I run 13.1

Family descended on our fair town of Logan last Friday. A nephew was married in the Logan Temple. We had a wonderful time visiting and and catching up and falling behind on sleep. On Saturday morning we took off to Heber City for the last soccer game of the season and then picked up a metal shard in the tire on I-15 on the way to the airport. We made it to the dealership just barely on the rim and they loaned us a car to get me to the airport.

I flew into Long Beach and loved up my nephews, talked with my sis til early in the wee hours of the morning and then woke at 4:30am and had her drop me at the Long Beach Convention Center. I ran another half-marathon. One second per mile faster than the last one. Wow! You know, I am soooooo sloooooow, but I can keep on running. I love the fact that the only thing you have to concentrate on is putting one foot in front of the other -- for two + hours. This race was incredibly upbeat. Over 20,000 racers. Bands playing at the mile markers. Thousands of people cheering you on. Running on the boardwalk next to the sand and shore. The announcers were hyper and happy and loud. It was inspiring to watch others cross the finish line. It didn't matter how fast they came in. Bestest friends collapsing in a hug after accomplishing a mutual goal. Mile wide grins and Tiger Woodsesque fist pumps at stepping over that end line. And I felt good. At 10 miles I was all into the positive self talk and was like, "Let's finish this thing." When I reached mile 11 the first marathoner was heading to the finish. I think I like running - who would've thunk it?

Best Wedding Slideshow Ever from Olde English Comedy on Vimeo.

My sister just called and directed me to this video on aol. For some reason it reminded her of me. Can you figure out why? Other than my nephew gets married this Friday in Logan and we are hosting a multitude of family. Awesome.

friday night lights

Three weekends in a row we have attended football games. Last Friday my two alma mater's faced off. We invited my dad this time and were lucky enough to score 50-yard line tickets from a good friend... the best part being able to visit with her family before the game. And then of course my dad knew everyone. These cell phone photos are not the greatest, but they show enough. Just before kickoff the light was just right highlighting the the quickly changing leaves on the mountainside and the massive crowd filing in. Some where in the blur there is a WOMAN official. My dad remarked that she may be the first female official in the NFL. Now when I heard that I blurted out like a petulant toddler, "but that is MY job!" I always thought it would be cool, especially when we were in school. Get a decent salary working the weekends after taking care of kids and family on the weekdays. And then my family and I could have a secret gesture that they would notice when they saw me on TV "workin' it." I remember years ago watching my dad and the officials were in a huddle and Chase observed, "Look mom -- a bunch of grandpas!" Now somewhere in the future he may have to qualify that; making it politically correct by interchanging grandpa's with grandparents. I never thought it was a possibility. Oh another unique observation to this stadium was the "stroller check" -- only in Provo. You gotta love it.

what's going on

My husband had "business" in SLC last week so I said I would come join him on Friday night. I cleaned up, put a nice pair of high heels on and kicked it for a night on the town. In my haste I forgot a brush, comb, and few other necessities. No worries. It was the "fashion stroll on broadway" Lots of funky do's and duds. We then ate scrumptious food at Bambara and went to Keys on Main to listen to the dueling pianos. We can't get this song out of our heads. The above photo of my shoes is not as scandalous as you might be imagining. I had blisters the size of quarters and I was recording a mugshot of the suspects. On Saturday morning we ate at Cafe by Rico, mmmmmm good... and then went home and walked up to the USU vs. Southern Utah game. Perfect weekend nights.

fall

Dilemma: Landlocked backyard with a few dead rotting trees.

Solution: Call a former military man turned tree climber and his crew who derive absolute joy in knocking big heavy items to the ground.

Hick-up: A trunk full of not too happy you're destroying my home "Winnie-the-Pooh" bees.