Tired of the Freezer

It has been so cold in Logan this year it is unbelievable.  I don't think it got above freezing all January.  Most days were negative 5 to 10 degrees.  The snow froze solid.  I am ready for spring.  I am glad that the sun is staying out longer.  I am ready to go running again.  Hopefully the cold will lift sooner rather than later.  I should use my camera and photograph the flocked trees before it warms up though.  Its pretty cool every morning see that.  Maybe then it will warm up...

Top Of Utah

So, I ran Logan's marathon, the Top of Utah. I posted about it on my other blog. I am too lazy to retype it so if you are interested it is at www.runninglink.blogspot.com

thanks :)

the Top of Utah Half Marathon

Last year I decided I needed to run the half marathon. It is a great course. Fairly flat, well organized, punctual. Anyway. I liked it a lot. My older brother and sister and cousin ran it with me last year. We had a lot of fun.

This year, we ran it again. My brother and younger sister ran it with me. They came up the night before, we got our packets, went to our local Olive Garden with my cousins family. (While waiting, we saw a jetta with a deer head out of the sun roof) All in all an enjoyable night.

We got up the next morning and jeeped over to the starting line where we stood in line. Race mornings are something that you have to be a part of to really appreciate. Anyway, we stood there with 2500 other runners waiting to board school buses to be driven 13.1 miles away and released.

It was a cool morning. A great morning to run. The canyon was cool. The rose behind us as we wound back into town. Hundred of people lined the finish line as you ran in.

To sum up. Watch out for deer while you eat, run the Top of Utah race. Support your cities races.

My House

My house is getting so close to being done. I am excited to post more about it, maybe even a pic or two. Today they painted the doors, the other day the graded the lot. Now its not as much of a construction zone that I live in. It looks a lot more like a house. A few weeks ago, I planted a few pots to get some color to the yard. This is what they look like. I'm still fooling around with my camera.

Enjoy.

The Cheese Factory

So my sister and I went on an adventure. Cache Valley has at least two Cheese plants that I am aware of. And, what luck, I live super close to them. So we braved the roads, which somehow all major thoroughfares in Logan seem to be under construction at the same time....and went to the cheese factory.

Favorite thing:

Cheap Cheese--I like cheese, my sister LOVES cheese. Fortunately you can by a ton of cheese for cheap. We bought Parmesan, Sharp, Cheddar, Muenster, Bleu, Curds and Ice cream. Yay for cheese. Good thing we go running or we would be super fat.

Least Favorite Thing:

Shelf Stable Milk--Ok, I thought, hey, I should buy me some milk at the cheese land. Well, you would be wrong to think that a cheese factory sells milk as you and I know it with all their other dairy products. They only sell shelf Stable milk--which I think is criminal. The only t.ime this was ever present in my life was when I lived in Texas and a hurricane came through. The military gave out rations which included shelf stable milk...no thanks.

If you are in Logan, you should hit up a cheese factory--its fun, cheap and supports local farmers and industry.

Well there's my two cents. I still want to go to the Fat boy factory.....mmmm... ice cream.

New Camera

I got a new camera the other day and I love it. I can do so much with it. Its amazing how many features it has.

My blog is going to get a lot more colorful thanks to the camera woo hoo.

Well, I wanted to take it out for a test shoot here in Logan. I decided to go take pictures of the temple. While taking pictures I walked through the parking lot to get a better a shot and this is what I found.

I didn't know that we had been given another commandment. It seems that parking places might be forbidden....

Mandarin Gardens

Lately I have been craving chinese food like crazy. I have stumbled upon a favorite in Logan--Mandarin Gardens. Their food is excellent, great service and great prices. I love egg drop soup and theirs is pretty good. Not the best in the whole world, but pretty good. I usually have the beef and broccoli--and that is excellent. They put in a lot of beef--some places its more broccoli with a hint of beef, not here! They also put in bamboo with the brocolli and beef giving an addtional texture and flavor to the meal. The prettiest dish I have seen there is the Orange chicken. It was decoratively displayed on the dish and came with a hand carved carrot flower on the side. It was good, but I will always go back to beef and broccoli. I went there again last night. I love that place. If you ever find yourself needing chinese in Logan. This place is where I would recommend. :)

My house

Well,

My house is framed, insulated, plumbed, electrical is run, doors and windows are in, sheet rocked, and all in all looking like a house. I'm pretty stoked about it.

just a few more weeks :)

walls and a roof

They have now completed the exterior walls and roof for my home.....YAY!

One year in Logan

So I realized that I have been a loganite now for 363 days--that caused me to think for a bit about the past year, so without further delay--here is my last year in summary.

I started a new job--which has helped me master excel and given me opportunities to grow in the business world and face new challenges.

I ran two marathons, two half marathons, two relay races and a handful of 5k or 10k races. (although I do not run fast, I still do them, which is saying something considering last year at this time I was still just a couch potato).

I purchased my first, second and third (I'm saving those for when my second die, I got them for a bargain) pair of running shoes. many a pair of running socks and 3 pair of compression socks--my latest pair are bright green, for some reason I feel like the wicked which from the west when I wear them--is that healthy?

I transfered schools and aced a semester here in Logan.

I started building a house, and its coming along nicely (I will post pictures someday...)

I have mastered the commute from Logan to Provo including the dreaded Sardine Canyon (this includes putting 20,000 miles on my car--roughly $2,200.00 in gas, no wonder I'm poor) zoom-zoom.

I have found some of the Logan culture including some good local restaurants such as Indian Oven, La Tormenta and the Italian Place--not to be confused with the franchised version.

I have spend too much on lottery tickets from La Tienda.

I have baked my first loaf of white bread, wheat bread and pumkin bread.

I made my first pumpkin pies all by myself.

I have started my own little craft business with steam-punk jewelry and necklaces.

I have started going to a gym--mostly just to run, but I, for the first time have a membership.

I have gotten to know some of my extended family a lot better,which has been great!

I had strep throat, not so great.

I made my first visit to Bear Lake and Mack's Inn (in Idaho)

I bought my first fishing license and went fishing with my brother and sisters for the first time as a group.

I purchased many 'necessities' including a washer and dryer, TV, bluray, tivo, couch, table, chairs, computer, 2TB hard drive and ipod (the other reason why I am so poor).

I joined the netflix craze.

I joined battlenet--yay for starcraft and online gaming.

I read five non text book/non religious books.

I fell in love with Costa Vida and Spoon Me, which happen to be next door neighbors in Logan.

I lost two people that I really respected and appreciated in my life from my mission who passed away due to illness. They were from the same branch--my last area where I served for almost a year.

I saw each of my family members move forward and progress with their lives and felt part of the joy they felt as they lived life.

Most of all, I have become a happier person with myself and more optimistic about the future (key word is more--I'm still a pessimist but I'm working on it.)

Thanks for a great year and reading my blog--lets see what 2011 will bring.

How firm a foundation

So they have poured the footings for my house. I am pretty excited. Plus, working in the construction industy helps out because I get updates on what they will be doing next and when at work. :) I wish it was done already, it would be a great christmas present, but it looks like it will be more of a birthday present when its finished. I can't wait. Bring it on, I wanna paint, well that and buy a dog....

Buiding a House

So I decided to build a house. More details to follow :)

Narnia and the cold

So....In preparation for the winter line up of great movies (TRON, Harry Potter and Narnia) I decided i should read the Narnia books. So I started them about 2 weeks ago. I have now read the magician's nephew, Lion Witch and wardrobe and am halfway through the Horse and His Boy. Its been fun--I've never read them before, so its been a good experience. Yay for Narnia--Its cold up here, I think that the white witch has moved to logan--I put up my christmas trees in defense--take that Jadis.

Officially Cold and Dark

So something happened during the past few weeks. Logan is quickly moving past the 'fall' stage and entering into the long winter. Today it was in the twenties.....yes that's right, butt cold. It is dark when I get up and go to work and is dark when I go to my night class. Why on earth does the sun set at 6 PM. In honor of this horrible transition, I made me bean and ham soup. I remember my grandpa making it alot when i was a kid, so I was up till one cooking beans.

The added darkness has caused running problems as well. I got all ready to go running after work, i went online and found me a good route to train on. I got changed, put on my running clothes and shoes, stretched, found my ipod, got that set, opened the door, and yes, darkness. I changed clothes from my dark running clothes to lighter ones, but then thought better of it and went to the gym instead of running outside. I hate running on a treadmill. Come back fall, why did you have to go so soon. I am serious though, my christmas tree goes up here soon. The next snow storm we get, its up--I've already busted out the manheim steamrollers and Amy Grant.

Logan/Winter--you are officially on notice...

St. George Marathon and randomness

So St. George Marathon is in one week, 9 days to more accurate....I just finished my econ test at USU yesterday so I should be pretty good to go for the last few days of training before the acual run. I think tonight i am going for 10 miles and I have heard rumors that my sisters and I are going to do 15-20 this weekend, which will be good :).

In other news, I have started being a little crafty. I have made some leather necklaces and leather rings in the past few months but now have shifted on a few new projects. My mom has loaned me her trusty 1960's bernina so i feel pretty vintage crafty :). I am working on some wristbands and they look pretty cool if i say so myself. I also am covering some military size Book of Mormons ( i know i know, its supposed to be copies of the book of mormon not books of mormon or book of mormons, oh well, deal with it)with leather, they look pretty cool.

I also have gotten into steampunk jewelry. I have found a ton of old watches that I will shortly be making into rings and other things. Steam punk stuff is super cool to me right now. I hopefully will start to get pictures posted--that's a project for another day.....

Thats all the news for Logan, the days are getting shorter, the trees have changed colors, Its gotten to be very 'brisk' in the mornings. It is definately time for warm apple cider each morning and stew in the evening. . . . I need to get me some of that. I love fall.

LOTOJA

So like everybody and their dog (speaking of dogs i want one, an Alaskan Huskie) has done LOTOJA up here. For anyone who reads this that doesn't know what LOTOJA is its a bike race from LOgan TO JAckson hole, wyoming. I have this horrible urge to do this next year. I've pulled out the trusty CTR missionary bike I had and have it reassembled. The St. George Marathon is in two weeks, then I think training for LOTOJA will begin. With any luck I will live through this experience and be one step closer to doing an Iron man the following year. I mean, if the world ends in 2012, I may as well kill myself that year with an Ironman right? I will just have to thug my aunt and uncle's pool so I can get the swimming down.

Life is crazy--I need a dog.

Cold...

So it was 38 this morning as i came to work--I think I am going to set up my Christmas tree soon....If its going to be cold, it may as well be Christmas!

USU

So i am all set now for USU. I signed for a management class and and econ class. I went yesterday and bought books. The bookstore is in the basement....scary---not like BYU where it takes up three floors. They also didn't have a huge selection of hoodies which was disappointing. I wanted to buy one, but everything was $60 and i didn't fall in love with any of it. So i still dont show aggie pride yet. Between my parking pass, ID card and books I dropped $400 yesterday--looks like i better start eating Ramen--grrrr. Why is schooling so expensive?

Winter Already?!?!?

So i moved up here in December--it was freezing cold all the time. Finally in June it warmed up enough that you no longer needed a coat--July was hot. August...well the past few days--its been super cold in the mornings--it seems like winter is on its way. What a crazy world. I'm all about the christmas trees and presents but im not ready for cold yet, its still only August!! What's going on...

runnin

for the record, i finally went running again. It was a first time in a long time, but since the Top Of Utah and St. George races are coming up, i figured it was time to kick it in gear. I am a believer in the ipod running technique which is as follows. Put in da skull candies, turn up lady gaga on full blast and then run, flailing your arms and sidestepping to the beat. I try not to do this in public unless i am around my family--so you would all be proud of me that i, in fact, did not dance to 'telephone' today while i was running on the treadmill in the gym...but know this, i was sorely tempted to, but i exercised restraint and i succeeded--we shall see if i am as successful in the top of utah half......