Houston…we have a problem.

For today’s question…Holy shit!  I just realized I skipped 4 questions!  So we have to make them up!

#17.  What is your most treasured memory?

I’m not sure if this is truly a treasured memory but it’s one that’s called to mind every fall when the weather here actually turns chilly (or Texas’s version of chilly).  I grew up in Boise, Idaho so the fall was real fall.  Leaves turning, chilly weather, getting dark early, etc.  So when that time of year comes around here I always remember coming home late after Basketball practice and seeing all the lights on in the house and the kitchen windows a little foggy because my stepmom was cooking up something in the crock pot and dinner was almost ready.  Which means in the fall I cook all sorts of stuff in the crock pot.  

At the same time though this memory makes me feel a little guilty because I don’t have that type of memory about my mom.  For a couple reasons – 1) You parked behind my mom’s house not in front because it was an older neighborhood with alleys behind the houses (Not one of the newer trendy ones that have started doing this).  2) She was a working mom and single for most of it.  My stepmom was a stay at home mom after my baby brother was born.  

Both women helped shaped me to be the woman I am today so I wouldn’t trade any of it.

In exciting news we watched Pixels last night, which I don’t care what other people think, it was fun and entertaining…I also would like to have a Q*bert trophy.  My driver side window finally rolled down after applying some spray silicone to the weather stripping (stuck due to the heat) and in less than 3 days I’ll be Couer d’Alene meeting my new nephew!

I actually went to the pool yesterday and sort of did a work out.  I swam about 800 meters and my should started to bug me.  I needed to swim 300 meters more, but said fuck it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and see you next week!

What I Like About You!

So this particular question is a challenge.  Since it’s meant to be between two people we’ll go with this being between my fellow bloggers and myself.

Here we go!

22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of the person you’re with.  Share a total of five items each.

1. I like how honest bloggers on here seem to be.  Even if I don’t agree with someone’s viewpoint or opinion I still appreciate how honest they are.

2. I like how creative bloggers are.  I know I’ve said this before as something we have in common, but seriously, from the poems, to the stories, to the photos, to the cartoon strips and everything in between.  It’s so much fun to see the creativity.

3. I like that I feel like I can be myself here.  No bullshit, no hiding, I can hop on here, say what’s on my mind and some people even LIKE it.  It’s amazing.  There’s very few places for that in life in general!

4. This community is ridiculously supportive of each other.  I’ve seen condolences, love, help, even money raised for fellow bloggers that we’ve become close to.  It makes my heart smile.

5. I like how blogging brings people closer together.  People from all over the world that under normal circumstances we’d never know become a part of our lives.  It’s very exciting!

Well, folks, that’s all I have for today.  We have 14 more questions to go and then I’ll have another challenge ready to go.

Now it’s off to the pool in effort to have a mildly good workout.  Then going to see Pixels tonight!

Have a great Thursday!

Love is a many splendored thing…

Happy Wednesday!  Trying to muster some more excitement but still waiting for the caffeine to kick in.  Stupid insomnia.

So!  We’re up to question 21.

#21.  What roles do love and affection play in your life?

Wow, so we’re starting to get deep here.  I’d like to say they play a huge part but I don’t think that’s the case.  I love my cat, my dogs, and my family.  I love Scott, but I’m not sure what that love means right now.  I love his kids, but lately it’s been very trying.  I’m affectionate with all or at least I try to be.  By nature I’m an affectionate person.  I grew up in a family that hugged, like full body bear hugs, not the awkward arms length hugs.  Hugs for no reason, random kisses on the cheeks, snuggling with parents when we were little.  But as an adult I’m not in relationships that foster that kind of affection, except for occasions with Scott and his kids (not counting the dogs / cat they always get affection).  Love for me is easy to give, but sometimes I wonder if the love I’m giving to the humans in my life is superficial love.  There is no all encompassing love.  I don’t know that I really feel that for anyone any more.  I know I used to for Scott, but when it doesn’t feel like it’s being reciprocated it’s hard to keep up. I think it’s partly a defense mechanism too.  If I don’t fully love, then I can’t get hurt.  I was devastated once because of a relationship and I don’t want to go there again.  So I withhold it and given what’s safe for me to give.  I’m sure this makes me sound like an asshole, but it is what it is (as much as I hate that phrase).  Would I be open to all encompassing love again?  If it came my way, possibly and as long as it was reciprocated.  I think it might be too late for Scott and me though.  It’s hard to say.

Sidenote: Today is watering day.  Even with our spring flooding we’re still under STAGE 2 water restrictions, meaning I can only water once a week.  So Wednesdays I have to get up a little earlier than normal and set up all my sprinklers / bubbler lines.  I don’t water my yard.  Honestly I’m not upset when it dies back in the summer…low maintenance.  😉  But I don’t want to lose my flowers.  So the gardens get the water.  I have one plant (Salvia) that’s supposed to grow up but it was growing out, so my mom recommended putting it in a tomato cage until it was “trained.”  The Salvia is PISSED at me.  I hope it makes it.

You’ve Got a Friend in Me…

Good morning!  No, okay, let’s not be that perky cuz I am really not feeling it.  Stayed up too late because I made dinner too late…because someone didn’t take the chicken out of the freezer sooner…and normally I’d go ahead and start cooking it when it’s frozen just cooking it slower, but last night I was frying up some Wendy’s Spicy chicken breasts so they had to be thawed.  Anyway let’s get on with the show!

#16. What do you value most in a friendship?

I love it when you have good friends who you can go for weeks, even months without really seeing or talking to them and then pick up where you left off when you do get together.  Those people I feel like I can be myself with, that I can be honest with and have a connection.  In my former job I traveled A LOT, we’re talking Monday through Thursday in a lot of cases and I did it for 9 years.  It was hard to maintain friendships and honestly I’m amazed Scott stuck around, but I have a couple of friends that have stuck with me and one of them is my friend Stephanie.  Stephanie and I met at the training class for my former job 9 years ago.  We got to be friends because we were Stephanie’s.  Then we learned we had a lot in common and grew to be really good friends.  She’s still my favorite of my Austin friends.  She’s honest, she doesn’t try to hide her insecurities, she’s real, and she’s awesome.  We go months with only text check ins periodically because she has toddlers and well anyone who has toddlers knows what it’s like.  She’s busy, but that’s okay.  I love her boys too, great kids, too stinking cute.

What do you value most in a friendship?

In other news I actually had a great open water swim last night.  Very unexpected.  One of my teammates and I didn’t want to drive all the way out to Lake Travis (45-60 minutes with traffic) so we decided to swim in Lake Pville, which is where 2 of the triathlons take place anyway.  We worked on some technique for open water and decided that in the future, we’ll swim in the pool so we can get in actual work outs.  Open water swim is really more about comfort and I’m certainly comfortable.  I’ve also managed to get back into the habit of shutting my brain off and just swimming, which is what I used to do before I got uber paranoid of things swimming into my face (traumatic “rope snake” episode to be shared at a later date).  I have a race Sunday.  I’m not exactly looking forward to it, but I am excited that the bike course is a different route than previous races held there.  I’m hoping to finish in about 2 hours.  It’ll be hot.

Have a great day all!

Monday, Monday, Monday

I know, I know, I know…still slacking.  I wish I had a good reason but sadly, I don’t.  So since I feel bad about not posting on Friday I’ll give you an extra one today.  It’s no wonder you’re not falling for me yet, I’ve been totally flaking.

#14. Is there something you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time?  Why haven’t you done it?

I have been dreaming of going to Bali.  For quite a while but especially since the beginning of this year.  See I was trying to put together a kick ass spring break trip for Scott, Tater Tot and myself because with all French Fry’s drama I thought we needed it.  We went to an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Domincan Repubic.  Let me just say, TOTALLY worth it.  There’s been a lot of sales for resorts out there and it’s relatively affordable so I’d recommend anyone to go.  Whilst (ha!  I said whilst) looking for a fabulous vacation I came across some other amazing places…Bali, Mauritius, Sharm el Sheikh, and a host of other places.  I looked at tours and all-inclusives, so many options out there.  In this process I decided that I’d take myself to Bali for my birthday in November.  I had it all planned out on a sticky note, I was going to go to the Elephant preserve on my birthday for dinner, have a spa day, do a tour to see temples and the monkey place.  In the end I haven’t booked anything.  Why?  Because I’m doing 2 destination races that use up that money / credit card space.  I’ve got the Beat the Blerch half marathon in Seattle in September and the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco in October.  The hotel for the Nike race for the weekend is almost as much as the hotel in Bali I was looking at…but San Francisco is a weekend and Bali was 10 nights.  Maybe next year….

#15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

Whoa Nelly.  Do I have one?  Well, I don’t know that in 36 years I can point a finger at a greatest accomplishment.  Does that happen this “early” in life?  I mean, I wouldn’t want to peak TOO soon.  I guess the biggest thing for me and the scariest thing for me was when I took myself to Scotland for 10 days in September 2013.  On my own.  Spent 2 weeks searching out things to see, places to stay, booked a day tour, did some shopping, then hopped on a plane.  I rented a car (won’t do that again) stayed in Edinburgh, then Aviemore and then Edinburgh again.  It was an amazing trip and I really want to go back again.  I’d even see all the same places again.  Here are some photos I took.

Doune Castle – Outlander fans should recognize this.

Edinburgh Castle see from Arthur’s Seat hill in Edinburgh

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.

Hope you all have a great Monday!!

It’s Been One of THOSE Weeks

I’m running a bit behind, I know, I know.  Yesterday was tater tot’s birthday and I took the afternoon off, which meant that my morning was busy so I didn’t get a chance to get in here and write.  So okay, now we’re on to questions #12 & #13.

#12.  If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one quality or ability what would it be?

Honestly it would be the ability to be able to read instructions or something and know how to do it.  Scott learns like this.  He can read a manual, understand and then do it.  I on the other hand can read it and it’s gibberish until someone shows me how to do it. 

#13.  If a crystal ball could you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

Well, nothing about myself.  I think I know myself pretty well, including the things I don’t like to admit or acknowledge.  I know I’m capable of more than I give myself credit for and I know I’m capable of more than I think I am.  I guess I would be curious to know about the future.  If Scott and I ever take the plunge and move in together making this relationship more than it’s been for all these years or if I get fed up and leave.  Then if I leave do I stay in Austin or do I move?  My family wants me back in Idaho.  I’m inclined to go back, but that would mean starting all over again with no friends and as an adult that’s really hard.  I work from home, so it’s not like I have an office to report to that would ensure I would at least KNOW people if not make friends.  I don’t go to school so no instant acquaintances.  I’ve seen the triathlon team (there’s only one I could find) and they appear to be WAY out of my league, not to mention there doesn’t seem to be a lot up there.  I think I’ve asked for more than I was supposed to but that’s what I’d like to know and what I think about when I consider moving in the first place.

There you have it.  Short and sweet.

Have a great Thursday!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

Sorry that you missed me yesterday…I’d like to say it was calculated so that you might realize how much you’re starting to adore me, but that just wasn’t the case.

Anyway to make it up to you I’m giving you 2 questions for today.  Remember if you wanna play along check this out.

#10.  If you could change anything about the way you were raised what would it be?

If you’d have asked me this about 15 years ago I’d have told you that it would be that I wished my father hadn’t been as hard on me as a teenager as he was.  Hindsight being 20/20 in the end it probably did me some good.  The only thing that I would changed would be that I wished my parents would have been better about helping me with my self esteem more.  I wish I could have grown up with less body issues and feeling like I had more worth than I did then.  It’s taken me a lot of time to get to where I’m at now with those things and I’m still not in the best of places.  All that being said, how could they have helped?  And I certainly don’t blame them.  I know they did the best they could and tried to show me how much they loved me.

#11. Take four minutes and tell your life story in as much detail as possible.

Setting the timer on my watch…

I was born in Carson City, NV.  I was born left food first with my left hip dislocated.  I had a mild milk allergy that made me not want to take breast milk or formula and my mom was threatened with CPS.  My dad was in the military but we really didn’t move around much.  I grew up in Boise, Idaho staying in the same house for all my school life.  My parent divorced when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade.  My dad met my stepmom when I was going into 5th (they’re still married 25 years).  My mom remarried when I was in 7th grade to an asshole.  i have 2 brothers.  Josh and I share parents, Andrew and I share a dad.  I played basketball, ran track and cross country and got straight A’s.  I graduated in the top 10% of my class and was a varsity athlete.  Moved to Texas in 1998.  Went to Texas State University and got a degree in Microbiology.  I got into Pharmaceutical Research in 2000 and have been in the industry since then.  I was promoted to a manager in 2012.  I have a non-committed boyfriend of 9.5 years who has 2 kids.  We share 2 dogs…..

That took 4 minutes to write.  I left a lot of stuff out.  Oh well.

Have a great Tuesday all!

First I’d Like to Thank the Academy…

Happy Friday all!

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m glad this week is over.  Sorta.  More or less.  Anyway.

So today, we’re on Question #9.  If you want to play along, here’s the skinny.

drum roll please…..

#9. For what in your life do you feel the most grateful?

Well, I could just go with…uh, my life, but that’s a bit overplayed, don’tcha think?  I went on a run with a friend of mine this morning and every time after I run, I think the same thing.  Not, holy shit, glad that’s over.  Not, oh my god I can’t believe I did that.  Not even, okay now I’m starving.  I typically think man am I thankful that I can do that.  I am fucking thankful that I can run and be active.  Not everyone can.  Not everyone chooses to, but 99% of the time when I finish a run I am thankful that I did it and that I can run.  I am forever in amazement of what the human body is capable of and the benefits of exercise in general are awesome.  This is coming from some post run endorphin haze, hell, I’m still not completely awake.  But running (exercise), keeps me sane.  Clears out the brain, sorts through the emotions and gets the juices flowing.  I recommend everyone trying to do something during the day.  Take a walk even.  

Have a great weekend all!  Catch you on Monday!

I Swear, It’s Like We’re Twins

Today’s question is a tough one.  I’m supposed to tell you 3 things we have in common…so I’ll do my best.

If you want to join in the fun because your brain hurts from trying to figure out last night’s episode of Mr. Robot, here’s the sitch.

#8. Name Three Things The Two of You Have in Common

Three things we have in common…

1.  We’re creative as hell.  I’ve read some of your blogs and you’ve read some of mine and one thing’s for certain we’re both creative as hell.  Be it photos, comics, prose, or poems, we’ve totally got creativity nailed.

2. Writing is one of our best ways of communication.  A lot of us have blogs to help sort out our brains, our thoughts and our feelings, and some of us aren’t so verbally capable from time to time, but we certainly are able to get our points across in our writing.

3. We’re all on a journey.  It’s not necessarily the SAME journey, but we’re all working through our own lives and circumstances.  We’ve all had some changes, some hardships, some challenges, successes, sadness and happiness.  But on here we get to share our journeys and support one another.  Sometimes you can’t even rely on your family to be as supportive as an online community can be.  Which is sad, but it’s awesome that we’re all able to come together.

Side note for today – I really want to play video games instead of working.  Also, I finished the show Sens8 on Netflix.  If you haven’t seen it, aren’t easily offended and don’t mind some graphic material (thank you Wachowskis) it’s a pretty interesting show.  I hope they do a second season.  Tangential to that I adored Jupiter Ascending and really wish they’d work with someone to put it into a novel (not a novelization).  I think it would be an awesome book!

My Crystal Ball Says….

Good morning boys and girls!  Hope everyone is doing wonderfully today!

Now we’re back for today’s question, if you wanna play along check it out

#7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

Not necessarily, but let me say that I have never ever been able to picture myself as an old lady.  I don’t know that really anyone ever does, but I don’t expect to live to 90 and die of old age.  I guess the “best” way to go would be after living a long life to slip peacefully into death while sleeping, but I don’t know if that’s in the cards for me.  Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if I ended up with cancer of something or other and died that way.  However I must say that I’d really prefer my death to not be painful.  Which seems silly, because again, who wants a painful death?  The only hunches I have is that I don’t see myself making it to 80 or 90 and I have a sneaking suspicion that it will entail lots of hospital time.  

On an incredibly lighter note – there was a Facebook quiz about how long will you survive the Zombie apocalypse and how / where will you die.  Here’s what it said:  

Ran away from: Austin, TX

Became a Zombie at: Yosemite National Park, CA

Survived: 7 days

Your mistake: Trapped in the local bar

I would have expected to live longer, but the rest doesn’t surprise me….

Have a great Wednesday!