This post brought to you by Runners' High!

Yes, Runner's high indeed!  If you have ever been a runner, or played sports, then you may know what I'm talking about!


(For those of you who don't, the official definition: a feeling of euphoria that is experienced by some individuals engaged in strenuous running and that is held to be associated with a release of endorphins by the brain; Merriam-Webster told me so...) Haha, after reading this I also realized that it is said the same endorphin release happens when people get tattoo'd. Fortunately, running is cheaper and generally less painful. I wish runner's body was just as permanent as a tattoo though... :)


Lately I have been running, a lot.  I have been training to complete the Shamrock Run in Portland, which is this Sunday!  I am signed up for the 8k (which is about 4.97 miles).  Somehow, between the time I signed up for the race in January and now, I had somehow convinced myself that an 8k is 5.97 miles. So, long story short, I have been running lots and pushing myself to get up to about 6 miles for a comfortable run.  I went to the race website today and found myself pleasantly surprised that I am ready to run 6 miles, rather than just 5.  Whew!  That makes me feel better, but also makes me feel SUPER PROUD of myself!


When I am running a longer distance, I find my mind wandering.  I often try to plan out blog posts. I entertain myself by writing them out in my head, about how good it feels to run, what emotions I go through, and what I might change for next time.  But by the time I get back, I forget to sit down and type it out. It's probably a good thing though, if I tried to write after a run I may find myself over-using the (!) with every sentence, and rambling about random things.


So, with the race being this weekend, I need a new race to sign up for... suggestions?! (Dave says half-marathon... I told him I would think about it...)

Christmas and New Years

In a violent blur, both Christmas and New Years have come and gone. But not without lots of ups and downs. For Christmas my Dad, Jackie, and Nana came up and we all stayed at my Aunt Candy's house. To be honest (and Candy, if you are reading this... this is a huge compliment to you, your home, your husband and your dogs), it opened my eyes to something brilliant.

When I was growing up, we leaved near Aunt Candy and her family, but in my memory we didn't spend a whole bunch of time with them. Then we moved away to California. Since being back in Oregon, I haven't spent time there still. But after Christmas, after being away from my family, after missing them so much during this exciting and important period of my life, I REALLY want to spend more time with my aunt and her family and her house and her dogs. (Here come the tears). Anyway, back to Christmas... we opened presents on Christmas eve, and stayed up late (which is huge for me). On Christmas day we went over to Dave's parents' house and spent the day there with Donna, Kent, Annie, Abby, and Paul. It was great fun! After eating way to much and being much too tired, we went back to Aunt Candy's. It was awesome being able to see both families in one go, and spend time with everyone. But boy did it wear me out (and stress me out...) haha.

After Christmas, Dad and Nana drove home, and so did we with Jackie in tow. We came home to find that our rat friend, whom we had found taking in our pantry the week before, had returned and left "dropping" presents in our living room. It had also chewed off/ stolen 2 pairs of shoe laces off of Dave's shoes (which we later discovered, it had used them to build a nest... GROSS). Over the course of the next few days, the Rat War had begun. We set traps, which it was able to avoid. We set out poison, which it ignored. We chased it through our house one night when we came home and found it under the washing machine. We had the handy man fill it's entrance holes with spray foam, which it chewed through. Finally, after laying awake all night listening to it running around our house, and after about 10 e-mails to the landlord, he sent over a friend who was an experienced exterminator. He set 5 traps in our tiny apartment. The next day, after coming home from dinner, we found that the traps had finally worked. And poor Jackie, though all this, ended up sleeping on the floor in our bedroom because it was the only room it hadn't managed to get into.

So, while the Rat War was going on, we celebrated Dave's parents' anniversary with dinner at Big River one night with the whole Spackman crew. We celebrated the coming of a New Year at home with party poppers and champagne. And now, it seems, things are getting back to normal. I have lots of random pictures, so check out Facebook in the next few days. It was fun having Jackie here, but it never lasts long enough.

I think, for the new year, (especially since I'm getting married in September), that it is time to loose some weight. I have a goal, but I donno if anyone wants to hear how outrageous my ambitions for myself are. So far, I'm struggling with eating better and working out... but I am taking my vitamins and getting good sleep (especially now that the rat has... um... perished.) I need some motivation, I am such the fair weather runner... speaking of which I need to charge my ipod... haha.

2011 should prove to be a good year. Lots of planning and projects for the coffee shop, including adding a SECOND espresso machine... we will see how it goes. Wedding planning is coming along nicely. We have our venue all set up, now its on to dress shopping. We might be moving soon, so hopefully there won't be any fleas or rats where ever we end up. But we need more space... we have too much stuff.

Here's to a great 2011!

LIfe changes so fast!

This time a week ago, things were going along as they always do. Granted, everyone else around me was preparing for their changes, but it never really hit me that their changes would cause a sudden shift in my life. Alissa made it home safe from Guatemala on Tuesday, even though she was a day late getting back into the states. Emma moved back to her parents' house is Beaverton to live there while working at Intel for the next 6 months. Sarah moved back in her her parents as well, and is taking some summer classes. And Dave is gone.

Dave accepted a job commercial fishing in Alaska for the summer. He left on Sunday and won't be back until September. I miss him so much already! I have been able to talk to him every night since he left, but once they get out on the water, it won't happen as often. So I've been keeping myself busy.

I have joined at 12 person relay race team for the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage. I've been training hard for it, and am really nervous/excited for it. I'll keep you updated on how it goes!

Difficulties

Not to complain, but life is STRESSFUL sometimes! First of all, Monday's tend to be the rough days. And it just so happens that today is Monday. I am working hard on Project Sticker Shock, and it has come down to me calling every store in Corvallis to speak with their managers to see if they would like to participate. It proves difficult when managers of stores have better things to do besides hear my "shpeel" on the project, but it is even more alarming when managers are COMPLETELY opposed to putting up warnings to their customers about purchasing alcohol for minors. Many have expressed that they want absolutely nothing to so with prevention of underage drinking, and are "greatly opposed" to participating. Ugh. Lately it seems that people are mad, and are taking it out on people who are just trying to help others, like myself. I'm just trying to make a small change in the world. No big deal. But seriously, next time you feel like being rude to someone random and pointless in your life, just take a moment to think about it before you proceed.