Friday, Friday

Not to worry, I haven't been recruited to do the next spacewalk on the ISS.  Just busy with life.  But hey, it's Friday!  One of my favorite things about Friday...no work Saturday.  One of my other favorite things about Friday is Friday night...because I get to spend it with this guy...

And these guys...



But mostly I'm excited to hang with this guy...my fiancé.

Hope ya'll are enjoying your Summer!  Happy Friday!

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My Favorite Day

Today is my favorite day of the year.  That's right....it's not Christmas, it's not my birthday.  It's the 4th of July.  A day not only to celebrate America's independence, but to celebrate everything that this country stands for and everything that being an American means.  While times have been tough for awhile now, I still believe this country to be the greatest land of opportunity.  With motivation, hard work, and a strong moral compass, I believe that every American can succeed and find happiness. 

I love this country for so many reasons.  My dad and his family emigrated from Fiji in the 70's, and instead of getting turned away at the gates in San Francisco for being different, they were welcomed.  Diversity is the single most significant reason that America has been a success, and why it has remained strong for over two hundred years.  Diversity in land, diversity in people, and diversity in thought.  

This country was not built on the back of one man.  Rather, the foundation was laid by all men and women, from those who were willing to fight, to those who were willing to take a risk, and those who were willing to take a stand.  America gives us the freedom of speech, freedom to learn, and freedom to love who we want to love.  We must never forget that freedom is not free.  It is our duty as Americans to not only remember those who have dedicated and sacrificed their lives for our freedoms, but also to dedicate our own lives to continuing that fight for future generations. 

When you see the flag flying today, and you hear the national anthem, please take a moment to reflect on what being an American means to you.  It's okay if your beliefs are different than mine, that's what America is all about.  Happy 4th of July!

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Spring Gardening

While I haven't been so good about updating my blog or maintaining a consistent jogging schedule, my hunnie and I have been staying on schedule with watering our garden.  One of the best features of our little blue house is the big backyard; and although it's full of desert sand, we managed to put together a nice little gardening space.  This past Winter, we even enjoyed salads made with cabbage and other assorted greens from our own garden!  Now, with Spring planting well underway, my hunnie and I anxiously spend the days watering and waiting for early-Summer radishes, peppers, okra, squash, and sunflowers.  Gardening has been a great way for us to learn more about this desert climate, spend time outdoors, and practice farming tactics that were (and still are) utilized by local native American tribes.

{Easter Lilly}

{Mint & Chives}

{Desert Wildflowers}

{Cabbage & Collards}

{Cactus Bloom}

{Sweet Peas}

{Tomatillo sprout}

{Hound Dog}

{Garden Box, a.k.a. Doggie Bed}

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Blizzard in the Desert

When I think of blizzards here in this little desert town, usually what comes to mind is that yummy soft serve ice cream with Oreo cookie pieces swirled in...you know, the kind from the Dairy Queen?  Imagine our surprise when on Tuesday night my hunnie and I got blizzard warning notices on our cell phones, and then yesterday walking out of St. Francis's church--after a the celebration of life of my hunnie's family friend--imagine our greater surprise to see a slushy snow falling from the sky.  Snow in this desert town isn't unheard of, but usually it stays within the realms of the mountain peaks.  Not yesterday.  The blizzard came, it snowed, it melted...and then it snowed again last night!  We woke up to a magical, slightly snowy desert wonderland in our backyard.  The dogs, after having been held up indoors all day yesterday, were excited to get out this morning and chase each other around the yard. 

I'm giddy with excitement, not only about the snow but also about the Ragnar Del Sol race, which I'll be participating in with 11 former co-workers tomorrow. I'll be running nearly 19 miles, with the final leg being my longest/hardest...7.6 miles uphill.  But, after running a marathon through the hills in Sedona, this shouldn't be too tough. 

 

Hopefully after this weekend I'll have more time to post some recaps of the last month. Can't believe we're nearing March already!

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3 Day Weekend + 2 Dogs = Busy Busy

Things are super busy around here, but I wanted to make sure and post a quick update.  If you've been sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to hear our decision on Holmesy, get comfortable because you'll be waiting awhile.  We haven't yet figured out what the future holds for him, but we know that he will have a warm, safe and happy place to live until a permanent decision is made.  What's holding us back, you ask?  Well, let's just say he's a big part of why things have been so busy.  As I mentioned, he is a pup of 1 and 1/2 years, and when you have a puppy there is never a time when you don't need to be in training mode.  You have to be consistent.  Not to mention, having a puppy has brought out some new behaviors with our other dog, Georgia, such as hoarding toys and chew bones.  So on top of it all, we are em"bark"ing on another round of training with Georgia.  Nonetheless, the dogs have a great time playing with each other, and my hunnie and I are having a great time watching them be silly.  Play time with the dogs has not been without casualties though...Mr. Beaver was torn to shreds over the weekend, and this morning Mr. Snowman also got the axe. 

 

Believe it or not...the demise of Mr. Snowman was the doing of Georgia, NOT Holmes.  Remember that hoarding behavior I mentioned?  Well, Georgia doesn't really like toys...she just doesn't like for Holmes to play with the toys.  So as a result, some toys have literally been torn to shreds to prevent Holmes from having too much fun.  We are working to resolve this by teaching Georgia a new command: "Leave It". 

Alas, the future of dog toys is somewhat bleak in our little blue house.  The dogs enjoy playing tug of war with the toys, and sometimes they take turns chewing apart the toys.  I think it comes from the pack mentality of working together to kill prey.  So you can't blame them right?  Nah...I don't, although my heart sort of sank to see that the happy little Mr. Beaver was no more.

 

Anyways...in other news, my hunnie and I finally got a day off together on Monday, and were able to get away for the day to visit some other parts of this great desert state (thanks in large part to our dear friend Shelby who was willing to watch the canine club for us).  We had a great time, but I have to admit that between a 3-day weekend and 2 doggies I have NOT had much time to keep on my marathon training.  I've been running quite a bit (and was able to squeeze in some great workouts while on a business trip in Denver last week), but the distances have been shorter than I would've liked.  I'm now down to the last two weeks of training, so its time to start tapering anyways.  My biggest worry right now?  The flu is just rampant down here, so I'm doing my best to just stay healthy--by eating healthy, getting lots of sleep, and keeping active.

 

Oh and before I forget, did I mention that my hunnie and I are headed to Vegas this weekend for my mom's birthday? This is my first time doing "The Vegas", and let me just say I'm super excited. All I have to do now is find a doggie hotel for Holmes, who cannot be trusted alone for 3 days.

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Christmas In Pictures

T'was a very merry and very white Christmas this year!

{Snowy Reindeer Drink Tray}



{A Family Tradition - Christmas Sugar Cookies}

 

{A Home-made Stocking for Georgia's 1st Christmas...Thanks Mom!}

 

{Christmas Day Hike with my Hunnie's Family}

 

 

 

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Halloween in Pictures

October was a great month.  So many things to celebrate.  I'm sad to see October come and go so quickly, but happy that I was able to spend so much of it with all the people (and dogs) I love.

{Enjoying hot cocoa in the Halloween mug at work}



{Going on a roadtrip with my hunnie for pumpkins and produce}

{Running 5.6 miles and hanging with Jack}



{Roasting pumpkin seeds with worcestershire sauce and butter drizzled on top}


 

{Carving pumpkins with my hunnie while listening to "Monster Mash"}



{Georgia Mae dressed in her "Angsty Teen" costume}

Happy Halloween!

 

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Another Tale of Two Trips

Whether you're recovering from Frankenstorm or heading out to see Frankenweenie, it's pretty clear that Halloween is almost here.  It is amazing how quickly October has come and gone.  I rang in the month with a trip out to California to see my sister and then a trip to Boulder for work.  Strangely enough, I found myself closing out October just like I'd started it...only in reverse.  Last Wednesday night I was on a plane heading back to Denver International.  This time around, we arrived to experience the first snowfall of the season.  All I have to say is snow is not fun to drive through...in a Mazda rental car. 

None the less, I was like a little kid Thursday morning when I woke up at the hotel--I hopped out the bed and hurried to the window to oogle at the fresh layer of snow on the ground. 

After getting an "A-" on my presentation (my supervisor likes to tease me and say that my work is worth a grade instead of a paycheck), my co-workers and I were headed back to the airport.  I cozied up to a hot chocolate and some Harvard Business Journal articles, and a few hours later I was off to San Jose for the next leg of my trip.   

I was in Bay Area for a ladies weekend with my sis and gal pals.  There was crafting and mimosas...and mud.  Yes, lots of mud.  While some girls only got their feet wet, my gals and I went head first into the slippery, stinky, and very muddy obstacles at the Dirty Girl Mud Race.  We were Team Swamp Goddesses, and let me just say, we certainly lived up to our name. 

--Not pictured here is our lovely, leggy lady: Catherine, who was taking the picture

We had some great laughs...and a few scares on the vertical obstacles (and in the post-race spray down area...don't ask).  These awesome ladies work so hard every day, it was great that we all came together and gave 110% at the race.  By the end of the week I was so exhausted and relaxed all at once.  There really is nothing like spending time with the ones you love to clear your head and rejuvinate you for whatever's next.  What's next for me?  A half-marathon, hosting Thanksgiving, the final 6 weeks of school, a thesis, a thesis defense, and HOPEFULLY a graduation.  As we say here in Arizona, Bear Down.         

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Halloween Decor & Whiskey Glazed Acorn Squash

Fall is finally here in our little desert town.  I've been daydreaming more about pumpkins, and tall boots, and red and yellow leaves (which are nowhere to be seen here).  Last Friday my class was cancelled, opening up my schedule to check out the local discount fabric store.  My browsing led to purchasing (and boy did I get some bargains), and I found myself rushing home to decorate the house for my 2nd favorite holiday, Halloween.  (Only to be trumped by 4th of July).  As a kid we always decorated the front yard for Halloween, but since I didn't have the time to make a cardboard tombstone or a big scarecrow in red flannel and Nike tennis shoes, I resolved to making some ghosties instead.  Some white lace and fishing line and ta-da...Victorian ghosts now haunt the front porch of our little blue house.  I also bought a handful of discount ribbon and black plastic roses, which I weaved through a wreath from the dollar bin at Target.  All my hunnie and I need now is our pumpkins, which will be picking from the pumpkin patch down the road from his work. 

In addition to putting out my Halloween decor, I've been filling the house with lots of Fall smells lately.  Alongside last Sunday's dinner of lemon roasted chicken, I made Whiskey Glazed Acorn Squash and Sweet Potatoes.  The recipe is an adaptation of Guy Fiere's, only I replaced apples with Acorn Squash and made a half batch since it was just me and my hunnie.  This dish was savoury and sweet, but with a little kick from the whiskey and Cayenne pepper.  It was a spunky take on a classic, and I can't wait to pick up some more squash and potatoes to make it again. 

Whiskey Glazed Acorn Squash and Sweet Potatoes
2 Sweet Potatoes
1 Acorn Squash
1/4 cup Agave Syrup
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon All Spice
Pinch teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
2 tablespoon Whiskey
3 tablespoon butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar

Cut acorn squash in half and remove seeds.  Bake, skin-down, along with the sweet potatoes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes.  After letting cool, peel and slice the squash and potatoes.  In a saute pan melt 2 tablespoons butter, lower the heat to medium, add the agave and spices, and let simmer 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add whiskey and continue to simmer and stir for 5 more minutes.  Lightly butter a casserole dish and arrange the squash and potatoes in layers in the dish.  Drizzle the whiskey sauce over the the squash and potatoes.  Finish by sprinkling brown sugar over top. 
Cover with foil and bake for 30-35 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Pin It

A Tale of Two Trips

Aaak! So much has been going on lately and between it all it's been hard to find time to blog.  I did a bit of travelling over the past week.  First I was off to California last week for my sis's big day...her 1st Triathlon.  Unlike here in the desert, where the triathlons begin with laps in the pool at the university, my sister and her two gal pals (along with like 350 other women) swam in the ocean.  The PACIFIC OCEAN!  I could call her the crazy one, but who am I to talk, Miss Soon-to-be Running 15+ Miles.  Still, all I can think is you gotta be pretty tough (and crazy) to get in that cold water.  The race started in Capitola, and even at 7 am, skies were clear and the ocean was beautiful!     

So basically, I'm the best sister ever.  I'm her Number One fan AND her water girl.

 

She did the Mermaid Triathlon, which is an all women's race.  They swam all the way out past the pier in shark infested waters.  JUST KIDDING....but not.  A little ways into her swim, my sister stopped and was feeling a bit unsure.  Luckily, little sis was there to coach her on and remind her how awesome she is and how hard she had worked in her training.  I was so proud to see her throw off that swim cap and power through her swim. 

 

She ran up a hill barefoot, biked like 12 miles down the California coast, and then jogged up MORE hills.  Did I mention she did this hard core race while wearing her genuine pearl earrings?  She's a classy gal, my sister. 

She was all smiles and happy dances at the finish line with our two girl friends Cat & Rachel.  She had an awesome time, crossing the finish line in 2:23:49.  She may have doubted herself at times, but I knew she could do it!  My proud momma even shed a few happy tears. 

It was so great to go to California for a sister weekend.  After the race was done she and I enjoyed some relaxation time, gossip time at the salon, and a few celebratory glasses of Satori wine. I even squeezed in an early 6.75 mile run last Sunday.  That evening I was back in the desert, only to have to pack my bags for an early morning flight Monday to Denver for a 4-day science team review.  There were reviews of not just a few, but ALL the science teams involved in the OSIRIS-REx project.  Presentations included build updates, analysis of preliminary tests, and comparison of OSIRIS-REx to previous asteroid missions and studies.  The review took place at the University of Colorado, Boulder campus.  The city of Boulder is beautiful at this time of year.  I enjoyed seeing the changing leaves and dribbling creeks and even caught a glimpse of a doe in a meadow. 

 

I got runs in on 3 out of 4 days that I was in Boulder.  It is a very pedestrian friendly town, with bike paths traversing in all directions...even up into the Rocky Mountains.  It was pretty cold on my morning treks.  Next time I'm in Denver (which is in only about 2 weeks) I will probably need my cold-weather running gear.

Boulder is also known for its craft breweries.  I think my hunnie, who was enjoying "man time" back in Arizona, got a chuckle every time I texted him about one of the beers I was trying.  This brew is the Ciel Lumineux, which is apparently French for "Bright Sky".  I thought this was a fitting selection to help celebrate the success of my 4-day OSIRIS-REx review. 

Luck was on my side Thursday, because for the first time in forever my flight left on time! I was so happy to be reunited with my hunnie and Georgia after being gone almost a week. Dorothy had it right when she said "There's no place like home". Pin It

Dog Days of Summer

These last few weeks have been going by so fast, and with classes starting next week, I don't see any sign of it slowing down.  I'm starting to realize how much time a dog requires, but it is all time well spent.  After a long and sometimes stressful day of work, I look forward to coming home for little Georgia Mae's "pet session": 10 minutes of belly, leg, and behind-the-ear rubs and verbal praise.  Despite the desert heat (and monsoon humidity) we've enjoyed many long evening walks and runs together.  A couple weeks ago I took her on her first real hike, and although she handled the terrain really well, I think the elevation gain was a challenge, as she tired after 2 miles (compared to our 3 to 4 mile evening run/walks).  With my hunnie working crazy hours, I'm so glad I have my little gal to motivate me to enjoy the outdoors every evening.  When my mom and sis made their trip out to the desert, the weekend was full of oogling over how sweet and adorable little Georgia was...well that was until she let out her wild side and tore apart her new tennis ball toy.  While they were here, my hunnie's family joined us for a BBQ, and lucky little Georgia got spoiled with a piece of corn on the cob, elk meat, and ice cold cantaloupe.  Today I started working with her on the "Stay" command.  I'm not sure if she's getting it yet, but maybe a weekend of reinforcing it with praise and treats will do the trick.  If Georgia could talk, I'm pretty sure she'd say "It's a good day to be a dog."     

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Moving, Spiders & A Vacation Review

Ever since the week started, with moving and work constantly on my mind, I have not felt very grounded.   Tonight is our last night in the apartment.  It's a bittersweet feeling, really.  I'm saying "goodbye" to the apartment where I learned to be an independent woman...I payed all my own bills, cleaned and cooked for myself everyday, used my tools on a few DIYs and even killed a few spiders!  On the other hand, I'm saying "hello" to a new home that I can build with my hunnie, where we will share the responsibilities, cook together and enjoy meals in our backyard, and maybe even save a few spiders.  (What can I say, my hunnie has a bleeding heart for even the smallest of creatures.)  Spiders and change...they're not all that different when you really think about it.  At first encounter they are really scary and make your stomach tie up in knots.  But the more you encounter change (or spiders) the less afraid you are.  As with spiders, you may never learn to love change, but you will learn to accept that its a part of life.   

I leave you with a review of our recent trip to California.  Can't believe that was already two weeks ago!  Highlights included: wine tasting, beach going, seagull chasing, cookie baking, gold panning, and of course, family time.  Oh, and can't forget country western dancing with my sister and her beau!  Such great memories, and so many more to come in our cute little house with the blue trim. 



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Patriotic Patio Oasis

Happy Flag Day everyone! My hunnie and I are getting ready for our trip to California.  When we go, I hope to get a red,white and blue windsock from my favorite little shop along the Bodega coast.  I can remember many a evening watching my parents' Old Glory windsock blowing in the Summer breeze on their patio, and I look forward to continuing the tradition on our patio.  Although it is pretty tiny, our patio is easily one of my favorite places to be.  What started out as 40 square feet of shaded, unused space has turned into a pretty patio garden.  Today I wanted to take a moment to pay tribute to our oasis on the third floor.  While there was a time in our patio's past that flowers and basil grew in pots on our thrifted table, at this moment all that survives are my cherished succulents.    

One of my favorite things about the patio is its homemade touches.  My hunnie made an oil lamp out of an empty liquor bottle (this is our way of recycling) so that we would have some light for our late night grilling.  The vegetable label artwork is hand painted by yours truly in an attempt to bring more color to the patio, and the glass and wire hanging art is from one of the local street fairs.  In case you couldn't tell, I'm a patriotic gal, therefore you'll always find a flag on my porch.  Most importantly, to scare off any third floor patio intruders, we've got our Army men on patrol.  No matter how small our patio is, we've made it an oasis and enjoyed many cups of coffee and glasses of wine here together and with our friends and family.  All it needed was some personal touches to make the patio feel part of our home. Pin It