Go(al)ing for it in 2015

Last year, right at the start of 2014, I made a list of goals I wanted to conquer during the year. By typing them out and putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards), I was holding myself accountable. I also felt I was very realistic with my goals so it was upsetting that some of them were not reached. But all hope is not lost! There did happen to be some that I was able to accomplish and will keep up with but I did not achieve a majority of them and they are very much still works in progress.

Out of my eight goals, I was only able to really achieve two and a half of them. I was able to complete a five minute plank, I was able to get more involved with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (CCFA), and I was more conscious of what types of food I was eating (that's why this counts as half), although not consistently. So two out of eight it was. Blah. Better than zero out of eight.

Holiday Happiness

Winter break is just around the corner and I for one, cannot wait. I need a break. I big one. I need to just lay around in my pajamas and not do anything for a few days.  (Or at least have the option to do that since I can't really do that for too long because I get antsy.) It's been a crazy few weeks with the holidays coming and basketball season in full swing now. It's been pretty great though as my team is now 5-0 and hopefully will remain unbeaten going into winter break. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, I have been trying to enjoy holiday time in New York as much as I can with everything else going on. It's one of the best times of the year here. (I feel like I say that about every time of year though.)  I love the changing seasons here and taking advantage of what the city has to offer. When my parents were here for Thanksgiving we obviously watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which is always super fun. It was both their first times seeing it and I loved watching them watching it. Well, my mom at least since my dad wasn't so into it. It's okay, it totally wasn't his thing but he was a trooper. While they were here, we also looked at the holiday windows a bit and went to see the beginning of the set-up of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It was a mob-scene even though the tree hadn't even been lit yet, but there were tons of tourists there to see what it was anyway and to ice-skate on the rink. Needless to say, it was C-R-O-W-D-E-D. Not so much my scene. I think in my first year in New York City I went to see the Christmas tree after it was lit and it was so crowded and unenjoyable, I hadn't gone back.

Also, I remember being totally underwhelmed by it as well. Needless to say, I was in no rush to go back. But after going with my parents, I realized I did want to see it again when it was all pretty and lit up. I had let enough time go without going to see it, so the time was now. But how would I do it without having to deal with the crowds?!? Then came my brilliant idea: I would run there. Yes, a destination run to Rockefeller Plaza! I would run there in the morning while its still dark out and get a glimpse of that beautiful tree.

I'm Actually Doing This

On Wednesday, I had a kind of surreal experience. (One that is going to become a regular thing though.) I was coaching a girls varsity basketball team. In a game. Like for real. Well, almost for real, since it was a scrimmage. But it was me on the sideline leading the pack. I was calling out plays, yelling at my players, making subs, using the white board, giving words of encouragement, etc... I was really actually doing this. And it was so freaking fun.

After weeks of practice, my team finally had our first real test with this scrimmage. Full uniform, with a referee and running our plays. Even though I have coached a real varsity team before with flag football (and bowling), this was different. A gym basketball court is a much more intimate environment versus the football field. Saying my loud voice carries in there would be a great understatement. And lets not forget, basketball is one of my great loves so this is a big deal for me. This is special to me. I literally cannot wait for the regular season to begin. With a few more practices and one more scrimmage to go, we still have some learning to do and kinks to work out, but we are looking decent.  This whole thing is certainly a learning process for myself and the girls.

Some New Great Things, Some Old Issues

It's been two whole weeks since I ran the New York City Marathon and five weeks since the Chicago Marathon. Between the two marathons I was in a bit of a funk because of the disappointment of not PRing in Chicago. And although my head wasn't totally in the game for NYC, I knew I would have regretted not doing it and I was right. I was so happy to have done it and don't know how I can NOT continue to do that race every year. (Does that mean I sign up for both again next year? It just might.)

Anyway, as it usually is for me following any big race (or even big trip), there is feeling of "Now What?" afterwards. When you look forward to something and have spent so long working toward a single goal and it has now come and gone, it's hard to figure out what the next step is. I treated myself with a SoulCycle package and two new pairs of gym shoes to help with some of the post-race funk, but there is still a little void. I know it will go away soon though; it always does and life will resume back to normal.

New York 26.2: A Recap

Two marathons in three weeks! Chicago and New York. Numbers 8 and 9. I can finally take a sigh of relief and give my body a rest. And perhaps chill with all the crying too. Yikes. As I lay here in bed with sore legs and a full heart, I think I can actually say that I am proud of myself. This is quite different than the feelings I was having three weeks ago after the Chicago marathon when I was a big ball of disappointment. Sure, I ran this race slower than Chicago, but I wasn't running this race for me and wasn't concerned about getting a PR. I was running this race for a fantastic cause (Team IBDKids), wanted to enjoy the ride, and really just wanted to finish it (in under five hours). And that I did with a time of 4:42:50. I'll take it because once again, it wasn't an easy road to the finish line and I am just so happy to be healthy enough to make it there once again.

Hey Girl...

With one marathon down and one to go, my life hasn't really slowed down at all. Wake up, eat, run, eat, go to work, eat, work (with eating in there), eat some more, coach, eat, go to bed. Repeat. And that my friends, is a day in the life of me.

Don't be too jealous of the exciting life that I lead. Really, don't. I am a creature of habit and routine so I don't really mind so much. What I don't like is the feeling of being hungry and tired like 99.999% of the day. All day. Every day.

Chicago 26.2: A Recap

As I sit here on my parents couch the day after the Chicago Marathon, I am physically in some pain and mentally kind of numb. I don't feel like I ran a marathon yesterday. I just can't believe its over. I had been looking forward to it from the moment I got accepted through the lottery and now its over.

The prep for this race has consumed me for the past four months and I had one goal in mind and that was to PR. All I wanted was a sub-4:30 marathon. I did the best I really could preparing for that and I missed it by 10 seconds. Ten mother-fucking seconds. Honestly though, I handled it a lot better than I thought I would so that's a mental victory for me. However, that means I am still on this mission to PR, which means Chicago 2015 might have to happen. But lets take a look back at Chicago 2014 while it's still fresh in my mind.

What is Wrong with People?!?!?!

So at the start of summer, you all know my curiosity got the best of me and I got Tinder. It was fun at first because it was new, easy, and actually quite entertaining. But then I got bored. I've actually been meaning to delete my Tinder account for a while now. I'm kind of over it. It actually lasted much longer than I thought it would which surprised me, but now, I'm just done. Blah.

In my three month Tinder tenure, I went on three Tinder dates. All three guys were totally normal, but just not for me. Nice enough guys, but no real attraction. And now that work and coaching are back in full gear and I am training for two marathons, dating is the furthest thing on my mind. I maybe log onto Tinder like once a week, if that, nowadays. And each time I do go on it, I think to myself "If this is what's out there, I give up." Ugh. I mean, seriously, what is wrong with some people?!?! I know its only Tinder, but it's demoralizing nonetheless. If this is what's out there within a five mile radius, ages 30-34 then I give up.

Doubling Up Again

Seven years ago I did what any crazy-runner-person would do: I signed up for two marathons within one month of each other. And this year, I am doing just that again. Except this time, there is only three weeks in between races, and it wasn't planned insanity. But I'll get to that in a bit.

I had done my first marathon in 2004 in Chicago and that changed my life forever. The first one always does. It's addictive and leaves you wanting more. Especially for a competitive goal-oriented person like myself. I signed up for the New York City Marathon in 2005 but my Ulcerative Colitis didn't cooperate with my body and I had to defer my acceptance to the following year. I was devastated but that's life. In 2006 I was ready to take it on again and that I did. New York was amazing. I loved every second of it and had beat my Chicago time. I had now done two of the major marathons and loved them both. So what was a girl to do the next year? Duh, sign up for both! I was registered for the Chicago Marathon which was October 7, 2007 and then the New York City Marathon November 4, 2007. I knew it was an insane challenge to take on, but I was psyched. I had running buddies by my side which made training a lot easier and also the fact that I would be challenging my body in a way I had never done before. And of course, this excited me.

Blogiversary Number Three!!!

Happy third birthday Someone Will Appreciate!! That's right, today is the third anniversary of my lovely little blog. Three years of my crazy, emotional, honest, and funny thoughts on so many different aspects of my life. One would think I'd run out of material....but nope! Sure, my writing goes in ebbs and flows and some moments drive me to write feverishly while others make it seem like I can't get the words right. However, each time I write, I feel better. It's therapeutic and cathartic for me. I love documenting all my thoughts and memories and can't believe its my third year doing so.

As I've done the last two anniversaries, I wanted to pick out my five favorite blog posts of the year (from August to August).  It was really hard picking out only five of my faves which I guess is a good sign. Sure I ran another marathon and went on another awesome trip this year, but there was so much other great stuff going on too that I really enjoyed writing about too. Perhaps you remember these, and perhaps not. Regardless, I hope you take a little trip down memory lane with me; it is my blog-birthday after all.

I Can't Wait to go Back!

Three years ago I had the worst Ulcerative Colitis flare of my life. I was hospitalized for three days and talk of surgery to remove part of my colon even came up. To say I was terrified would be an understatement. However, that was three years ago and luckily my health is better today. I wish I could say my UC was totally in control but I still get flare ups at least once a year (minimum), but I think I may be on a Remicade and medication treatment plan that is finally consistently working. Ever since being so sick, I vowed to get more involved in the the Crohns and Colitis community through the CCFA (Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America). I even made it one of my goals for the 2014 year.  Even though I've had UC for over ten years, I decided that I want to make getting involved more of a priority.

New decor, New beginnings?

I've lived in my apartment, solo, for the last seven years. In those seven years since moving in, I haven't done anything new to it. It's pretty much the same exact apartment that I created when I first got here and I love it, but it's time to change it up a bit. Don't get me wrong, I love my apartment, I love living by myself, and I would never live with anyone again, unless its a boyfriend and/or husband. Thirty-two with a roommate in New York is a red flag for me. At this age, a single someone should be financially stable enough to be living alone. And although I do get lonely a lot, I still love the fact that this apartment is mine...and all mine!

With the summer ending and some self-realization, I decided I want to make some changes to my apartment. (And my mind and body. Always a work in progress.) I want my 350-square foot apartment (don't laugh! That's NYC for you. And don't even ask what I pay for that either!) to be a little more grown up. With my budget, I will see what I can do, but I'm hoping that with some little changes here and there in the apartment, it will also spur some changes in my life. At the very least, it will make me happier to come home to my place after a long day and relish in it. I'm kind of bored with it and I have at least two more years in it, so it's time for a little change. And for someone who doesn't like change, I'm excited to do this!!  (Hey, if Carol Radziwill can do it, so can I. Although she does have a lot more space, and a lot more money.)

Suburban vs. City Running

As we all know, running is a big part of my life. Especially now with the Chicago Marathon nine weeks away! Ahhhhh. Halfway there baby! I've been doing my best to get better and faster at it, but obviously, its a struggle. With all the travel I have been doing this summer, I've been doing pretty well staying on track. Most recently, I was home in the suburbs of Chicago, and thankfully got in all my runs.

I've run at home for years and have the same couple of routes and paths that I take each time. There are obviously some pros and cons to running at home in Glenview versus running in New York City. They are both two very different running environments in so many different ways. After a few days, I get bored with each location anyway, but I power through because there is a goal in sight. And in my boredom, I also make lists in my head. Tons of lists. Random lists of thoughts. To do lists.  I love lists. One of those lists this time around was the pros and cons to running at home in the suburbs. I've thought it many times before, but this time I put pen to paper, or keyboard letter to blog post...

ILL...

Okay you guys, yesterday was AWESOME! So awesome. Like I had the best time. So what did I do that was so awesome? I took a huge trip down memory lane, that's what! I went down to Champaign, Illinois with my parents to visit my (our) old stomping ground of The University of Illinois. The best educational institution in this great country. It was awesome. Oh, did I mention that already? Well, it was awesome. I loved every single second of it and can't wait to go do it again.

Every time I'm in town I nag my mom to take a mini road trip down there for the day and we always have so many other plans that it never works out. I get disappointed but I understand because it's a lot of driving in one day (about 4.5 hours round trip). However, this trip back to Chicago, I made sure we actually marked a day on calendar to go down. It was finally happening!! I couldn't wait. Plus, we even convinced my dad to come. He was a little hesitant at first but also ended up having a great time down there. All of us had have made so many memories there. Both my parents went to U of I (they met there!!) and I obviously went there and loved it.  I basically came out of the womb bleeding orange and blue and have never stopped.

Reporting Not Much Has Changed

Right now I'm at home in Chicago and staying at my parent's house as per usual. As always (this never gets old), I love taking a trip down memory lane and going through my old drawers and finding new (old) stuff in there. Diaries, pictures, collages, and report cards. Yes, report cards. This time around, I found my childhood report cards from grades K-5. I laid them out on my bed (not my childhood bed...wahhhhh) and poured over them. What surprised me most about them was that they were all handwritten. Hand-freaking-written. Yikes. Big applause to all the teachers who did report cards before computers really hit the scene. I've got mad respect for you. Even more than I had before. I think its annoying now doing it on the computer entering the grades,  typing the comments, but writing them out for each child must have been a HUGE pain in the ass. Huge.

On the Road to PR City

"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got." This is obviously a totally famous quote that I'm sure everyone has heard before. We can all relate to it on one level or another, right? This is especially true for fitness and weight loss routines.

In January, I made a declaration of certain goals I wanted to achieve in the year 2014. They weren't resolutions because those are Most of them were fitness goals and some more long term than others. One of those goals was to run a sun 4:30 marathon. For some people, this is a snails pace and they would die of embarrassment over it but I'm realistic of my running abilities and anything under a four hour marathon is really not in the cards for me unless I make running my entire life and even with that, I don't know if this body can do that. And I'm okay with that. What I'm not okay with is not PRing this October when I run the Chicago the marathon. I don't care if I run a 4:29:59, but it needs to be faster than a 4:30. It needs to be.

The Pacific NW (and San Fran) by the numbers...

This trip out west all started because of a wedding and ended almost two weeks later;  almost 635 miles away (with many more miles in between). I had an amazing time and if I could go back and do it again, I would. Obviously. I wanted to just keep going,  I cannot believe how much ground I covered and all the things I saw and experienced in such a short amount of time. Traveling sure suits me well.

Last year was my first really big trip and it was out of the country. It really set the groundwork for all my future trips. I was by myself and seeing all new places for the first time. That was a trip was the time of my life and will never be topped. However, being able to go away for two weeks and travel the United States and a bit of Canada this summer did just fine and I still had an incredible time.  Below is a bit of an overview of the last two weeks. Pacific Northwest +San Fran by the numbers if you will...

I love ballparks

Day 13. Wah, wah, wah. It's my last day on vacation. Sure, I have a two week trip to Chicago coming up that I am obviously looking forward to, but a trip like this, seeing all new types of places, is a different kind of trip and I am sad its all over. I did, however, want to make the best of my last morning in San Francisco before heading back to New York City. Since I hadn't run yet here, I had to get it done. I have gotten in probably close to 80 miles in my four days in San Francisco but none of them running. I have walked so much since being here that my legs have been tired and sore. However, after only walking like thirteen miles each of the last two days, I felt that I had to get in a run this morning and that I did. Because San Francisco is so hilly, I had to figure out a way to run here with missing the hills if possible. I also knew that I wanted to be able to run to somewhere that I haven't been to yet and see something new here. I looked at the map and decided I'd run to AT&T Park where the Giants play. I love seeing different sports stadiums and I passed this one on the way into the city days ago in the cab but it seemed so far away. After looking at the map, I realized it wasn't that far at all and I was going to run there.

Two colleges, One Day= Awesomeness

Day 12. This was my last full day of vacation and it's always bittersweet. I hate having to stop exploring new places, having new experiences, and creating awesome memories. At the same time, I'm ready to sleep in my own bed, shower in my own shower, and do some laundry. However, if I had the choice to keep traveling, I most def would. I love traveling. Period.

It's been awesome tracking how far I've walked over this trip, but for the last two days my FitBit band has been on its last legs and this morning it finally snapped. I guess I just literally wore it out with all my walking. Well, not really. I think the oil in my sunscreen wore it down because the same thing happened to it when I was in Florida in February. I was smart enough (naturally) to get some scissors and cut the bad and made it fit inside the key holder in my crops. Perfect.  Luckily it seemed to sense my steps just as well as on my wrist. Once I settled the FitBit debacle, I went online to HopStop directions for my two mini excursions for the day. I was going to head to Berkeley, home of the Braverman clan of Parenthood (duh!) and of course the University of California and then to Stanford University in Palo Alto. I love walking around college campuses and was so excited for this.

I Didn't Want to Escape Alcatraz

Day 11. Another busy day in the City on the Bay. Today's agenda featured the tourist attraction I was most looking forward to in San Francisco, Alcatraz. I bought my tickets many weeks ago to assure I would be able to get here and I was super psyched. On the way there I wanted to stop at Pier 39 again to see the sea lions since they weren't out when I went on Thursday and had heard they are out earlier in the day. I arrived at the pier at around 9:15 am and there were nine sea lions. Nine freaking sea lions. That's it. I was disappointed but at least I got to see a few. Better than nothing. I had purposely gotten up earlier this morning to catch them and they weren't there. Bummer. I had planned to watch them a while and then head to catch my boat to Alcatraz. However, since there were none to watch I decided to kill time the best way I know possible...to eat. Duh. I decided to walk back over to Boudin Bakery to get a piece of real San Franciscan sourdough. I got a roll and some butter and snacked on that. I love carbs.

No More Bridge for Me

Day 10. I had a very "New York" morning for myself in my first full day in San Francisco. I knew there was a Soul Cycle here and I had been jonesing to go so I decided to sign up and take a morning class. My concierge printed me out walking directions to the Soul in the Cow Hollow neighborhood and and I was on my way over there. It was like a 40 minute walk which was totally fine because I got to see more of the city and it was a good warm-up too. The classes here are $4 cheaper than in NYC but I had to rent my shoes and I bought a water too so it all evened out to New York prices. (Plus in NYC I try and take the hour classes if I can to really get my money's worth but there were only the regular 45-minute classes that fit my schedule so I took one of those.) As it pretty much always is, Soul Cycle is a great way to start the day. Afterwards, I treated myself to a fantastic juice from Pressed Juicery. I had heard about it before and my juice was so refreshing and hydrating. A spin and juice morning is always a good morning. In NYC it usually Soul or Revolve followed by Juice Press or Juice Generation. This took the place just fine!

More F'ing Hills!

Day 9. Last night was an early night because of the exahaustion from all of LL and my escapades in Vancouver. I slept like a freaking baby and it was fabulous. I didn't wake up until like 8:45 which is a ridiculously late for me and just laid around a bit before taking one little last walk around Seattle before catching a cab to the airport. It was just my luck that a very nice orthopoedic surgeon who was staying in my hotel was also going to the airport and he asked if I wanted to split the cab with him. Heck yes I did. If only he was 30 years younger and unmarried it would have been even better, but just getting the split the fare was good enough for me I guess. The Seattle airport security was so bizarre in the fact that we didn't have to take our shoes off or take anything out of our bags when they went through the x-ray machine. No one did. There were no bins, no nothing. It did not make me feel too safe but I guess they know what their doing. I made it here all in one piece so all is good.  When I landed in San Francisco I got a taxi and went right to my hotel. Sixty freaking dollars (!!!) later, I was there. I couldn't believe how expensive the cab ride was and was even more grateful that I had split my earlier fare.

Jumping Salmon!

Day 8. This was our last full day in Seattle and it all started with a bus ride once again. Running on three hours of sleep, LL and I begrudging woke up to our alarm to get ready and cab it over to the bus station. Our very short stay in Vancouver was over so soon. We boarded the bus once again trying to claim seats all to ourselves but with this bus making a stop on the way there, it looked unlikely but we succeeded. When we got to the Canadian border we had to once again take everything off the bus and go through customs. Once again, we were able to talk them into to stamping our passports when they weren't doing it for others. Some manners and some charm can get you places sometimes. The previous nights escapades of drinking and eating late night McDonalds didn't exactly do my stomach any favors and I didn't want I have to poop in the bus bathroom so thankfully we were stopping in Bettingham again where I made my way to a grocery store and used their bathroom and finally eat and drink something. I wasn't hungover at all; just super tired and dehydrated and on a bus. At the Bettingham stop more people were getting on so LL and I faked sleep so no one would sit next to us and then we pretended not to hear the announcement if any seats were open. Ooooops. Did I mention how polite and charming we were to the customs agents? That should offset our selfishness on the bus seat front. But you tell me you wouldn't have done the same thing??? And we were most def not the only ones.

I'll be back!

Day 7. Off to Canada, Ay. Home of poutine, mapleleafs, "aboots, Robin Sparkles, and I am sure so much more. Of course on the bus ride there, all I could think of was the "Blame Canada" song from South Park. It was playing in my head over and over again. But seriously, I have only heard positive things about Vancouver so I was excited to see its beauty. In order to head to our northerly neighbors LL and I were up super early to catch a 6:30 am bus. We had to schlep all of our stuff to the bus stop (a cab ride wasn't worth the money) and then show our passports as we got on the bus. The bus ride made one stop in upstate Washington on the way to Vancouver and then got to the Canadian border. With free Wi-fi on the bus that actually was pretty solid this time around I was able to watch some Ladies of London on my computer which was excellent as per usual. I also downloaded A Fault in Our Stars on my phone too so I could read that on the ride and the plane if the Wi-fi craps out. Plus I really want to finish it so I can see the movie when I get home. Anyway, back to the trip at hand here.  When we reached the border, we had to have our customs cards filled out and had to exit the bus with all of our belongings to go through customs. The last time I was in Canada was almost nine years ago when I was a camp director at the 92^nd Street Y and we took the kids to Montreal for a week. That trip was actually the reason I had to get a passport in the first place and it never even got stamped! The nerve. This time around I wanted that Canada stamp. LL and I asked our bus driver if we would get our passports stamped here and he said if we asked they most likely would but they normally don’t. We were the last ones in line and I politely and quietly (and cutely I may add) asked if they’d stamp our passports and they did! Wahoo. It’s the little things in life that make me happy. It was back on the bus another hour and we finally hit Vancouver and cabbed it to our hotel so we could begin our day.

More Donuts

Day 6. In our first full day in Seattle, there was a lot to be seen and do. Or so we thought. Apparently, just like Portland, Seattle doesn’t have that many tourist attractions to see and do. Either that or LL and I just do everything really fast. Check, check, and check. Even with a late start, we were done with our entire agenda for Seattle in less than 2.5 hours.

The day started as I like to do in new cities…with a run. This time it was along the Puget Sound, which was pretty great. Running parallel to the water is my kind of run. And not having humidity out here in the Pacific Northwest has been so amazing with the running and all the site-seeing. My run was along the boardwalk and up on a path that continued after. On this run I just realized how lucky I am 1) to be able to travel like this and 2) that I like to go running even on vacay because I not only get an early lay of the land but I also get to see thing I may not normally see because of where my runs take me. Also running with Mt. Ranier in the background was just picturesque. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I will never get sick of a mountain backdrop. Oh yeah, and I passed the location where Real World Seattle filmed. Equally exciting obviously. I knew the second I passed it that it was the place. I could just picture Steven tossing Irene’s teddy bear in the water. Oh man, such a good season. I need to find out how I can go back and watch it all over again. Real World Portland too for that matter since I am now familiar with both cities. When I got back to the hotel I even double-checked that I was right. Pier 70 baby. I impress myself sometimes with my useless knowledge of reality TV that I have obtained over time. It’s truly a gift. After the run I had to hike back up the brutal hills of Seattle to the hotel and get ready to tackle to the day.

Another Real World reminder!

Days 4-5. Our last night in Portland, LL and I went on a mini "hipster hunting" bar crawl. We started our night at a bar/restaurant by our hotel where a friend of mine from NYC (who now lives in Portland) met us out for some drinks. While in Portland, being the land of craft beer, I knew I couldn't simply order my usual Miller Lite. This bar had over 100 beers on tap so I decided to try something new. When in Rome, right? I started with a Pear Cider and then moved to an Apricot Ale. Both were delicious. And of course LL and I took advantage of the Happy Hour food specials for yet another cheap dinner. From there, my friend drove us over the bridge to a part of Portland we had not yet been to. This was more the local/non-touristy part of town and the hipster part. LL and I had been disappointed thus far of our severe lack of hipster sightings that Portland is so well known for. I had seen a dude in a extremely low V-neck and some jorts, but nothing else too exceptional on the hipster front. My friend assured us where he was taking us would be excellent for hipster spotting and it didn't disappoint. It felt very "Williamsburg-y" so we were all set. LL and I decided to have a beer and people watch at each bar we went to and after a few bars took a cab back to the hotel where we finally went to sleep. 

Beards and Backpacks

Days 3-4. The whole reason I came out west was for my friend's wedding and man, it was beautiful. The wedding was at her friend's parent's house and the grounds of the house looked amazing. The landscaping, the flowers, the set-up...everything looked gorge. I have never been to an outdoor wedding before and this one was just right. It was a small wedding which made it more intimate too. We drank and danced all night and then myself, C, and another friend tried to go out afterwards because we weren't ready for the night to end after the wedding did. Well you know what? A Sunday night in Portland after a long weekend apparently is a tough night to go out. After asking some locals and doing some walking around ourselves, we finally found a bar that seemed halfway decent. Turns out, as soon as we walked in, we realized it wasn't and we were totally out of our element. One, we were still in our wedding clothes and two, we didn't have beards, we didn't have tons of visible tattoos, and we didn't have large backpacks. The crowd was super Portland-y if you will. We had one drink, played a round of Naked photo hunt and called it a night.

Keeping Portland Weird

Days 1-3. No European trip for me this summer, but that doesn't mean I'm not traveling. Instead of #rayrayseurovacay of last summer, this summer its a shorter version, the #rayraysPacNWvacay. Although I know nothing will compare to last summer because of it's overall awesomeness, I am still super jazzed for this trip. Anytime I can go somewhere I've never been before, it's just so cool to me. I just love exploring new places and seeing new things. I am probably not going to document every day like last trip, but def want to do so for at least each location I travel to, if not more! Stay tuned my friends, stay tuned.

Swipe and Wipe

I've now spent about a week on Tinder and boy have I seen a lot. For about every 75-100 guys I see, I swipe right on maybe 1-2 of them. Geez. This definitely feels more like playing a game on my phone than online dating. This is probably why I like it.

Some of my friends know that I joined so we've been talking about it more. We were talking about how it actually seems that there might be nice guys on there that are looking for actual relationships like a regular dating website. They see Tinder as a means of not having to put any effort into a profile and still have some good options. When they go on sites like OKCupid or Match, they have to fill out time consuming surveys and profiles, but on Tinder, its just a sentence or two and a couple pics. Easy-peasy. And once again, you can't contact anyone or be contacted anyone if it wasn't a mutual swipe right between the two of you.

I AM a lady

Every now and then I come across an article where I feel the need to respond to it and make my opinions clear on the topic at hand. Sometimes I whole-heartedly agree with the article and other times I just want to bitch slap the author.  Luckily I was on the same page as the one I recently read. The article Thought Catalog (one of my go-to blogs) entitled "6 Things We Need to Stop Telling Women They Need to Do struck a chord with me. The article was basically about  how if you want to be a "real lady" you are expected to do certain things. Well, you know what I say to that? Fuck that. That's right. Fuck that. There is no one thing that defines you as a lady or not. And not one thing that defines someone as attractive or desirable. You know why? Because as the old adage goes, "To each their own." I know I am not the right fit for every guy (Believe me, I certainly know that!!) and not every guy is the right match for me. However, I know one day my brand of me will be considered attractive and desirable to someone. And if its not, then at least I will have been true to myself and been me. I am not going to pretend to be someone or something I a not just to impress a guy. That's not how I roll.

Left!

So my curiosity finally got the best of me...I did it...I bit the bullet and downloaded Tinder to my phone. (Relax mom!!) Almost all my single friends have it and use it or have used it in the past. And I always hear people talking about it and although I know I won't meet my future husband using it, (and I'm super anti-online dating) I downloaded it. And I have to admit, it's kind of fun. It's like a game! I mean, I'm excellent at pre-judging people on their looks so this app is just up my alley.

Another 16 weeks

On my run this morning, my second week into marathon training, my mind began to wander as it always does. At eight in the morning it was already 82 degrees and the humidity was at like 80%, so basically, I was miserable. It was way later than I usually run and way hotter and more humid than any normal person likes to run in. Of course, as I was fatigued and sweating like a beast, I began to wonder why I do this to myself. Why do I torture myself with eighteen weeks of training to run one race of 26.2 miles? Um, its because I'm crazy. Duh. Well, that's only half correct. It's also because I loooovvvveee a good challenge, and training for a marathon is always a challenge. It's something that never gets any easier no matter how many times I do it. And baby, this is my eighth time. (Actually my tenth time attempting to train. Two times, I had to bail because of bad Ulcerative Colitis flares.) This year I am running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. I am taking it back to my roots ten years after where it all began with my first marathon. I look back now and realize I totally didn't know what I was getting myself into or how it would change me.

I run because...

Did you know that today is National Running Day? Yes, it's a real holiday. And yes, it's today! So Happy National Running Day to you and yours!

I celebrated my National Running Day as I usually do: waking up at the crack of dawn to get in my morning run. It completes me. Although it was super humid this morning and I had to cut my run short because of that (humidity is my kryptonite), it still helped jumpstart my day. My morning runs give me the energy I need to head to work with a smile on my face and some pep in my step. I even donned a new pair of running shoes on this morning's run making it even more of an event. Wearing new shoes is always fun, but when they are neon yellow, red, and black, its even more fun. Duh!

Real loss.

Just last week, I wrote about how upset I was about losing a football game. I also stated that in the grand scheme that is life, losing a football game is almost meaningless. That could not have been made clear in the last two days. 

Yesterday I took a sick day from work because I was feeling overwhelmed, overtired, and just straight up exhausted. The past three weeks have been insane and busy and I am not ashamed to say I needed a day to myself. For the first time in my nine year teaching career, I took a mental health day. (My second day off the entire school year. Only second to the personal day I took after the marathon. I deserved this.) I needed to take a day and really take care of myself, get my thoughts together, and get a final pick-me-up for the rest of the home stretch of the school year. After a run, completing some errands and treating myself to lunch, I made my way to Central Park to simply just relax and take in some sun.  As I finished opening my blanket, my phone rang and it was my assistant principal calling. She had already texted me in the morning to see if I was okay because, like I said, I don't really ever miss school so I was curious why she was calling me on my "sick day."  When I picked up the phone, she had told me she had some very bad news for me that she had to tell me before I saw the news or heard from anywhere else. One of my ninth grade students, a 14-year-old boy, had been hit by a car and killed that morning. I was shocked. Sad. And devastated. This quiet, shy boy whom I not only taught in class (who I had inside jokes with (nicknames and science raps) and loved to see smile, laugh and break out of his shell a little) was also in my homeroom, was now dead. Gone. Fourteen years old. My heart hurt. Cue my utter shock and disbelief and the tears. The many, many tears. 

I'm a loser at losing

I am going to just put it out there: I fucking hate to lose. I don't just hate it. I FUCKING hate it. And frankly, I am not good at it. Simply put, I'm a loser at losing. I don't handle it well and it almost always ends in tears for me. It can be embarrassing sometimes, but such is my reality. This has always been an issue of mine and one that I can't seem to grow out of. Sometimes my competitive edge gets the best of me to an unhealthy degree. It happens with the pressure of I put on myself with running, and it carries over into other aspects of my life.

As many of you know, I spent this spring coaching a girls flag football team. I have coached the bowling team the last seven years (and none with winning seasons) and as much fun as it is, it's not a contact, competitive team sport like football. Growing up playing a ton of team sports, I know what its like to be a part of a team. There is so much more to it than playing. It's the game itself and the bond you form with your team. I know how it feels to win big games and lose big games. Obviously the feelings after these are dramatically different but the losses seem to be the ones I remember because of how upset I was after. Those games always seem to haunt me. (I can still vividly remember how my basketball season ended senior year of high school. Home playoff game. We were top seeded and lost to one of our rivals (who we had previously beaten already) with an half court buzzer beater. Needless to say, I was inconsolable. Yes, it still haunts me. I have issues, okay!)

I CAN Make it Anywhere!

Well, it's finally happened...I'm officially a New Yorker. Today is the ten year anniversary of my big move to New York City. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, right? Well, I've made it suckas. Not that there was ever any doubt in my mind.

But really, this anniversary is a huge deal to me. Huge. Ten years is a long freaking time in a place where I was planning to just stay one year. A place I pretty much came to on a whim. A city where I knew no one and had only been to one time prior. It was a giant leap of faith that I took and sometimes I still have to pinch myself to believe I really did it and have been here ever since. It was one of the wisest decisions of my life and I couldn't be happier with my choice.

Happy Mother's Day Mama!

It's Mother's Day today, so first and foremost, Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there. But most importantly, HMD to my mama!! My mom, my best friend, my twinsie. This wonderful woman who gave me life and made me the woman that I am today. This is a woman who I talk, text, Snapchat, and/or FaceTime with multiple times a day. This is a woman who deserves an entire blog post dedicated to her. Why? Because as much as she annoys me from time to time (let's call a spade a spade here!), I am beyond lucky to have her as my mom.

My mother and I are closer than many mother-daughters I know. It wasn't always smooth sailings with us, but over the years we have just gotten closer and closer. Many people still joke that even though we are 800 miles apart, that the cord still hasn't been cut. Hey, I'm, okay with that.

Only the lonely...

Lately things have been going really well. Spring is in the air, the weather has finally improved (and I can get my tan on), and work is fun (well at least the coaching part (but the other part ain't so bad either)). However, as great as these things are, I find myself not being able to fully enjoy them. The fact is that I am lonely. I am really, really lonely and it makes me sad a lot of the time. It's utterly embarrassing to admit to but its the truth. (And as you know this blog is sometimes my sounding board for this kind of stuff, regardless how personal or embarrassing.)

You'd think in a city as big as New York, "How can one feel that lonely?" but when there are so many people around and not one of them is "yours," it can make it feel that way. You see others together hand in hand walking down the street, giggling, and just enjoying each other's company, and heck yes it makes me envious. I'm not gonna lie, I want that. I'm ready for it.

So. Much. Fun.

Anyone that reads this blog or who knows me well knows I'm pretty much obsessed with sports. I love watching and playing most of them. It doesn't hurt that I am also good at them, naturally. Although my playing days are over except for the occasional rec league softball, football, or basketball game, I miss competition. Sure, I constantly compete with myself with my running and other fitness related activities and am always trying to better myself, but I often miss competitive team sports.

When I started teaching, I knew I wanted to get into coaching as well. Basketball was the obvious choice for me, but they already had a coach. However, the position of bowling coach opened up my second year and I took it. Why not, right? I have been coaching the bowling team the last seven years and its fun, but I wouldn't exactly say what I do is coaching. Sure, I give them some pointers here and there, but its more supervising and organizing. It doesn't have the excitement level of football or basketball.

Right back at it...

It's been a little over a month since my last post. Unfortunately, my Ulcerative Colitis flare did not leave as fast as it came. First I tried prednisone. No improvement. Then Flagyl (an antibiotic). Mild improvement followed by a stand still. Finally, I got my Remicade treatment moved up three weeks early and that seemed to do the trick. Such a relief. Five weeks of misery, pain, and thoughts of "okay, should I just go the ER now" running through my head each night. Suuuucccckkkks.  However, I am now thrilled to say that I am 100% back to good ole me. And I'm so grateful. When you are sick week after week, you start to forget how nice it is to sleep through the night without having to get up 8-10 times to poop. You realize that having a solid poop is such a treat. (You're welcome to all of you that got texts from me telling you as much!) And you forget how nice it is to wake up and think "Whoa, I feel good today." It's a feeling I certainly don't take for granted.

It better leave as fast as it came!

March, you are starting out to be a mega bitch and I'm not liking you. February was ending so well for me and I was looking forward toward spring and all the good that was on the way. I've really been trying to stay positive lately. The start of the year has been rough on me and I had been in quite a funk. The last three weeks or so I was starting to come out of it a bit. So far the year 2014 has been all about me bettering myself and trying to love myself more. I'm not going to lie, this has been quite a struggle for me, but I am taking baby steps in getting where I want and need to be. Then Friday night happened...

Is Strong really the New Skinny?

Go on Instagram and search any of the fitness related hashtags (#fitspo, #fitfam, #fitness, etc...) or accounts. There are a ridiculous amount of them and they are insane. Training tips. Meal prep. Bangin' bodies. Motivational quotes. I sometimes find myself falling into that rabbit hole and have to crawl my way out, sometimes with inspiration and sometimes feeling like a fat beast.

Lately all the rage in the fitness (and dare I say mainstream) world seems to be that "Strong is the new skinny" or "Fit > skinny." This new frame of mind should make me happy. It's something I have always thought actually, but now seems to be gaining some momentum with everyone else. I never wanted to be a skinny-mini;  I wanted a toned, chiseled frame. Although, I do have an athletic build, I constantly struggle with the way I look and accepting my body because it isn't what I want it to be. Having this new change in direction of what is attractive should work for me to some degree with body-image issues, right? Well...I'm not so sure about that.

Almost a New Yorker!

I have lived in New York City for nine and three quarter years now. (Can you believe it? Who would've thought!!)  I am about three months away from hitting my ten year anniversary, therefore making me a New Yorker. Don't you know once you live here for ten years, its official?! Heck, maybe I will even have a party for myself. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, right? That's the age old saying, isn't it? Well, NYC, our relationship has had some bumps and bruises along the way, but you know I heart you.

Having lived here for so long, I have picked up on the many wacky and outrageous nuances this city offers. (But not a lot of the lingo. (Never!) Sorry, but pop, gym shoes, and waiting IN line are here to stay.) There is so much to be thankful for and to love in this great metropolis and I feel lucky quite often for living here and getting to experience it all. Sometimes I will catch myself in a moment here (running parallel to the statue of liberty, a big snowstorm and seeing the beauty of Central Park, etc...) and have to pinch myself and ask "Do I seriously live in New York?" It's that good.

That one time...

A friend sent me this picture the other day and I literally laughed out loud. You see, I had a very similar experience the first (and only...and last) time I had a pot brownie. Never again. NEVER.

I can look back and laugh at it now but when I had my first pot brownie and tweaked the fuck out, I was terrified. And paranoid. And insane. I actually can't believe I have never written about my experience before because although I was slightly embarrassed by my reaction to it, it was just so beyond ridiculous that I still can't believe it happened.

So here's the story of that one time I had a pot brownie...

Sports have Shaped Me

Most people that know me well know that sports are an important part of my life. They always have and always will be. I truly believe that all the sports I played when I was younger and the lessons and skills they have taught me have shaped me to be the woman I am today. This is something I am very proud of because I believe that playing sports has made me a strong, independent woman.

This week I attended an event for work at Madison Square Garden for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Myself and other coaches in my school chaperoned 35 of our female athletes to this event where professional females spoke to our students and sat on a panel and answered questions for our girls. The girls got to see a female nutritionist who works with NFL and MLS teams, a former WNBA player, a college Athletic Director and a high school athletic director. Sports have obviously been an integral part of all these women's lives and they wanted to share their experiences with our girls and show them what sports had afforded for them as women and as professionals today.

Thought Catalog Had Me Thinking!

So this is a post I've been wanting to write for a few weeks now, but just didn't have it in me. I didn't know if I had the words or even the courage to write it all out. And then today, as I do everyday, I was reading Thought Catalog. And as I do everyday, I found an article that I think "damn, is this person in my head?" Sometimes these articles are about dating and relationships, sometimes random New York (or Chicago) observations, and sometimes self-image. Today, I found one particular article about self-image that resonated with me so freaking much. It was as if I could have written it myself. The article, written by an anonymous author was very personal and very honest. I know that many of you know me personally so there is no anonymity for what I am about to write here. However, at the end of the day, this blog is mine and the content is for ME. Sure other people (family, friends, and even strangers) read it and get a peak into my life and into my brain, but it is also a diary of sorts and since my current funk has been a part of my life lately, it should belong on here in one way or another.  

Crushin' on my FitBit

I made this meme myself and it is cracking me up!

So guess what guys? I have a new crush. And his name is FitBit. Fitbit Flex. We've only been together a few days now, but I'm crushin' for sure. Since we've been introduced, he hasn't left my side, so I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious.

Mr. Flex comes with me everywhere I go and I listen to everything he tells me. He's pretty knowledgeable and encourages me to stay active and fit (as if I really need that anyway). The only time we are apart is when I tire him out and he has to recharge. Pretty standard.

But anyway, for serious, I recently got a new FitBit and I love it. After hemming and hawing over one for almost six months, I finally caved and bought one. For the lovely price of $99.99 (this price is why I waited to pull the trigger on this purchase), my new piece of jewelry tracks my daily steps, distance traveled, calories burned, and even my sleep patterns. I'm in heaven.

Memory Jar: Hate the Name, LOVE the idea

Idea of the Jar

So far 2014 has been all about me. (More or less.) I've been all about trying to better myself and make myself happier. Me, me, me. It's been about trying to be more positive mentally and although it continues to be a constant struggle I will not roll over and be complacent. So when I saw this article yesterday on Elite Daily about a memory jar, I was inspired to make this year more memorable and special for myself. 

I had never heard of a memory jar before (and frankly, I don't like the name of it at all so if you have a better one, please let me know in the comments), but I LOVED the idea of it. The jar's purpose is to "Challenge yourself to collect your best moments all year and then empty the jar on New Years Eve." As we know, I love a good challenge, so of course I wanted to take this on. 

Yes I am a Girl. And Yes I Love Sports

Okay listen up folks... I am a female. And I know and love sports!!

I love playing sports and I love watching sports. And I make no apologies for this. I was an athlete my whole life (and still consider myself one), so sports have been, and will continue to be a huge part of who I am. Recently, there was an article on Thought Catalog entitled "10 Struggles Every Female Sports Fan Knows." Basically, it was my life summed up. #TheStruggle.

If you don't want to go read that article, that's totally great because you can just stay right here and get MY point of view. I totally agree with all of the author's struggles and share VERY similar opinions on this matter. Therefore, I am going to use her ten struggles and address them in my own way from my experiences of being a female sports fiend.

I'm Ready to Chew Again!

This was it. The home stretch. I did it. I mean, I wasn't surprised that I did though. When I start something, I finish it. (And if I am spending as much money as I did here, you better believe I am not messing around.)  And although I was most definitely hungry (and a little lightheaded) on the last day of this cleanse, I can already feel the benefits of this. Get 'em giiirrrlllll.

On this final day I was beyond busy at work and just didn't have the time to really keep track of all the ridiculous thoughts through my head. Instead I think them, giggle at my ridiculousness, and move on. I actually think this was a good thing because I was slightly more irritable today so there were quite a few not-nice things going through this brain of mine. What I've written over the previous two days were super PG and tame for me and I didn't want to shock people too much with my brand of crazy, critical, and annoyance today. However, one thing that I did notice today, multiple times, was that I was hungry; especially at night. Like wanted to gnaw-my-own-hands-off hungry. Although full with liquid, my body craved food. Real solid food. And healthy food at that...Avocado, tomato, bananas, quinoa, etc... Yum, yum. Can't wait.

Cleanse 2, Day 2!

So I survived my first day and night surviving on only six Blueprint juices yesterday.  Now it's onto day two. This is the hump day of the cleanse. The day after the first day and the day before the last. I can do this!

I had the exact same menu in the exact same order as I did on day one. I did however, get to sleep in a little later than the first day so therefore started my juices a little later which helps me pace a little better and not stress so much about timing them out.

I woke up before my alarm (no surprise there since 7:30 is majorly sleeping in for me (I'm usually up around five) and I knew I wouldn't make it that late). I actually wasn't hungry and felt pretty invigorated. I like it!

Juice Cleanse, Take Two

So here I go again. About to embark on yet another 3-day juice cleanse. The last time I did was right after Spring Break last April in order to give my body (and my mind) a reset. It wasn't about losing weight, but was about challenging myself to see if I could do it. And to rid my body of all the crap I had put in it recently by being at home and eating my face off. I had never done a cleanse before and didn't know what to expect, and after three days I felt rejuvenated, energetic, and excited to have a clean slate internally. It was kind of a cool feeling and one that I am ready for again. I need another reset. Big time. This time around I have been eating pretty healthy and exercising like a fiend, but I still feel I need to hit the "start over" button; more for the mental component which this gave to me last time. Fingers crossed it does the trick again.

This time around I am trying a different cleanse, the Blueprint Cleanse. Last time I had a hard time choosing between Blueprint and the Cooler Cleanse as both were equally popular and highly recommended. Cooler Cleanse won out because it was a little cheaper; however, this time I had a coupon code for Blueprint so I decided to give it a go. It's the same deal though: six juices a day for three days. Nothing else. Nada. Zilch. Just the juices. 

Where Are All the Cute Men At, Yo?

The other day I was looking for a new book to read in my school's library. Then I saw it, with it's hot pink cover and some silver sparkle...It just kind of stood out to me. The name of the book...ready for it? How to Meet Cute Guys. Of course this is the book that caught my attention right away. Nothing like a little young adult novel (yes a novel, not a self-help book) to spark my interest on a topic I apparently need help with. I decided to pass on checking it out; however, I did skim it. I'm human after all. 

 Later in the day, I was talking about this book with my friends joking that I was going to take it home and read it cover to cover and we were joking around that unless cute guys are coming right to our doors (which they aren't), we aren't meeting them. This got me thinking, where can us girls meet some cute guys in this freaking city? I mean, seriously!! 

Welcome to the Grind

Every once in a while there is an inspirational video or commercial (or both rolled into one) that has a big impact on me. Like it gives me major goosebumps and I really "feel it" and want to just put it on repeat. When I first saw Nike's "Rise and Shine" motivational clip (which I may or may not have watched over and over again), I sat there with my mouth agape and eyes welling up, just thinking "Wow, this gets me." The song, the cinematography, the message, the tone. Everything. It was just so "me."

I just felt like this ad was talking to me. Understood me. I connected with it. I have always been an athlete and although I am not a professional, I am always working toward something. Whether its a race or a specific goal or just being a better individual overall, I always strive to better my best and find my greatness. I think we all should. I know it sounds corny, but there is greatness in everyone and it is our job to bring it out the best that we can in ourselves. Only we have control over that.

Ready, Set, Go(al)

I am not one to make resolutions every year. I don't want a quick fix in life; I want something that is going to stick for a long time. Something that I can constantly work for. Something like a goal. Yeah, I like goals. As an athlete, having something tangible to work toward to is always fun for me.

Just recently, one of my friends, who also writes a blog, wrote a post with her 2014 goals and that inspired me to do the same. Goals sound much better than resolutions because they are something you are continually working toward. With the new year coming and going and my 32nd birthday doing the same, it's time to really get it together and put pen to paper and make things happen. Now don't get me wrong, I am super together, but there is always room for improvement. I have been thinking a lot lately about what I can do to better myself (physically and mentally) this year, but not so much in the resolution sense, but in the lifestyle sense. I don't want these things to fall to the wayside after a few weeks (or months) which is why I think it was good to verbalize them and get them out there. By writing them and posting them, I am making them more real and therefore holding myself accountable.

Reality Me?

With the 22nd and final season of the Real World just starting on MTV last week, it has got me thinking 1) I am so old compared to these people 2) I wish I could('ve) be(en) on that show and never went for it. I am not embarrassed or ashamed to admit I still watch and enjoy this show. I have seen every single season and still find it entertaining. It was the show that started it all.

Now most of you know, I love me some reality TV. I mix it all up with some quality shows (Parenthood, Blue Bloods, Girls, etc...) also, but I can't give up the good stuff. In fact, there are some reality shows that I not only continue to watch if still on the air, but wouldn't mind being on if given the opportunity. Seriously. I think I would make for great TV. Facts. With all that being said, here are the six reality shows that I would LOVE to be on...

Onto the new with 32!

Well friends, its happening again. Just like it does every year, I am turning a year older. Thirty-fucking-two. I'm old. The good news is that I don't feel like I am 32. And also, if I must speak honestly (don't I always?!), I don't think I look it either. I'm assuming everyone agrees with that statement too so it's all good. Wink, wink. But really, in most aspects of life, you are only as old as you feel and to not feel ancient right now is good enough for me. 

As I've done the last two years that I've had this blog and celebrated a birthday, I like to look back and highlight my year. As with anyone, along with the highlights always come some lowlights and from them I can only learn and grow. As I get older, I continue to evaluate some of my mistakes and do my damnest not to repeat them. I'm not perfect, so yeah, sometimes I do make the same mistake twice. It frustrates the hell out of me, but in the end, it does make me stronger and better. So as I did last year, I am starting with the lows of the year and ending with the highs hoping to start 32 with a bang. Without furthur ado, here is how 31 went for me...