In the spirit of the season...

I have at least 27 friends that are engaged right now. Ok, maybe not 27, but it's a lot!! I love hearing all the wedding planning stuff and daydreaming about my own (way in the future)!

I thought it'd be fun to have a picture post of some of the things I've been considering - it'll be interesting to look back on in the future and see if I stick to them or if I end up with something completely different than what I have in mind now!

Honeymoon spot - Santorini!!

Wedding spot - either Alki (above) or Kerry Park (below - although that one might be tricky!!)

I love this dress! I think I'd want it with thin spaghetti straps rather than the kind it has in the picture, but I love it!

Oh, and I want a summertime wedding!

Is blogging narcissistic?

Had an interesting conversation at the Tavern the other night during which the subject of blogging came up... and the opinion of the people I was talking was basically "why would you blog, people that blog are silly, no one cares what they have to say or what is going on in their lives." I, of course, didn't admit that I had a blog - but I thought it was an interesting conversation. It sort of stemmed from a conversation about Twitter and Facebook status updates - which I, personally, think are interesting for the most part. They help us really be connected to our acquaintances and know what is going on in their lives. Sure, some people take it to extremes, but if you don't like it, don't read it.

I know that for me, personally, I don't really care whether people read my blog or not. I doubt any of it is super fascinating, and most of the people that are reading it probably know what is going in my life anyways. I just write it because I really enjoy writing! Do you think blogging/status updates/Twitter updates are selfish and narcissitic, or do you find them interesting windows into the lives of others?

I don't have too much interesting to report right now - just working, and working, and I have so much that needs to get done before we head down to Eugene next weekend! Including, you know, actually running...! I have never been busier in my life, but I am also having a great time. You are only in your 20s once and you might as well enjoy every minute of it and take advantage of all the opportunities you have!!

Look out Eugene...

Yes, running a half marathon on two weeks of training is probably not the most intelligent thing I've ever done. But, I have done it before, twice (with basically no training either of those times), and I am still here! I am just going to take it easy and have a good time, and hopefully it'll help kick-start my running motivation. I am going to have to suck it up and become a morning runner fairly often, I think. But I CAN do it and I WILL do it. I don't need to baby myself anymore.

Anyways, so yes, I am going down to run the Eugene 1/2 Marathon on May 2. I've already paid for the race, and I have a running friend that wants to share the drive down and the hotel, so why not? It'll be a fun weekend away from everything if nothing else - like a little mini-vacation.

Sometimes I just wish I could hit the pause button on life and take a day or two to catch up - it just seems to keep going by faster and faster! Today is one of those rare days when I have nothing really planned after work, so hopefully I'll be able to make it a productive one, because I don't foresee having another one for a while!

I am going to make it my goal to get in at least 10 minutes of some sort of workout every day this week - getting out the door is always the hardest part so if I can at least get myself going, I should be good to go.

I am also going to start shopping around for wetsuits this week - it's been so sunny out lately and I am just dying to get into the lake and do some open water swimming!

People who inspire me

Reading about the passing of Jim2 today (even though it happened a few weeks ago now) got me thinking about people who inspire me. I figured that maybe every few days I'll do a blog entry about one of them just to share the love. In no particular order, just whoever happens to cross my mind.

I have to start with the story of Gloria Strauss, if only because it is so well-chronicled online and you can read for yourself. Gloria is the daughter of a teacher and basketball coach at my high school, and their family has gone to church with mine since we were little. The Seattle Times did a series of articles following the story of Gloria and her family back in 2007, and it's been made into a book.

You can find the articles here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003695104_brewer06.html

Please take a moment to read them if you get a chance!

The song thread

It is the Friday of an extremely long, busy, and draining week, and all I want to do is curl up somewhere and listen to some good music!!

Some of the songs that I've been listening to lately:

"Letters From the Sky" by Civil Twilight
"The High Road" by Broken Bells
"All The Right Moves" by One Republic
"Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve
Anything by Muse
"Panic Switch" by Silversun Pickups
"Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon
"Sweet Disposition" by Temper Trap
"Feel Good Drag" by Anberlin
"Champagne Supernova" by Oasis
"Chocolate" by Snow Patrol

And... I have that new Taylor Swift song stuck in my head. She is just too catchy haha!

Dear Time, please slow down!

I feel like time just keeps on flying by faster and faster! I have been doing lots of great and awesome things, and it is nice to be kept busy and having fun, but sheesh!

I ended up being a lot busier than anticipated over the weekend and so... didn't get any running in. I am getting kind of frustrated at myself - you'd think by now I'd be used to being busy and have gotten better at scheduling it in (and/or making myself do it) by now!

For example - Friday I worked at BLG 8:30-5, then made brownies, then went to the Muse concert, got home at 11ish and went to sleep. Saturday I slept in and then went to Easter brunch and watched Shawshank Redemption with mom and brother, and then worked at the Tavern from 4-11ish. Sunday I slept in until almost 1:30 PM and then was busy with Easter stuff and hanging out until 4 AM today.

Hmm, maybe I should just cut out sleeping? Honestly, I really shouldn't need 10 hours of sleep a night!

Anyways, all ranting aside... I just wrote M a check for a large amount of money for my gym membership, so I should probably go if only just for that reason!!

Here is the tentative plan for this week:

Monday - 3 mile run, yoga, cleaning the apartment/doing laundry (that counts as cross-training right??)
Tuesday - Swim
Wednesday - 3 mile run (will have to be before work as mom and I are going to T in the evening and then to dinner)
Thursday - 4 mile run, spin
Friday - Off (work @ BLG and then the Tavern)
Saturday - 6 mile run, swim (work @ the Tavern)
Sunday - Bike ride

Wish me luck!