I always feel like, somebody's watching me.*

Happy belated Memorial day!

This weekend felt like forever and made going to work this morning all the more difficult! Saturday morning I got up super early (okay, not that early) and ran a 5k. As you may recall from my 10k experience in April, I was a bit nervous to run. I know it was only three miles and I always know that I don't have strep, but the 10k left a bad taste in my mouth. I was nervous of how I would do, and even more nervous that if it didn't go well I would shun running for life (which would suck because I have signed up for a half marathon).

My roommate, Amber, came to run this one with me since Kat cancelled (yes, I just called you out). Amber and I got to the start line and got up near the front, I've always wanted to get up near the front. So I am in "the runners section" and they announce that if you cannot complete it in 20 minutes or less please stay away from the front line. I was relieved to find that I wasn't the only one scooting away from the front, in fact, most everyone was backing away. Behind me there was an older woman, maybe in her late 60's (no joke, white hair and all) and an official came up and asked her what her mile time was. I was thinking, "Oh crap! They're checking us all out!" The woman (remember how old) said, "9 to 10 minutes". She seemed nervous, like she was thinking the same thing I was. Would they remove the "slower" runners from the section? So the lady asked the official why she asked and the official says, "This lady's (point to woman) son is running the race on his own and we were looking for someone to run with him." So the old woman turns to the mom and asks what his time is and the mom says the last 5k he ran he finished in like 23 minutes.

Boys...they are naturally faster runners and it peeves me a little. Anyway, so then I was sitting there thinking, out of all the people in the runner's section you pick the visibly oldest woman to see if a boy who can run a 5k in 23 minutes can run alongside her? Struck me as a bit odd.

Needless to say, I had picked my mark. Usually when I run races I pick a child to keep up with, I guess it's easier for me because I feel that if a child can do it then I should be able to. Children are reckless runners though, they expend all their energy in quick burst, and then worst of all, it doesn't take them long to recoup. I can't run like that. Anyway, this old woman, with her 9-10 mile was exactly where I wanted to be, so I picked her. I kept my eye on her for the first mile or so, and then somewhere between 1-1.5 miles, I passed her. From there I just pretended to be running my 3 mile "track" through my neighborhood.

My goal for the 5k was 30 minutes. Last year when I ran the 5k I did it in about 33 minutes. When I came around to the finish line and saw the clock I picked up the pace and crossed the finish line at 28:51. I was extremely happy.

You would think that this success would pep me up for the half marathon, but really it only made me more nervous. A 5k is just a fraction of a half marathon, but I'm determined to do it now.

That was just like Cary, I thought she was going to kill us all.*

I didn't even shout out that Friday night I went to a farewell dinner for my friend, Ashley. She will be leaving for an 18 month mission to Arizona. Sorry Ashley! That's how crazy my weekend was. I am also really proud of Ashley for making this big decision and big commitment! I am always in awe of missionaries who basically put their lives on hold for 18 - 24 months! I couldn't imagine doing that, but then again, I've always been kind of a selfish person. At the same time, I am a little envious that she gets to focus completely on missionary work and the gospel for 18 whole months.

The dinner was good, we all went around the table and shared one thing we loved about Ashley. I may have said more than one thing but I've never been good at following instructions. Then Ashley said that she felt like she should say something about each person in return and everyone was like, "No, this is your night" and I said, "Call me, I want to know" (again with the selfish/self centered). So she told me that my blog makes her laugh so hard, which surprised me a bit because sometimes I don't think it's very funny (I mean, one hopes but never knows) and then she brought up that two funny posts were the 5 best and 5 worst dates, so I'm thinking she's going to share with me how funny the 5 worst are. Instead she said that the 5 best made her laugh (and feel sorry for me) because even my best were bad...ouch? But then I thought about it, and she's probably right, but man did they make good stories!

Just in case you missed it:
Top 5 Best

Top 5 Worst

She looks like Magnum P.I. for goodness sakes.*

If you are reading this it means you weren't taken up in the rapture...I'm not sure exactly what to say to you. Congratulations? Sorry? You're in good company?

As you can tell by the very fact that I am writing this it means I wasn't taken either.

Or I was but they have blogger here too and I didn't want to gloat. It's so bright here and there's tons of gold. Good thing it happened at 6 pm, I was outside at a BBQ with my sunglasses on, so at least my eyes are protected from all the heavenly brightness. They have amazing snickerdoodles here too.

Mmmm, snickerdoodles.

Anyway, this weekend was crazy busy! I kept forgetting that the end of the world was supposed to happen. My roommate, Amber, graduated from VCU school of Pharmacy this weekend. I went to the hooding ceremony on Friday. I felt like such an underachiever as they hooded those students who also received their Ph.D or Masters. "So-and-so, her thesis, Ionic compounds of molecular dysentery pertaining to a totalitarianistic autoimmune system." (note: don't read in to that, you might realize I'm full of crap). Great, a full of crap underachiever. But I was really happy for these people, obviously they had worked hard to get to where they are. I was very proud of my roommate, I don't even have to imagine that Pharmacy is a program that will kick your butt, I semi-experienced it. It kicked my butt trying to understand what my roommate said when I listened to presentations or when she would go off on a patient case she found fascinating. I should have been hooded somehow - I mean, I know what necrotitis facsciitis is now (you don't want to know).

Point being - super proud of my roommate for her accomplishment!

Saturday morning was also crazy busy. I did some yard work and attempted to mow the lawn (until the lawn mower said it was just too much and died). I entered into a fake Facebook relationship over a two hour breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I got all the hair removed from my face (resulting in a 5 lbs weight loss and a compliment (I think) on my chin). I went grocery shopping, cleaned a bit of my room, got furniture out of the attic, finally got a shower around 2pm, baked a little, my roommate had a graduation BBQ, I got taken up in the rapture (kidding...obviously), then I had Q&A and ice cream thing at church, ice cream, and then a late night eating with some friends.

About the rapture, I have decided that what we were really waiting for was the raptor (of which I saw none). So then my friends and I started to make little raptor arms. I mean, talk about scary, waiting around for a raptor to come get you. If that's the case, count me as one of the lucky ones for Saturday, the raptor passed me over.

Sunday was pretty busy too by the way, I had visiting teaching, a meeting, church, dinner at Jo's. It doesn't sound like much, but it was exhausting (could have been residual from Saturday though). All I know is that by 5 o'clock all I had had to eat was a bowl of cheerios so I was cranky. I was so happy to finally get some food in my system. I was falling asleep on my sister's couch and when I got home I was ready to crash...which I did.

How was your weekend? Did we lose anyone to the rapture (or worse, the raptor)??

I've got a news flash for you Walter Cronkite*

I wanted to do a first quarter update, but I think I forgot. I either forgot to do the update or I forgot I've done the update...if it's the later, I apologize.

Anyway, I had ten "resolutions" for 2011.

1. Read 50 books - this one is the one you get updated on the most (monthly actually). I am at 18. According to my calculations I am right on track.

2. Run a half marathon - I am signed up, so it looks like this one will be completed.

3. Budget - dangit. Does it count that I look at it from time to time and that for about a week at a time I get really good at writing things down? Probably not.

4. Finish my third story - Check. I finished it a lot faster then I thought I would. Now I am getting ready to send the first one to a literary agent and I am working on a completely new story.

5. Lose Weight - 2 pounds....2 pounds anyone? I don't know, I think I've lost. As I begin training for the 1/2 marathon I'm pretty certain I'll lose some more.

6. Get motivated at work - This week aside, I think I've done a pretty good job so far. My boss keeps telling me that she has been really impressed with my work. If I don't get promoted this year this goal might be "Find a new job" come 2012.

7. Reduce Debt - Well I'm paying down debt, the car and at least half the lien should be paid off by December - but now my AC is broken and I will be replacing it...one thing in exchange for another huh?

8. Home Improvement - Thanks to Murphy's law this goal is always being worked on. The fence has begun, the new AC is coming soon. Not quite what I had in mind for home improvement but you do what you have to first.

9. Learn to Compromise - uh....I still need help on this one. I believe it also extended to improving my relationships with people. So...I am trying, I hope people will notice a difference soon.

10. Work on my serious theme - If you don't remember, my serious theme for the year is "Choose the good part", meaning charity and incorporating the teachings of Christ more into my life. I'm not going to lie, this usually gets ignored in first quarter. I had two really great experiences last week with two different sets of Elders that really helped me to refocus on my theme (kind of a big reminder when the Elders come over to have a lesson with you on Charity). I usually pick it up on the personal theme right about....now.

So there's me, holding myself accountable.

We're dead! We're dead! We survived by we're dead!*

So...I've done it. I've signed up for the half marathon in November. Now for the next 177 days I get to walk around with a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach. I may have just voluntarily signed up and paid for my death. Really, I don't think that I'll die, I just think I'll feel like death, and death is one miserable little being. It was on the list of things to accomplish this year but after running attempting the 10k a few months ago I was ready to just give up on that sticker

...But I'm not getting any younger. Next year my knees, feet, muscles, lungs, etc. will be worse, my body is depreciating people! I need to run this while the running can be done. Special thanks to Marissa who has an incredible knack for peer pressure, and also thanks to everyone who has been telling me that I can do this! I sincerely hope that they are right.

In other impulsive sign-up news...I signed up for a kickball team today. You read that right, a kickball team. I don't really remember kickball from my youth, but something tells me that it kind of just explains itself. You kick....a ball...then you run like crazy towards a base. Got it. I can kick, and I can run, but something tells me I won't be any good at this sport. Why do I keep doing this stuff?

I'll tell you why, because at some point in my life I decided to be a 'yes' kind of person (well it's more of a, "um, okay, sure" person). You want to run a 1/2 marathon? Um, okay, sure! You want to go to Delaware? Um, okay, sure! You want to play kickball? Um, okay, sure! See how this works? But hey, at least I don't have the feeling/regret that I am missing out on something. Anyway, wish me luck on both these crazy endeavors.

Any of ya'll signing up for races or sports team lately? Or doing anything spontaneous for the upcoming months?

Cows! I hate cows worse than coppers!*

Today I saved my dad's life...okay, okay - in all reality I only caused him to get a muddy bum. Here's how it went down.

My dad and I made plans to get up bright and early and take down the filtration system in my backyard. No longer having a well = no need for this big, heavy, eyesore in the backyard. I thought it would be easy. Get the truck, cut the filtration chords, go to the dump, return the truck, job well done. Let's eat.

First Wrench - I slept until 8:30 coupled with Dad making waffles at his house at 8:30. We are already 30 minutes behind on our tentative schedule.

Second Wrench - Dad's got three kids (four if you count Sam asleep in her room) all by himself.

Third Wrench - Dad's got to make two trips because he's got to go back and get Sam before 11.

Fourth Wrench - We turn off the power and water to the filtration system and then realize that the water still comes up through the pipes, through the filtration system, back under the house. We can't just remove the filtration system, we have to figure out how connected it is and then fix it.

So we (and by 'we' at any point in this entry I mean my dad - but I watched...most of the time) start sawing PVC pipe and taking down the Rubbermaid shed that held the filtration system. I ran to Lowe's and picked up some PVC elbows and exterior electrical boxes (don't I sound handy?!)

I did have a good idea though. After we (dad) removed the Rubbermaid shed there was a large patch of mud right where we (dad) would need to kneel. I looked at the fence gate I took down a few months ago and said, "How about a piece of fence?" Genius Jessica. Insert "Dad Praise" here. He puts the wood down and sits, getting to work.

That's when it happened, this muddy bum business (MBB). I was standing behind Dad when I something large and black caught my eye five feet eleven inches below. A FREAKING HUGE SPIDER! The size of the spider didn't bother me as much as the sheer size of its bum did (I later explained to Dad that this is what the kids today mean when they say "junk in the trunk" - instead of actually having junk in their car trunk like dad did).

"Dad," I cried out in code red panic, my finger pointing towards the spider but at the same time my arm itching to get further away. I wondered how high that spider might be able to jump. "Oh Dad, spider." (Yes - college graduate here, and worth every penny). "Dadddddddd, Spiderrrr!" I cry out, pointing as the spider lifts one of its shiny black legs towards Dad's shirt, I stood mortified, afraid that if the spider made its way on to Dad's shirt I would have to act...and acting meant in some form or fashion touching the spider. Whether with the flick of a finger, kicking with my shoe, or grabbing a stick...somehow I would come in contact. I needed Dad removed from this situation and I need it done RIGHT THEN!

At this point Dad is trying to move but he doesn't know exactly where the spider is, his college graduate daughter is broken and can't even think fast enough to tell him whether it's to the right or to the left. He feels his life is in peril by the sound of my voice, he senses the urgency of the moment. I watch in horror as his hand begin to move right, then left, hovering in the air, ready to land at any moment...his right hand is just above the spider. I can't have him touching the spider - I might throw up. I can't get the words though, sounds like, "Uh, um, er," spill out of my mouth like some "hot and cold" game. In the mess of it Dad's hands or feet or possible both slip. His back end comes off the fence and lands on the muddy ground, while I am happy to report, his hands land away from the spider.

"Sorry," I say as I watch the spider, still pointing.

Dad picks up a shovel and scoops up the spider, tossing him further away from me. Because he is such a good Dad he doesn't let the spider off the hook (knowing I will not be able to sleep if he lives - I've been traumatized by the size of that spider's butt). He takes the shovel and cuts the spider in half. Let that be a lesson to any boy who tries to mess with me...my dad will cut you in half...maybe, if not, my brother-in-law will.

So that is the story of the soggy bottom dad.

I'll find strength in pain, and I will change my ways.*

So here is a general update on my life. I don't know if I do these often. I prefer stories that keep you far away from really knowing what is going on...

1. I got a new roommate! Her name is Kami, she's here for work from UT, and so far I really like her. She's got spunk and I've always respected spunk. She's also barely there. I know that doesn't sound like a good thing to like about your roommate, but you have to consider the source - I'm kind of a hermit who prefers to be left alone. So a roommate who isn't all up in my space will fit in just fine. I like her enough though that I don't mind shooting the breeze with her for a few hours randomly here and there.



2. I am officially the institute council president - I guess I had been acting president for the last year, but I officially got called to the council a few weeks ago, and then it was decided I was to remain president. Since then we've had 2.5 meetings and we have an awesome activity coming up in June (if you are in Richmond you should come!) The .5 was because we were supposed to have a meeting after class yesterday but too many people were talking to Brother J. and it never happened.



3. I have gotten back into running (watch me not go tonight). I am still having trouble breathing, but I am going to chalk it up to being out of shape/practice. I ran two miles straight on Monday and it felt like dying good. Tonight is 3 (wish me luck!) Sometimes I wonder if I am still sick or sick again, but I can't let myself think about it right now, I have to redeem myself with my 5k time on the 28th!



4. I'm still having home-ownership pains which I am told to expect for the rest of my life or until I enter a retirement community. The AC isn't working, I was told it's 14 years old (typical life span of an AC unit is 7-15 years). Eek. I am getting an estimate on it on Friday, but I am not expecting any sort of good news. Those things can run in the $8,000 crowd from what I have heard. So I won't even ask you to wish me luck, this is something that may have to wait until next year's tax returns (don't worry roommates, they'll let me pump in the freon to get us through until then). ...I just want to finish my fence, get new siding, replace the windows, get a new fridge, put in a stone patio, and have grass in my front yard! Is that so much to ask!?

That's kind of it for now actually, but I already know that I will have some more to post later this week, so stay tuned!