I love to walk. I can walk anywhere for however long and just keep walking. I love walking!
Running? Not really my thing. I've always thought about running and becoming a runner, but I never follow through truly and just go walk.
Last Saturday, June 14th, I took part in the Race for Justice event. The law firm I work for sponsored all employees who wanted to take part and I was totally game for a Saturday 5K walk.
Saturday morning arrived and I decided I wanted to try my legs at running for a bit. A co-worker and I decided we'd start the race at a slow run/jog and when we decided to slow down more, we'd just finish the race walking.
Off we went! It was a great pace we set and there we both were running. Neither one of us run often, nor did we think we were going to even run at all that morning. It was so much fun running with others and the route volunteers helping direct the course were so encouraging and helpful. Next thing we knew, we had reached mile.
Both my co-worker and I were feeling pretty good and just kept up our jog. The route was beautiful through a really well kept residential area and there was plenty to check out as we went along. Before we knew it we came to a point and asked how much farther, the volunteer said about three quarters of the way done! Sure enough, the next sign we saw said we only had one more mile left!
My co-worker and I were feeling on top of the world! We knew we could keep going, so we did! We kept encouraging each other and enjoying the run together as we made our way to the final three blocks. As we were coming up then, an attorney from work saw us. He is a runner and had finished a while back and came to help lead us to the finish! He pushed us and helped us along and 'A' and I had a super strong finish to our 3.1 miles that morning!
We were so happy and proud of ourselves! We didn't think we were going to run any of the route, and ended up finishing the whole 5K running with a smile! It was such a great feeling! The running itself helped increase our endorphins, but helping each other through the race and the encouragement from others made both 'A' and I sour with happiness! It felt so good!
I am not ready to run a marathon, and I still prefer walking over running, but I will definitely go out more and have a good run! I'll even try to find some friends to run with to make it even more awesome! Yay for running!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Champions!
December 2013 found me back in San Antonio, TX. It is a great, warm place to spend Christmas! It also just happens to be the city of the San Antonio Spurs! And who was a lucky girl to be able to go and watch a Spurs game at the AT&T Center? This girl!
I had watched a few Spurs games prior to that LIVE show in San Antonio, but watching a game up close and personal sealed my fate of becoming a Spurs fan! And a super Spurs fan I am!
Being a part of the Spurs crowd in the AT&T Center is just amazing. The fans are so wonderful! They watch the game and enjoy the game and cheer on and encourage their team throughout the whole game. It was so great to be one of the lucky people in the stands cheering on a great team together with everyone else! Such camaraderie.
Not only are Spurs fans some of the best I've come across, it is the Spurs themselves that do the selling. People are always looking for the great products in life that really just sell themselves without trying too hard. The Spurs don't have to try to convince anyone they are a great team; it is inevitable if one is to watch them play! It's almost impossible not to be entranced by their amazing ball handling skills and extraordinary passes and shots. But the best quality the Spurs have is their teamwork!
It is the Spurs teamwork that helped them through the regular NBA season to become the number 1 ranked team in the nation. It is their teamwork that shines through when the bench is out on the floor and momentum is never lost. It is their teamwork that helped the Spurs from San Antonio become the 2014 Western Conference NBA Champions.
But the Spurs weren't stopped there. They went on to beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in just 5 games! The Heat were the defending champs, but didn't stand a chance this year! Winning the first, third, fourth, and fifth games, the Spurs took home the 2014 title of the NBA Champions!
I am so happy to be a Spurs fan!! Go Spurs Go!!
I had watched a few Spurs games prior to that LIVE show in San Antonio, but watching a game up close and personal sealed my fate of becoming a Spurs fan! And a super Spurs fan I am!
Being a part of the Spurs crowd in the AT&T Center is just amazing. The fans are so wonderful! They watch the game and enjoy the game and cheer on and encourage their team throughout the whole game. It was so great to be one of the lucky people in the stands cheering on a great team together with everyone else! Such camaraderie.
Not only are Spurs fans some of the best I've come across, it is the Spurs themselves that do the selling. People are always looking for the great products in life that really just sell themselves without trying too hard. The Spurs don't have to try to convince anyone they are a great team; it is inevitable if one is to watch them play! It's almost impossible not to be entranced by their amazing ball handling skills and extraordinary passes and shots. But the best quality the Spurs have is their teamwork!
It is the Spurs teamwork that helped them through the regular NBA season to become the number 1 ranked team in the nation. It is their teamwork that shines through when the bench is out on the floor and momentum is never lost. It is their teamwork that helped the Spurs from San Antonio become the 2014 Western Conference NBA Champions.
But the Spurs weren't stopped there. They went on to beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in just 5 games! The Heat were the defending champs, but didn't stand a chance this year! Winning the first, third, fourth, and fifth games, the Spurs took home the 2014 title of the NBA Champions!
I am so happy to be a Spurs fan!! Go Spurs Go!!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
I Think It's Time To Buy Rain Boots.
All I wanted to do was go to the library one mile away and pick up the DVDs I had on hold that were ready for pick-up.
However, today it was raining. Not just Portland, a little sprinkle here and little dribble there, raining. No, it was pouring cats and dogs and even had a few pebbles of hail fall down. There were some siestas throughout the rain, but very inconsistent and not nearly long enough to really get out and about without it raining again.
I decided to take a nap and see if the rain would dissipate and leave for awhile. After waking up, it was still raining.
I was determined to get to the library and decided to grab a bus for the three-minute ride down the road.
Sure enough, I get to the library and the rain seems to go away and the sun almost tries to peek out from behind some clouds. I check out the sky and the dreary clouds of rain seemed to be heading away out of NW Portland.
I go into the library, grab my DVDs and head back out the door down the street by foot. I think I can't possibly get caught in the rain in the next fifteen minutes. And even if I do, I have my rain jacket on and my umbrella.
What happens only three or four blocks away from my apartment? It starts DOWN POURING!!
I try to hide in the little alcoves and entrances to some businesses, but I can't loiter there all day looking sad and just waiting for the rain to stop. Also, how wet can I possibly get in just a few blocks?
...VERY WET!
I do not know how exactly I managed it, but my tennis shoes were two-thirds of the way soaked. My jeans were dark from being wet up to my knees. And when I peeled off my socks, the only dry spot was the top part of my heel. I was so wet from the knees down I could barely believe it.
I walked in the door and exclaimed, "I think it's about time I invested in a pair of rain boots!"
However, today it was raining. Not just Portland, a little sprinkle here and little dribble there, raining. No, it was pouring cats and dogs and even had a few pebbles of hail fall down. There were some siestas throughout the rain, but very inconsistent and not nearly long enough to really get out and about without it raining again.
I decided to take a nap and see if the rain would dissipate and leave for awhile. After waking up, it was still raining.
I was determined to get to the library and decided to grab a bus for the three-minute ride down the road.
Sure enough, I get to the library and the rain seems to go away and the sun almost tries to peek out from behind some clouds. I check out the sky and the dreary clouds of rain seemed to be heading away out of NW Portland.
I go into the library, grab my DVDs and head back out the door down the street by foot. I think I can't possibly get caught in the rain in the next fifteen minutes. And even if I do, I have my rain jacket on and my umbrella.
What happens only three or four blocks away from my apartment? It starts DOWN POURING!!
I try to hide in the little alcoves and entrances to some businesses, but I can't loiter there all day looking sad and just waiting for the rain to stop. Also, how wet can I possibly get in just a few blocks?
...VERY WET!
I do not know how exactly I managed it, but my tennis shoes were two-thirds of the way soaked. My jeans were dark from being wet up to my knees. And when I peeled off my socks, the only dry spot was the top part of my heel. I was so wet from the knees down I could barely believe it.
I walked in the door and exclaimed, "I think it's about time I invested in a pair of rain boots!"
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Some Of The 'Quirks' Of Portland, Oregon
What a place it is here! Portland, Oregon is currently where I call home. I live in the most adorable studio apartment in a building over 100 years old in the NW district of the city where culture and fun are everywhere to be found. This apartment where I stay includes an authentic porcelain claw-foot tub, as well as a roll away bed! What could make my home more quaint?
My apartment is a great addition to what makes this city here pretty super as well as crazily unique and interesting! Let me share just a few bits and pieces about Portland for your information!
First off, Portlandia...yeah, if you've watched this show, you can safely believe most of what the show portrays Portland, OR to be like. This city seems to want to have and show-off as many true stereotypes as possible! So if you ever find yourself walking throughout the streets of Portland, expect nothing and everything all at the same time.
Portland does not have the world's greatest drivers. This city is notorious for the bountiful amounts of rain it receives. Shouldn't Portlanders be ready for such wet-driving? No. They are not. And if you try to add snow to the mix, FORGET IT! The entire city shuts down, no joke!
Along with those great drivers, it is always an experience being a pedestrian in the city. Nine out of ten times a car will automatically stop and wait for any and all pedestrians to cross any street intersection. The first time I was a driver in Portland, I decided I was glad to not have a vehicle to regularly drive about. I was sure within a week of driving I would have run over someone...pedestrians have the right of way! However, watch out for the BMW drivers. They seem to want to go 60 to 90 mph between intersections and just sometimes forget to watch out. I have nearly filled my pants a time or two because I was sure a car was going to run straight over me while I was standing clearly in the cross walk!
Another interesting addition to the streets of Portland include the large number of street dwellers, a.k.a. Homeless People. All over the city, and especially near the city center and other shop areas, homeless people roam during the day and sleep in various entryways and corners by night. Most of the street dwellers are men, but more and more frequently I see females among the ranks as well. If you ever choose to stop by the Central Public Library downtown, don't be afraid to recognize it as an alternate homeless shelter once inside. However, do try to ignore the sour aroma and enjoy the beautiful marble staircase, the never ending shelves of books, and the wonderful cultural displays on the third floor.
Portland also has a great number of food cart parks throughout the downtown. These communities of small trailers and campers offer all kinds of ethnic and local foods. From Thai to German sausages to Mexican burritos to tasty donuts and sweet treats, it is easy for any group of diverse palates to find something for everyone. Many cities have these food carts, but here they are a must-do for any local or visitor and always seems to be the first attraction shared that one must do.
Besides the quirks of the inner city, this charming Pacific Northwest city is surrounded by inactive volcanoes. These volcanoes make beautiful mountains that skirt the borders of the city and can be seen on clear days majestically overlooking the city. Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens are the two large mountains and the Three Sisters are three others that are not as easily seen from the city.
Portland is really a great city and is also so very interesting. It takes a little getting used to some of these quirks of the city, especially coming from WI and TX. However, overtime these attributes of Portland have become part of daily life and just make the city who it is today! I will continue to enjoy my amazing little apartment and treasure the walks throughout the city that always include canopies of trees above me as I walk down city sidewalks.
Feel free to come and enjoy the Pacific Northwest, maybe we can all take a trip to the coast and see what I've been told I'm missing!
My apartment is a great addition to what makes this city here pretty super as well as crazily unique and interesting! Let me share just a few bits and pieces about Portland for your information!
First off, Portlandia...yeah, if you've watched this show, you can safely believe most of what the show portrays Portland, OR to be like. This city seems to want to have and show-off as many true stereotypes as possible! So if you ever find yourself walking throughout the streets of Portland, expect nothing and everything all at the same time.
Portland does not have the world's greatest drivers. This city is notorious for the bountiful amounts of rain it receives. Shouldn't Portlanders be ready for such wet-driving? No. They are not. And if you try to add snow to the mix, FORGET IT! The entire city shuts down, no joke!
Along with those great drivers, it is always an experience being a pedestrian in the city. Nine out of ten times a car will automatically stop and wait for any and all pedestrians to cross any street intersection. The first time I was a driver in Portland, I decided I was glad to not have a vehicle to regularly drive about. I was sure within a week of driving I would have run over someone...pedestrians have the right of way! However, watch out for the BMW drivers. They seem to want to go 60 to 90 mph between intersections and just sometimes forget to watch out. I have nearly filled my pants a time or two because I was sure a car was going to run straight over me while I was standing clearly in the cross walk!
Another interesting addition to the streets of Portland include the large number of street dwellers, a.k.a. Homeless People. All over the city, and especially near the city center and other shop areas, homeless people roam during the day and sleep in various entryways and corners by night. Most of the street dwellers are men, but more and more frequently I see females among the ranks as well. If you ever choose to stop by the Central Public Library downtown, don't be afraid to recognize it as an alternate homeless shelter once inside. However, do try to ignore the sour aroma and enjoy the beautiful marble staircase, the never ending shelves of books, and the wonderful cultural displays on the third floor.
Portland also has a great number of food cart parks throughout the downtown. These communities of small trailers and campers offer all kinds of ethnic and local foods. From Thai to German sausages to Mexican burritos to tasty donuts and sweet treats, it is easy for any group of diverse palates to find something for everyone. Many cities have these food carts, but here they are a must-do for any local or visitor and always seems to be the first attraction shared that one must do.
Besides the quirks of the inner city, this charming Pacific Northwest city is surrounded by inactive volcanoes. These volcanoes make beautiful mountains that skirt the borders of the city and can be seen on clear days majestically overlooking the city. Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens are the two large mountains and the Three Sisters are three others that are not as easily seen from the city.
Portland is really a great city and is also so very interesting. It takes a little getting used to some of these quirks of the city, especially coming from WI and TX. However, overtime these attributes of Portland have become part of daily life and just make the city who it is today! I will continue to enjoy my amazing little apartment and treasure the walks throughout the city that always include canopies of trees above me as I walk down city sidewalks.
Feel free to come and enjoy the Pacific Northwest, maybe we can all take a trip to the coast and see what I've been told I'm missing!
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
A Time In San Antonio
Three years ago I lived in the great city of San Antonio. I had great friends, I loved my job, and I always found fun things to do. I knew I would continue to return to visit San Antonio after I left that first time. However, I never knew then that a person I would meet far from Texas would be a primary reason to bring me back!
This past Christmas, Kenny and I enjoyed spending the holiday season with his family in San Antonio. Not only did we visit and spend loads of time with his family, we made it out and about to so many other happenings!
It has been a great Christmas and we've brought in the new year with style!
Happy New YEAR!
This past Christmas, Kenny and I enjoyed spending the holiday season with his family in San Antonio. Not only did we visit and spend loads of time with his family, we made it out and about to so many other happenings!
It has been a great Christmas and we've brought in the new year with style!
SPURS!
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| We went to the AT&T center for a San Antonio Spurs game. It was awesome! My favorite Spur is Coyote, but Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili are my favorite players on the court! |
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| The crowd at the Spurs game was so fun to be a part of! Such amazing fans! |
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| Alamo Bowl! Oregon beat Texas! Was quite the game with such a different crowd from a Spurs game! |
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| Big Lou's Pizza. Enough said. The photos speak for themselves! |
Happy New YEAR!
MIA
I know. It has been six months since my last post.
Where have I been?
I have been at the WI State Fair. I've fed calves on my family's farm. I have been in the kitchen baking pies and sugar cookies and all things sweet. I worked at a bakery where all the tasty treats beckoned me daily to eat them all. I was in Madison for a Local Natives/Wild Nothing concert.
I was sitting in the blue chair trying to find contentment and just enjoy reading a book. I was down in the pasture and woods searching for lost heifers who were about to calve. I was at the grocery store buying RumChata for a birthday gift. I was washing my clothes with a washer and dryer and drinking water straight from a running tap.
I was at Thanksgiving with my family and enjoyed Black Friday shopping. I was able to go to the bank and deposit money I'd earned from working. I wore dresses. I wore all types of dresses whenever I chose to wear them. I've also been out in the snow and enjoyed the warmth of a furnace after the chill of outdoors.
I have also been in my own self. I sometimes found myself in my room with tears in my eyes. I have been inside my head thinking through everything and contemplating all of life.
But this journey of life won't ever stop. I will always be on some path of this universe. I am not always sure what my life will bring and sometimes I am not happy with what I find. Other times I am so glad with all that the world offers and sets forth for me.
I have most assuredly been MIA from my blog. Unfortunately, from time to time I find myself almost MIA from daily life.
But I am finding my way back. Slowly. But it is this journey that I have found myself on. The journey of life! We live and we learn. Sometimes we are only living, but it is even more great when we learn, too!
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