the anticlimactic travels of life

my own corner

2012-01-27T19:01:00.000-08:00

to call the last two years a rollercoaster is an understatement. besides, rollercoasters are fun and you want ride them again and again.

i wouldn't say that about the last two years.
maybe in time i'll see this experience that way.
maybe.
but probably not.

i'll look at it from afar, then take a few steps closer, and then i'll work my way close enough to reach out and then touch it. analyze it. try to see what i can make out of it.
but never wish to relive it.

i'll appreciate it.
i'll continue to learn from it.
i'll try and find joy amidst it.
and then maybe, just maybe, someday embrace it.

life takes a turn, flips you upside down and then you're told to keep driving.
seriously?

yeah, seriously.

High Pitch Giggles

2008-06-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Fiji. This summer I'll be making two trips to this beautiful island. There's something about this place that causes me to retreat from visiting my normal rooms of life as I balance on the cliffs to explore different panoramic views thought.

all for a free t-shirt

2008-03-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

it's crazy what people will do all for a free t-shirt...they'll run and sweat for hours and hours, push their bodies to painful limits, some loose control of their bodily functions, and muscles ache for days after. all in all, it's worth it... there's a sense of pride when pushing yourself to a limit...and the shirt is your own personal medal for it.

the annual event has come around again...the Moab 1/2 marathon. this year differed from the previous year in many ways: i actually registered and therefore got my t-shirt, rather than sleeping in a car we rented this beautiful million dollar cabin, and i actually trained a little for the race.

that night we ate like kings, hot-tubbed, played pool, laughed and everything in between. there were about 30 of us, 15 runners and 15 cheerleaders. the morning was cold we were all bundled up waiting for the bus to take us up the canyon. Mikey and Dave, both first place winners the previous 2 years, were in the zone. Heather was in her long-johns, beanie, and opening up a package of foot warmers. Sara was standing there holding a plate of breakfast food for Spencer and Esther who had been waiting up the canyon since 6 am. Tonya, Brooke, Nicole, and I people watching and laughing our heads off, feeling the excitement of the race.

up the canyon, behind the starting line we all began stretching. Jeff played his rocky music as Tonya and I danced around feeling the energy and warming up our cold muscles. Spencer was giving his one-liners and making us all laugh. Nicole was down on the ground as Brooke stretched and pulled her limbs in all sorts of contorted directions.

the gun shot off, Spencer and I began running our practiced pace. as the race continued the packed crowed began spacing themselves out, getting into their own rhythm. towards the end of the race, as an answer to prayer, I met up with my brother's friend, Nanci. together we ran in, pushing each other along the way. At the finish line I hear my favorite cheerleaders (thanks mel :) yelling out my name. This motivation pushed me into successfully finishing the race under my goal time...and over 15 minutes faster than last year.

Rock on....till next year!

lost in the little-ness

2008-02-19T14:56:00.000-08:00

Saturday night I chose to exempt myself from the ritualistic single night life and with a bit of reluctance spent it with two little tikes I call my niece and nephew. They were dropped off, giggles and all; running inside the moment the door was opened. The level of excitement peaked as we played a new game where I picked them up and threw them onto the LuvSac. For 20 minutes straight a mimetic plea for their air flight training continued..."Aunt Mimi....again!! again!!"

You can learn a lot from the mind of a child. They live in the moment and are satisfied with the little things. In the backseat of my car, while driving home, the bubble nosed blonde sits vocalizing every word she can think of to a random melodic tune. The sweetness of her 3 year old voice spears any trained Jackson or Duff to shame.

We reach their home and begin the methodic process of bedtime. Kyle trudges up the stairs, with pride he mans his way up each step on his own while ironically wearing pretty pink snow boots. His tubby little bum swaggers back and forth, worn out from an eventful day. Reaching the top his 2 year old little body throws off his boots and coat. He snow angels it on the carpet, arms and legs outstretch ready to be taken care of and put to bed. (oh the joys of being young!)

After a few songs, a prayer, 4 little arms thrown around my neck and many little kisses shared, the lights turn off and the door quietly closes.

A few hours later my sister comes home rejuvenated from her little break as mommy. Her selfless smiling eyes say it all. I get in my car, a little reluctant to return to my world but rejuvenated from my little break as well.

Effusive praise for hard-coated goodness~

2008-02-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

Monday through Friday I come to my 5ft x 5ft home. I sit in front of this mesmerizing screen full of color that my eyes fixate on for hours at a time. Around 3:00 my eyelids feel like 20 lb weights and all I want to do is lay my head on my desk and take a quick nap. The possibility of drool or that heavy sleep breathing echoing across to other cubicles isn't what I call "good practice". So, in effort of keeping my professionalism intact I have resorted to... sugar!

Every few days when my head begins nodding off I make my way to the little candy machine and use my quarter to buy a handful of peanut M&M's. The array of colors disappear one-by-one as I pop them into my mouth. I've never before been a fan of this candy...or really candy in general, but what an incredible little concoction. : the ingredients of smooth chocolate, a crunchy peanut, and a candy shell. Although perhaps small and ridiculous to really even write about, it's a life treasure I now appreciate.

Thinking about the peanut M&M: we have a lot in common.

the Slopes

2007-12-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

I am one who needs a getaway every so often. I enjoy my own time to just relax and unwind. It's a necessity for me. Feeling the bite to get out, I checked out several flights to Hawaii, Belize, Chicago or just anywhere. Nothing. So, next best option was to hit the slopes. I'd take a day off to go ski, think about my job options, and what direction to take things. I needed this break and woke up each morning thinking, "Friday. I only need to keep going til Friday". I saw myself coming down the powdery slopes, my headphones on, grinning ear to ear, just enjoying my time away thinking how great life is.

Utah, a desert, has an average precipitation of 1.4 inches in the month of December. On the rare occasion that the water does fall in the form of raindrops, it's usually pretty brief, maybe 1/2 hour tops. I love the rain and everything about it. I love running in it, watching it, and falling asleep to the soft sounds of it on the roof. I am always greatly appreciative when the very rare rainstorms occur and cross my fingers that it will continue past the 1/2 hour point. Go figure, the one time that I'm not in the "wishing for rain" mood there would be a constant fall for a day and a 1/2, melting and icing over all the sweet soft ski-snow that we received just a few days prior.

Needless to say I'm at work, staring at the all too familiar face of this computer. I turn around and stare out the huge windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of a beautiful white capped Rocky Mountain view (now covered with gray rain clouds). With headphones on I'm now only living my ski getaway only in my head.

Oddly enough the outcome is still the same. Well, pretty close at least... I'm still grinning ear to ear, chuckling a little at life's little ironic moments, and thinking,....yeah... life, in its own way, is pretty great.