Sunday, October 31, 2010

Go run and tell that!

we are the ghosts of bad christmas pictures
Provo Halloween Half Marathon.
5:30 am wake up
breakfast
6:55 drive to the buses
8:15 catch a bus
9:10 arrive at Aspen Grove
9:15 RACE
Finish in 1:56.

Rachael, Jeff and I ran all 13.1 miles. Jeff finished (obviously) way before Rach and I; he's a stud. We had so much fun, chatting all the way down, pushing each other along, watching the racers go by in various costumes, and making sure we staying in front of the 2 hour pacer. He was fun to listen to--he kept shouting out funny comments--but having him so close behind us during miles 5-7 was kind of nerve wracking. So we ran away from him. The race itself went by really fast, before I knew it we were at mile 10. Rach kept me going--Love you girl!


Today I am sore. Very.

Go trick and treat

So this week has been a pretty hectic one. I have gone to bed after midnight every day and woken up before 6 am three times...

Sound the Feasting Horn

TREAT:
 Wednesday Jared and I had our dinner and a movie date. The plan: beef ragu sauce on gnocchi, french bread and salad. Let me tell you it was the stinking best Italian food I have ever had in America. It was a feast. Thanks to Jared's mom for the white wine--it made all the difference. The movie: 12 Angry Men. Not your typical date movie to be sure, but I had to watch it for an assignment. And actually quite a good film as well. Also treat: below.

TRICK:
Steamy
  friday night we participated in the Amazing Race! Okay, not officially, but close enough. After driving to American Fork for dinner (45 min to Lindon because of traffic) and an Amazing pumpkin cupcake from Dippididee, we made our way to Liberty Park in Salt Lake. From there, we raced 8 other couples around the city, to grave yards, the masonic temple and several parks. At the cemetary, we had to find the gravestone of a woman named Lilly Grey, who had fallen victim to the _________-  ___________. The answer: beast 666. Creepy!!

The race truly was Amazing, and haunted. Jared and I totally won. Except again, not officially, since apparently one other couple had done one "clue" that we hadn't had to do. We finished everything first including one very tricky word scramble. We figured out all but the last one, spootin took us forever. Turns out it was potions.  We turned it in and were told, "That's it you won!" WE CELEBRATED! Then our victory was stolen from us. Lame. But we are winners at heart.

This activity made me want to come up with one of these on my own for next year. An all round fantastic night.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Go get your own kickstand


I probably shouldn't do this, but I'm going to because its late and I'm tired. Also, because it has actually turned out to be a really good day I believe its okay for me to do so because I'm in a good mood. Therefore no bitter tones.

What peeves me:
  • dirty dishes left in the sink
  • when you lock up your bike in a bike-rack and someone chains theirs up next to yours. Then, because they don't have a kickstand, they lean their bike on yours, ensnaring it in a handlebar,  brake-line and pedal mess that takes five minutes and grease on you clothes to untangle. 
  • turning on the heat in October because it is snowing. Heavily. And you are running a race in 4 days in the mountains. 
  • BYU class registration. Why is it such a pain? And why can't everyone just wait until morning so that I can go to bed?
  • waking up early to finish homework and then your teacher falls behind in class and therefore you don't actually need the homework to be done at all. Spent costs. 
  • The nasty stain? It's from the pumpkin, which I carried to the trash on a cookie sheet. I had to scrape it off the floor. Yummy.
  • people leave stuff that rots at your house and don't ever clean it up, leaving you to clean up their mess

The gray stuff is furry, not blurry. It's mold.
What I love:
  • when my professor giggles to himself in class and none of us know why.
  • when that same professor tells me and my group that we did a fabulous job on our presentation, that we did the best of anyone who has yet presented, that he wants to see the exact same combination of theory applied to case studies on the final exam
  • nail polish
  • herbal tea--I have been drinking at least two cups a day. It keeps me hydrated, warm, and as Mel mentioned tonight, its my stress reliever. I love to grip the warm mug in between my hands
  • when my roommate made muffins and gave me one. Or my other roommate brought me a carmel apple, or my other roommate came into my room and gave me a back massage. Basically I love all three of them.
  • when I run into old friends and realize that they have matured in ways I never expected, but at the same time in ways that make us better friends. 
  • when my Econ professor sends out an email that says that we no longer have to turn in/do more than 60 percent of our assigned homework since we have a test on Monday. 
  • When my dad sends me emails
  • when my sister comments on my blog
  • banana bread--all kinds and at any time of day
  • hot showers and smooth legs
  • spandex and boots and big comfy sweaters
  • getting assigned a movie to watch for homework
  • when I try to think of a really great Halloween costume and end up wearing something totally random. Except this year I'm really going to plan it out--SUGGESTIONS please.
See: more positive than negative. It has been a good day.
Go 24/7 (Although I'm not going to today because I need to catch up on sleep).

Go to school before the sun comes up

Yesterday I woke to a glorious 5:30 wake-up call, turned on my light to finish some homework, and discovered the power had gone out. Dismayed and irritated, I proceeded to flip the switches all around the apartment. No luck. I lit a candle. Yes, I did homework by candlelight...

Then what to my wondering eyes would appear, but the power went back on! I took a shower. The day went by slowly and painfully. FHE was a nice and much needed respite, as was Melanie's and my P90X workout at 9:30 pm. Did I mention that my internet isnt working?

This morning I woke at 5:50. The internet still isnt working. So here I am at school. Before 7 am. I rode my bike through the dark streets of Provo. You know how dark it is just about everywhere in the world at 1 am? Well, this morning it was darker than that since most of the sky was overcast. I could see a few stars peeking through. But the cold air mostly kept me peddling as fast as I could, hoping to make it to the Tanner Building without more delay.

I will be spending my entirety of the day here at school. Lovely.

Why? you may wonder what I am doing here so stinkin early for. Well, my wonderful European Geography professor sent out an email last night at 7 to remind us about an assignment he mentioned in the last 5 minutes of our last class period. "Find a rural village in Europe (using GoogleEarth) that qualifies as one of the 7 types and bring an image of it to class. Oh, and we will probably have a quiz on types tomorrow in class." expletive.

This is my life right now.
On a brighter note, my roommate got a electronic piano yesterday for Christmas. She came stumbling into the apartment dragging a box bigger than she is and said, "Christmas came early this year." I discovered 2 things. 1. I like playing piano. 2. I can still sight read after 5 years. There is hope for me yet mother.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Go make something delicious

I  watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this weekend. The old one: the good one, with real Oompa Loompa songs and everything. That film is filled with great one liners, mostly coming from the candy man himself: "so shines a good deed in a dreary world." and my personal favorite: "Don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted...he lived happily ever after."

Jared and I made the first batch of banana treats this weekend. Another new kind of banana bread: this one with a streusel topping. It turned out fabulously delicious, but I think it would be better as muffins.

I indulged this weekend and bought salmon to make for Sunday dinner. For the first time since I moved in all my roommates were home and we had a delicious meal. Brown rice--thanks to Mel's rice cooker, sugar snap peas in a ginger-miso sauce with mustard soy glazed salmon. Our apartment was filled with the delicate aromas of Asia. Everything tasted delicious and we had such fun talking and laughing and filling our bellies. This rainy Sunday has been excellent so far and it is only 4:30--the day goes on.

This is serving two on my roommate's plate; I forgot about a photo until I had finished eating. This seems to be a habit in my family so I expect they will forgive the sloppiness of this picture. Besides, it tasted delicious.


Sherlock Holmes is hitting BBC America tonight. If you havent seen it yet. CHECK IT OUT. It's a modern day version with all the great character development and intricacies of the classic show.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Go Blog

Dad today asked, "Alex has a blog? When did she start that?"
Apparently I need to be better about this whole writing business.
So Goal:
Write at least a sentence on here each day. This might keep me sane. Plus it can be my random thoughts journal. And update my family.

Currently I am doing a research paper about English National Parks. It's fascinating stuff. Did you know they have classified some government protected land as "Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty." I love this.

I wouldn't have considered this to be an AoNB until I took this photo. Utah Valley. Who would have thought?.
Also, I have 3 pounds of bananas sitting on my countertop right now (12 bananas) If you have recipes you love that have bananas in them then please comment. I'll be doing an experiment with them all.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Go Update

Leaves like fire. Make my heart melt.
Lifes been busy so here's the low down.

1. I started and finished (the season's over) refereeing for Provo Parks and Recreation youth soccer. Lets just say that being called "Coach" by 3 year old blonde boys is my new favorite thing.
2. I got a new do--bangs.
3. Econ is kicking my trash. Seriously.
4. School is extremely unpleasant and I find myself walking up and down the halls in my apartment just cause I don't feel like doing homework. (it's a small hallway).
5.It is fall outside--kinda freezing in the morning as I ride my bike to school but the colors are amazing.

6. I believe the family is moving back to London. Eventually.
7. Applied for an internship with the National Geographic. If you haven't ever looked at it, check out their site. It's my homepage.
8. Jared is so fine. Not to mention how great he is. He treats me so well. And he calls me babe. Win.
Hiking Stuart Falls trail. And poshing it at G.C.


9. I am running a half marathon next weekend.....hahaha. That will be fun.
This is Rachael. She is my running buddy. She is also sleeping on a piano bench. Can I love her more? No.

10. I am SCUBA certified. It feels so good. I love hanging upside down underwater. No blood rush.
11. Did I mention how much I'm sick of school?                                                                                       
12. I'm an FHE mom. It's sweet. If you don't know what that is check out this site.
13. Mom came out for General Conference at the beginning of this month. She, me Haley and Jared went for hikes, to the sessions on Sunday and had an all around blast. Can't wait for Dad's turn!
Check out the water bottle carriage: J-dog hooked his to a belt loop. Mom's is tied on with her belt as a strap. Haley's is in her pants....hahha typical.

PICNIC

Running into the entire Ward Family after so long. What a wonderful reunion!

14. I now cannot graduate in April because I would have to take 19 credits. Possible yes. Do-able heck no. So instead I'll take more french.
15. Got a new car. His name is Papi Smurf. He's a stick.
16. Karaoke'd for the first time. Courtney was there!
Besties forever.

17. A couple Cambridge reunions. Life is so great now that I've found them.
Who can't love the men who sing Backstreet Boys. Note the random Indian guy in the back. No idea who he is...poser. You wish you were as cool.

18. Our intramural soccer team is doing so well. You should probs come watch us play. We have the sickest name ever. Team 23. Oh yeah, we scary.


19. Here's a great quote I found while reading for my Organizational Behavior class.

"We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."
            There are four secrets to saying young, being happy and acheiving success:
                           1. You have to laugh and find humor every day.
                           2. You've got to have a dream.
                           3. You must grow up by finding the opportunity to change.
                           4. You must have no regrets. 

A few words of wisdom for all you readers out there at close. So GO 24/7 and don't ever quit.