Witches, Running, Babies, Indian Food, and Quitting

WITCHES' NIGHT OUT AT GARDNER VILLAGE
Danielle, Haylee and I decided to venture out to the WNO - which none of us really knew anything about. We started out at Chipotle, a first time experience for us all. Good. But not Cafe Rio good. But then, what is? I was hesitant to even throw on a witches hat, I didn't want to show up to this thing like an overdressed fool. Well, if anything we were severely UNDERdressed (except for maybe Danielle, she took it seriously). People had face paint, costumes, accessories GALORE. The highlight of the whole thing was just people or I guess "witch watching". It was way too crowded and overstimulating with the EFY-esque music to do any shopping. But we had fun and got some good christmas craft ideas.

MOM AND ANNA VISIT
My Mom and Anna came up to SLC for the Cross Country State Finals. Anna ran like a champ, as always. They also looked at colleges, and most importantly, played with me. We ate delicious Pie Pizzeria, walked to 7-11 so I could get my favorite drink (super big gulp, 90% diet coke and 10% sugar free limeade, don't hate) and cuddled. It was a fun trip. I want them to move in with us, it would be a never ending party. Dan, thats cool with you, right?

RETURN OF THE BABIES!
We have missed our niece and nephew so much! Its crazy how much they grow up in just a few months. We were so glad Tori and her little munchkins could  leave warm San Diego behind and come and visit. Grandma hooked Molly up with that Snow White Dress and she loved it. This reaffirmed my desire to have a little girl and dress her as a princess. Every day. Dan is fully onboard.

I ATE INDIAN FOOD!
I've eaten a fair amount of crazy food in my life. But never Indian Food. There's this place called the Bombay House that I've been wanting to go to since I first moved up north. Six years ago. Dan finally made my dreams come true. And for once, my dreams were all I dreamt they would be. It was sooo good. All the waiters wearing turbans inspired Dan and I to go home and research Sikhism, being that neither of us had any idea what Sikhism actually is. Delicious AND educational!

DAN QUIT HIS JOB
This job has just not been working out. First they had him working every single sunday, ten hours. When he told them he needed some Sundays off to go to church, they put him on eight hour shifts during the school week. Which then interfered with his schooling - which is finally our #1 priority (no more army till school is done!!!) So, basically, this job had to go. And its gone. Huzzah!
(except for the whole neither of us making money thing, not huzzah to that.)

Revival of the Happy List

Its been a long time since I made a happy list. And I need one after the unhappy events of last week:

{MIDTERMS}

 With two crazy exams and two massive papers, I could be found in a dark corner of the Wilk, grinding up Excedrin to stir into my BYU Vending Caffiene Free Diet Coke. Desperate times call for desperate measures. 

(why BYU? WHY?!?!?)

 {Preview of Winter}

It went from being 80 degrees to being 40 degrees in one day. I am so cold. And the sky is grey. And it makes me want to pull the covers over my head and never emerge.

(saw these babies at the SLC running company. i know if i had them, i'd be motivated to run again.)

{Post Marathon Blues}

Looking forward to the marathon (mostly just to a reason to go home to STG) gave me encouragment to make it through the first month of school. Now its over, I have nothing to look forward to. Though I neglected my long runs and didn’t follow a training plan, having the marathon looming in the future gave me motivation to workout. I now have no motivation. I also feel sad that my first marathon is over, I’ll never have another first. Ridiculous? Perhaps. But I’m still down over it.

And now, to remedy above sadness, HAPPY THINGS!

 Dan and I have become obsessed with watching Mad Men. In order to continue to live productive lives, we limit ourselves to one episode per day. I look forward to my “stories” as Dan calls them (reference to African American women’s obsession with soap operas, he heard it all the time on his mission, “I care about Jesus, but I gotta go watch my stories!”) I attribute my rash decision to have my hair colored red to this obsession.

 Though its hard to tell from this super high quality photobooth picture taken in my home away from home, the basement of the JFSB, my hair is in fact RED. It brings me happiness to mix things up. Its been over two years since I’ve had my hair colored, and red is the last hue I hadn’t tried, so I went for it.

 In an attempt to get in the Halloween Spirit, I decided to try and start up the old tradition of “Boo-ing.” I made some pumpkin snickerdoodles and my favorite frosted brownies, and printed off some cutesy signs. I recruited Dan to get his speed work in for the day by dashing to peoples porches, dropping the goods, and jumping into a moving getaway car. We boo-ed a few people from the ward, though I’m sure they won’t suspect the inactive couple that even the Bishop ignores…. (Rant for another time.)

 Last, but not least, Dan’s parents came down to SLC and took us out to dinner.  Not just any dinner, my favorite, MEXICAN FOOD. Carb +cheese = delicious. Dan ordered the macho burrito. If you eat the whole thing you get a free dessert. I really wanted dessert. Since this is a happy post, I won’t dwell on the outcome. (Lets just say I didn’t end up with any tres leches….)

Dessert or no dessert, I still have lots of things to be happy about. 

(which is not to say that I still don't want to score a free dessert. next time, macho burrito. next time. )

Toenails in Exchange for a Medal

For reason still unclear in my mind, several months ago I registered with Anna for the STG marathon. I started following a training program, ran a 1/2 marathon, and then I just kinda stopped... I got busy with school, and running 18 miles on a saturday just really didn't sound appealing. So I didn't do it.

 Not really the best idea if you're going to run 26.2. 

I decided to compensate for my lack of training by utilizing the "shorter the shorts, the faster you run" theory. My shorts were very short. But the girls at lululemon assured me they looked great. And if the girls at lululemon started a cult, I would join. No questions asked.

The marathon itself was quite the experience, it definitely exposed the depravity of man. At the start line, anna and I went to go get a cup of water at an aid table. I noticed jars of vaseline on the table when a man came up, got some and proceeded to go to town lubricating his "swimsuit area." I mean really, you can't walk a few feet away, turn your back to people, show some semblance of modesty? Not to mention the innumerable men using the side of the road as a bathroom.... Boys are gross.

{glitter headbands give you magical powers}
I'm not gonna lie, several miles were pretty much the worst experience of my life. Mile 16 for some reason had me questioning whether life was even worth living. Rather than getting in a rescue van, I thought about throwing myself in front of it. But I didn't. I ate another delicious GU and carried on.

The last 10k I kinda fell apart. The 4 hour pacer passed me, and I was not happy. I tried to catch back up, I really wanted a sub 4, but eventually decided to forget that and just focus on not dying. A worthy cause. 

Overall, I'm glad I did it. Anna  ran in 3:47, more than an hour faster than last year, and got 3rd in her division. I want to be her. 

Our family is awesome. They made jazzy posters, got us balloons, and cheered us on! 

Brandalee brought over a giant bag of peanut butter m&ms and a cafe rio gift card the night before. My fastest miles I can attribute to the motivation of being one step closer to a pork tostada and my mom's forehead kisses...

{proper recovery = (2) big gulps of diet coke + a really painful icebath}

I generally try to avoid shameless bragging, but I am proud of myself. My 4:08 time isn't quite what I had hoped for, but I pushed hard and didn't give up.
 Plus, there is always next year. Maybe.....