Oh What Do You Do In The Summertime?

Yesterday in a phone interview for a job I was asked what I do when I'm not working. I'm pretty sure my future employer is not the only one who would like to know. I am frequently asked that question by friends and family. I'm done with school and have no job. What do I do everyday?!?!

1. Traveling. I have all this free time, so I am taking advantage of it. I have gone on a lot of fun trips in the past couple of months. From last minute trips to Utah and California to long awaited trips to Spain and Hawaii. I love to travel! There's nothing better than packing up and leaving for a few days. As long as I don't have a job, I will keep filling my time with fun (yet cheap) trips!

2. Running. Well at least that's what I used to do apparently. With all the above traveling, it is hard to stay on a steady running schedule. I am supposed to be training for a half marathon coming up in a few weeks. But can't seem to get back into my long-run groove. I wouldn't say that I love running yet, but I do love the escape. Hopefully Portland is done with it's monsoon rains so I can get back onto a good schedule.

3. Reading. School killed my love for reading. Textbook after textbook of boring material from boring GE classes made me never want to pick up a book again. But while in Hawaii, my friends and I had a little book club. We'd thought it would be fun to all read the same book and discuss. I wasn't too thrilled with the book choice so I skipped reading for the first few days. But as soon as I was forced, I was hooked. Now I find myself going to the library once a week to return a handful of books for a new handful of books. I love my new library card! Right now I am really into Jodi Picoult books thanks to Lindsay. I love her style of writing!

4. Baseball. It's baseball season. I have nothing to do. So now I can concentrate on it 24/7. I am able to catch a lot of the rare Cardinals games on TV out here. And I have been able to catch 2 A's games in Oakland already. In a few weeks I'll be going to St. Louis to catch a few Cardinals games at Busch Stadium. I. Can't. Wait.

5. Baking. I'm still making lots and lots of cupcakes. My grandma usually calls me about once a week to make an "order." So that gives me the opportunity to make a new kind or test my new decorating skills. I have been given a few fun decorating books recently so I have lots of ideas to try. I usually try and find something that will go along with my Sunbeam lesson every Sunday. Sometimes it's easy, and sometimes I have to really stretch to justify taking cupcakes to them all the time. I just got a few new accessories for my KitchenAid and can't wait to break them in. When I was in San Francisco last week I found myself spending a long time in Sur La Table. I don't know why, since we have one here. But I wanted to get everything in their baking section!

6. I'd never thought I'd say this but the Singles Ward. I thought I would just stick with the home ward and I would be good. But a few months ago I decided to try out the Canyon Road ward and had success. Love the people there. Lots of fun activities. We had an Amazing Race through Portland last week. Guess who's group won? That's right, mine! I've got the blisters to prove it. (I wore new shoes... and we literally ran from point to point) Yesterday we worked on floats for the Rose Parade. I got to cover a Native American's shoe with Walnuts. Now I must go to the parade to see the fruits of my labor. I am enjoying the singles ward and I'll take back almost every negative thing I've said about it in the past. The saying is true, don't knock it till you try it.

7. If I had a pool, that would cover #1-6. That's all I would do. Brings me back to my days at King Henry. When all we cared about was going to the pool and happy hour at Sonic.

Is It April Yet?

10 hours and 23 minutes (at the time of post) until the Cardinal's first Spring Training game...

Can baseball season just get here right now???? I need games, games, games! I need the 9 texts a day for 401 updating me of the Cardinals games. I usually get annoyed with the texts when I am at the game, but now I would appreciate them anytime!! Just start coming please...

I have already looked up trips to Seattle, St. Louis, Boston and San Francisco to catch a series or two. Why do I always go to the same ballparks? This isn't helping me reach my goal of going to all of the Major League Baseball Stadiums...

I am liking the fact that the Mariner's Opening Day is a week after baseball starts. Seeing as how I will be traveling back into the country on April 6th, most likely with an empty bank account, it will be semi-impossible to catch the Cardinals opening day... So second best is Seattle, right?? I am a little worried for the Mariners that their 2nd and 3rd home games of the season they are already offering half price tickets. Is it really that hard to get fans to come? By the way, on my birthday (April 30), the Cardinals are giving away Cardinals Snuggies... If that's not a sign that I have to go, then I don't know what is! Done and done!

I am excited to see the Cardinals this season. We dropped a few, picked up a few and had a few struggles during the off season. But doesn't everyone? I am cheering for Freese no matter what anyone says. I am excited to see Pujols, Yadi and Holliday back in action. Let's get a Cy Young from Waino or Carp this season. Good riddance to Ankiel (or HGH) and Thurston. I'm surprise LaRussa let go of his man crushes. I wish I could go to Jupiter right now.

April-October/November = PURE BLISS! And I can't wait for it to begin!

Get ready for me, St. Louis! I am coming!

p.s. I am in love with the first picture that comes up on the Cardinals home page right now. It's McGwire and Freese in the batting cages... It makes me smile everytime :)

I Want To Rock 'n' Roll All Night

I signed up for my first 1/2 marathon! It was kind of fun to mark that it was my first on the questionnaire. It is the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon.


Driving up to Vancouver through Seattle on Monday was just stunning. I am so proud to be from the Northwest. We have the most beautiful scenery. On Monday it was a gorgeous 60 degrees and sunny with not a cloud in the sky. I wanted the drive to last forever. On the way back down south on Wednesday I was driving through downtown Seattle right before sunset. The sun reflecting off the water and onto the buildings was picturesque. In fact I searched through my purse for my camera with one hand and one eye while using the other eye and hand to watch where I was driving. There was one specific 30 second stretch of the drive that I wanted to capture. Unfortunately on this particular occasion I was sporting my big yellow purse. Finding one small thing in a big huge bag is difficult at anytime, let alone while driving in rush hour traffic. So I have no beautiful picture to show. But just imagine it with me. As I passed downtown I found myself checking the rear view mirror every few seconds to catch one last look.

After seeing this I have had a new found love for Seattle. I would love to live there someday. a. It's close to home. b. There's a Major League Baseball team. (even if they are in the American League...) c. there's a NFL team. d. There's water. e. It's green. d. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg like San Francisco (my other dream place to live) I could go on and on...

So with this new found love I decided to check out marathons in Seattle to do this year. And immediately I found the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 marathon and new this is the one. It's June 26. Perfect time of the year. Not too hot, not too cold. Beautiful scenery. Fresh air. What more could you ask for?? Ok, maybe a friend to run with?? Kelli, get on that!

Go here to sign up.

I am excited for this new challenge!

This Is Beyond Baseball

We're not in Kansas anymore... oh wait

Update:

I'm in Wichita.  At a semi good hotel.  Catching up on old episodes of The Bachelor of course.  

Bad news:  As I was checking in to the hotel room, the front desk guy got a call from someone in their room complaining about bugs... and the front desk guy was explaining that the exterminator came last week... blah blah blah.  and said he would be willing to move him to another room or give him a refund.  right then I wanted to butt in and ask for a refund and spend $20 more for a nicer place.  

Good news: I SEARCHED my room for any signs of bugs and could not find any.  So I will be able to sleep peacefully tonight (minus the noise from my neighbors.  I hope they go to bed soon.  And don't snore)

I sure love being poor!

Today's baseball game was fun.  It was good to see the team in person and not on a computer screen.  The Wichita State Shockers have a pretty sweet stadium and a half turf field.  the infield is turf but the outfield is grass.  Makes for an exciting game since more balls make it past the infielders quicker without grass to slow them down.  The cougs were ahead the whole game until the bottom of the ninth.  poor pitching on byu's part. and good hitting from the shocker's side led to a base hit to win the game.  too bad, because our starting pitcher did real well and left the game 5-2 in the 6th.  oh well. tomorrow's another day.  i hope it's warmer.

side note: byu fans could learn a thing or two from the shocker's fans.  there were so many of them.  and all loyal.  with their headphones on listening to the radio broadcast of the game while watching it in the freezing cold.  i sat by a group of older men that talked as if they follow every step of the team.  a doubleheader yesterday in 30 degree weather and a game today in 45 degrees.  that's true dedication.  but then again, i doubt there's anything better to do in this city.  from downtown, you can drive 10-15 minutes either way and you're out in the middle of nowhere...

(p.s. my neighbors were just talking about flava of love, i love new york, i love money... classic)

My Collegiate Life

This:

just isn't doing it for me.

On Wednesday it was so warm here. It reached 70 degrees at one point in the day! As I stood outside to brainstorm outdoor activities so my skin could benefit from some Vitamin D, I realized something.

all i really wanted to do was drive my car to byu and walk into larry miller field and watch byu play baseball. but alas, byu is a 20 hour drive from my apartment.

So... I have two trips coming up to solve the problem.

Trip #1 - Wichita, Kansas

Sunday I will drive to KC and stay overnight. Monday will make the 3 hour trek to Wichita (home of the shockers)
Weather is looking promising - forecast is a warm 64 degrees for both Monday and Tuesday!

i look forward to seeing the team play in person and enjoy some good sun.

BUT... it's still not miller field

So... Trip #2 (99% set in stone)
Provo, Utah! i never thought i would be so excited to go to provo. and i thought i would be able to live without byu baseball for one season because i have the freakin st louis cardinals out here! but the season hasn't started out here and i am dying...
So mark your calendars for March 12-15th. i will be at the thursday, friday and saturday games. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!
and i'll eat at gurus, and cafe rio, and five guys, and joe vera's, and zupas. mmm!!!!
So if you want to see me, i will be at those places or the stadium. and maybe her aparment.
BUT i WILL cancel the trip if the weather isn't at least 50 degrees, but i would appreciate 60 or 70 degrees.

i can't wait to go! thanks to mom for donating some southwest credit! :)