5 Medals, 3 Races and 2 States

In January of this year, I joined my brother, Tom, and my sister, Teresa on a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. The sole purpose of this trip: Come home with THREE medals. How would we do that? Complete the Goofy Challenge. What is that you ask? Complete the 2 Disney World races: The Disney World Half Marathon one day, and the Disney World Full Marathon the next. 39.3 miles in a little over 24 hours. Yes, you would have to be Goofy to do so. Therefore, you would get a Donald Duck Medal for the half, a Mickey Mouse Medal for the full, and a Goofy Medal for completing both. And complete them we did. However, we didn't stop there. My friend, Barefoot, and I were planning to do the Disneyland Half Marathon, but I wasn't sure if I would be able to as I was running short on the monies. But when she informed me that I could get TWO medals for participating, my siblings and I could not pass up the opportunity. Why would we get TWO medals? One for running the Half Marathon. The SECOND for participating in the Coast to Coast event...running a race in Florida and a race in California in the same calendar year.

Over the Labor Day Weekend, the race had arrived. And as Husband and Tom's wife, Tami, were not able to join us in January in Florida, we decided to make a fun time of the trip to California.

First we drove through the night. I drove the first stretch through the most incredible lightening storm of all time. I could see it a good 2 hours outside of St. George which is where the storm was centralized. It made driving worth it.

Husband was a complete sweetheart and helped drive for my sister so she wouldn't have to all night...And so Eric and everyone else could get some sleep.Once we arrived we picked up our race information, then because we could not check into the hotel until 3pm, we drove to the beach! We spent a few hours there enjoying boogie boards and the sun.That night a few of us went to Dodgers Stadium and watched the Dodgers kick the Padres' trash while sitting in the all you can eat section. Yum.

The runners got about 3 1/2 hours of sleep, as we arose quite early the next morning. We ran our little legs off, stopping to take pictures with the Disney Characters, running through Angels' stadium, and finishing in 2:42. Oh, it was quite the experience.

And now I am the proud owner of 5 Disney Medals for the 3 races we ran in 2 states.

After the race we all were off to Disneyland!

Husband quite enjoyed his first trip to the Happiest Place on Earth...and honestly, I think it was the best time I've had there...and I contribute it to the fact that I was there with, not only the family that I so love and enjoy being around, but mostly for the fact that I was there, enjoying that Happiest Place on Earth with the man of my life, the Husband. Oh, how I love him!

Sold

Recently I was in Petco and was waiting in line to return an item for my cats. And there was a television showing an "info-mercial" about The Furminator. It is a brush for animals that removes the undercoat of the animal, making them less sheddy and more soft and shiny. I thought it looked fantastic as my cats have long sheddy hair and our current brush basically sucks. So I checked out their prices for it, and GOO! It was priiicccy! So, I decided to google it. I found one on Amazon.com for uber cheap and I bought it wondering if the pile of fur on the TV that was supposedly from one cat really was from one cat. Peter Parker, or so lovingly referred to as "Fat Petey" recently, was my first Guinea pig. Oh my. I could not believe how much fur came off him. I knew he was fluffy, but, WOW.

And yes, that fur, was all from one cat!

I think you should get one.

Only A Spectator

This past weekend, I went with my brothers, Tom and Eric, to Burley, ID. The purpose of our trip was the Spudman Triathlon. Tom was participating this year, and I was but a spectator. I participated in said Triathlon last year. It is an Olympic Triathlon, which means it begins with a .9 mile (1.5k) swim, about 24 mile (40k) bike ride and a 6.2 mile (10k) run. My times were as follows: 25:47 for the swim, 1:34:18 for the bike, and 1:15:12 for the run. My overall time being 3:24:51 (that includes transition times etc.). I enjoyed the race quite a bit. And I intended to participate this year. However, last year a man drown during the swim. This really hit home to me, because I struggled quite a bit during it, I kept telling myself, "just swim to live" and that is what I did. So this year, every time I thought about signing up for the triathlon this fear took over my heart and I felt I shouldn't participate.

So when Tom told me that Tami wasn't going to be able to go to Idaho for the triathlon, I wanted to come along so Tom had a cheering section, a small one, but a cheering section nonetheless. So Eric and I came along for the trip.

When we arrived and once the smallest bit of triathlon hype reached me, I knew that I had made a mistake. I wished I had signed up to participate. I missed the thrill of picking up your number, making you an official race participant. I missed the anxiety that comes with getting all of your race items ready, setting your bike etc. at the transition areas...pinning your number to your shirt. The jitters in your stomach as one goes to bed and arises early...not wanting to not hear the alarm clock and miss the start of the race. Oh how I missed the comradery that the racers have with each other, encouraging each other and helping you through to the end. But what I missed most of all was when you come around the last corner, and the finish line is in sight. You SPRINT to get to the end because you've come so far and accomplished so much. And its not because you are aching for it to be over, but because of the incredible accomplishment that you just completed. And then you can proudly show everyone your medal, proving that you are a tri-athlete, and showing what you accomplished.

Therefore not participating in this year's race tugged at my little heartstrings. Being a spectator is a noble part of the race. It would not be at all as much thrilling without them, cheering everyone on. And so I played my part with the specatotors. Giving back to those who gave to me.

Next year I will again join the throngs of those participating in the triathlon, not only spectating. And next year, my husband will also not only be a spectator, but will be swimming, biking and running as well.

Sleep Walking

I have discovered that my husband is a sound sleeper. He soundly sleeps through all the outrageous things he does while he is soundly asleep. I however, do not have such a luxury.

Here is a taste of some of the crazy things he has done while counting z's:

Last night he got up and completely opened the blinds to the balcony door in our bedroom and went back to bed.

Husband: Maren! Maren!
Me: What?
Husband (while holding his hand up like he were a waiter) Take this!
Me: What is it?
Husband: Its the kittens
Me: Okay (I motioned to take it)
Husband then crawled back in bed.

Husband got out of bed, stood next to the bed for a minute.
Husband: I better go put him back in the freezer.
Husband then leaves the room. I hear him open the freezer. He then comes back, climbs into bed.
Husband: I put him back in the freezer where he belongs
I began to worry what he put in the freezer.

Husband gets out of bed and stands there for awhile. He then proceeded to come to my side of the bed.
Husband: Scoot over!
Me: What? Okay.
I scooted over.
Next morning:
Husband: What are you doing on that side of the bed!?
Me: *Sigh*

Husband gets up, begins to remove all the blankets and sheets from the bed and places them in our closet then proceeds to climb back into bed.
Me: Hey! I need those!
Husband: Oh.
He then goes and gathers the blankets and attempts to put correctly put them on the bed, and fails miserably. Needless to say, I froze all night.

And these are just a few of the MANY examples.
I go to bed wondering what odd thing he is going to do next.

Relaxing Mountains and Beaches

Ahh, school is over...for the semester...we start again in a week. Boo. Good ol' summer school. But, you do what you've gotta do. We are now waiting on our grades. We both passed math, now we just have to see what we get in Biology. I think the outlook is good.

Since I last wrote, we went and spent Easter weekend with Tim's family in Clayton, WA. We were on our way up there when Tim informed me that his grandparents had no idea we were even coming. It was quite the surprise when we arrived Thursday morning. When we approached the front door, all you could hear was a screech of happiness and see Tim's grandmother go running around the corner to greet us. It reminded us of when a dog tries running around a corner on a wood floor and the legs move, but they don't. It was cute.

We spent the weekend enjoying the peace of the mountains and making projects in Grandpa's woodshop. It was really nice to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa, as well as see other relatives, aunts and uncles. Tim's dad came into town a few days earlier than he said he would, so we all gave the grandparents good several surprises that weekend.

Today I told Tim that I am in major need of a vacation but that we don't have the time or money for one, so Tim came home and surprised me with one. He brought me a palm tree, a few leis and spread out a towel for me to "lay out on the beach" on. It was really sweet. I am married to the best man. How I love him. =)

Welcome Home!

Today was an important day, it may in fact warrant a new holiday. Today my car came home! Norah, my Nissan Altima, completed her repairs, and after 6 months of being shut up and engineless in The Parent's garage, she is home. Over the past 6 months we have been attempting to get her fixed, however anything and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. We thought it was the head that only needing fixing, however once that was fixed we realized that we needed an entire engine (blah!). Then it was the hunt of finding a good engine. We finally found one, but then on it's way up to Utah, the truck that was transporting it was in an accident (go figure!) so then the engine was no bueno, and we had to begin the hunt again. At last we found another and took it to The Parents. Then being the great men that they are, Brad, James and Tim all spent their entire day off on Wednesday working on her. And after putting a new battery in her this evening, we drove her home, like proud parents of a new baby!
Oh, I've missed my car. It is as though I have a new car, but was reunited with an old friend all at once. So let's all begin to celebrate April 2 as Norah day and give this day the due it deserves.

Vigilance! Constant Vigilance!

Tim and I celebrated 6 months of marriage a few days ago. Honestly, the 6 months went by so fast, I was thinking it was like 4. But to think it has been half a year already is quite fantastic. It is a manifestation of the old adage, "time flies when you are having fun" and we have definitely been having fun.

However, to the outsider there is not much to report in those 6 months of marriage: school, cats, new jeep, broken washer, new kitchen table, still broken car, tv addiction...you know, the basics of new married life.

Though there are some unfortunate aspects of time passing so quickly:

• When one says, "we can do that in a few months" and next thing you know, its been a few months and you still don't have the money or time
• Time everywhere has passed quickly and events that seem like they took place last week really took place months ago
• And the WORST of all: people will expect you to start having kids soon (which by the way, I am still attempting to dispel the rumor started on Facebook that am prego. I AM NOT PREGNANT!!!)

Wanted or not, time is going to pass regardless. But I have decided that am going to attempt to keep track of it more vigilantly. And while keeping track, I shall make the most of it while my husband and I continue to have many, many months of marriage ahead of us. =)