Running through Swamps!

HAHA! I LOVE this story! So tonight I went running with my good friend Brad. Much to our surprise we have never been running together before, but we had a blast! So we set out at a good pace at least 6.0 miles per hour, probably a little more. Our goal was to run eight miles. Really, not terribly difficult. We are both distance runners. :) Here's the thing Brad is seriously awesome. I think I would consider him one of my best friends. He isn't dramatic, I try not to be dramatic, but I can completely be myself around him. (Don't worry, we are just friends, nothing more.) Anyway, so around mile three we were running down 1800 North and it lead to a dead end. We were about a block away from 1000 West, but their was a flooded field blocking our path. Being the awesome pair we are we decided to brave the swamp and cross it.

Our first hurdle was a wire fence with barb wire along the top. Brad made it over first - he's a lot taller than me so he just had to step over it. Then it was my turn. He held down the wire for me and I stepped over with my left leg, picked up my right leg and I was caught. I know, it was ridiculous! Thankfully it took me all of two seconds to fix. We laughed and the continued onto the bigger obstacle. A vast marsh.

At first the going was easy. Brad lead the way as we hoped from one dry patch to the next. Occasionally our feet would come across a little water, but nothing too bad. Until we reached the middle. By this point our feet were only half dry, but we were way to far to turn back now. We trudged on, actually it was more like hopping, laughing and talking the whole time. Our shoes and socks ended up getting soaked. The water was unavoidable, however we finally made it to the end of the mire. That did not conclude our quest though. Before we could get back onto solid ground we had to cross yet another fence. This one was higher than the first and very unstable. Brad suggested I use him to help me get over, but I couldn't get my footing right at all. So then he said he would lift me up so I could stand on the barb wire then jump over. It wasn't too difficult. I even landed on my feet. Hehe. It didn't take Brad long at all to get up and over, but he did end up falling. :) Although he jumped right back to his feet. Then we were off and running again. Haha! It was so much fun!

We did finish our eight miles. It felt nice, although I was tired by the end. That makes thirteen total today - I ran five this afternoon. I figure it is my last week to really push myself then it's three weeks until the marathon! I am so excited! And it looks like I may have found a running partner too. Yay!

As for other news I just got back from a week long cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It was soooo much fun! Hopefully I can get pictures up soon. My dad is the family photographer so he took most of the pics.

It's good to be back! I'm sure I'll have more stories soon!

Bad Day

Today was honestly the worst day I have had in so long! First off I have been alone in my apartment since Friday. It is Spring Break for USU so all of my roommates left. I figured no big deal, right? I would just be alone for a few days, but I would be working and getting stuff done. Wrong! I have slowly been going insane on these long, lonely days. So today I woke up to get ready for school. I was teaching down at Mountain Crest for a high school science class today. I got ready and attempted to do my hair. That was the first thing that went wrong. I just got my hair cut and I am experimenting with a new style that I love, but of course my hair wouldn't cooperate. I gave up quickly because I didn't have time to try anything new anyway. Then I tried to get something together for lunch and honestly, nothing sounded appealing. I knew if I didn't take something I would regret it so I suffered for a hot pocket. At 7a.m. I walked out the door into a white blizzard. I knew it had been snowing from last night so I looked anxiously at my car. Yeah, a foot of snow was covering it! Gah! I thought, alright, it's alright, I don't have to be at school until 7:47a.m. (Who puts that for a starting time?) Well, there I am wading through a foot of snow on the ground and I am in heels. It took me ten minutes to clear off my car. Finally I make it out of my parking lot. Well, I knew I needed to get out to Hyrum the quickest way possible and me, being not very bright this morning, decided to drive down a steep hill. I almost killed myself! I couldn't control my car and I couldn't brake. Thankfully I did manage to stay fairly straight, although I did run the stop sign. No damage done. Thank goodness! I was a little shaken up. I took the rest of the drive slow. I didn't make it out to Mountain Crest and park until 8a.m. So I am late, but I figured it was to be expected. Teaching was easy. No lesson plan had been left for me so my classes watched a movie about killer whales. The movie was really good the first time I watched it, but I had to watch it three times. I finished one book and started another, but I was going crazy. I longed to have a conversation with someone, or at least sleep. Oh well. I survived the day. When I walked out to my car again I discovered another foot of snow had deposited itself on my vehicle. At this point all I wanted to do was go home and get warm, even if I wasn't going to be around anyone. I spent another ten minutes sweeping my car clean then another ten as I waited for anyone to let me out of the parking lot. No one would let me in! I was so frustrated. Finally, I made it home. The rest of the day hasn't been too bad. I did get my hair to cooperate with me. At least tomorrow and Wednesday won't be so bad. On a positive note I got my temple recommend renewed yesterday. I am way excited! I hope I can go to the temple on Wednesday! Woot! That's the update. I leave for my cruise on Friday so no one will here from me until I get back. Don't worry, I'll post lots of pictures. :D 'Till then!

Rascal Flatts in Concert!

The event of the week was my first concert EVER! Of course I have always gone to band and orchestra concerts, but never a rock concert - even though Rascal Flatts is a country band. The concert was amazing though! My friend Jessica and I got tickets and after having dinner at Apollo Burger we headed to the Energy Solutions Arena on Trax. We were pretty excited. It didn't take long to reach our destination. We stepped off the light-rail into an atmosphere of excitement. People were milling around outside, taking pictures or trying to get into the building. A radio station was broadcasting outside and some girls were attempting to sing-along with a Rascal Flatts - they didn't sound so great... Jessica and I hurried inside where they scanned our tickets. It didn't take us long to find our seats - Section 21, Row 20, Seats 7 & 8. Not too bad. I was hoping for the floor, but oh well. Then we decided to wander around. I was ecstatic, I really wanted some souvenoir to remember the concert by. Of course the line for merchandise was long, but we decided it would be better to buy something before the concert rather than afterwards. Everything was so expensive though! I wanted a sweatshirt, but it was $50. Instead I got a strawhat. It looks really cute though.

By the time we made it back to our seats Jessica Simpson had already started her opening act. To my surprise she was really good. She had a great voice and I wouldn't mind having some of her music. I think country suits her well. I couldn't believe how loud the band was, though. I couldn't really make out the lyrics to some of the songs, but it could be because I didn't know the songs. Regardless, it was a good opening. It was really weird seeing a celebrity live. :)

Once Jessica Simpson was done performing the stage crew came out to get ready for RASCAL FLATTS! The stage was set up with the band at the back and then platforms all around the floor. Techies came out and climbed up and down from the lights to the stage on long rope ladders. It looked pretty cool, although I would probably be terrified. It took the crew about 15 minutes to get everything set up. Jessica and I just goofed around with our cameras. I was giddy with excitement.

Finally everthing went dark and an image of huge redwood trees showed on the screens in the back. After waiting for a while - in all reality it was probably only 30 seconds - I started getting anxious. I looked all around the arena, trying to figure out when everything was going to start when a shooting star started falling on the screen. I was so fascinated as it came closer and closer, until suddenly it exploded on stage! I must have jumped a mile high. Then everything was revealed and there was Rascal Flatts!

It was so amazing! Everyone started screaming and cheering and singing all at once. I was surprised how good they sounded. Seriously, they sounded just like their albums. The guitar riffs and drumset were ridiculously good. They even had someone playing the electric violin. I sang along to almost everything, although there were a few songs I didn't know that well. :) The sound balance seemed a lot better for Rascal Flatts, even though everything was still so loud! Again, the concert was awesome. They did a little improv thing in the middle, while things were getting set up, about girls walking around in mini skirts and high heels. And they gave the advice to not get offended if you choose to wear that get-up because every male is going to look at you. It was pretty funny.

I noticed they were always changing guitars. They were all so gorgeous. I remember one was an electric guitar in brilliant blue with a silver pick guard. Another was warm yellow and red. But enough about the guitars. At the end Rascal Flatts said thank you to everyone and introduced those playing in their band. A lot of people must have thought the concert was over because people started heading out. Jessica and I stuck around. I didn't know if anything else was going to happen. Everyone was cheering as loud as they could. Then, all of a sudden, the lights on the stage came back on and Rascal Flatts were back out singing! Confetti exploded from the stage and balloons fell from the ceiling. Everyone started screaming again. After a couple more songs they said goodnight.

Jessica and I had so much fun at the concert. She told me she didn't know if it was more fun to watch the concert or to watch me. Haha. It was worth every penny and I recommend them to anyone. They are so great! "Good night, y'all!"