Thankful List (Day 7)

My far-away friends I've actually gotten to hang out with recently! None of these pictures actually represent our recent reunions because my camera is broken :(


22. Erika & Kayla: Erika lives in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Katrina & I picked the perfect 5 days to get out of Minnesota and head for the beaches & sun of FL. It was SUCH a great HS reunion. Erika is my crazy good singer, fun loving, organized and (very) talkative friend. Kayla lives in Denver, Colorado. She came home (in true Kayla style) without much of a heads up and we spur the moment met for lunch, updated each other on our lives, families, and latest HS gossip. Kayla was practically my adjoined twin for years. We went everywhere & did everything together. Now if only I could get a job in Denver.
23. Katrina: She is a BUSY girl but we finally got more than a few hours at a coffee shop together. Katrina ALWAYS makes me laugh, she's thoughtful beyond belief, and she has the biggest passion for science & health care.
24. Whitney: She's home for the holiday...(her boyfriend Matt in tow). They live in Boston, MA and flew in on Saturday. Kara and I met them for dinner, drinks, and bowling in uptown. It turned into an icy, cold night that left us stranded at Kara's (who, btw is the best hostess ever) we snuggled in bed & made breakfast in the AM. Whitney is the probably the wittiest person I know, she's usually up for anything, and she is super spontaneous --(maybe why we get along so well?)

Thankful List (Day 6)

18. Tanning on the roof. And, my incredibly crazy & fun friend, Andrea.

19. My new tractor Allis. My dad just gave her to me a few months ago . . . isn't she pretty?

20. My hilarious Anne girl. She's pretty much been adopted into our family.

21. CRISPIN cider! And we finally have it on tap at GM. yessss!

Thankful List (Day 5)

14. My Mom & Dad: i LOVE this picture of them, they're in their element.
15. Bonfires! This one must have been made by my mom . . . who knows why?!

16. Thankful that this year I am NOT spending my entire thanksgiving break working & stressing over my senior project. I am only smiling in this picture because it was almost done.

17. Cross-Country Skiing: I joined the team my sophomore year of high school -- feLL in LOVE -- and can't wait to get out again this year. BRING ON the SNOW!

Thankful List (Day 4)

10. Coffee & Chocolate . . . no need to say more.
11. My big sisi gretchie! I love her, I miss her & I look up to her. "When I get big, i'mna ride on the bus with dretchen to scooL!"
12. Initiation at work: If you're new, we might scare you with . . . dun, dUN, DUN, "INITIATION," but it's really just another game we play. The picture really represents more than initiation -- I'm thankful for my job, my co-workers, the friendships I've made, the games we play, the fun we have, and ALL the free FOOD we eat!
13. My sister's typical request that has now become the family picture norm -- siLLy faces. I love the fun we have while taking these pictures but I'm really thankful for these people: my sister, mom, and grandma.

Thankful List (Day 3)

Today I'm thankful for my years I ran for the UW - STOUT

track & field team.

-I met some of my best friends & roommates.

-I was actually IN SHAPE & able to keep off my freshman 15.

-It provided me with a much needed & necessary break from

design work.

-I was stretched & challenged as an athlete.

-We went on some sweet, all expense paid vacations.

-Competition. Competition. Competition -- I thrive on it.

-I had an incredible coach who turned into more of a mentor & friend.

I am particularly thankful and reflective on these times today
because . . . (tangent alert)

Starting last night (but more so this morning) my legs were extremely restless. Does this ever happen to you? It's actually a typical occurrence for me, but it's almost always cured with a quick 50 meter sprint. Today that was NOT the case. When it started last night it was close to 1:30AM and I didn't want to venture out -- mainly because it was pretty cold -- so I did leg raises, lunges, bicycle kicks, flutter kicks, leg swings, and everything I could think of until my thighs, calves, and ass were too sore to move. When I woke up this morning I was anxious to finish reading a book that I had almost completed the night before (but obviously got sidetracked). I only have about 20 pages left, I'm really into it, and my legs start crying to move again. I forced them to stay put for 20 more pages but could only get through 10.5 before I threw the book down and put on running clothes faster than I can sprint a 100m dash. My legs were taking over and I started going crazy. I HAD TO SPRINT. So I did -- but I'm SO out of shape that my cardiovascular system can't keep up. My legs wanted to go gO GO! Sprinting is also something that your body can't just do. Well, maybe it can . . . but not well. Your body needs lots of practice & refinement in order to build up certain muscles, to teach your arms, feet, and legs what to do, to get everything in sync so that your sprinting feels like a glide: very smooth & fast. Today I felt like a car speeding down the interstate low on oil and with tires out of balance. I was so uneven and mechanical that no matter how fast I was running, I didn't feel fast at all.

So, this whole, big, frustrating & anxious, tired & unbalanced feeling this morning made me realize how thankful I am for my years running at Stout. I loved being in shape, I loved sprinting, I loved the competition, and I loved the support of my team pushing me forward. I know nothing will ever replace my track years but I hope my glaring realization today will help me make sure my lungs catch up to my legs.

Thankful List (Day 2)

5. My MacBook . . . it's my baby.
6. 2220 S. Broadway: I got to live here for 3 years with my best friends.
7. Mom & Dad's cooking: I'm spoiled with meals that look like this EVERY time I go home. steak + party potatoes + green beans sauteed with onions = one of my FAVORITE meals.
8. Snowmobiling & being pulled behind on a sled . . . you're NEVER too old.

Thankful List

My sister started the Thanksgiving tradition in our family to write down EVERYTHING you are thankful for. We write things that are silly & mundane, things that we take for granted, and of course, usual things we all think of, like: family, friends, faith & health. It's good to be specific because when you look back at old lists you can more clearly remember what your life was like at the time, and what was important -- little things usually change. Then we always email it to each other so we can say "oooHHH, that's a good one!" or "what's the story with that one?". I've decided to make my list with pictures this year. Hopefully each day of November I can post a few more things I am thankful for. No particular order - just going with whatever I'm feeling that day. Enjoy!

1. Kaia: the little peanut I get to hang out with every Monday & Tuesday.
2. Ten Mile Lake: the first trip across spring 2010.
3. Bert & Polly: my old & new (mostly) faithful modes of transportation.
4. These friends: I think you can tell how silly & fun they are just from the picture.