Calling all renters

Hello all, I'm renting rooms yet again.

I have two rooms upstairs, both have private bathrooms. The master bedroom has two closets, attached bathroom and gets a garage parking spot. The other room has one closet, private bathroom and slightly cheaper rent than master. Kitchen has nice appliances, granite, dining area, large covered deck. Available immediately.

The basement is also for rent. 1,200 square feet, above ground windows, three bedrooms (master is big!) bathroom, kitchen w/dishwasher, living room w/gas fireplace, one garage space, laundry (which is shared with two women upstairs). Available Jan 1, 2010.

Hitch is that I only want women in this house. I would prefer only three in the entire house so if you know of a woman that wants her own place but not to live in an apartment building or in an entire house by herself, the basement is a great solution.

Please help me get the word out. Thanks!

Lake Powell Triathlon

I was hoping and praying my bike would get stolen from the top of the car for the two nights it was left on top. No dice. I was terrified. For the swim, I trained for the wrong distance (400m instead of 750m) and hadn't trained in open water. I hadn't once done the full bike distance. I had only done the full run a few times in the past 6 months (and mostly walked it). I was definitely under-trained. I had only put about 15-20 miles on my new bike (and I am not skilled at road bikes, so it was a new thing and thus a stress), had only done one run with my new shoes (old shoes had given me fasciitis) and am asthmatic.

I got into the water with a fever, I had been sick for a few days and was coughing and congested and my head pounded. There was no way I wasn't going to try. I had decided they would have to take me off the course with a stretcher for me to stop. I was petrified. I was lucky to have such amazing friends with me. They told me to just enjoy the experience. Not to worry about my time, the other people, the stress, just enjoy the scenery, the challenge and the event. I got into the water and panicked. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Breezy heard me with my asthmatic wheeze and let me rest on him for a bit while he swam. I would let go then hook back on for a bit to catch my breath and my sanity.

I then ran up a very long boat ramp, jumped on my bike and started a beautiful ride. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery, the experimenting with shifting and talking to people as they passed me or as I passed them. Everyone was so encouraging. The camaraderie among the athletes completely blew me away. On a couple of the hills I got going faster than I've ever gone on a bike and it freaked me out but I loved it. As I came in and people were cheering—people I didn't know—I felt a little choked up.



I put on my shirt, number and cap and took off only to see Stef, Alice and Scarlett ready to cheer me on outside of the transition area. I tried to give Alice a hug but she was upset I wasn't her father. Stef took a photo (ugh, my legs are yucky) and I started jogging. Not running, mind you, just jogging. At this point, my legs are too tired to move faster than a jog. I had to walk and jog off and on for the rest of the race. My ankle and tendons around it started to shoot pains and I had to go slower. Some old dude ran by with some kind and encouraging words and I found that I was crying. The event was so emotional and had such a build (several months of fear) that to be almost done was such a relief. (Also, I found out the next day that part of why I was crying was because I was PMSing. Thanks Aunt Flo for adding yet another challenge to my day.)

But, I did it. I finished. 23 minutes faster than I thought I would and addicted to multi-sport. I now know how important training is. I now know how much better I could have done if I had done a few things differently. I also now know that triathlons are something that most people could do next week! If you want to do a triathlon or just want to pick a way to get good overall health and fitness, join us for the TimpTri in April. We are raising funds for Special Olympics in honor of our dear sister Shelley. It is empowering and fun and awesome and you can do it.

Who is in?

Happy Happiest 30th

(I think "Oh no you didn't" was just said)

My little sister Stefanie celebrates her 30th birthday today. Wow! She is totally more mature than me even though I'm 20 months (to the day, mind you) older than her. Even as kids, she displayed a bigger heart than mine. For my birthday once she gave me a 6-pack of my favorite soda (we never got soda and never had money so it was a treat and a feat) and then said all she wanted in return was a hug. I was a loser and resisted, but finally gave in cuz she was crying and was just too cute. She has an awesome husband, two beautiful girls, a great job and the best sense of humor. I wish I could be just like my little sister when I grow up.

Love ya, sis!


(This is Stef posing. She said, "Get me looking motherly. OK, go, now.")

Thanks

Thank you all for your comments. I have such wonderful family and friends. I love you all so much and feel blessed to have you in my life.

So grossly misunderstood

How is it that I have been so grossly misunderstood? I know I have a lot of failings, but I am trying to be a decent human being. I try every day and hope I'm improving. Somehow, some people think I'm not such a decent person. Think I'm out to get them...but I'm not. I may shield myself emotionally from a lot of things but just below the surface is a sensitive, easily-hurt, caring person that wishes she could fix the world. Sure, I've made mistakes, but I'd like to think that I've never intentionally tried to hurt anyone. I don't want to hurt anyone. I am not out to get anyone. I just want to be left alone to pursue some kind of happiness for myself. Please, hear me. Please, just believe in a person that wants to do what's right and be happy.

I'm asking now for character witnesses. I hope that you will comment and be honest about what kind of person I am. If you think I'm a jerk, say it. If you think I'm a good person, say it. I will either get an idea of what I need to change or some positive reinforcement about the direction I'm pursuing in my life.

So fun!

I know I shouldn't do two videos in a row, but this is just too cool.

Maybe I'm slow...

I know, I know, I'm probably the last person to appreciate this song...y'all love it already. Watch it anyway, she's sooo good.

I'm a student again

Starting August 27th, I am a full-time student again. Last time I went to school full-time was, um...I don't remember, actually. At least 7 years, probably more like 8 or 9. Two more semesters of full-time school and I'm done. I have 154 hours but no friggin' degree! I changed my major several times and took courses that didn't help or count (construction management, orchestra, etc.).

Wish me luck!

Trich

Did you know I am crazy? Not just a little eccentric...kuh-razie! It hasn't been diagnosed officially but it's for real. It's called Trichotillomania. I'm sure I've mentioned it before. I mention it tonight because I've had a few episodes in the last few days. I've been stressed, grumpy, in a funk, and when those are combined with a person with a propensity for OCD & anxiety, my face gets destroyed. I've been sooo good the last few months. I think I'll hide for a few days while I heal.

Just looked at the clock at 11:34. Seventh night in a row. Creepy.

Over a month!

Sorry for being such a slacker. It's been over a month since my last post and I don't really have a good reason. Sure, I was in Europe until the 24th of June; started working (consulting) on a daily basis so I actually leave my house more often; started training for a sprint triathlon, which includes a swimming class; started cooking food for to be eating; actually attended EVERY family event in the last few weeks (big feat for me).

Forgive?

Adventure!

We got robbed. Our car was parked between an elementary school and the convent we stayed in last night in the wacko town of Nazareth (the Arab area). We've spent the last few hours talking to police, canceling credit cards, freezing credit with fraud alerts, blah blah. Stupid thieves. Stupid car. But what a fun adventure and story we have had!

Another beach

I fly out on Sunday to visit yet another beach. It's not just ANY beach, mind you, it's a Middle Eastern beach. Try an Israeli beach. See below. Who knew?

Brett says "hi"

Brett won't blog. He is too good for the blogging world, but that's OK. Soon, he will be a Scotsman and too good for us Americanos. Brett, please blog while you are in Scotland. Please!

Song of the week

Here is my happy song this week:

CLARIFICATION

Just a clarification. I've had some questions about my 4Life time in Florida. I was contracted by Cornerstone Technologies to run their PowerPoints, visuals, graphics. Now that I'm done with the event, I'm done with 4Life. :)

Thanks for your concern, but no, I do not work for 4Life now.

GAYLORD

This is where I'm staying...







The Gaylord Palms in Orlando. It has this crazy atrium that encloses this mini-market/street area with pools and even alligator and turtle areas. Almost weird.

Childhood

Is a-callin'...

Happy song

I have a new favorite happy song. You might recognize it from the new Volvo commercials. It's just fun. Just turn it up and smile.

This isn't really a video, just a freeze of the singer:

I like good people

I just wanted to say that there truly are good people out there. XanGo has a lot of those people.

A new leaf

Another step in my quest to become a better person (I'm still light-years away and constantly make mistakes but I'm repenting daily and continue to try really hard) is to feel comfortable when the time comes for me to wear the LDS garment. I have two tattoos on my left upper arm that are too low to be covered by the garment and shirts that are in style right now. When I got the first tattoo, shirts weren't cap-sleeved. (Yes, I got the first one that long ago...13 years!) Why am I uncomfortable? Well, the small character below is the Arabic word for "insanity." Not just our friendly neighborhood crazy person but a "crazy, insane, dangerous, beware" kind of person. I was a little cuckoo when I got that tattoo. I hope/think I'm past that part of my life now.

As I did some research I found that tattoo removal could cost me upwards of $700 and multiple trips to the laser place. THEN I found a site that had a "mild" chemical treatment that removed them. Sure, I'll try it for $50. Bad idea...I think. Good idea to get rid of tattoo. Bad idea to get tattoo in the first place. Good idea to save money on tattoo removal. Bad idea to use ACID to remove it. Good idea to have Lortab on hand. Bad idea to use ACID! Good idea to have roommate document the whole affair. Bad idea to stomp on the floor while other roommate sleeps below.



For those of you that know me well you know I have a very high tolerance for pain. I broke my ankle and rolled on the ground laughing. I have scars-a-plenty and never shed a tear. So, you'll understand how painful my evening was as I put this innocuous-looking chemical on my tattoo only to have it turn into the fire and knives of Hades on my arm. I must have said, "Oh my gosh!" at least 40 times.



The white that you see is my skin being eaten away by acid. I had to deal with that for 5 minutes before I could wash it off. The burning only subsided, it didn't completely stop. Thus, the Lortab to help me sleep tonight. Right now, as I lie in my bed writing this, I have my sleeve rolled above the tattoo and won't touch it cuz it feels like a really bad sunburn.



Let this be a lesson to you: tattoos are stupid. Tattoo-removing acid is more stupider, more painful and more ugly. Just don't get a tattoo.