Crazyness

I can't even believe it's only a week and a half until Christmas.  Where has my life gone?  Oh, that's right, I have two jobs that suck every free second away from my life.  Whether I'm at work, driving to and from work, stressed about the drama at work or just exhausted from work, I basically have no life outside of work.  Except Saturdays.  My one day to be free to sleep, laugh, live my life, spend time with my man friend, and pretend I have even the slightest resemblance to a weekend. 

This is why I have officially decided to start looking for other jobs, preferably only one job with regular, normal hours.  That concept seems so foreign to me and so, so wonderful.  I have been looking for months upon months for a job, but cannot find much.  I'm hoping that with my new found optimism towards my future and life will give the universe the positive energy it needs to give me the greatest job I could ever hope for.  And if that doesn't happen, I'll just take normal hours, please.  Thanks.

Surprise!

Last week was epically stressful for both Mark and I, so when Friday finally rolled around I was particularly excited/ relieved.  Mark had been out of town, so I decided that when he got home I would take him on an adventure.  I am not the most decisive person on the planet, so I think the majority of Mark's excitement was that everything was planned and set up and didn't require any decision be made.

So first we had dinner reservations as a little local place called Serratos.  It was delicious.  I wanted the waiter to take our picture, but he was MIA for most of the meal.  Hense these awesome, awkward pictures:

After dinner we went to destination 2: the city lights overlook.  You couldn't tell, but you can see the whole city from where we were.  There was also a bush.  

So we hung out, drank our Irish Cream steamer and talked and enjoyed each other's company.  Then, we got a little antsy.  And then this happened:  Yeah we are dorks.  

After that we went to the waterfront and walked on the boardwalk and got some delicious dessert.  Sorry, no pictures, there was too much eating going on.

a little perspective

Sometimes when you think life is going along too smoothly, something jumps up and completely shatters your world.  Or in my case, my best friend's world.  Life has a funny way of reminding us that everything can change in a split second.   Life is too short to worry about the little, petty things and sometimes we need those big bumps in the road to realize what in life is truly important.  

I meant for my last NaBloPoMo post to be one of sarcasm, joy and celebration for making it a whole month of blogging (almost) everyday.  But now that seems silly.  

So I'll close my post with one of my favorite quotes and one I wish I lived my life by:

"Life journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but to slide in sideways, thoroughly worn out, totally used up and shouting 'holy shit, what a ride!'"

Ironman Arizona video

You can see me and Mark's friend Doug sitting on the curb to the left of the people holding to Colorado flag at 6:27.  No big deal, but I'm basically famous now.

I'm an aunt! sorta...

After 18 hours of labor, no epidural and pain that I cannot even imagine, my cousin Lindsey gave birth to her first baby, Anthony Michael, at 3:01 a.m. this morning.  I am so happy for her and Mike and can't even explain how proud of her I am for doing that naturally.  It hurts just thinking about it.

Anthony Michael Sunderhaus

For those of you who aren't familiar with the chronicles of Lindsey and Kelly, let me recap.  We are cousins, but more like sisters and I would spend every summer with Linds and the rest of the family in Ohio and on Norris Lake, Tennessee.  I was Lindsey's Maid of Honor and she will be mine.  We have more inside jokes than I can even list and we've been through more than I could possibly get into on a blog.  Not only do we have a song, but we have a poem.  Yeah, a poem. 

So in honor of Linds' amazing birthing accomplishment, here's a photo montage of our adventures:

When Linds came to visit Portland in 2010

Vegas in 2009

New Years 2007/2008!

Linds' wedding, 2007

Mexico 2006!

I wish we didn't live a gazillion miles away, but we still love each other!  fififififififi.  (that's one of our jokes).

Mmm Food

Oh Thanksgiving!  I love it.  And I got 2 Thanksgivings this year!  Thursday we went to Mark's parent's and had a mellow dinner.  Then Saturday we ventured over the river and through the woods to Mark's brother's house in Bend.  It was loud and crazy and fun!  Lucy is best friends with Roy's dog Mason- so they played and played for 2 days straight.  Lucy even went deer hunting.  Well, she stared at a deer really confused for a while, then wandered off.   It was fun and I definitely stuffed myself.  

On the way to Bend!!

Sooo glad I captured proof of this!  Lucy loves sticking her head out the window- even at 65 mph  with wind literally blowing her eyelids open.

Deer hunter

Caroline walking!!

Crazy driver Austin

Lucy passed out on the way home.  Rough life for our little Princess.

Another gem...

I'm about to go to bed and am seriously lacking ideas to write about.  So, to the rescue, is my old facebook friend/ teen mother/ professional user of the English language.  One of my favorites:


"I want a romantic moment on a sale boat"
Thursday at 9:24 p.m. via facebook mobile.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It's Thanksgiving, which is crazy considering I feel like it should be about September. Mark and I went to his parent's house for a great dinner and to catch up.  We got to tell them all about the Ironman and Arizona and Lucy even got her own plate of turkey and mashed potatoes.  She was also in a food coma afterwards.  

This is my second Thanksgiving away from my family, and I will say it's considerable easier this year.  I feel like I have a second family with Mark's parents and brother and that makes up for not being with mine.  I have so much to be thankful for and feel so blessed to have found the whole Dean clan.  I also know now what amazing friends I have and how great my family is. 

Here's my favorite picture of my family at Thanksgiving...

 

Pie

I love pie.  I have always loved pie.  Even when it's not very good pie.  I still love pie.  Tomorrow I get to make/ nom nom on some pumpkin pie.  This makes me happy.  It also makes me happy that Mark doesn't like pumpkin pie, so Mark's Mom, Lily, and I get the split the whole pie.  Consider this your warning Lily, I will probably make the slices slightly uneven in favor of me eating more pie than you.

Lucinda

Lucy has been ignored for the last week or so, so I better update all of you on her most recent habits, diet, hobbies and interests.
Habits:  She loves chewing on bobby pins.  She finds them EVERYWHERE and them nibbles them between her front teeth.  It's pretty funny.
Diet:  Still enjoying her Nature's Balance food.  Yep, and also pumpkin.  It's good for her.  Who knew?
Hobbies: Sleeping, chasing the ball, sniffing, peeing, sleeping, pooping, playing.  Repeat.
Interests:  Small dogs, big dogs, hot dogs, bobby pins, finding bobby pins, exploring, romping in tall grass.

She won't ever drop her bone

She's a good hiker

Back to Reality

After spending 6 glorious days in Arizona, we are back in rainy, cold Oregon.  It was really hard to look out the window and literally watch the sun disappear behind us.  It was pouring rain and 46 degrees when we got into PDX.  Not the best welcome.

But we are both still on a huge high from the race.  Part of me can't believe he did it and he just accomplished something he's been working towards for over a year.  It was an emotional journey for both of us, and I am so proud to be apart of it!  

YAY!

MARK IS AN IRONMAN!!

He has dreamed about this day for years and I have had so many thoughts and plans about his crossing that finish line.  It was a very emotional journey for both of us and he fought long and hard to conquer this!

14:08.  Yes, that's 14 hours and 8 minutes.  I am in awe.  I am so proud of my IronMark.

Neil, IronMark and IronDan

IRONMAN

AHH!!  Tomorrow is the big day!  Mark has talked about this day since the day I met him and now it's finally here!  Follow him online at ironmanlive.com- bib #1034.  He starts at 6:40am and should be finishing up around 7 or 8pm.  Should be an amazing day.  I'm packing my tissues!!

Rough life

Mark and I are in downtown Tempe, enjoying a lovely smoothie.  It's 75 degrees, sunny and I'm wearing a dress and flip flops.  It's basically amazing.  There are more and more people down here now and, if it's possible, even more excitement about the race.  We are headed up to Scottsdale this afternoon to hang out and explore.  Then it's to bed early to get some good Ironsleep.

We spent the night with Mark's friends the Sibley's last night.  They have an adorable daughter named Berlin and a bulldog named Bentley.  Mark is best friends with Bentley.  We have one more night with them, then tomorrow we get the hotel for the rest of the 2 nights.

Here's Mark and his best friend Bentley.

He loves belly rubs.  So does Bentley!

Look at that face!

Sun and SUN!

We made it into town last night and Mark's good friend Carl picked us up at the airport.  We stayed the night at his house with his family and had even got delicious IronMan shaped pancakes this morning.  Carl has Parkinson's and he is an absolute inspiration to everyone around him.  Mark has talked about him alot, so I was so happy to finally meet him.  He truly loves Mark and they find motivation and inspiration in each other.  They were even crazy enough to go to the gym together at 5am this morning.  No, I did not go with them.

So now we are in Tempe, about to register and get Mark's bib and go IronMan shopping!  Everywhere you look there are Ironmans and men with shaves legs and IM tattoos.  It's pretty fun and you can really feel the excitement in the air.  It's going to be an epic trip to say the least!

We made it!

No internet, so I'm texting this.  It still counts as a post!!

PHOENIX!!

We are headed to Phoenix tomorrow and I'm so excited!  I have not had a vacation in a long time and now that it's starting to get wet and depressing here, I need some sunshine in my life now more than ever!  We are going to spend some time with Mark's friends, his old boss, our friends Dan and Rachael (Dan's doing the IronMan with Mark) and my good buddy Pete from college is coming up from Tuscon to see us too!  It should be fun and definitely much needed.

And just to rub it in a little bit more, here's the weather forecast...

I don't want to blog

It's 10:47p.m. I'm tired.  I just got home from work and I have a 13 hour day tomorrow.  So here's a funny picture.

This American Life

Since I drive so G.D. much these days, I have started listening to a lot of NPR.  Most of the time I just like listening to the news so I know what's going on in the world.  But sometimes I hear stories that I still talk about.  I can't even count how many times I start a story with "So I heard this story on NPR..."

Sundays are my favorite.  In the morning I get the Sunday Puzzle with NY Times Puzzle Master Will Shortz.
Then there's my dear friend Ira Glass on This American Life.  It's pretty entertaining.  You can find it on the website:  www.ThisAmericanLife.org and download the free podcast!!

Babies

There must be something in the water because I know sooo many people who are preggo!  My cousin Lindsey, my friend's sister just had a baby, my friend from elementary school, a random girl who my brother knows who I've never met but she asked me to be friends on Facebook so I accepted, my cousin's sister-in-law, Jessica Simpson...  It sure makes me glad I'm not a Fertile Myrtle nor plan on becoming a Fertile Myrtle anytime within the next 5 years.  I have my furry baby, who is way better than a baby because you can't lock a baby in a cage and go shopping for 6 hours.

So, yes, I am happy for my friends and family and am very excited for them.  But here's a word of advice... please don't post 876 updates on FB every single day about how your baby is so cute when she yawns or she opened her eyes and it's the cutest things ever, or how she blinked and it was so freakin adorable.  Why?  Because it takes away from how exciting and beautiful your baby may be because you are shoving it in our faces all day.  Case in point, a certain person mentioned above shares waaaaaay too much information and her posts have now become a daily joke.  Here's a little taste:

Real FB updates:  (please also notice the amazing grammar)

"So everyone I'm packing my hospital bag cuz I'm having beginning labor and I'm suppose to go into the hospital wen the contractions take my breath away and curl my toes, I'm not there yet. But I've having them since 10am and there 3 to 5 minutes apart and last about 1 to 2 minutes, wish me luck!"

"‎10 centimeters fully dilated and ready to push!!!!!"

"Besides getting really light headed and not knowing where I was, I'm doing great, although I could do without the icepack that's on my stitches down u know where, oh lol I had everyone in the room for my birth, tony, selena and Ian, Desiree, diamond, kaydean, mother and Michael"

"Ok so I would rather go threw the process of being pregnant and give birth a million times then ever have to go threw the recovery! Omg"

"So lillia would rather suck on her binky and hands then breast feed so now Om using bottles. Boo I wanted to breasted but allwell, omg my boobs r huge and feel like rocks!!!"

I feel the same way, baby.

Friends

I have been thinking a lot about friends lately.   Some make you laugh, some give you advice, some people are just fun to be with.  I think finding friends who truly understand,support and love you is a very rare thing.  Everyone single person is unique, everyone has a different perspective and I believe every person you spend time with rubs off a little bit on you. 

I have come to terms with the idea that some friendships aren't meant to be for forever.  Some people come into your life for a while and then leave again.  It isn't a tragedy, it isn't a victory.  It's just life. Then there are the people you will be friends with for years, decades even.  I know that these few will stand next to me during the good and the bad.

Moving to Oregon has left me with such a huge appreciation for my friends.  I am still searching for friends here that can compare to my BFF's.  Who would have known making friends was so hard?!  I miss kindergarten when you were best friends because you have the same favorite color.

"Friendship is like peeing your pants everyone can see but only you can feel the warmth."

Hike!

After work, Lucy and I went for a lovely fall hike in the gorge.   Here are some pretty pictures!  Lucy was my model, she's very good at posing for hot dogs.

Sweatpants and Sex in the City

I am sitting on the couch, trying to think of something I care enough about to write a blog about.  Since nothing is coming to me, I am going to tell you what I'm doing right now.  I am watching Sex in the City the movie, in sweatpants. Now, the first time I saw this movie was right after a particularly depressing breakup and anyone who has seen the movie knows it gets pretty depressing i.e. breakups and cheating.  Both of which were particularly sensitive topics at the time.  I cried my eyes out in the theater and it was awful.  But, the movie was genuinely good and had a happy ending (despite my dreams of all the men on screen to die and fiery, painful death).  So about a year ago, after 2 years of healing I decided to face this movie once again.  And I emerged triumphant!  It's now just an entertaining chick flick, not a depressing reminder of past sucky boyfriends.

Sunrises

So, I guess the one good thing about working at 7am is the sunrises.  It's truly beautiful to see Mt. Hood glowing as the sun comes up.  I have attempted to take pictures with my phone while driving, but that never ends well.  So here's one via that handy thing called the internet that's basically the same thing..

Political Opinion

Politics is one thing I try to stay out of.  Mainly because I don't know enough about anything political to really have a decent conversation with someone, but then again- most people who have political debates aren't necessarily the most educated people either...  But nonetheless, I have expressed my pure hatred for politics numerous times and find the world we live in is becoming more and more about money and power than the greater good of mankind.  I don't get it.
So, sitting here in bed on a random Monday night, I would like to post my first, and probably last, politically themed blog.  Here are the 3 things I care enough about to comment on:
1. Gay rights.  This makes me livid just thinking about it.  Why on earth do we let 2nd cousins, pedophiles, men who are 40 years older than their wives or people like Kim Kardashian get married but not 2 people of the same sex??  And people who use the "it's in the bible" bullshit need to read those chapters or tolerance, loving thy neighbor, or being kind to one another.
2. Women's rights.  Why women are making $.80 to every $1 a man makes is crazy.  If anything, women are better workers than men because we can multitask like no one's business.  Stop punishing us for having uteruses.  It's not our fault.  And it's not 1956- we want careers too, you know.
3.  The HPV vaccine.  This is a shot to PREVENT CANCER!  This is huge! Why on Earth are people so against this?

I can really sum up my whole philosophy right here:  Stop killing each other in the name of war, stop making everything about money and getting more of it, and do the right thing.

Banana Barker

There is no description that could possibly make these pictures better.  

One year!

Well folks, we made it!  It's finally here.  Our anniversary.  Yes, it's been a whole year since Mark and I decided to go steady.  I can't believe it's been a year, but at the same time I can't believe it's only been a year.  I feel like I've been with him for years and with all we've been through, it sure seems like we have.  Traveling, meeting the families, moving in together, adopting our fur baby, everything most people aren't even imagining until much later.  But, what can I say, when you know- you know.  You know?  I am just so happy and feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  

One year ago

One year later

This will make your life.

http://www.27bslash6.com/missy.html

Liquid Crack

Working at a coffee shop again reminds me how crazy people are about caffeine.  A guy bought a large coffee with 6 shots of espresso and triple white chocolate.  Good god dude, are you still alive?  That  shouldn't even be legal.  

Mark's Topic

So it's only day 2 of this NaBloPoMo thing and I'm already seriously lacking in the topic department.  So Mark, being the ever-so-supportive boyfriend he is gave me a topic: my feet.  Oh, yes, good one Mark.  I actually agree it's time to come clean and share with you all my Achilles heel, my only flaw, my defect.  I have bunions.  Phew.  There- I said it.
So, what is a bunion?  It's when your toes start pointing outward instead of straight ahead and then walking, running, heels, non-flip flop shoes, skipping, standing and life in general becomes more and more painful at the ripe old age of 25.   So, Dr. Bowen, my oddly handsome podiatrist, and I decided it's best to go under the knife and have my toes broken and screwed back together.  Fun, huh?  yeah.  So, if you're bored in April, come visit me, I'll be immobile and watching waaay too much t.v.
Here's an xray that isn't me, but darn close.  And a picture of Paul Bunion