty of room to pass. It was definitely hot and I just couldn’t drink enough water. Keith and I both won the CX race as well. Keith needed to head off to the Circuit Race so Rich and I waited around to collect medals and awards. We grabbed a bite to eat at the local pizzeria. I was able to see the last three laps of the P12 men’s circuit race. I swear most of the field had dropped out, so I’m sure it was tough. Keith was still in it. I think he finished somewhere around 20^th. He ended up getting 1st overall in the MTB and 13^th overall in the Road. I must say, not bad honey!

We again ate with some friends and headed over to Folsom bikes to get a free coffee and tube. I decided to get another MTB tube to replace the one I used for the Wed flat. Keith opted for the road. I think we have tons of both either way. We came home and unpacked. I was finally able to take a shower. The first thing I noticed was how dirty my feet were. How in the world does the dirt get through my shoes and socks? I don’t know. I am not sure how people wash their feet, but I find it to be a little difficult to stand on one foot while soaping the other. My showers are never relaxing. Mahoney meows and plows into the door like he is a member of the SWAT team. I have to let him in because I can’t handle it. He has a ritual. He checks the toilet, just to see if by chance we left the toilet seat open. He jumps at any chance to drink out of it. He then goes to the sink that once upon a time had a leaky faucet. He is like an elephant that never forgets. Once he finds that neither is water accessible, he proceeds to eat the plant, which is also annoying. He has already broken a pot and always gets dirt everywhere. The best part is, he always vomits after eating plants. He really is a high maintenance cat.

Following the shower, food again (yes we eat a lot), feet are up.

That’s a wrap.

I Was Once A Bike Commuter

There was a time that in my life when I would pedal my way to work and school. I was the person who watched Good Day Sacramento religiously and made comments about how crazy those people were sitting in traffic at the toll plaza for hours. Well, today I was reminded that I am now one of those crazy people. I have gone from bike commuter to bay area commuter. I must say though, I started work at 7am so I made it before the heavy traffic. That is always a plus, even though a 4am wake up call may not be.

I am sorry that I often have some bodily function or nasty comment in posts, but I really hate the fact that the rest stop in Vallejo is closed. It KILLS me every time. I mean what is a girl to do after two double espressos, a full water bottle, and a 2hour drive. EEK. Holding it is out of the question and I am always too embarrassed to walk into a place without purchasing anything. I am not against the side of the road, but I don’t need an indecent exposure fine or anything. I opted to pretend I was getting gas, and go. I feel bad for the next few people who had to use the restroom. Sorry. My excuse has always been my fast metabolism. Haha

Anyways, the day went well. If anyone needs a little confidence booster, go work in Cardiac Rehab. I heard I was beautiful and thin over and over and over and over............ ok I guess you get the point. I even had one patient tell me that I intimidated her because I was “skinny.” I guess that was her excuse not to exercise for the day. Maybe she was expecting an overweight Exercise Physiologist. I made her walk anyway and told her that was how I stayed skinny. Lets see other questions I got were: 1) How old are you? 2) Are you married? 3) Where are you from? I never disclosed my age, told them I had a boyfriend, and replied Amador County. People always say I have an accent, and think I am from the south. I don’t know why. It must be because I grew up around my German family from Minnesota. No one knows where AC is, so that’s always a lost cause trying to explain. As for my age, I just really don’t think they need to know. They always use their ages as an excuse not to exercise, so I don’t want to give them the leverage of being older.................. even though 50-70 years is noticeable. I just pretend that I am between 70 and 100 too. Haha. The ladies really like to gab. I know all about their husbands. I guess some things never change ladies. I can picture myself and Brynne in Cardiac Rehab 50 years from now.

The day was a success. I love the staff and the patients. I have absolutely nothing to complain about other then the fact that I am exhausted. Well I am home now and really need some sleep. I would love to go watch Keith race tonight, but I really can’t get back in that car. I am going to make the cats take a nap with me. SLEEP........ I need you.

Life on the A List

Sometimes I really think I need a reality TV show. I think my life is much more interesting then “Holly’s World” or “Bethany Getting Married.” “Kendra” is pretty cool though. I mean, currently I am sitting in bed watching Good Day Sacramento with my cat. I spent yesterday folding clothes and searching for a mini chick-fil-A cow. Today I have plans to go for a bike ride and try on my bridesmaid gown for Brynne’s wedding. Does life really get anymore interesting then that? Haha.

Ok, maybe my life isn’t reality TV worthy, but I am happier then I have ever been. For the first time in my life I am not wishing today were over, or trying to just finish this last project. Throughout high school and college I was always wishing the days away. I couldn’t wait for a test to be over, a project to be done, the semester to end, or the thesis to be a faint memory of my life. I always felt like I needed to turn in the best work and get the best grade. I never took time off, always went to summer school, and made sure to graduate in an appropriate manner of time. I am not sure why I did this. I think it is part of being the oldest. I had to be the one to set the bar high. I wanted my parents to be proud of me. I am now 25 with a graduate degree, and I still don’t feel like I have accomplished what I intended to do. The funny thing is that I don’t really know what I intended to do. My goal has always been to work my ass off and one day it will all pay off, and my life will be perfect. I have now realized that life isn't perfect. I read something that my friend Rebecca posted the other day...............

(The past has already happened. The future is what's yet to come, but everyday will always be a gift. That is why it is called the "present.")

The only thing I can really do today, is to enjoy the present, and that is exactly what I intend to do.

One too Many M&M’s in the Trail Mix Bag

Today had potential for perfection. I worked the sweet 9:45 to 5pm shift with my man Patrick, and had a massage scheduled at 5:30pm with my honey. No complaints about that. The day started off with me making coffee, making lunch, and picking out my work outfit. I had two pairs of jeans in mind for the day. A) The light blue “comfy” jeans that sag a little in the behind resembling a possible accident in the pants B) The “sexy” dark blue jean with little wiggle room. I asked Keith his opinion and he quickly chose option B. Option B it was. I set off to work on my bicycle, got about 3 miles down the road, and realized I forgot my work shoes. AWSOME. Keith came to the rescue and brought me my sweet Keen MJ shoes.

The day went on, it was busy. I took my lunch at 2pm, ate my homemade trail mix made up of a handful of peanuts, handful of almonds, and two handfuls of both raisons and M&M’s. I love the sweet stuff. Just as my lunch was coming to an end, I went to use the restroom. When I was through I went to pull up the ole skinny jeans. I attempted to do a couple squats, trying to make a little more room for my, well thunder thighs. On about the third squat and lunge to the side RIIIIIIP! OOOOOOO no. I looked down and I had ripped my jeans in the right thigh. It was right at the part of the inner thigh where that extra flab of fat has made a home. Ladies, you must know what I’m talking about. Well, life must go on. I went to find Patrick and made him aware of my predicament. He said it wasn’t bad, so I went on with the remainder of my day with a rip in my thigh. I just tried not to bed over and was sure to keep that leg straight like a wooden peg if I needed to bend over.

Work was soon over and it was time for my much needed massage. I wanted to slip into something a bit more comfortable, so I put on some REI running shorts with the built in underwear. I was off to my massage. Keith and I get into the couples room and I realize I have no underwear to wear for the massage. I mean, you can go without, but I like the comfort of a quality pair of panties. O’well. The perfect day went not so perfect. I ate one too many M&M’s in the trail mix bag, ripped my pants, and had a very “nudy” massage. Although I must say, it was still a good day. I enjoyed work with friends and the evening with my love. I guess those mishaps are apart of that thing called life. Maybe next time i'll go with option A.

The Litter Disaster

Yesterday was PETCO day. I needed to pick up some kitty litter and food for the weasels, aka Mahoney and Vella. My cats are a little on the, lets say, large side. It is pointless for me to buy the little 8 pound kitty food bag for 16 bucks when I could spend 24 dollars on a 20 pound bag. The problem is that I am very picky about the food and litter I buy. I never have a problem buying the large bag of Nutro Natural overweight management for indoor adult cats, but the litter is a bit tougher. I hate the smell of a dirty litter box, and I have tried multiple cat litters. I have found that the "Ever Clean Extra Strength" is awesome! Not the Ever Clean Charcoal, Multiple Cat, or Unscented. It must be Extra Strength. Anyways, every time I go to PETCO they only have one box of my favorite Ever Clean litter. Think about the biological process of mammals. A 20 pound bag of food for two 20 pound cats requires far more litter then one box. This poses as a problem. This requires me to make bi-monthly trips to PETCO to purchase litter. I'd rather just make one trip and do it all in one shot. Well yesterday must have been my birthday or something because to my surprise PETCO had TWO Ever Clean Extra Strength cat litters. I was super excited and brought my items up to the register. The cashier leans over to pick up the box of cat litter, comments about its heavy weight, tries to scan it and CRASH! My precious box of cat litter went all over the floor! She apologized repeatedly and stated that she would look in the back for another box. I knew this was just a common courtesy. I ask monthly, well bi-monthly, if they have an additional box and they never do. They always have the other Ever Clean versions to offer, which results in me looking like a crazy cat lady when I attempt to explain why they don't work as well as the sister version. I guess it wasn't my birthday after all. However I did get 15 percent off my purchase and some little balls for the Vella Kitty. Mahoney hates balls. He is more of a stuffed animal kind of guy.

A Toast to the “Red Headed Slut”

Day 1: The day before

The much awaited bachelorette party for Jessica Rabbit began Friday afternoon when a group of sexy ladies drove up to Tahoe for the weekend. It wouldn’t be a party without a little mishap on the first night, right? A) I decided to wear a cute little designer skirt with beads to dinner that somehow got stuck in the little holes of the patio furniture. It just took a little wiggling to get out, no big deal. B) Jenna pulled an illegal u-turn in the middle of the road right in front of a Mercedes. No worries, nothing happened to the rented car. 3) Just as we settled into bed for the evening Heather claimed that something was crawling all over her as she scratched her body in a panic. We found nothing and determined she was either crazy or on crack. Both likely. (Kidding Heather)

Day 2: The day of

On the way to the lake the next morning I managed to stub my toe on a raised portion of the path. I have a sweet blood blister to prove it. We set up camp, and to our surprise a bachelor party of 13 men was stationed right next to us. They had rented a boat, which we quickly took over free of cost. It turned out that since we had 9 girls, there was no room for the men. We took a driver, a flag holder, and left the remainder of the bachelor party behind. Thanks for the boat boys! Idiots.

After a long day it was time for a pedicure, gifts, dinner, and VEX. Pedicures were awesome, the gifts were sexy, the dinner was amazing, and VEX was................. a blur.

Day 3: The morning after...........

I recall drinking a little Champaign during gifts, a little wine during dinner, and toasting a “Red Headed Slut” with the ladies. I quickly went from sober to sick. I hate that! You totally miss that fun buzz. The night lasted, well forever. We managed to get into bed around 5am Sunday morning. I shot out of my sleeping at 5:45am with an upset stomach. I quickly ran down the narrow stairs of the cabin. My feet are kind of big so I had to run with my toes pointed out to avoid falling. To my surprise there were already two sick women occupying the bathrooms (Brynne and Jenny). The trashcan was the next best thing. My pasta dinner didn’t smell so good coming up. I decided to nap a little by the can, just incase I started feeling a little woozy again.

Hours later Brynne and I set off on a breakfast adventure, and managed to find a hole in the wall coffee shop. The smell of pastries and coffee were not settling well. The woman working the counter noticed our, lets say tore back look, and jumped to conclusions recommending a burger from Ernie’s as a hangover remedy. We smiled, trying not to appear as if we were up all night. We just acted like it was perfectly normal to crave burgers for breakfast, and drove away. Ernie’s was quite crowded. I suppose all of the VEX customers were there for their morning chow. We needed food NOW. We wanted that burger. MC Donald’s, here we come! We sat for what seemed to be forever in the drive through of Mc Donald’s, drove up to order, and were told that lunch was not served until 10:30am. It was 10:06am. “What the FU@K!???????,” Brynne yelled in the window. We pulled out of the drivethrough sideways, but safely. We needed that burger and decided to wait around inside staring the burger makers down until clock struck 10:30am. Finally! Best burger and fries ever.

The ice cream shop opened at 11am, so we decided, why not? Walking up the steps to the old ice cream parlor, guess who stubs the opposite toe and stumbles? Yep, me. AAAAAAA. Regardless, hair up and braless, we walk in. No other then the woman we had seen hours before at the coffee shop was standing there. “You ladies feeling better, she asked? I replied, “It’s been a rough morning.” I got my Kona coffee ice cream in a cup and took off. I was glad Jenna was in charge of the drive home. Down highway 50, through the house door, and straight to bed.

Why is it that a week later we say, “That was a good time.” Hmmm. That’s not what I was thinking at 5:45 am Sunday morning. Happy Bachelorette Brynne. I love you.

A word to the readers......... I just wanted to say that I am not an advocate of drinking or stealing boats. I actually do not partake either one on a regular basis. You probably noticed it only took me 3 drinks to barf. It's just that, well, who can turn down a redhead????? hmmmmm Not Ken, not me.

Jessica Rabbit and Crazy Cruella

These days my worldly contributions are quite minimal, I know, but today I had a little bridesmaid duty to tend to. Today’s assignment was to accompany Brynne to Salon Bravissimo to have a hair trial. This needs not to be confused by a hair consultation, which was last week. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the wedding world (KEITH): A consultation is a simple 15-minute visit with the stylist to meet, greet, and discuss prices. A trial is when the stylist and the bride throw ideas around and construct a pre wedding hair masterpiece.

Now to the point of today’s story. Behind Brynne sat a crazy woman, whom I choose to call Crazy Cruella. I do not call her Cruella because her actions mirror those of “Cruella Deville,” though she bares a physical resemblance. The woman was indeed crazy, hence the crazy portion of her nickname. Why was she crazy? I’ll explain. Crazy Cruella’s hair stylist went into the back to mix hair dye, asked Cruella to grab a drape, and told her she would be back momentarily. Cruella decides that she needs to use the restroom, which we didn’t know at the time. She repeatedly stepped on my feet while she checked the bathroom like a Volcher. Cruella begins to ask Holly the hairdresser (Brynne's hairdresser) for a drape and complains that someone has been in the restroom forever. Apparently Cruella didn’t know she needed to turn the knob, no one was in there. I guess her bathroom door at home opens for her. Holly leaves Brynne for a moment to get Cruella her drape. Cruella begins to sniff sniff sniff the drape up and down. We couldn’t help, but to stare. What was she doing? No, Holly did not give you a dirty drape. Put the thing on, sit down, and shut-up! Cruella then proceeded to ask the poor intern sweeping the floor what type of hair products her stylist was going to use on her because she has sensitive skin and blah blah blah. The poor intern replied, “I can ask her.” Who does that? Why not ask these questions before you make the appointment? Cruellas hair stylist finally returns and is greeted by, “How long is this going to take? My husband has a doctors appointment at 11am.” OMG Lady, it’s 10:15am right now, and you have a full head of grey to color. My only conclusion............ I don’t even know.

As for Brynne, she looked amazing! Allow me to introduce you to Jessica Rabbit. Bridesmaid daily duty, completed. This weekend, the Bachelorette Party!

Inside the Innie Canyon

This is the first post in which I will discuss a body part: the belly button. As a child we are quick to learn that some people have an “innie” and others have an “outie.” I myself have a canyon! The thing is so deep, I can’t see the end. This becomes problematic for hygienic purposes. I do my best to keep the canyon clean, but there is not much you can do when the end is nowhere in sight. This afternoon I came home from a tough bike ride in the heat, and gave my belly button a little scratch. I noticed a waxy textured substance in my belly button, like what you may find in your ear. I tried to clean it out, but it’s nearly impossible to hold my belly button open while sticking a q-tip in it. This called for immediate action and attention. I called for help, KEITH! In discussed he refused to help me, but knew it was a necessity. I held my belly button open while Keith dug at it with hydrogen peroxide, 8 q-tips, and a headlamp. He finished the job by spraying Dust-off (the original compressed gas duster) in my belly button hole. All Clean! WHEW. Who knew it was this tough to properly clean your belly button?

The Missing Shirt and the Mystery Backpack

This was my second time facing the mountain passes of Monitor, Ebbetts, and Carson in the Tour of the Alps.....aka The Death Ride.

I finished in 2008, and there was a terrible thunderstorm on Carson. This year I decided that I was going to carry rain gear with me all day. I was the girl wearing the REI staff backpack stuffed with arm warmers, leg warmers, and rain gear. I couldn't even count how many people asked, what is in the backpack? Dude, why do people care??? I started making up stories: A) Its my diabetic supplies B) Its rain gear because I have Raynaud's disease C) I have sandbags in it to make the ride more difficult. I don't know. I just had a little fun with it.

On the top of Ebbetts, my third pass, I decided to grab a few (5-10) Oreo cookies, and use the restroom in a porter-potty (PP). I decided that setting my shirt outside of the PP was a better option then attempting to hold my shirt in my mouth while simultaneously pulling down my bib shorts, or placing my shirt in the (PP) pee puddle. I must admit, I spent a little bit of time in the PP. My stomach was pretty tore up from all of the processed food and riding. When I walked out of the PP I noticed my shirt was missing. Two thoughts were running through my head: A) My pass finisher stickers!! B) Am I going to have to ride the remainder of the death ride in only my spandex bib shorts and REI staff backpack?? I began to panic and look for my shirt. It turns out that an older gentleman picked it up thinking that someone dropped it in the dirt. Doesn't he know people prefer dirt over a PP pee puddle? Whatever. To make a long story short I got my shirt back, with all 3 stickers on it. I ended up finishing the death ride for a second time:)

On a side note..... I love camping. I had a ton of fun. The boys tell me that Hot Tub Time Machine is a great movie:)