What a small world!...and yet, I've never run into Beyonce.....

Had Spanish class last night. This semester, the class is 2hours a night, 2 nights a week. Last summer, it was 3.5hours a night, 4 nights a week. Frankly, how on God's green earth did I ever manage to suffer through that class? I'm getting my butt handed to me and finding that I'm doing all the things my mother taught me never to do when learning a language...the primary rule: NEVER translate....simply speak. What's really funny is that I can read and hear Spanish like nobody's business, but when it comes to speaking it? I don't really stand a chance right now. Thankfully, I have a brother and a mom who are both fluent and Daniel is fluent in about every dialect imaginable. I need to use his knowledge while I still have it...he moves to Colombia in March, then it's off to Japan...probably indefinitely, given his "appreciation" for the Japanese culture.

On a bit of a tangent, I'm quickly coming to realize how much I'm going to miss Daniel when he's gone. Sure, Jessie is gone too, but she's much more accessible and we've always been able to chat on the phone (yay for in-network calls!). Daniel and I have always had more of a "let's grab a beer" relationship and we talk much better face-to-face. Much of that is due to his inability to make a damn phone call when he's out of the country haha!

I'm going to digress from Spanish a bit now, but note that this next section comes from an incident that occurred last night during my class.

I really don't like snowboarders. Yes, I have friends that are boarders, but for the most part, I really don't like the stereotypical snowboarder. They're cocky and irresponsible....and behave very juveniley (is that even a word?). Of the 30+ students in my Spanish class, 4, yes FOUR, of us are over the age of 19. It's uncomfortable most nights. Last night, I heard the following statements regarding snowboarding:

1. "Dude, who gets a job during boarding season?!"
2. "Yeah, I'm only 18 and I live with my parents so I don't need to work."
3. "It's so easy to borrow someone else's pass...just wear goggles or say that you found it on the mountain!"
4. "Dude, this one time, I got caught and they almost called the police so I had to tell the truth cuz I had weed in my jacket."

Dear God. I almost had to leave class just from that last statement.
I mean, I've known my fair share of snowboarders....a few years ago, some of my closest friends were boarders from Breckenridge. Sure, we were young and did stupid things, but one thing is for sure...my two friends, Tom and Jay (don't laugh, those were really their names), were at least responsible stoner snowboarders. They'd get lit before hitting the slopes and had the sense of mind to "leave that s**t" either in the car or at home (they had the pleasure of being able to live in Breckenridge as many of us don't). Oh and they wore helmets. But that's beside the point. The point is, if you're going to be a moron, at least be smart about it. Sheesh.

I need you to set me up for a joke later....

Well, the stress has finally been handed to me. Man alive, taking all that time off from school may have done more harm than good. I had forgotten what it was like to be under this particular type of stress. Yes, I did have all the stress from the wedding (which is still hammering at me from time to time), but for the most part, I really enjoyed dealing with all of that stuff. So the stress was manageable.

School stress is just as easily managed, but it takes some getting used to again. I'm having to make a VERY concerted effort to get things done and not wait until the last minute. So I take most of my lunch breaks to do homework instead of reading or hanging with my girl friends at work. Friday is really the only day when I can take a lunch truly for myself and not have to do school work.

On top of all of that, when I started running a couple weeks ago, I think I really started to destroy my knees. I'm in pain all the time. Today, I literally cannot walk more than 3 steps without searing pain ripping at my knees. It really sucks. I tried to run with a brace the other day and that didn't do any good. Corwin says I need to have a gait test done at Runner's Roost and make sure that I get the proper type of shoes. I also think it might not be such a bad idea to get arch supports like what Todd got a while ago. I'm just in way too much pain for how young I am. And I do NOT want to give up on running the Bolder Boulder this year, or ever.

Week #4

Totally forgot to do this last Friday. School started again. Life has gotten incredibly busy. Sigh.
In any regard, last week I was grateful for books...



I read a really fantastic short story for my Lit class last week called The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin. It was incredibly thought-provoking and bizarre. I highly recommend it.

Mostly, I just love books.

What was the theme? Humiliation?

I just got back from lunch. I went to Starbucks, got myself a "jill" and read some stuff for my lit class tonight. Kate Chopin, to be exact. The Story of an Hour to be even more exact. It's a short story that I'd recommend. Very interesting. Somewhat vauge. Thought-provoking. Whatever.

The barista asked what I was reading. I told her. She apparently studied English Lit as her major at Boise State however long ago. It was an interesting tiny discussion (during which I also informed her that ordering my crazy tea misto is much easier to do at jill's store than anywhere else).

I'm discovering more and more how non-conventional I really want to be. I never want to be stagnant. I used to read the same authors, watch the same kinds of movies and eat the same types of foods.

Blech. How boring. John Grisham, chick flicks and pizza/burritos can only really get you so far.

Jill is perpetually introducing me to new authors. Todd (and the former Ninja Den) made me watch innumerable documentaries and comedians. And Todd and I just really hate eating the same food all the time.

Denver Restaurant Week is coming up. We're going to a European bistro (Todd's choice) and fancy-schmancy American fare (my choice). Mmmmm....can't wait!

In other news, I'm dying to get out of dodge, specifically to Alaska. That's nearly 18 months away. What the shank? Oh well. Boston, Vegas, and Buena Vista will carry me through for certain.

Also, I think it's high time I get some insteps for my running shoes. Stupid stress fractures and their stupid crap! I did manage to run for quite some time the other morning. I cannot believe that my gym is more busy at 5:45am than at 6:30pm. What is THAT all about? Tomorrow is another morning of fighting for a friggin' treadmill.

Still though, I feel surprisingly awake and alive after running two miles in the morning (don't laugh, all you hardcore runners!)....especially if Todd makes me a delicious egg/turkey/cheese sandwich for breakfast!

I feel like I just found out that my favorite love song was written about a sandwich.

Much ado about nothing.
I have no idea where that came from.
It's absolutely frigid today. It's warmer in NORWAY than in Colorado. What-EVER!

Todd and I had an interesting conversation about politics this weekend. I'm not as "in" to it as I used to be, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I'm so busy with life and school that I don't have the time to study it as much as I used to. I digress. I still enjoy discussing it and trying to figure things out.

This time around, things are pretty sticky. I always feel like if just one teeny tiny thing could be different, I'd have no problems deciding who to vote for.

There's not a single republican that I really care for. Giuliani is the only one that I really know anything about and even that is really only in relation to his work as mayor of NYC. So not much going on there. I know there are a bazillion of the republican candidates that I DEFINITELY don't care for, but that's neither here nor there, really.

I think the democratic nomination is really the most pressing right now. Hillary's tagline is "Ready for Change" but if we're going to be completely honest, anything that happens at this point is going to be a pretty radical change. I mean, we have a woman AND a black man running for president. That's pretty amazing, if you ask me.

The thing that Todd and I were talking about this weekend revolved pretty heavily around Hillary Clinton. I don't necessarily agree with many of her platforms, but the fact of the matter is, you kind of have to respect what she's done, professionally. Other than Oprah, she's probably one of the most powerful and influential women in America right now. We've been telling our little girls FOREVER that they can be anything they want to be, including the President of the United States, if they just work hard enough. But until now, no one has been in a position to *actually* become the first female president, thereby giving little girls everywhere someone to really look up to and respect. I said to Todd, "FINALLY! There really is a "barbie" for every profession!"

Like I said, you don't have to agree with her policies or her platforms. You don't even have to like her personally, but one thing is for sure...the next time any of us tells some little girl that she can be anything she wants to be, one of them is going to ask, "Even President? Like Hillary Clinton?!" and we can unwaveringly say "Yes...even President."

It doesn't really matter if she gets elected. The point here is that she is someone that we can reference.

I could say the exact same thing about Obama. FINALLY, black kids nationwide have something to aspire to that's more than just a basketball or football player. I'm jaded toward basketball anymore because the Denver Nuggets are really nothing more than uneducated thugs and yes, I do recognize that there are nice, educated, talented, family-loving, community-inspiring athletes all over the place, but they don't get recognized anymore, which is a real shame. All that kids know anymore is that they can make a sh*t-ton of money if they just play ball well enough. My, what well-rounded children we're raising!

My point is that now, we ALL have someone to look up to. Role models aren't just washed-up singers, jail-bird actors, and 'roid-popping athletes anymore.

Now we have Oprah, Hillary, and Obama, any of whom I'd be proud to have my children model their goals and dreams and aspirations after (just so long as they do it all with a college education).

This indeed is an era of change. I'm rather much looking forward to it.


Oh and just for good measure:
I don't care if you're Suzy Homemaker or Cathy CEO....if you're a woman, you had BEST be at the polls this year (and every year, for that matter). Don't you dare disrespect all the hard work our mother/grandmothers/great-grandmothers did to get us the RIGHT to vote. We owe it to them to take advantage of such an incredible opportunity.

Week #3

This week, I'm especially grateful for FENG SHUI!



After months of not being able to sleep past about 4am, I finally busted out my feng shui books (this one being my favorite) and re-arranged our bedroom accordingly. Now there is a ton of open space in our bedroom and I have an "escape route" (thank you, Karla). In the process, I have begun getting the guest room / office set up and it's looking quite nice, albeit slightly cluttered...this will be remedied this weekend. Last night, I got a full night's rest and woke up this morning feeling very refreshed and ready to face whatever the day had for me (which isn't much, so far).

Additionally, I am grateful for GOALS.



I have been needing a reason to stay at the gym and I've finally found one. I am going to run the Bolder Boulder this year...even if it kills me. It's a 10k race in Boulder on Memorial Day. My mom used to run this every single year until finally her knees gave out on her. My knees are ready to do the same and I've been wanting to do this race for years...carry on the tradition, I suppose. So last night, I did the unthinkable and actually ran for a half-hour at the gym. I gotta say, based on the fact that I've never run before in my life (not including the sprints of fear from my brother growing up), the fact that I ran 2.21 miles in 30 minutes is rather amazing. That's about a 13minute mile and I'm going to try to work up to a 10minute mile. My friend Laura is running the race as well and intends to finish in 55minutes....she'll be light-years ahead of me haha!

So there you go. Week #3

The fun-meter is at an all-time low.

I have never been so ready for happy hour in all my life.

And I have to drive almost an hour to get there (it's the price I pay to have a drink with one of my bestest girl friends in town).

Today has rocked me big time. Clients coming at me left, right and center. Co-workers needing this, that and the other.

I just want to go home and relax while Todd rubs my back.

Good times.
Indeed.