The best kinds of weekends are those where you get in bed on Sunday with aching legs.

I’m starting this post with really no thought of where it will go, which should be interesting.

I bought snowshoes this weekend. Yes, in April. They were a good deal. And I promptly used them on a hike yesterday. The best part of the hike was working up enough of a sweat to feel completely justified in refueling with a beer, pulled pork sandwich, and sweet potato fries.

I’m back on the workout train. I did some sort of physical activity resulting in an increased heart rate 6 out of 7 days last week. I ran, did circuit training/toning, rode my bike, and hiked. I feel strong (or at least stronger) again. Biking to school was easier this morning, compared to last week.

I also feel so hungry! In the 4 hours I have been awake, I’ve eaten a heaping bowl of steel cut oatmeal with dried cranberries and cinnamon, a kashi granola bar, hummus and a whole wheat pita, and apple sauce. All I can think of right now is chocolate. And the PB&J I am about to eat.

Right now, life is full of countdowns:
10 days till I leave for Vancouver (BC).
17 days till I leave for the Upper Peninsula (MI).
24 days till Max and Laura come back to Seattle for a visit.
32 days till the first camping trip of 2009.
65 days till my 3-week vacation to New England and Scandinavia begins.

And finally, I found out that I passed my qualifying exam today. It was a “VERY strong performance” according to the department head. Anyone up for beers tonight to celebrate?

How I Run: Goals and Motivations

My goal this month is to run 30 miles. Its been my goal for the past 2 months now. Third time's a charm?

It is not impossible. I've run upwards of 60 miles in a month (make that consecutive months, plural). But I haven't run more than 30 miles since last June - where 13.1 miles of that was a race.

I just need a bit of motivation.

Which currently is this:

Yeah, I am suppossed to climb this bad boy (with ski on my back!) in just about 3 weeks. Should be entertaining. I'll keep you posted.


Photo source

Compare and Contrast

Camping Last Weekend, Deception Pass:

Camping This Weekend, Washington Coast:

Enchanted Indeed

I spent this past weekend in quite possibly one of the most beautiful places in Washington. The Ench@ntments in the Alpine Lakes region of the central Cascades. Despite mosquitos, crazy winds, and stalking mountain goats (waiting to lick up your pee - yuck!), 6 of us had an amazing time in the great outdoors. 20 miles in 3 days, including climbing up the crazy steep pass in the first picture, makes for tired, blistered feet and hungry hikers - and an incredible feeling of satisfaction.

(Despite all the self-pity, I do realize that life could be worse... I could live in Iowa. Just kidding, well sort of. But I do feel grateful to live in such an amazing place.)

Mountain Woman

Minimal amounts of sleep all week, plus early morning pilates (which I hated every moment of), a 3 mile run, and a hike all in one day? Not cool. Especially not cool when the hike covered 4000 vertical feet in less than 2.5 miles. In case you aren't up on your mountain measurements, that is ummmm.... STRAIGHT UP!!!! Seriously. They give it a cute name, Mailb0x Peak, and even put a little mailb0x up at the top, but it certainly isn't cute.

Despite thinking every step of the way that the damn trailblazers were c.r.a.z.y. to forge a small path up the side of this steep-a** mountain, it was fun. I was even smiling up at the top - especially when I was told numerous times that I was pretty hardcore for attempting Mailb0x.

Mentally... a success. Physically... I made it to the top, the verdict is still out, ask me after my nap.

(Photo at the top - mailb0x, me, and mt rainier. And yes, I was wearing a skirt.)

Becoming a Crazy Cat Lady (and Other Notables)

My little vacay at Laura and Max’s is going faaaabulous. I love living alone again, even if it is only for a week. The cats and I are getting along well. I’m not much of a pet person, killer allergies will do that, but these cats certainly entertain me. I have even started talking to them, mainly because I feel guilty for leaving for 12 hours at a time and not petting them nearly enough as their parents would. This morning they were even kind enough to let me sleep until my alarm went off – a miracle.

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I’ve ridden my bike into school everyday this week. 11 miles roundtrip. The majority of the ride is on a flat, (relatively) newly paved bike trail so I could certainly be a leisurely bike ride and a chance to get in touch with nature. But instead my competitive nature takes control and I time myself, attempting to best my previous time – arriving at my destination a sweaty, out of breath mess. Add to that my first run (also a victim of my stopwatch) since the race today, and my legs are mighty tired. Really, I think I might need to start attending stopwatch (and mapmyrun.com) addiction meetings.

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I somehow managed to convince myself that just because it is summer vacation (and slaving away until 8pm in the office every night just screams vacation doesn’t it?!?) I should be wearing shorts. Ummm, yeah it is 54 degrees out as we speak, but don’t mind me wandering around in flops, shorts, and like a billion layers on top (to make up for all the heat I am losing from down below). The 4th (the real start of a Seattle summer) could not get here soon enough!

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Shoe shopping at endless.com = amazing. I ordered a darling new pair of Havaianas flops yesterday afternoon and they are already waiting on my doorstep today. Free overnight shipping: best.idea.ever. I’ll be wearing them tomorrow (with my shorts).

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Grades were posted today. I got a 4.0. Go me.

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First camping trip of 2008 planned for this weekend. Enough said.

I Should Be Finishing My Thesis or My Final

But instead, why don't I tell you what is on my mind...

#1 Why the heck is it so freaking cold!?!? Hello June-uary! It is SNOWING in the mountains as we speak. I'd really like to be able to hike in said mountains this summer, but in order to do that I need to be able to see the trail, not have it be covered in snow. I'd also like to be able to wear a pair of flip-flops, with jeans and a hoodie would be fine. I'm just ready to put away the wool socks.

#2 OMG, my whole body hurts. I guess that is expected after this weekend's athletic endeavour, but honestly, Every. Single. Muscle is aching, including those I didn't know existed. I could use a massage. I wonder if I could take up a donation to pay for it?

#3 Despite the pain, I'm already figuring out what is next. I'm thinking a triathlon. Although with all this snow melt, the swim might be chillllllly!

#4 I'm a sucker for The Bachelorette. I'm not sure if it is the best show to spend 2 hours a week watching given my current state, but it was certainly more fun that finishing my take home final last night. So Jason... OMG... he looks so much like The Boy. It is a little freaky. It is all about the smile and the profile. And the muscles combined with a lack of the tall gene. And that dark hair.

#5 Speaking of The Boy... he has been on the brain recently, due dealing with this new breakup and remembering the heartache of the last. So much so that when talking to my roommate tonight, I used The Boy's name when actually referring to Boston. Whoops! We decided it was best not to analyze that. But if he were to call, I might actually answer. Not to say that I want him to call, or would be overly excited if he did... but I'd answer, that is progress.

#6 I'm going on a mini-vacation next week. Yay! Okay, so it is only to Ballard, but I think a change of scenery (that being Laura and Max's apartment while they are job-searching in Boston) will do me good.

What's on your mind?

What Did You Do At Work Yesterday?

With a group of 30 other classmates, it wasn't quite the solitude I was longing for, but it was still nice to get out into the fresh air and clear my head. The view of Mt. Rainier wasn't half bad either!

(From the summit of Iron Peak near Cle Elum)

SPF

It is going to be a steamy 85 degrees in Seattle today. Most true Seattle-ites find anything over 82 to be unbearable. Sad to say, but in my 6+ years here, I’ve started to become one of them… I can handle it when I am lounging in the grass with a cool drink in one hand and a book in the other, but let me just say I am not all the excited about this evening’s 11-mile run. But, at least it is all in the name of spending the rest of the weekend having fun: habitat4humanity, bike riding to breweries, BBQs, skiing in a bikini, I mean t-shirt. And all of it happening in the glorious SUN!

But getting to the point of this post… at the age of 29, I HAVE WRINKLES!!!! One day people are commenting that my skin looks so fresh and smooth, then the next these tiny lines start showing up under my eyes and I start cursing myself for every day I’ve spent in the sun without sunscreen. It is not just my face, my shoulders and chest look, I don’t know, a bit weathered too. Which sounds so horrible but I swear it isn’t THAT bad.

So the thing is, they just appeared out of no where with very little warning. Ever since my gruesome discovery I have been crazy about applying sunscreen. Last night, I got up out of bed when I was just moments away from drifting off because it was imperative for me to make sure my sunscreen was in my backpack already. I only wish I was this diligent in my younger years.

Let this be a lesson to all of you out there without wrinkles – they’ll show up and surprise you one day if you don’t take preventative action now. I know it makes you feel good to be tan, but those future wrinkles (which, no matter how small to everyone else, will be SO BIG to you) won’t have the same effect. Sunscreen is your friend!

Tulip Roadtrip

Too lazy for a real post...

Playin' Hooky

Yesterday I played hooky and went to Mt. Rainier. The mountain was hiding in the clouds and there was snow everywhere, but a little roadtrip was just what the doctor ordered!

Blue Skies, White Snow

We were in the mountains. No television, no internet, not even any cell phones. Just a cupboard full of boardgames.

But there was 45 inches of snow in the previous 5 days. And a hot tub. Plus good friends. And lots of beer.



I'm not fully convinced that it is time to say goodbye to the ski season, but if I that was how I had to end it, I'd go out with a smile.

(Note the little Where's Waldo in the 2nd picture. Ummm, yup. That is my boyfriend, moments before he launched himself off a 10+ foot cliff/cornice. Crazy? Or stupid? Take your pick.)

Lest You Think I Forgot...

About those 2008 goals...

Snowshoeing... two thumbs up!

Touch :: No Touch

We had to wait for a table, but the Gap was conveniently located next door. I realized I hadn't been shopping since Thanksgiving. This coming from a girl who used to casually swing by Banana once a week to see what was new. I just wanted to see what they have, I said. He really didn't get it. You aren't planning to by anything? No. I walked along, oohing and ahhing over this and that. Running the fabric through my fingers. I have this problem, if you want to call it a problem. I like to touch things. I like to see how things feel. Our table was ready, and I walked out of there content. Not quite shopping, but close enough.

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The day was *too nice* to ski. His apartment looks over it, but I've never been to the Sculpture Park. It is one of the few things in this city that he's experienced and I haven't. We walked hand in hand, enjoying the sun, taking in the art. I wanted to touch it, but I couldn't. I just wanted to see what it felt like. Rusted metal I thought, but I couldn't be sure. I had to keep my hands in my pockets. I wanted to touch it, but I didn't.

Spring Comes to the Cascades

Regisration for the spring quarter starts tomorrow.

I'm signing up for this class:

Spring Comes to the Cascades (3) Examines the interaction between forests, environment and growth at three locations in the Cascades, from lowlands to alpine. Field trips and associate observations are linked to classroom or group project activities and are used to understand a number of ecological, physiological and meteorological concepts.

Yeah, that's right. I get to hike... for credits!

(I've also come to the sad realization that I am not graduating this quarter. My thesis is no where near ready to defend. Insert sad face.)

Roadtrip: Oregon

The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The snow started out crispy, but soften up just like spring snow. The trip to Mt H00d marked my 15th ski outing of the season, Boston's 30th(!!), and our first mini-vacation together.

The drive to the mountain.

View of Mt JeffersOn from the lift.

Mt H00d from the lift. So cool to ski on the mountain, above the treeline at times.

"Expert's only" Heather's Cany0n? It was a piece of cake, and the warning signs kept others away!

Tired but happy skiers (Laura, Max, Boston, and I) on our last run. We skied the ENTIRE mountain!

Dear John

Dear Asics,

As far as new running shoes go, you suck! You should make me feel like I am running on air, but instead my ankles and knees hurt with every step I take. Thank goodness for a liberal return policy, because I am done with you. I struggle enough when it comes to running, I don’t need my shoes working against me as well!

Love,
The girl who needs to start training for a half marathon pronto

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Dear (The) Ex-Boy,

I never pegged you as being dense, but honestly… what is the deal? Why do you keep emailing me when I have made it perfectly clear that I don’t want to hear from you? I know you are trying to tell me that you are still thinking about me and still care about me. But you know what? I DON’T CARE! I don’t want to be your friend. Sorry buddy. (Delete).

Love (or not),
The girl who finally put back together the heart you broke

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Dear Carrots,

Why, oh why can’t you taste like my beloved chocolate?

Love,
The girl who decided today would be a good day to start a diet

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Dear Boston,

Last weekend was great. Really. Like our best weekend ever. So why do you have to go and leave again this weekend? Wasn’t one ski weekend without me enough? What is so great about Utah powder anyway? “The greatest snow on earth” - don’t you know that is just a marketing ploy? Hmmmph… fine, go have fun with your friends. In case you forgot – we got 6 feet of snow in 6 days here, and I’ll be hitting it all weekend without you.

Love,
Your insanely jealous (of the powder you’ll be skiing) girlfriend

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Dear Spring,

I really do love the winter and all the snow we’ve been getting. Skiing has been awesome this year and I totally want to break my record and ski 20+ times. But if you want to come a little early this year, and with minimal amounts of that rain you are famous for here in Seattle, I won’t complain. Promise.

Love,
The girl who has hiking and camping on the brain

The Gunks

In an effort to counteract the 562 cookies (and numerous pieces of pizza) I have eaten in the past week, I made a trek to the gunks to go hiking today. Moving from my permanent spot on the couch - it was a big deal.

Frozen Lake Minnewaska and the Catskills in the background:


View of the Hudson Valley from the top:


KC and I on top of Millbrook Mountain:

Evil KC - "Let me push this boulder on unsuspecting hikers below... mwahaha" (JK - KC is the nicest girl eva!):

It was great to see KC again. Yes, we are sitting next to one another on a 6-hour flight to Seattle tomorrow and yes, we will be together non-stop once school starts up again, but she did just spend 6+ weeks in Asia. We have a lot to catch up on and this was the perfect time to start (and an excuse to get out of the house).