On river floating and dead bodies.

Hello, 2012!

It is our first post of the year, and it only took four months to get it published.  Not bad at all, wouldn't you say?

Well, the sun is shining (except when it's snowing) and the birds are chirping (except when those birds are geese and hissing evilly) here in Central Oregon!  Boy howdy, have I been waiting for sweet summer to come my way, and I can certainly smell the scent of its approach in the air.

Leslie and I decided to celebrate the warm weather last weekend by going on a river float!  You don't know this about me, but EVERY TIME we float I am absolutely sure there are dead bodies lurking beneath the dark waters, and I like to make these thoughts known to my companions.

Well, as we were floating last weekend, what do we see ahead of us but police officers on the bank, divers in the water, and nosy neighbors watching from a bridge...  Yes, we were those jerks wearing hot pink sunglasses and bathing suits floating through a crime scene.  We watched the news an hour later and apparently they were pulling a body from the water at that very time that we floated by, so that's pretty much one of my worst fears coming true.

In other news, I twisted my ankle two weeks ago and I am on a diet.  The two events are not related... or are they?  I'm an idiot and can't walk properly, and so I've been punished with a never-ending swollen ankle.  I am on a calorie counting adventure, and it's working out well so far!  But the swollen ankle is hindering my plan of daily bike rides with my pal, Leslie, so I hope to get that back on track ASAP.  I want to look like a Greek goddess by the time my ten year high school reunion rolls around in July, and I think that request is reasonable.

2012!

I was just reading my new year's resolutions for last year, and they were pretty funny. Mainly cause I don't think I completed any of them (except I did get Shawna to clean the bathroom a few times, so that seems like a banner moment!) Shhhh, we won't talk about that, 2011... Because 2012 is right around the corner.

I have decided to limit myself to 3 resolutions this year. I suspect I get overwhelmed with attempting to resolve things, and then I don't do them anyway. As a result, my 3 must be really good.

1. Stop being an asshole.
This is really the most important of all. I've noticed lately that I can be kind of an asshole. For example, when someone is stressed out about something, and takes it out on me, I'm kind of a jerk. Instead of recognizing that their life is probably pretty sucky, and perhaps I could be the person that is nice to them and changes their day a little, I tend to just be an ass. I would like to reverse this, and instead be nice to people even though I want to tell them to fuck off. (This does not prohibit me from saying "Fuck off" silently, to myself, if necessary to make me feel better about being nice)

2. Cook more.
I find that I tend to prepare meals several times per week recently, and I'm really digging it. Last year I resolved to cook one new recipe per week. Frankly, that is some bullshit. Sometimes I'm busy, sometimes I'm not. As such, I resolve this year to just make a conscious effort to cook more, and try new foods--resulting in eating more homecooked meals instead of eating a grilled turkey burger straight off the fork, while standing over the sink and calling it dinner. (Cue Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" for background music)

3. Start a savings account, and actually put money in it.
It's no secret that the economy sucks, people are struggling, blah blha blah. I find I tend to spend money on really stupid shit, so perhaps instead of purchasing stuff I don't need, I can feed my savings account. (I suspect this is something people resolve when they are younger than me. Did I mention the shitty economy?)

I feel that these three things are all pretty attainable. Except maybe "stop being an asshole" cause I'm just really, really good at coming up with smart remarks sometimes.

Thankful.

I have decided to fulfill my homework for a writing group that Shawna moderates... Sure, it is a month late, as I was supposed to complete it for November. I like to be a rebel.

Things I am thankful for, for every day of the month:
1. Chocolate: yeah, that's all I have to say.
2. My roomie Shawna, because even though she is weird, she is a really good friend. And weird enough that she keeps me amused constantly.
3. Having a warm bed to sleep in every night.
4. Jean lunges, which make my pants fit even after coming out of the dryer.
5. Gluten free macaroni and cheese, which is kind of the best thing ever.
6. My family.
7. My friends.
8. My alarm clock.
9. A nice, steady run on a cool fall evening as the sun sets.
10. Thyroid medicine, which makes napping on my office floor every afternoon unnecessary (quite ideal as I'm pretty sure the carpet marks on my face were not cute)
11. My job, even though it makes me stress sometimes, is pretty damn awesome.
12. Really loud music.
13. The Golden Girls.
14. Neil Patrick Harris, who I wish I could marry.
15. The fact that I am alive and well, and wake up every day.
16. Laughing till I cry.
17. Hugs.
18. Cooking a nice meal for people that enjoy it.
19. Diet Coke!!!! (I know it is bad for me, but I do not care)
20. My parent's dog, who has the squishiest, sweetest face.
21. A good book.
22. Hammocks and tire swings.
23. Sunshine.
24. The smell of hot pavement after it rains.
25. The fact that my mother has gone to great effort to make holiday meals that are sensitive to my newfound food allergies, which is just really cute of her.
26. Being able to express my thoughts and feelings.
27. Still being in my 20s, so that if I am slutty I can blame it on that (note to self: should probably be slutty within the next three years)
28. Sweatpants and snuggies (completely unrelated to above)
29. TV shows that I can watch a whole season of in succession and not get bored.
30. Having people who love me.

Merry Christmas!

Hello. And Happy Holidays.

Last night Shawna, our neighbor, and myself spent an extensive amount of time taking weird photos in front of our Christmas tree. This resulted in examples such as the following:



Yes, it is true that we are really cool people.

Pinterest!

WHY IS PINTEREST SO AWESOME?

I'm not just saying this because it's the cool thing to like Pinterest, or whatever. I truly am a Golden Girl at heart, and so clearly I'm not too worried about being all hip. <--- clearly, since I just used "all hip" in a sentence.

But it is just lovely. I have learned how to curl my hair, create holiday decorations, that sparkly shoes are fabulous, and that I LOVE puppies--all from Pinterest.

Speaking of curling my hair... I just don't get how people make their hair look so awesome. My hair looks like crap when I do it myself. I had it done by a friend yesterday, and was so pleased with it that I pinned it up when I showered and decided to rock it for a second day. This resulted in someone telling me I looked like an untamed native, and later that I looked like a country western singer. I'm not sure which, if either, was a compliment.

But back to Pinterest... It took Shawna awhile to convince me that it is AWESOME, but I finally listened. The same thing goes for "The Hunger Games" trilogy, which I read in three days when she convinced me I would like it. I'm finding that I can waste lots and lots of time on that site, mostly because I am convinced that at heart I am really crafty and vintage-y.

Really, I'm a Golden Girl. But I bet they would have liked Pinterest too.

Behold some sweet Pinterest finds:

7 things I have done recently.

1. Registered for the local Jingle Bell run, for no reason other than I could, and it seemed like a good idea.
2. Registered for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Florida in February. This will most likely result in hilarity, as I haven't been distance running in awhile... or even really running, due to medical reasons and the fact that it's f-ing cold outside.
3. Bought a new headlamp for running. Found old headlamp. Became too scared to run outside in the dark (which includes hours before and after work) due to recent string of muggings in my neighborhood. Decided it would be weird to wear headlamp while on treadmill at gym (in related news, I hate treadmills).
4. Got a super awesome haircut/color. See photo above.
5. Went to a midnight showing of the new Twilight movie. Sat in front of a crowd of teenagers smoking pot in the theatre. Realized I am old.
6. Ate peanut butter M&Ms and said, "F you, thyroid."
7. Decided to have a Thanksgiving much like the episode of Gilmore Girls where they go to 4 Thanksgivings. I'm going to shoot for 5.

28 by 28

I think I wrote this list several months ago, because I totally forgot about it. Today I read through it and kept saying, "Oh yeah, that's a good one!" I, my friends, am a huge nerd.

So, here we have it: 28 by 28. Slightly more complicated because I have almost a whole year to do things in.

1. Run another marathon
2. Travel to another country
3. Find a volunteer project
4. Complete a triathlon
5. Catch a firefly
6. Take a cooking class
7. Make a quilt
8. Go on a road trip with no pre-determined destination
9. Sleep in a treehouse
10. Go rock jumping
11. Celebrate imperfection
12. Spend a day in a hammock
13. Write a book
14. Dress like a professional/grown-up for a month straight
15. Complete a random act of kindness
16. Be a better friend
17. Do a cartwheel
18. Dance in the rain
19. Grow my own vegetables
20. Become more financially responsible
21. Laugh as much as possible
22. Become more self confident
23. Leave a ridiculously large tip for a nice waitress or waiter
24. Improve my Spanish
25. Run over 1,000 miles
26. Go apple picking
27. Buy a headboard (or make one)
28. Eat more vegetables

To add, I have these that I didn't complete from 27:
* Get another tattoo
* Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line
* Hike Mt. Bachelor

Wow, I'm a slacker.

I often intend to blog more, it is just really hard to remember. I have a very busy schedule of napping, eating those weird crispy pea things from the produce section (they're like potato chips made out of vegetables, and I'm obsessed with them), and watching every show ever made available on Netflix. I am so, so good at life.

To recap, here was what I was supposed to complete before my 27th birthday:
2. Get another tattoo.
11. Go on a picnic.
17. Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line.
21. Hike Mt. Bachelor.
22. Eat a giant Pilot Butte burger.
27. Start writing a book.

There are a few things I didn't complete... They include:
2. Get another tattoo
17. Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line
21. Hike Mt. Bachelor (I waited too long and it got too cold!)

So, we'll add those to my list for my 28th year. Coming soon. :)

Hallo everyone.

Oh, I've missed you.
Did you miss me, too?

Hello Internet people! Just channeling a bit o' Bette Midler ala Hocus Pocus there... which is who I was for Halloween! Yes. Dressing up as Winifred Sanderson is awesome, as is having three of my best friends dressed as the other Sanderson Sisters and Binx the Cat. Observe.

Sherry as Mary Sanderson, Me as Winifred Sanderson, Leslie as Sarah Sanderson, and Julia as Binx

Sanderson Sisters!

It's just a little hocus pocus!

I hope your Halloween was full of mischief and candy. And maybe just a little karaoke singing.

The countdown begins...

So, I have this list to accomplish before next Tuesday. And really, I've been slacking. A couple items might need to be postponed, but luckily I have a best pal who just helped me out with an important one:

19. Sign up for my next half marathon.

Guess who will be competing in the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon in Orlando, FL in February?!?! Thanks for registering us, Nike! :) Sometimes something as random as that will just really improve a bad day.

Go Sexy Olive Gang! (Name brought to you courtesty of the random sports team name generator)

Now, before next Tuesday, I have to do the following...
2. Get another tattoo.
11. Go on a picnic.
17. Pay for coffee for someone behind me in line.
21. Hike Mt. Bachelor.
22. Eat a giant Pilot Butte burger.
27. Start writing a book.