2005, what a fun year!

Okay, I've seen this on several of my friends blogs and it got me thinking so I am going to copy them (not the whole thing, but a few of the questions) and let you know just what happened during 2005.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? I ran a half marathon in 1 hr and 47 minutes. I also participated in Hood to Coast.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year? I don't think I made any last year but I have made a few for this year. I am going to run more races and make more time for those friends that live in town yet I hardly see.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes
5. What countries did you visit? Very sadly, I didn't visit any countries. Something is very wrong with this picture.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? Well, that I've lacked my whole life, a trip to Kuaui...oh wait, I am going to have a trip to Kuaui in September, yay!!! And a boyfriend....just kidding.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting out of my old job and getting my new job at the church that I just love!! Also, running the half marathon. Another thing was the finishing of the DUNES mailer and then that everyone liked it. I really felt like I accomplished something huge!
8. What was your biggest failure? Hmmm...I don't think I'll share that with any of you. I'll keep them to myself and call it good.
9. What was the best thing you bought? Much like my friend Lindsy, I bought my tickets to Kuaui. And I bought my sister a iPod shuffle for Christmas, that was pretty darn exciting.
10. Whose behavior merited celebration? This is a weird question but I'll do my best to answer it. I think my brother's behavior has improved a lot over the last several months and that has been great to witness. Also just my family who has to put up with me and still loves me. 11. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? At times my brother (but he has improved greatly) and there are a few other people out there who have appalled me but they shall remain nameless.
12. What song will always remind you of 2005? Songs by Guster and Bebo Norman, I was introduced to them this year and I listened to them a lot.
13. Where did most of your money go? Oh goodness, I would have to say that I spend a lot on food. I eat a lot of fresh food (veggies, fruits, and meats) and that isn't cheap. I'm sure I spent a lot of money on a plethora of other things but food is the first thing that comes to mind. Oh and gas, the prices have been OUTRAGEOUS this year.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Um, I get excited very easily over lots of things, some small some big, so I don't really know. I think I would have to say my job would be one thing that I was super super excited about. Oh, I got pretty excited about the finished DUNES mailer, too. :)
15. What do you wish you'd done more of? Relyed more on God, showed my family that I appreciate them, spent more time with my best girlfriends, and called more people in other states that I hardly ever talk to. Basically just been a better daughter and friend.
16. What do you wish you'd done less of? stressed over dumb things that aren't even in my hands to handle.
17. Did you fall in love in 2005? Thought I could have but nope, still have yet to do that. Maybe this year will be the year.
18. What was your favorite TV program? Lost and CSI (the original)
19. What was the best book you read? There are two, Blue Like Jazz and Safetly Home. Another one that I am reading right now is Knowledge of the Holy.
20. What was your greatest musical discovery of 2005? Guster, I just love their sound, and Michael Buble, his music is so my style.
21. What did you want and get? A new job and a church home
22. What did you want and not get? A water belt for running and a boyfriend...just kidding 23. What was your favorite film of this year? Hmmm, I saw a lot of movies but I really liked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Narnia. I'm sure I like a lot more but I can't think of them off the top of my head.
24. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Hahaha, I don't have a fashion, I just wear what I like and feel comfortable in (unless your talking shoes)
25. What kept you sane? Working out and reading my bible
26. Who did you miss? MARILEE KELSO!!! And Rachel Dueul, and we live in the same city.
27. Who was the best new person you met? Oh dear me, that is a very very tough question to answer because I have met a lot of new people that I have liked a lot.
28. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005. I have learned to really give things to God. He has wisdom we can't even fathom and He never makes a wrong decision. He is watching over us and He never sleeps. That is comforting for me to remember when I am dealing with problems. Give it to God and all will be alright.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Well, I turned 25 this year. I worked and then my friends took me out to the Berlin Inn for some traditional German cheese fondue and the most amazing dessert, then a couple of girls took me downtown and we hit happy hour at Henry's. All in all, it was a very fun birthday. And just so you all know, my birthday is on February 17th, which is about a month and half away. :)
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Hmmm...I think I had a pretty good year. There are a few things that I would have liked to happen but seeing as they didn't and they probably didn't for a good reason, I can't complain. The Lord was good to me this year in more ways than I can even imagine. I wouldn't change any of it.

Now, let's ring in the New Year and see what the Lord has instore for 2006!

New Years Eve and Portland First Run

So, tonight Kristin and I will be going downtown to Pioneer Square to join in all the festivities they are going to be having (food, live music, dancing, etc...) and then at the stroke of midnight we will join the masses on a 3 mile run around downtown. Should be fun, at least in my warped mind. And since one of my New Years resolutions for 2006 is to run more races what better to start off the year than with a nice, easy run, and with a friend no less. The only part I am not looking forward to is the weather aspect. In true Oregon fashion it will be raining on us when we run. Hopefully it won't be too cold and windy, though. I can handle the rain but not so much the wind. Anywho, I'll post pictures next week so you can see how it went and feel like you were right there with us (minus the sweat).

What are you all doing for New Years? I would love to know. Whatever you decide to do, have fun and most importantly, be safe! Love you all! Talk to you next year!

Some of the girls in my life

Here is a picture from the 1.3 camping trip this summer. We had a great time and I just love this picture! I thought I would share it with all you out there in computer land. :)

The pink note

I live in an apartment with my wonderful roommate, Miss Annie Allen. When we moved in we were assigned one covered parking space that is our very own and no one else can use it. And as is the case with most apartment complex's, all the uncovered parking spaces are open for anyone to use, guests or the second roommate. Well, last night I was the roommate that had to locate a spot that was uncovered. I drove around for a bit trying to find the closest one and finally found one that I had never used before but in a great location (not quite the money spot but close). Now, every morning I get up before the crack of dawn and head to the gym to get my daily sweat session out of the way for the day. It's Oregon so it's been raining a lot lately and this morning was no exception. After I started my car, and mind you it's still dark outside, I got my wipers going so I would be able to see while I'm driving. I heard my wipers make a weird noise so I looked at my windshield and there was something on it. Oh no, who's soliciting what now? I opened my door, reached out (trying not to have to get up and out of my car so I wouldn't get even more wet) and grabbed the thing off my windshield. When I took a closer look at what had been put on my windshield this is what I saw.


Yes, someone had put a note on my windshield in a plastic baggy so I would be sure to get it. And incase you can't read the note I'll tell you what it said. "Why are you parked in my spot? It is reserved for me. I've been parking here for 8 months. I will have you towed if you park here again. Have a great nite!" What in the world?! Uncovered spots aren't reserved, and if they do happen to be reserved they are clearly marked, and this one iwas and is not. My roommate parked here a few weeks ago and was not issued any such note. I guess I should be thankful that she didn't have me towed, that wouldn't have been very condusive to my morning routine. She was also nice enough to wish me a nice "nite!" (an exclamation point and everything) She had time to write the note and put it in a baggy but I guess not enough time to spell the word correctly...hmmmm. I'm going to go ask my apartment managers when I go home this afternoon about this little situation. Who knows, I could have been mistaken about the spot being reserved and missed the markings. Or we could just have a crazy on our hands who doesn't understand the rules of apartment parking: Uncovered, unmarked spots are for anyone, thank you very much.

Well, I just thought I would share this little story with you. Thought it was kinda funny.

IT'S HERE!!!

Well, everyone, I am pleased to introduce you to my iPod nano. Isn't it cute? So small, so sleek.










If you read the post about my Christmas day you would know that "Santa" wasn't quite able to fulfill my Christmas wish of getting a nano (I had to settle for an arm band instead). My dad said he was on a waiting list and didn't know when they would come in again so I didn't think I would be getting it until later in January or something. Every Thursday my dad and I have a lunch date and we head to Sandy to enjoy a lovely meal at the Tollgate Inn. When we got back to the church and I was about to get out of the car he reached into the back seat saying "What's this? Who put this here? I don't remember there being anything in the back seat earlier." I know my dad pretty well to know that this means that my dad has something for me but I couldn't figure out what it could be. Then he pulled out the little black box that said those two beautiful words: iPod nano. I couldn't believe I was holding my very own nano. I thought I was going to break it when I took it out of the box, it's so stinkin tiny. Isn't my dad swell! He's too good to me, thats for sure. Thanks dad, love you! Now I'm just having fun downloading music and trying to figure it all out.

This will be me in the morning when I go to the gym.

Reality TV show show's there's no quick fix

Wanna know what my favorite reality show is? The Biggest Loser. I love this show. I think it is one of the best reality shows there is. I admit that I was a skeptic when I very first heard of the show back in 2004. Who would want to be on a show that calls you a loser? I didn't want to promote that kind of negativity. But I was soon hearing all sorts of good thing about the show so I decided a few months ago that I would just see what it was all about. I tuned in and was hooked after just a few minutes.

Why do I love it so? Well, because it actually promotes something besides just winning big bucks. It is promoting being healthy and getting there in a healthy way through eating right and excersizing. They not only help the people on the show to lose weight in a healthy manner by showing them better food and cooking options and different ways to excersize but they also tackle the emotional problems of the participants that have gotten them where they are now, weight wise. And like my title indicates, the show says that there are no quick, healthy ways to lose weight. You can't just take a pill or cut out a whole food group if you want to lose weight for the long term and be healthy. In our society, we need to be hearing more of that. It's all about getting the 5 food groups in proper proportions and getting active. And that is why the show is just down right amazing.

Granted, while on the show the people are in a little health bubble with trainers and less temptations, but look at the people that have gotten "voted" off. They have continued to eat right, excersize and lose weight and in turn feel even better about themselves. And the show is helpful to those who are viewing as well. They give tips on how to excersize and cook healthier. I mean, it even motivated me for crying out loud. I just love this show and I can't say enough good things about it. I loved watching the people that got voted off go home to their families and their families be totally surprised at how different they looked. Then the camera's would go back several months later and show how they were doing now and each person always looked even better (and so did their families!).

I have to send a shoutout to the trainers as well, they do a great job of pushing these people to their limits and yet creating friendships where the contestants feel comfortable talk to them about their issues and triumphs.


In the begining: The winner was Matt Hoover. He was a big boy, he lost 157lbs. Second place was Seth Ward who lost a whopping 123lbs, leaving 3rd place for the super cute Suzy Preston who lost 95lbs.

And here they are after weight loss. WOW!! They look AMAZING! Bunch of cuties, huh?!


And some really exciting news: Matt and Suzy are dating. Aren’t they just adorable? I really hope they make it. It would be nice to see a couple that got their start in front of the camera actually make it off camera.

Well, those are my thoughts on this great show. Hopefully they all flowed coherently and I got my point across. :) Anyone want to "weigh in" on this show? Love it? Hate it? I would love to hear your thoughts.