San Francisco: Day 1

As many of you know, I just got back from my 30th birthday trip to San Francisco, CA and literally had the time of my life!  I enjoyed everything and everyone that indulged in this trip with me!  I am not lying when I say that I have the BEST FRIENDS EVER!!!  :)

We arrived in San Fran on Wednesday around 1:30pm, after sitting next to Chatty Kathy for 2 hours when all I wanted was a nap, I jumped off that plane and could not wait to explore this great city for 4 days!  We hitched a ride with a taxi to our condo, which was amazing…had the bed selection, organized our things and were off to explore!  We has dinner planned with my cousin, so we just ventured to a near by pub called Buena Vista for small eats and Irish coffee!  We discussed what we were going to do the next couple of days and got to know each other.  I was the common denominator in all the girls that went, so everyone got to know a little bit about each other as we sipped Irish coffee! After a walk around Ghirardelli Square, we headed to a market and got a few snacks and some booze for the week!

A little Irish Coffee!

Chocolate making at Ghirardelli Square

We met up with my cousin and aunt to have dinner at the Town Hall.  After wonderful food, we headed back to the condo and settle in for the night as we knew we would have a long day at the wineries the next day!

Headed out for dinner, but not before we had a glass of wine! 

Money trap…no more!!!

As I was making my November budget, I saw that my cable bill was out of control, then I opened the new bill for the month and saw that it had increased to $169….and I about lost it!  Ain't no way I am paying $169 for freaking cable….so I cancelled it…straight up cancelled it!  As I was calculating what I would save by canceling cable it came out 2G's a year…2,000 bucks a year….(insert wide eyes and mouth drop here)

This is first time in my entire life that I have not had cable.  We were fortunate enough growing up that we always had cable…god forbid if I missed Saved by the Bell, Hey Dude, or Rescue 911!

However, those that know me know that I am reality TV junkie…and I will still be watching in Hulu Plus and Netflix style!!!!  Streaming it on my TV for the full effect of cable is my plan!

I'm a little disappointed that I won't be able to watch football or basketball, but that is just a great excuse to visit a friend or a bar!!!  :)

Happy November

I know, I am a few days late, but this last week has kicked my booty!!!  However, it's never to late to say Happy November...my personal favorite month of the year.  This year, I was kind of dreading November 1st...I knew 15 days after the 1st, I would try 30 and I am having a difficult time dealing with that.  When I was in high school I never thought I would get to 21.  I wanted to drink without having to sneak around.  When I was 21, I never thought I would be 25...and then I woke up one day, and I was...and my insurance was cheaper...YAY!!!  However, time plays tricks on a person...when you are younger time stands still and you never think you are going to be old enough to to this and do that...then, like a light switch time starts racing and days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months turn into years...and then BOOM, you are 30 before you know it!  I can't wait to join 6 of my girlfriends in San Fran for 5 days of pure shenanigans for my 30th birthday!!!  A little over a week and we will be making our way!!!!

One thing about November 1st that I love is that Halloween has come and gone....I am NOT a Halloween fan...I just can't handle adults acting like idiots, dressing up with masks on.  I am always questioning what they are going to do next and it gives me anxiety.  For some reason they think is hilarious that you don't like, they get in your face, and interrupt your personal bubble...and for that I am not a fan!  The cute little kids dressed up are adorable and I am completely ok with that. I will open my front door a million times for those cuties, but you will NOT find me at any kind of Halloween party....

My adorable little nephews...Owen the Owl & Hudson the Monkey!!!  Love them! :)

I have some big news and I have two months to digest that I will be a grad student in January.  I am having a hard time being ok with going to class, writing papers, and getting A's.  I know that I am not the greatest student...and APA format is not my forte....but I will soon learn to love research, theory, writing papers, and going to class!!!  I have been out of school for 7 years, so I am anxious about getting back into it, but I'm gonna do it and hopefully come out a family nurse practitioner in a couple years!

Rock 'n Roll- Denver

This weekend I completed my 2nd half marathon!!!
I was excited to run it with my friend Rosa who was running her first half...and I am already trying to get her to do another one...her words after asking her were..."Give me a week!"
The first text I got today was...ALLISON, I CAN NOT MOVE!!!  Oh, the memories of running my first half marathon...

Rosa and I at the expo!!!

Rock 'n Roll- Denver is the biggest half marathon I have ran.
15,000 people ran this race...between full, half, half relay, and mini half...that is a lot of damn people!  It was a great race, fairly flat and right through downtown Denver.
I would never have been able to run through downtown if I had not run this race...it was so nice with all the streets closed down to be able to take in the gorgeous city of Denver!

I felt great through the whole run until I hit mile 10...
...for some reason that dreaded mile 10 was a pickle for me in my first half marathon and this one.
I just hit a wall, my legs feel like they are 400 lbs. each, I felt like I couldn't take another breath, and I just had no more energy.
As I was between mile 10 and 11, I came upon a little hill...
...I got to the top and saw the mile 12 marker.  I thought, "WHAT, I'm already at mile 12???  Hell ya!!!"
I looked at my watch and the miles were off, but if this was right, and I was really at mile 12, I was going to make great time...
...but then it happened...
...I had to turn the other direction.
....and run all the way around another park.
I felt so defeated.
I wanted that to be for real so bad.
I wanted to turn right instead of left.
I wanted it to be over.
I didn't want to run around another park.
I wanted to cross that finish and cross it NOW!

I didn't PR, and I was disappointed.
However, I finished...and that's an accomplishment of it's own!

As I went through the pictures of me from the race and the professional photographers, I was in shock...
I look HORRIBLE when I am running...besides it looks like I am not even moving...like at all!
Just think of this when you are wondering what I look like because this is pretty darn close!

Official Stats:
Time: 2:23.51
Pace: 10:59
Overall Place: 5141 out of 8273

I have to say this race shirt is the best one yet!!!!  Love it!

Rosa (on the right) ran her first 1/2 with me and I am soooooo proud of her!!!  She accomplished something that she never thought she would!  Sabra (on the left) rode in the bike ride.  I was so jealous of her participant medal!!!

So, I'm trying to find my next half...and I have several friends trying to talk me into the Hospital Hill 1/2 in KC in June...I just might take on the challenge...but this girl has got to get some more muscle and drop some weight for that hilly race!!!  

HATED running...

I have one week left until I run my second half marathon...
Something that I never thought I would ever do...
When I was in middle school, I did all the field events when I was on the track team...
I HATED running...
When I was in high school, I remember running 10 times around the gym and 10 times up and down the stairs, 3 times during each volleyball practice...
I HATED running...
When I was on the basketball team we were timed doing down & backs, and running lines...
I HATED running...
I dreaded each and every basketball practice with a passion because I knew I would run countless times up and down the court...
I HATED running...
It was no secret...I would have rather worked day in and day out than run...
I HATED running...

I would have rather worked day in and day out, until I found my place in the running world...
I have this need to run...
I have this want to run...
I have this desire to run...

I never thought that I would ever, in my entire life, admit that I love to run...
I LOVE to run....
My therapy when it seems like my head is going to explode...
I LOVE to run...
I may not be the fastest, but I finish...every.single.time...
I LOVE to run...
I may be in the worst mood ever, but I will always find time...
I LOVE to run...
My feet may be calloused and ugly...
I LOVE to run...
My knees may hurt every time I run over 5 miles...
I LOVE to run...
I may feel like I am going to die while running...
I LOVE to run...
I may stalk many blogs where all the readers are runners...
I LOVE to run...
I may not break my personal record...
I LOVE to run...

I have that love hate relationship with running....
I have had this kind of relationship with running my whole life.
I still have this kind of relationship with running...
There are time when I hate running and have to talk myself into it, but when I am running and finished running, I love the way I feel!
It's an amazing euphoria....

Here's to Rock n Roll-Denver!!!  

Catch up...

I have been fighting a horrible cold for a week and many days....it's awful!!
I am actually on the mend now, but there have been days that I would have liked to poke a pin in my sinuses and I knew they would've exploded.
The copious amounts of snot was ridiculous, I used boxes and boxes of kleenex, taken the world supply in DayQuil and NyQuil, drank the amount of the Indian Ocean in Emergen-C and Airborne, and I haven't ran in over a week....
I'm dying...
...dying to run
...dying to quit coughing
...dying to quit sniffling.
Oh, and I'm poor after all the meds I have bought!

One of my friends told me about the Neti pot, but I have always been afraid to use one because I was afraid that it would hurt.  

But, after having a head full of snot for a week, I decided to give it a whirl.  

And I love it!

The amount of snot that poured out of my nose was unreal, and it didn't hurt at all.  It was amazing!

And I look just like this when I do it!!!  

Since I have had a cold and haven't been able to run, I have been able to catch up on my DVR!  

New shows started this week, and I love Fall premieres!!!  

It's no secret that I love reality TV, in fact my DVR smokes at times!

Here's to getting back to running this week!  I sure hope so anyway!!! 

I never in my life thought that I would miss running...it truly is therapy for me!  

It's my happiness!!!

I got these photos from my sister this weekend...

Hudson loves Cars...in fact I think that Lighting McQueen is his best friend...

I made him this stocking hat, and when I gave it to him, he was less that impressed...

In fact, I would put it on him and he would rip it off....

Now, he asks for it everyday, and even wore it to eat supper one night this weekend!  

Gosh, I love that little boy!!! 

The Chiefs were the highlight of my weekend with a record of 4-0!  

I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!!

It's times like this in Chief football that I wished I lived back in KC...I would be at Arrowhead stadium EVERY Sunday!!! 

Living life for me...

As every blog that I stalk follow writes letters to their "future" children, I have decided to discuss the single life that I have.
                                    


Single...when I think of that word I used to think it was the most lonely word in the world.
I have dated people, but I am not a serial dater.
I'm not that girl that has to have a boyfriend.
Is it nice to have a companion...sure it is...
But as I have gotten over the last horrible relationship I was in, and dated some men here and there, I have been loving my life in the single zone.
I, no longer look at the word single as so lonely.
I love my single life!
I love it so much that dating is not up there in the things on my list to do.
Yes, I date, but I do not base my life, plans, or hopes on it.
Many times I go on dates with duds...
Duds that can't even form a sentence, much less a conversation.
Gah, there is nothing more annoying then having to pull info from these men that just don't know what the hell they are doing.

Single life for me is amazing...
I have the time to do what I want, when I want it, and how I want it.
If I want to sit on my couch naked watching brainless reality TV with an over-filled glass of vino, I don't have to explain it to anyone.
Well, except for the people that accidentally see me walking through my apartment because I forgot to close the blinds...sorry about that one!
I have the greatest friends ever that love to indulge in my crazy ass ideas like hiking a 14er, spending all day downtown at a music fest not remembering how we got home, wrecking our cruisers, or gathering at each others house drinking 6 bottles of wine celebrating our friendship...
Most of the time this is all done without the presence of men...
Many times we cuss and discuss this crazy creature that God created for us to love...
We laugh...
We get angry...
We get fed up...
We vow to never date again...but, we always do...
I hold my girlfriends close!

Yes, both of my sister's are married and I always hear "Well, when are you going to get married?"
Most of the time I would like to respond..."Well, you idiot, there isn't a damn man out there that is worthy to have this package."
But, I refrain...
Seriously...what kind of freaking question is that???
As much as I would like to pull me hair out when I get asked this question...I usually respond politely with some kind of fake laugh.
Is that polite...probably not, but it's all I can do!

Bottom line is...
I have come to terms with the fact that it's hard to give someone else love if you don't love yourself.
For a while, I wasn't sure that I was worthy to get married...
I didn't know that I had many great qualities that lots of men would love to have in their partner.
When I go through my qualities, I know that I have good ones...and bad ones...
Some are hard to find...
Some are worn on my shoulder...
Some are amazing...
Some I wish I didn't have...
But, they all make me who I am.
And I love them all...
So, while I find myself sitting on the couch by myself some nights while others are in the presence of their significant other or children...I am happy.
I have my expectations of what I want...
I am picky...
And...I WILL NOT SETTLE!