I heart NY

I can't wait to buy one of these t-shirts -------->

Because yes, my friends, I am going to New York!!

I have never been before and have always wanted to go. My friend Amy and I were talking about it and finally we were like, "LET'S JUST DO THIS!!" So we jumped on the computer and started looking at plane tickets. We leave June 25th!

We're planning on doing lots of the touristy things like Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square. Even little things like ride the subway, eat NY pizza, and get frozen hot chocolates from Serendipity's made the list. Our last night we are going to see a Broadway show: In The Heights! (It won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical)

I put this on my status update on Facebook a week or so ago and asked for suggestions of fun things to see/do while we're there. Anything you would add?

superhero dunks

Once in awhile, I will come across a video that is so awesome, I must share it on my blog. This is one of those times.

Here's the background: last year Dwight Howard (plays basketball for the Orlando Magic) won a slam dunk contest. He had a Superman jersey on under his Magic one, and a friend even put a red cape around his shoulders. Amazing.



My new favorite video is from two guys: Barats and Bereta (comedy duo). They came up with some other superheroes for Dwight to use in future slam dunk contests.

Superhero Dunks - barats and bereta


Which superhero dunk is your favorite?

anniversaries

This week marks 9 years of living in this area. 9 years. Dang. I didn't think I'd ever find a place to settle in for 9 years. And yet here it is. And I feel like it has flown by. I still love it just as much as I did the first year. In fact I think I love it more. Living somewhere for 9 years means knowing:

- all the fun places to eat around town
- which side roads/alternate routes to take in case of traffic
- the best beaches depending on what you want to do (surfing, beach volleyball, nighttime bonfire, boogie-boarding, etc)
- fun trails to hike on a beautiful day
- all the fun coffee shops and who you might run into at each
- when people talk about things pertaining to your area, you can nod in agreement and add to the conversation
- how much has changed in your city throughout the years
- when people come to visit, you have a million things you can suggest to do

This week also marks 7 years I have lived in the same house. 7 years! Many roomates have moved in and out. Many frienships have begun and been strengthened within these walls. Many parties/BBQs/sleepovers/showers/birthdays/other festivities have been here. Many shenanigans have occurred. We have tons of funny stories from the past 7 years. And the great news is there's more to come.

So here's to another fun year of living in this area and living in this house! I am so thankful for these two huge blessings in my life.

txt msg d8

I just got asked out via text message.

TEXT MESSAGE.

Boys, what ever happend to calling a girl on the phone and asking her out?

Or better yet...asking her in person?

I'm not sure I'm down with 2009. Is this the norm now?

5 things I love about being an aunt

My sister Amy tagged me on her blog. It's mostly for women to share the things they love about being a mom. Amy said I can do the "aunt" version of this tag and then pass it along to 5 other moms. So without further ado, here are my

5 Things I Love About Being An Aunt


1. Judah's cheeks. I'm sorry, but how can you look at those chubby cheeks and not want to kiss them like crazy?! They're like magnets for my lips. It's a good thing Judah can't talk yet, because I'm sure he'd say something like, "Seriously, Auntie Sarah? ENOUGH."

2. His smile. Yes, all babies are cute when they smile. But when Judah smiles, my heart absolutely melts (I usually let out a squeal or two as well). It's like everything is ok in the world. Better yet, it's like I have no worries, no problems...all I feel is joy and happiness.

3. Seeing the world through his eyes. I love the stage where he's at: he wants to touch EVERYTHING. He focuses on objects, studies them, touches them, tastes them, ponders them. When we go for our walks, I love watching his eyes peer at everything. The trees above him, the cars going by, the people who lean over to say hi. Everything must be new and exciting for him. For us, we see the same things every day. Not a whole lot of newness or excitement.

4. His noises. They make me laugh! He is starting to make "word sounds", but mostly I just like to watch and listen to him make spit bubbles.



5. Judah's Naked Time! I never thought I would enjoy changing and dressing a baby as much as I do. But times on the changing table are so fun. Yes, I have had the pee in my face once the diaper comes off. Multiple times. I just laugh. He seems so happy to be on that table. I talk to him, we make faces, I tickle him, he smiles, I get to pick out his fun clothes for the day, we make noises together, he touches the curtains and birds above him. It's funny how the little things seem so special when I'm with him.

I feel very blessed that I get to watch my nephew every other Friday. I look forward to those days all week. I LOVE being an aunt. I can't wait till he gets even older and I can take him on outings.

And now I get to tag 5 mothers. If you are tagged, you get to share 5 things you love about being a mom. Enjoy!

White On Rice (Tira), Just Tryin' To Make Peace (Amy), A Place Of My Own (Emily), Views From The Backseat (Chrissy), and The A-Girls (Amanda)

barn dancin'

I think I've blogged about this before, but our house has discovered a special farm about 40 minutes from us on the coast. The third Saturday of each month, the farm is open to the public. There is a potluck at 6 pm and then some barn dancin' at 7 pm. They have a country band and a caller, explaining the dances. SO FUN!!

For this month's barn dance, two of my roomates and I decided to wear pigtails.



We had a dear friend, Jenna, visiting from Southern California. She had never been to the farm or barn dance before so we took her. We got there a little early, so we walked up to see the goats and chickens. There were so many baby goats! Cute cute. At the chicken pen we saw some roosters chasing and jumping on the chickens (If chickens could talk, we imagined them saying, "Seriously? No means no.") And the roosters kept...what's the sound they make? Cock-a-doodle-do? Whatever. They kept doing it and we were like, "It's not morning. Chill."

The potluck was delicious (one of the farmers/owners brought down a box of freshly picked strawberries for dessert - OH MY GOSH!!) and the barn dance was a blast, as usual. I love seeing all sorts of different people, different ages, different backgrounds...all having wholesome family fun at a farm in the middle of nowhere.







And here's something else that's fun. There was a guy there taking a million pictures with his fancy-schmancy camera. I went up to him and asked where he was from. He replied, "I'm doing an article for 'San Francisco Magazine' on the farm and barn dance." And he took a lot of pixs of my roomates, Jenna, and I dancing. We might be in the article. Good times.

"I will pray that you trust God"

Last week at church, Charlie (my boss and our pastor) shared a story that I have NOT been able to shake off. It comes to my mind all the time. I keep pondering what it means to me. I would like to share it with all of you. I think it will mean different things to different people, depending on where you are in life. It is an encounter between Mother Teresa and a man named John. (The story was taken from Brennan Manning's book "Ruthless Trust")


When the brilliant ethicist John Kavanaugh went to work for three months at "the house of the dying" in Calcutta, he was seeking a clear answer as to how best to spend the rest of his life. On the first morning there he met Mother Teresa.

She asked, "And what can I do for you?"

Kavanaugh asked her to pray for him.

"What do you want me to pray for?" she asked.

He voiced the request that he had borne thousands of miles from the United States: "Pray that I have clarity."

She said firmly, "No. I will not do that."

When he asked her why, she said, "Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of."

When Kavanaugh commented that she always seemed to have the clarity he longed for, she laughed and said, "I have never had clarity. What I have always had is trust. So I will pray that you trust God."

random thoughts of the day

Sunny weather puts me in the best mood.

I need to watch the season finale of LOST. Abc.com, here I come.

Why are dreams so weird?

Only one more Wednesday night college group till summer. What the crap.

Only one more week with my associate, Jeff. What.The.Crap.

I love getting my hair cut. It was only a trim, but it doesn't matter. My hair already feels lighter and more healthy.

Why have I been making obscure Pee-Wee's Big Adventure references recently? I have not seen that movie in forever. And what a random movie to bring up in conversation.

To be a sheriff, I think it is a requirement to have a moustache.

hip hop love

As I was driving home from hip hop class tonight, I realized I need to come clean about something. I have been hesitant to share this news, but the time has come.

I love hip hop music.

Why is this a secret? Because I probably shouldn't love it.

Here are some reasons why:

1) First of all, their names. It would be hard for me to take anyone seriously when their names are Soulja Boy Tell Em, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Flo Rida, or Chamillionaire. And let's not forget Puff Daddy, I mean P. Diddy, I mean just Diddy now.

2) Their song content. Alcohol? I'm not a big drinker, so when they talk about drinking "petrone" with their homies, I get lost. Clubbing? I like dancing but I'm not a clubber, don't really understand that world. The way they talk about women? Don't even get me started.

3) Their videos. This kind of goes with the last point. I don't even watch their videos because I know I'll see a bunch of half-naked chicks groping at Ludacris while he sings about drinking petrone with his homies in da club. See how it all fits together?

4) Dang it, I'm a white girl. What am I doing, listening (and enjoying) hip hop music? Even when I'm in my hip hop class, I sometimes struggle with feeling too white. Am I a poser?

But even with these reasons, I still find myself flipping to our local hip hop station when I'm in my car. Why? Is this a phase?

Until I get to the bottom of this, I leave you with this fun website. It gives you your very own hip hop name. Have fun.

Sincerely,

Monika Vista (that's what it gave me...)

Wolverine

For college group this week, we had a "Fun Night". We do these the first Wednesday of every month so students can invite their friends and so we can build community and, well....have fun together! For our Fun Night, we went to the movies downtown. X-Men Origins: Wolverine was playing and I knew a bunch of them wanted to see it. It was so great! Since it was a school/work night, we pretty much took over the whole theater. Everyone snuck in snacks (is that wrong?) and enjoyed the action on screen. I enjoyed watching Hugh Jackman for two hours, but that's just me.

I have a new favorite video

Want to do a triathlon? Follow these steps.

The Wildflower weekend was great. We drove to the lake Thursday and set up camp. It rained pretty much all day Friday, but Saturday - race day - was perfect weather. Cloudy but with patches on sun. For those who are interested in doing a triathlon, here are some step-by-step instructions on what to do the day of your tri.

1) Wake up early. Your nerves will probably help with this.

2) Pee. Just like every morning.

3) Put on first coat of sunscreen and your clothes for the day.

4) Pack up all your gear. Wetsuit, earplugs, swim cap, goggles, bib number, flip flops (for after the race), sunscreen, snacks, chapstick, money, towel, water bottles, etc.

5) Eat breakfast. Try to alternate water and gatorade for an hour before you leave.

6) Put on helmet and biking gloves, grab bike, pose for pictures, and then ride down to the lake.

7) In the transition area, find your number. Park your bike and get all your gear set up. You need quick transitions! This means untie your shoes and get them ready to slip on. Attach your bib number to your running jersey with safety pins. Etc.


8) Apply second layer of sunscreen.

9) Drink more water. Eat a PowerBar.

10) Go get marked up. This includes volunteers writing your number on the top of your hands, your arms, the sides of your legs. Your age goes on your left calf. All done in permanent marker.


11) Wait in line a half hour for a porta-potty. You might not need to go when you get in line, but you will have to go once you're at the front of the line.


12) Go back to where you parked your bike. Chat with people around you.

13) Stretch for 20 minutes with friends (Our friend Jen on the right is prego and swam as part of a relay team. She is my hero.)


14) Drink more water and gatorade.

15) Squeeze wetsuit on. Attach timing chip to your left ankle. Grab swim cap, goggles, and earplugs and maneuver your way through the throngs of people to the lake edge.

16) Pray with friends.


17) Line up with your gender and age range (Female 30-34 was mine). Get nervous.

18) As the group ahead of you begins, get in the water with all the other ladies in the precious 3 minutes you have until your race starts.

19) Shriek and exclaim how cold the lake water is.

20) Secretly pee.

21) Wonder how many other ladies are doing the same thing.

22) Get out of the water, line up with your group, wait for the countdown.


"3 - 2 - 1!!!!!!!!!! GOOOO!!!"


The swim is my favorite part. I felt I had trained the most for this section. And plus my adrenalin kicked in and made me feel like I was swimming even faster. I always swim into other people and others always swim into me, but other than that, it was fine.



Got out of the water, ran up to the transition area. Quickly toweled off, threw on biking gear, grabbed bike and GOOOO!!

The bike ride was hilly, but pretty good. I struck up conversations with people as I rode. There is this one killer hill and everyone is going so slow. So why not make some new friends? Everyone's happy to be out there and having a good time. I chatted with a 72 year old man, a pregnant lady, and a seven year old. Yes, anyone can do a triathlon.

Finished bike portion, parked bike, ran out. GOOOO!!!!!!

The run is always the hardest part for me. First of all, I don't enjoy running. I am more of a brisk walker or a slow jogger if I have my neighbor's dogs. And plus I'm so tired after the swim and bike...I just want to stop. But, ya gotta do it to finish.

The best part is of course crossing the finish line. As you come down the chute, people are lined up on both sides, cheering you on. My friends were all there screaming and encouraging me. And then you hear them call your name out on the loudspeaker. Wheee!! I crossed the line, got a medal, and then walked over to the post-race area. Fruit, PowerBars, yogurt and granola, water, gatorade, chairs to sit! Ahhh.

So there ya go. Fabulous weekend. Always fun to see friends and camp together. Always exciting to be around all the other triathletes and feel the energy. Always good to have that feeling of accomplishment when you finish.

See ya next year, Wildflower!

P.S. By the way, on Friday we saw a rattlesnake chillin' five feet from my tent. 5 FEET. He was coiled up at the edge of a hole in the ground. Probably waiting for a gopher or groundhog to pop out so it could feast. Our friend Dave almost walked right on it. Then he thought it would be wise to throw a stick at it. It didn't move. So then Dave POKED IT with a longer stick. The rattler got pissed and dove into the hole with its tail going crazy. Thanks Dave. I feel so safe now. Luckily, a ranger came by and relocated it for the weekend. Freaky.