My friend Sarah told me about this Couch Potato to 5K system she has been doing. Its basically the idea you start out walking on week 1 and each week you build on that. So say in a few weeks you’d be running three minutes and walking one. I like this idea a lot and may look into it at some point, but I have my own little system Ive been like doing (I almost said enjoying but I do not enjoy it) I started today – run with the chorus. Especially on loud upbeat songs you cant help but run, walking just feels strange. So I ran the most I have in… years today.

On my walk today there was a handful of people out, which is new to me since I haven’t really encountered anyone on my walks this week. This actually doesnt help since I rather not run with people are around. Think Phoebe on Friends… not that I run like her but Im very fearful that I may run a little bit like her. No need for people to see that. The other day on my walk, my new shoes worn in a nice blister that promptly popped after my walk. I think it has something to do with new shoes, but I also think its due to the face my poor feet desperately need some lotion. And sure it hurt a little bit today, but I pushed through the pain because I was excited about my walk after two days of not being out. What do I get in return after working hard? A bloody heel. And my new shoe has a nice deep dark blood stain on it. LAME. So basically, today’s walk sucked. See? The old me is still here thinking how much I dont like this.

My iPod shuffle mix as much as I can remember since it disappeared before I had a chance to document it:

A Brand New Day – Josh Radin
Head Over Heels – Switchfoot
Used to Love – Judd and Maggie
The Longer I Run – Peter Bradly Adams
Paper – Todd Martin
Imitosis – Andrew Bird
Toxic – Nickel Creek
Belief – John Mayer
Fortress – Hope (PS I Love You Soundtrack)
Requiem – M. Ward
Redemption – Switchfoot
The Remedy (I Wont Worry) – Jason Mraz
Resurrect Me – Fiction Family
Rollin Like A Semi – Don Chaffer

Over the weekend I went to the beach with the volunteer staff for the high school group I work with. This was our first Staff Retreat since I started working there, making it long over due. It was strange to go away for a weekend with people who Im used to “working” with and no kids to be found. Needless to say, it took a good long while for me to feel like I could actual rest. I’d sit outside in the sun with them thinking I should be doing something or having a youth driven conversation.

The beach culture of North Carolina is very different than California. While sitting on the beach Id look out into the ocean which looked just like home. Then I turn my head around to see grass growing up from the sand, reminding me Im very far from home. I was distracted from this thought when asked if Id like to join a game of Ultimate Frisbee. I like outdoor games on the beach and it had been years since Id the chance. Im a big advocate of no running. I was joking with Kendra that we should make “I hate running” bummer stickers for our cars since we both hate it. But I mean, its in the name of fun, then why not! Well my body has been reminding me ever since why not, I dont like the way I feel after I run. The victory of our team was hard to celebrate when your having a hard time breathing in the end.

My doctor has been telling to exercise more (or at all). My excuse? Its been cold. And it has been, but lately its been down right Spring like so I have no excuses now. Since I was already sore from the beach game, I thought I just need to get off my butt and take a walk. I really do like walks, so on Monday I was off in the dorkest “work outfit” ever I went. I found a perfect spot on the lake in my neighborhood to take a rest and soak in creation. I did however give myself a blister since I thought years old Target “tennis” shoes were good walking shoes. So yesterday I went out and found myself some appropriate shoes (on sale and with a gift card!) and was very excited to go out in them today after work. Then it started to rain. Now, normally I would think this is a sign that I shouldnt go out but today I was hard core. I went out in the rain, iPod tucked away not to get hurt by the drops of rain. It was a short walk than Monday and I didnt walk by the lake today (short stop to see Emily with a bonus of Jasper). I put my iPod on shuffle, and heres the set list it gave me for today.

“To Go Home” -M. Ward
“Forgiveness” – Patty Griffin
“T-Shirts” -Derek Webb
“Mud on the Tires” – Brad Paisley
“Amazing” – Josh Kelley
“Duck and Cover” – Glen Phillips
“Peace Train” – Cat Stevens
“My Eyes” -Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog
“A Place In This World” -Taylor Swift

If you know me at all, you know I love John Krasinski. But dont let that get in the way of this great trailer because for goodness sakes he has a beard/mtn man thing going on. This movie looks delightful (something I’ll have to see between all the graduations I will be attending the weekend its out). Enjoy!

Guess what time it is? Its bracket time! I filled out a college basketball bracket for the first time last year at the church job. Thanks to Kendra keeping the tradition in the office alive in well. Now, some of you know, Im not a huge sports fan growing up a California girl. When I lived in Alabama for a year, I turned into a football fan (I lived with one of the biggest Crimson Tide fan known to man. It was for my well being I was an Alabama fan) then moving to North Carolina I learned I had to pick UNC or Duke. I dont enjoy watching basketball as much as I do football, but this bracket is just too fun. Why is fun to a girl who doesnt really care for basketball? I pick teams for reasons that really have nothing to do how well they play. I know, fun right? So here are my 2009 picks

Round Two:
Im skipping Round one because well, I dont think anyone cares how I narrowed down those teams. If you do, please feel free to ask. Lets start at the left, starting at the top.
:: Louisville beats Ohio State. – Uhm, they are number one. Im not completely out of the loop there.
:: Wake beats Utah – I do not know Utah for being known for basketball. Sking yes. Basketball? No. Plus some of my 514ers might hate me if I didnt pick Wake once.
:: Kansas beats West Virginia – I know that folks in WV do not have much to do, but I dont know of them playing basketball. I do think Kansas when I think sports though.
:: Boston College beats Michigan – Dawson’s Creek kids went to Boston College right? That sounds good.
:: Connecticut beats Texas – East coast schools seem to do well in sports. Go Connecticut.
:: Washington beats Purdue – Im a west coast girl, gotta stick to my west coast states. And besides, Purdue just sounds silly
:: Missouri beats Utah State – again with the whole lots of snow, but not a lot of basketball
:: California beats Memphis – as much as Memphis BBQ sounds delightful right about now, Im a California girl. Nevermind we dont care about sports, gotta be true to my state.

Alright… now for the right side
:: Pittsburgh beats Tennessee – As an Alabama fan, I hate Tennessee
:: Florida beats Xavier – that one is for you Florida (and isnt DisneyWorld in Flordia? I love Disney)
:: UCLA beats Villanova – California comes into play again, but UCLA is know for its sports. (Right?)
:: Duke beats Texas – As a UNC fan, I hate Duke but know they are not half bad. Texas? They are toast.
:: NC beats LSU – Hello Tar heels!
:: Illinois beats Gonzaga – Who the heck is Gonzaga? Ive actucally heard of Illinois.
:: Syracuse beats Arizona State – Heard of Syracuse in the sports news a lot lately. Thats good enough for me.
:: Clemson beats Oklahoma – thats for you Scott.

Regional Semis (same as before, left top first)
:: Louisville to beat Wake – Yeah I took Wake out of the game early. Only can so much NC love.
:: Kansas to beat Boston – Come on, I picked Boston based on a 90s TV show. Go Kansas
:: Connecticut to beat Washington – This is just a shot in the dark. I like both these teams. They both have a good chance
:: California to beat Missouri – Come on, I know California isnt good as basketball but certainly better than Missouri

And time for the right side
:: Pittsburgh beats Florida – Ah I pretty much hate Flordia. Go Pittsburgh
:: Duke beats UCLA – Love UCLA but I know Duke can play a better ball game than UCLA. It hurts my little California soul to pick Duke (boooo) over them.
:: NC beats Illinois – That a pretty shade of Carolina blue.
:: Syracuse beats Clemson. Sorry Scott, Syracuse has been playing well, so says all the sweatshirts Ive been seeing lately.

Regional Finals
:: Kansas to beat Louisville – Just have a feeling that Kansas is gonna do well. I dont know what it is.
:: California to beat Connecticut – This California girl just cant let go.
:: Duke to beat Pittsburgh – I just want to see Duke and NC play.
:: NC to beat Illinois – Go Tar Heels!

And finally National Semis
:: Kansas beats California – I KNOW! I left go of my California guys.
:: North Carolina beats Duke – Oh yeah. Of course they will.

Who to win it all? Kansas vs Carolina? Of course Carolina. Im a Carolina girl.

Today is Monday and usually at this time on Mondays I would be taking a 10 minute break to have some oatmeal at Starbucks. Instead I just finished giving myself a homemade manicure (I got myself my very first one a couple weeks ago and want my nails to look that pretty again. Theres a reason they cost $12, I cant make my hands look that pretty. Im trying to talk myself out of the fact its worth $12… I havnt settled with that yet. I do blame you a little bit, Jenilee), drinking coffee and watching Ed. I just finished the cliffhanger where Denise walks out of Carol at the church, and crazy Jimmy the horse is so crazy Ed wasnt the one to break up the wedding even though that was the plan.

Plans. I had a great plan of a to-do list written nicely on an index card (hello, old friend, we havnt been spending much time with each other since the move. Im sorry about that, I will be better about that from now on) with what my plan of the morning before an odd afternoon shift at Starbucks. I still can get those things done with no problem (one of them was to do my nails, so, check). Though, when Im left with more time on my hands than simply getting ready and going, you’ll find me at 10am in my PJs and house shoes staring out the window. Im thinking about all sorts of things instead of carrying out the tasks on the index card. This morning its thoughts lent, friendships and why my coffee now suddenly smells like bacon when there is no bacon in the house (great, now I want bacon). I feel I “waste” a lot of time thinking with no record of it written down wether here or in my journal (when I need to keep secrets from Chaz (my computer)). As if I had my tangled thoughts written like a paper I can turn in “Heres what Ive been doing with my time! Im productive!” or something.

Durning my “review” at Westover John and I talked about how I need to learn how to rest. With my two jobs, my hours are so strange and I have one day off a week. After more than a year of doing this, I have gotten used to only a day off at week. Ive learned how not to rest it seems. Because even now with too much time on my hands before I have to be somewhere, part of my feels guilty. As if I should be using this time better in someway. I didnt lay hands or pray over my to-do list to see if that is what God wanted me to do this morning. Should I? Would that made me feel better about this morning? No, I dont think so. Durning his last days on this earth, Jesus went to be alone, away from His friends. He has spent the days before kinda making a big deal in the temple, being busy. He knew he had to rest before the big event that lay before him, the reason he came in the first place. Even Jesus knew the importance of resting, being alone with his thoughts and feelings. Sorting them out with the Father.

Now, Im dont have a great event coming up that Im preparing for (heck, Im going to the beach this upcoming weekend with our youth volunteers and Im so excited). Do we though as frail humans need to rest for the small things? For the things in life we find hard times finding joy in? I want to be more joyful, a lot of times I find it hard to be that way. I find joy in my coffee, green apple and swiss cheese breakfast. I wish Id find joy in small things such as God providing foods I enjoy a lot more often. I wish I wouldnt feel an once of guilt sitting here, but I do. Thankfully, I believe in a God who loves me despite all my doubts and lack of joy. I know its okay to be here, Him knowing my thoughts before I think them, and that brings comfort. Comfort that He is always there, even when I dont make the plans to rest in Him. That is something for me to find joy in, as I spent the rest of my day in tangled thoughts.

Today I learned a very important lesson in baking and I am here to share it with you all. One of my high schoolers who family has “adopted” me, turned 17 today. He is a great kid who helps me with tech stuff and we have the bond of photography (he knows way more on the tech side than I). He got sick this weekend, and no one should be sick on their birthday or be without cake. I set out to make him some cupcakes and the two boxes of batter I had to pick from where red velvet and white. And here is the lesson, coming early in the story: red velvet is the devil. I mean really, its red for goodness sakes, of course its of the devil. I love the taste of red velvet cake, but making it so messy. Mike warned me of this, how red would get everywhere and stained my hands. I went out to prove him wrong, but my hands are currently spotted with pink remains from the batter. In trying to be even more careful to get it on anything, I think I made more of a mess than I normally would making cupcakes. These little devilcakes where topped with cheesecake frosting which made all the work worth it. I adore me some cheesecake frosting. From here on out, if I am in need of red velvet anything, I will not be the one to bake it. Its a southern treat anyhow and I am not a southern girl.

You may or may not know that Ive been rewatching the delightful show called “Ed” thanks to Scott who put all the episodes on DVDs for me. So when my friend Justin suggested we go bowling today I was all about it. It was no Stuckeybowl by any means but it was a lot of fun.

Jenilee was the trash talker of the group. I cant remember the last time I went bowling, but Im pretty good at it at Wii sports. We should of known that the silent one, Justin, was the good bowler in the group. Durning game two, Jenilee and I put our scores together so that we could beat Justin (and it worked, but not by many points. The guy can bowl!)

I was a little discourage that half way into our third (and last) game that I was the only one who had not gotten a strike. I mean come on! Im a Wii bowling pro! Then the bowling gods smiled upon me and I got a double strike! I must of gotten a bit too comfortable in my new found victory because I wasnt even close to getting that turkey.

After bowling we went for some coffee and good conversation, it was a great afternoon. ( See rest of the bowling photos on flickr. )

After bowling, Kari and I went to Old Navy with our crazy coupons for 30% which was crazy because they were already having a sale. And it was kinda crazy, people everywhere, it took us a while to wonder around finding things to try on. I ran into the Pell’s which I loved, because I love living in a town where I run into friends unexpectedly. John scolded me for looking at bathing suits which makes me laugh. So thats kinda crazy too right? Then as Kari and I were in line a really crazy amount of time a kid starting throwing up near the door. Oh yes you read that right, a child was throwing up in Old Navy! Her mother took her outside to let her throw up outside the store, the poor thing was so upset. Then, THEN the mother brought her back into the store. Apparently when your child is throwing up in Old Navy, you keep on shopping! The poor child had not finished and threw up more in the store. Crazy people in the world! Kari kindly shared her gum with myself and our cashier so we wouldnt have to smell the throw up. So much crazy at Old Navy!

In honor of my brother’s 24th birthday (what? I cant celebrate him in my own fun way such as bowling and shopping? I think I can! He didnt take me with him to Disneyland today!) I think there was a brightness in the nasty rain we had this Saturday. Happy birthday, Ken. Thanks for the excuse of bowling and shopping.

After 514 we had a picnic in the park with the Phipps Family. Here are some photos of mostly Kai.



Rest are on of course on flickr . Enjoy.

Lots to say, little time to do it. Lets start with the fact that this very time last just a week ago we had 6 wonderful inches of snow on the ground. I had what most people deemed my first official snow day. Mike and Kari hosted some neighbors over for a wonderful breakfast. I loved finally getting to meet my neighbors and not just because they invited us sledding ether.

Oh yes, that is Kari and me sledding in our neighbors backyard! We also made the most awesome Snow Penguin ever!

There was a few snowmen around the neighborhood (a six foot one even) but no one else had a snow penguin! We spent the rest of the day enjoying four movies and my first taste of snow cream – one of my most favorite days in my North Carolina history.

Before the Great Snow Dump of 2009 came, I was busy putting on a youth event called Road Rules. Its basically the show The Amazing Race is a bit smaller format as 9 teams raced in 12 passager vans. This year I didnt race, but plan and run sites. Even though I was stressed out to the point of not eating well and my phone rang more often than I ever thought it could, Im glad I did it. Even if it poured the whole weekend creating a lot of wet people running sites that didnt work so well in the rain. And almost getting my rent raised by asking Mike and Kari to help me then giving them the strong chance of getting a very bad cold. They forgave me (though I still owe them dinner). It did however feel weird to come away from a youth weekend not knowing any of the kids better. I wont be making that mistake again. Oh the winner? My boss’ team. I swear to you he knew nothing, if anything, he had more messed up clues as we tired to throw him off during the planning time.

Oh and there was a David Crowder show thrown in the very night before Road Rules for good measure. We planned the Road Rules weekend before DCB got booked at the church, so we just went with it. Most of the kids where there, which I just loved. A lot of last year’s class came home from college for the weekend. Had dinner with them before the show and then caught up with them over the famous game in the group, Catch-Phrase. I pray for those kids while there gone, and its so good to see them when they are home.

This afternoon Im spending in the hammock outside soaking up all of this glorious sun we are having with the company of books. Weather its snow or sun, I seemed to love just being outside lately. Im looking to hike somewhere on Saturday. Lent is well on its way and I spent part of my time on the hammock reading and writing for a devotion Im writing for 514. I must say its not as “hard” at this point, but I havnt always taken the time to reflect and pray when I do miss it. Whats the point otherwise? Im not trying to kick a bad habit, Im trying to prepare and turn my focus where it should be always. Jesus knows I take a lot of work, and Im glad He loves me despite of that.

I have so much to write about, David Crowder concert, Road Rules event with the high schoolers, and snow day which all happened other the past weekend. However, this is a story about what happened to me today.

I was at Starbucks when I heard a voice I recognized ordering a grande skinny vanilla latte, so I turned to see who it was. Stacey London. I probably looked a little too long, but I wanted to be sure that I hadnt gone crazy. She looked like Stacey London, it must be Stacey London. I take the chance and say “Stacey, Im a little afraid that you are in my store right now.” She laughed and told me not to worry, that she was just visiting. Visiting who? I didnt want to ask, instead I asked my co-worker who was ringing her (and her four friends) up if she knew who she was. She gave me this look of “YEAH I DO. IM FREAKING OUT A LITTLE BIT TOO.” After Stacey and friends ordered, my co-worker and I argued wether it was okay to ask for a picture. My co-worker didnt want to bother Stacey and I said that we’d never see her again. So I asked. Stacey, being the sweet gal that she is said “Of course! Lets take a picture!”

As we gathered to take a picture with Stacey someone said “Your shorter than I thought.” Stacey’s sassy side came out a bit “Who said I was short!” which was fun to see the side of her that I know from TV. She said to me “You caught me, Im in flats today.” Which was funny to me since shes right, she is always in heels (because isnt that what short gals should wear?) Even her flats where totally cute. My co-workers and I took a photo and told her thank you. She said that she didnt care for the green aprons but that us girls worked them well. I agree, I hate our aprons.

I of course Twittered and facebooked this photo promptly after she left the store. I got all sorts of questions… such as is she in town to do a show? I dont think so since she told me she was just visiting. Plus, Clinton wasnt with her so that makes sense. Some people are trying to start rumors with “She looks pregnant.” I guess when you tell people how to dress for a living, everyone is gonna pay very very close attention to everything you wear. I honestly dont think she is. She was wearing a lose shirt and the poor girl gets marked pregnant. She was really nice and looked just like she does on TV. It was pretty much the highlight of the day. Stay tuned to this past weekend events.