The Wire

The Wire

I am not that big of fan of spending too much time in front of the television. My days are busy and I like it that way. On the other hand John and I have the "three pack" from Netflix and end up watching a considerable amount of movies. I will be the first to admit that I I often have a short attention span for movies and most TV shows, but I can get into documentaries.

This is all until I discovered THE WIRE.

I learned about it at the end of 2008 when everyone was creating the must watch movies and shows. The Wire was on every one's list. We watched the first episode and were hooked. It is all that we have watched in the last two months. It is like nothing I have ever watched and would be amazed if anything could come close to it. It is a "cop" drama, based in Baltimore and challenges the common romanticism that is often portrayed in media.

It is a great series to watch as the winter winds down. Make sure you clear your schedule, as much as one tries to resist, the storyline will suck you in.

ENJOY!

The time is now

If you are not feeling anything or bored I believe it is because you are not trying hard enough.

There is so much to do, see, hear, play, read.

The only thing that limits us is our creativity.

Try something new this week. Do something that you have been wanting to do but never make the time. The time is now.

Springing into limbo

Dear Father Time & Mother Nature

I have never been so grateful for you both

I cannot get enough

The more I get - the more I yearn

The more I long

Today, I am to be grateful

Tomorrow

I am gracious

The more I long

Anniversary!

With our recent trip to Tennessee and the excitement surrounding the "reunion" of John's side of the family.... a very important day just kind of slid by.
Now almost a week later it is time to do it some justice. John and I have been married two years on February 13, 2009. My what a journey it has been and I know that the path ahead is filled with adventure, love, kindness, thrills, and what ever fills the gaps. Lord knows what can fill the gaps.

John proposed to me Christmas day 2005, two months later, a random date in February, we were surrounded by family and Dale, in a small beach town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. For a week we celebrated and lived it up in a casa right on the beach. No fuss, no frills, just us. PERFECT!

I am happy to say that I have married my best friend. Everyday I grow closer to John, I am impressed and inspired by his attitude, passion, compassion, and zest for life. I know that our future is going to be a bright one. He is my soul mate.

Here we are, two years into our marriage, our first house under our belts, gainfully employed, it is the real deal. I won't lie, the transition from free spirits, living in a van while traveling, climbing at the drop of a hat to the 50 hour week jobs, responsibility life hasn't been the smoothest. I can stand up tall and proud and say that I wouldn't have wanted to take this journey with anyone else.

Here is to two years and many more to come!

Sacraficial cow

I am pretty sure I have just been thrown in front of the bus or as our director put it this morning: "We nned to put our sacrificial cows out in the field, we need targets for people." I looked in the mirror.... *urg* I (we, the department) are the cows until we produce documents/criteria for people to shoot at. Oh wait, people love their local government, they will still want to shoot us no matter what we do. As I am learning, we need each side of the fence to be eaqually engaged/frustrated/up in arms, then we might be close to being fair.
I have so much to learn.
I won't go into detail in what we are doing here at the planning department, for I know politics/planning/government talk is going put most people to sleep/ask why they are reading this/poke their eyes out... all at once.
For me, I am trying to be cool as a cucumber. I am going to twist my own arm in order go to yoga and not get the martini that is calling my name...

Loving the ride

There is nothing like a vacation for me to rejuvenate my soul and lite the fire in me.
Our mini trip to Tennessee was lovely. We spent quality time with family, enjoyed the outdoors, relaxed, reminisced, and ate lots of food. I disconnected from the Internet for the trip, turned my cell phone off and returned to somewhat of a simpler existence. **deep breath** What a relief. John and I took up walking together which never happens at home, we also went on a couple runs together at Montgomery Bell State Park. What a treat.
My now extended family couldn't be better to me. They have brought me into their lives with open arms and hearts. With Corrie flying in from Colorado, Bill and Betsy driving from Dallas, JR, Teresa, Bailey, Jack all living a ten minute walk from Jonny, we got to spend some quality time with everyone. This trip I felt that I was able to connect with a few more than before, which warms my heart with just the thought. I was able to let go and take everyone in, how ever it happened. With this I must say that I enjoyed everyone and all my time.
Now back home, we came home to a clean house, a lovely dog, crazy cat, longer days, spring bulbs, and the passion that is released here at home. I have got back on my commuter, enjoying the ride before and after work, I have found new drive at work, and most important I feel even more blessed to have John in my life. He is my soul mate.

Have a great afternoon!

Tennessee or bust

We made it home... safe and sound.
Our adventure to Tennessee was wonderful and refreshing.
As always, I am back from vacation, bustling with ideas, passions, reflections, inspirations. All this has to wait until I am off the clock. T minus 4 hours. I know I can do it!
I promise some good stories, new artists, and pictures from the trip in the next couple of days!

Recharging of the soul

Yesterday was my spontainious long run day in prep for the Chuckanut. I resisted the urge to go for a pedal with John, Andy, and Bryan who also went into the Chuckanuts. I am just too slow for those guys anyway. After I had talked to someone else who is doing the race this year and he was telling me he was planning on making his long run the course of the race without the 12 mile of the Interurban trail I felt like that would be worthy of my time. So I decided to do it yesterday.
Yesterday I bundled up, stowed 4 granola bars in my pack, water, andmy trusty Ipod. **note this is the first time that I left Natasha at home. She is just not game anymore** Off I went, up to Fragrance lake, down Two Dollar, up Cleator, down the full Ridge, out to Lost Lake, up Too Many Pigs, down the service road to Chinscrapper **uhg!** which popped out at the top of Cleator again, down the road to Frangrance Lake, down the service road to the trusty van! Up, down,
20 miles later, over 5 hours of trail under my belt, a day on the trails recharged my soul, I built confidence as I ran more and more of the hills, yes I can do anything!
I crashed last night. I came home and showered and couldn't seem to muster the energy to do anything but curl up in bed. I just cannot recover like I did in the past years. I think as my body gets back in the grove, I will recover faster. The day after hurts bad... in a good way. I think that I have close to 1,000 calories... and it isn't ever 8:30 am!!!

And let there be light!

It is here... it is here!
I have the urge this morning to find a rooftop and watch the sun come up over Baker in all its glory!
I think the temperature has increased....into the 40's.
Spring is around the corner and I am just giggly with excitement.
There is just so much to do with an hour extra of day light. I think that I can actually be outside after work... in the light!
Glorious!

Wear Red.. not just because it is my favorite color

Join with millions of women, as well as companies, organizations and cities across America on National Wear Red Day, Friday, Feb. 6, 2009. By wearing red and making a donation, you'll help the American Heart Association support ongoing research and education about women and heart disease.

Plan a Wear Red Day
It's easy to be a part of this special day. Consider organizing a National Wear Red Day at your workplace, with your faith-based organization, at your community center or in your home. It's a great way to raise awareness and help us fight our No. 1 killer - heart disease.

GO RED FOR WOMEN

critical capacity

I have reached maximum capacity... EVERYWHERE!
My desk at work is stacked high with papers/binders/notes/agendas. The drawers need some attention as well. If my mom found out about this she would give me the ever so common I am so dissappointed in you routine. My poor office mate....
My in boxes are reaching the triple digits...
At home my side of the closet is buckling ( yet there is never anything that I really want to wear). The cupboards need some organizing...
The list of people I need to call is growing...

Baby steps...

Troubled times

May the best ye hae ivver seen be the warst ye'll ivver see.
May the moose ne'er lea' yer girnal wi a tear-drap in its ee.
May ye aye keep hail an hertie till ye'r auld eneuch tae dee.
May ye aye juist be sae happie as A wuss ye aye tae be.

The above, in "translation", reads:

May the best you have ever seen be the worst you will ever see.
May the mouse never leave your grain store with a tear drop in its eye.
May you always stay hale and hearty until you are old enough to die.
May you still be as happy as I always wish you to be.

Scottish toast

Sunday adventures

In prep for an afternoon of football watching, pizza eating, chip munching and some good heckling, John and I went for a grand tour of the Chuckanuts this morning. Whooped that is what I am. I have grown accustomed to Galbi, know the trails well, cruise control. The Chuckanuts are an entire different ball of wax.
We parked in Arroyo Park, pedaled out the Interurban Trail, a lovely grind to the TOP of Cleator Road. From the top, we had a good view even on a cloudy day, and I must not forget the two inches of snow that remained frozen on the ground. We then ducked into the woods, giggling all the way down Double Black Diamond. At the bottom my eyes filled with tears, my hands were so cold, I was pretty sure that I wanted to call it then but we charged back up the hill which got the blood moving again and we were ready to continue on. We pedaled back up the Fragrance Lake connector, zipped down Cleator, rode the lower ridge, and finished it up with the new Hush Hush trail off of the Sala trail. I drug my ass to the car, tired, John was so stoked he was all smiles.
The whole point of this long description was the fact that the ride was perfect. It was a bit too cold for me, yes it was snowing for like the 5Th weekend ride in a row, but the trails.... the trails were perfect! We got back to the car without a drop of mud. For the Chuckanuts in February..... incredible. The trails were dry. Perfect conditions. Dry trail conditions make riding the ridge a lot more fun.
So we went home, I ate about a thousand calories, tried to comfort my tired body and mind, opting out of football for some peace and quiet, yoga and of course The Wire.