End of the Day

As I was leaving work last week I took this picture.  One of my colleagues came out and saw me standing in the parking lot and asked me what I was doing and when I told him that I'm just amazed at how different the mountains can look every day, he said, "I guess I just take it for granted". 

My Mini Marathon

I have a longtime friend who is also working on a workout plan. It’s been one of our topics of conversations for too long to admit. She’s started seeing a personal trainer, a young man who has one of those Southern frat boy first names that is actually a last name to most people, like Mason or Harper, so while I’m sure he shows up for the sessions in some kind of workout gear, in my mind he shows up in boat shoes with no socks, some plaid shorts and a polo with the collar popped. Her stories about their sessions make me laugh out loud, mostly because when he asks her to do various things she doesn’t give in without a fight. She told me that whenever he asks her to run she asks him to tell her a story to help her through it. I’ve been thinking about this for the past five weeks and it makes me smile every time. I wish he was there with me when I start running telling me a story too.


I started this in the UK and didn’t finish it but this time I’m determined. I just finished week 5 of the nine week Couch to 5K running program. Yesterday was the day where I had to run for 20 minutes nonstop for the first time in the program. I told A, who was also running on the track that if I died in the middle to kick me over to the side so I was out of the way for the other runners. I made it through but did require a nap in the afternoon afterwards, lol. I told A we need to plan to run a 5K in the spring. It’s our 2011 goal.

The typical signs of the weight loss resolutions are all in place. Yesterday A and I made a run to the mall and in a department store we passed a display of those Skechers Shape-Ups. Contemplating a purchase was an older lady who looked to be accompanied by her adult daughter and her husband. As we passed I heard the daughter say to her mom, “You’ll fall over!” in that what the hell are you thinking you’re not buying those tone. Just as my teenage years flashed in front of my eyes when they said "it's a girl" in the delivery room, my senior years flashed in front of me at that moment, when A will be getting her revenge on me, refusing to let me make a crazy purchase.

Happy New Year

Do you believe what you’re doing at midnight will prevail through the year?  If that’s true I’ll be paying $800 to A when I land on her property in Monopoly.  H had to work in the morning so it was just the two of us ringing in the New Year with some homemade sushi, some homemade turkey mini burgers, and sparkling juice.  I’m not going to say that I wish all of us a happy 2011.  Let’s face it, there will be ups and downs but I hope all of us can find the joy in the happy times here and there.

Wedding Anniversary

Big 21!  Last year we were drinking Spanish cava with no thought of coming back to the U.S. and this year we’re snowed in in Utah.  You never know what the new year will bring.  Through all of it I’m glad to have my partner by my side.

A Few Movie Suggestions

Driving to Idaho the other day reminded me a ton of the desolate scenery in the movie Winter’s Bone. I didn’t know after I watched it what I thought of it but I’ve thought about it quite a few times since then so it certainly made an impact. Besides catching up on old seasons of The Office and 30 Rock, I’ve watched a few good documentaries.


Here are some recommendations…

Banksy’s documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop

Chris Rock’s Good Hair

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

I also watched the controversial Joaquin Phoenix documentary I’m Still Here but I wouldn’t say I recommend it. It’s got some brilliant moments but most of it is hard to sit through.  His hair alone kept me interested.  It always makes me laugh when someone faces the world with bed head.

Favorite Beverage

They Have a Certain Style

I did some research to see if these murals in Union Station were part of a public works program but they were not.  However, the artist is famous for some of his public works murals.  If this was a conservative community I'd almost wonder if the artist wasn't having a laugh on them.