Wedding Summary

I had SUCH a good time this weekend! I finally got to meet Ajay and think he is just perfect for Kaylene. Really nice guy and fun to be around. Congrats you two!It did snow on the day of the wedding, not a lot, but it did. The sun came out at the very end, perfect timing for some outdoor pictures. (Click on the picture below to go to the whole photo album)

Kaylene and Ajay's Wedding

Kaylene and Ajay's friends were a riot to hang out with. It was so nice to meet Naomi and Kirsten, who I have heard much about.

Me, Naomi, Kirsten, and Kaylene

And their air force buddies! I haven't laughed so hard in a long time...they greatly enjoyed singing the 80s tunes that were played. Nothing like watching a bunch of guys in mess dress singing Bon Jovi's "Shot through the Heart" at the top (and I do mean top) of their lungs.

I caught a ride back to Vegas with Mickey, Jen, and Jon and we walked around the strip for a few hours (first time I've been to Vegas), went to a small car show in Caesar's Palace, then it was off to the airport.

New York New York and the strip

1968 Shelby GT 500...
So added to my list of places to go: South Dakota to visit Ajay and Kaylene (although I was already planning this-howver, they are deploying in January), England (to visit Kevin and his wife Kristen-Kevin flies the KC-135- I don't think he has ever met anyone who got excited about that! I think I made his day :) ), Kirsten and David in Florida, and Naomi and Mark in Colorado...whew, let the frequent flyer miles begin! New friends are fun!

Leavin' on a jet plane

Well, I do know when I will be back again, but I am greatly looking forward to getting away from work and hanging out with my good friend Kaylene at her wedding in Cedar City, Utah. Checking out the weather...there's a 40% chance of snow on her wedding day! Will make for some beautiful pictures...but I'm slightly concerned about my hide in that spaghetti strap dress! Yikes! Glad I checked, because I wouldn't have thought to bring a coat...sweaters yes...coat, no...

On another note, I ran 2.5 miles and power walked 0.5 miles this evening. I shaved a few minutes off of my time, hence why I couldn't run the full 3...slow but steady...

I'll blog about the wedding when I return...yay for 4 day weekends...although I really don't understand why we celebrate Columbus Day...he ran into the wrong piece of land!

3!

I ran three miles this evening! I'm not going to tell you how long it took me (yeah, that is definitely a pride thing), but I just wanted to see if I could "go the distance" (hmm Cake anyone?). Slowly but surely, I'll increase my distance and my time...

I added the Frazier family blog to my links. They are my friends who moved to India last month. Looks like they are adjusting well. God is good!

Can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread...uh...woman...

I did it!!!! I ran for 30 minutes without stopping!! I know, I know, you crazy cross-country people (Bobby, Jana, Kiana...) are shaking your heads laughing, but seriously, that is a big deal for this athletically challenged female. Give me a flute and stack of sheet music any day! (In case you were wondering, I gave up sports when I made a basket for the opposing team during a PE basketball game when I was in second grade...YES, I still remember it and the accompanying humiliation, because I was SO excited I had made a basket...talk about bitter irony...hence why I stick to being a soccer spectator)

Oh so on my run today, I saw two potbellied pigs (yeah Lisa, I think they are domesticated, they were grazing in the same area as last time), numerous rabbits, and a little striped snake (I googled it later...a Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake)...who was a bit too close for comfort, but at least he wasn't poisonous...(no, I didn't take the picture)

One of my friends sent me a link to this guy's blog. He took a three month flying trip in a Super Cub around Alaska. The pictures are AMAZING. Check out his blog.

An Uneventful Weekend

So by this title, you can tell that this won't be a nail-biting, gut-gripping, sweaty-palm tale, unlike my usual blogs (ha!). After two very long and crazy weeks at work, I woke up Saturday morning and went running. I am thinking that I am training for the Houston half marathon in January. I say "thinking" because my rheumatologist told me flat out that he cannot endorse? condone? me running it, but I promised I would go slow...starting with a 5k next month, and see how I feel. The websites I have read on training say you should be able to run at least 30 minutes without stopping. I ran 15 minutes yesterday and about died (ran about 1.3 miles though...), so I went out this evening and slowed my pace down a bit and ran for 25 minutes (no idea what distance). So I think by the end of this week I should be able to hit the 30 minute mark, and I'll go from there. I don't think the 5k will be problem, but we'll see how I do in a 10k...

So after my run yesterday, I had a bagillion dozen things to do, but I was like "I just want to sit on my butt, and read, and do nothing." So I did. My friend Moose had recommended a series of books (Elm Creek Quilters). The first one was excellent. And then I watched a Back to the Future and worked on birthday cards for my friends with October birthdays.

Today I went to the Smythes after church for lunch. They have three children, Matthew (14), Sarah (12) and Katherine (8). Sarah and Katherine helped me to build my Build a Bear (his name is Morris Alexander :) ) a couple of years ago, so I take him over to visit his "playmates" whenever I go over there (unless I forget, which happens quite a bit). We had a great time playing Little House on the Prairie with the stuffed animals. They have such great imaginations. Good food, good company. All in all, a very relaxing, albeit unproductive weekend. Sometimes, you really just need one of those.

Prayer Request

Hey all, I have a prayer request for you. My Aunt Laurie (the one I saw in April for the Nebraska wedding) was just diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It has spread to her colon and liver. She starts her first round of chemo soon. She and my uncle are in good spririts, especially because now they know what they are fighting and have a game plan. Please say a prayer for them to have strength and encouragement, and for God, in His will, to heal her completely. Thanks!

Seattle Trip

So my trip to Seattle (well, technically Tacoma) began and ended with me running to my gate at the airport. For some reason, I just can't seem to get to airports with ample time to meander to my gate. This mornings race to the gate consisted of me taking my shoes off (they were hard to run in) and hauling butt to the gate (got there about 4 minutes before the gate closed!). I even beat the little golf-cart thing. All's well that ends well, right?

John Michael finishing up his lunch (he'll be 9 months on the 17th)

Bobby, me, John Michael, and Monica in Alki, with Seattle behind us (John's a little camera shy, so I don't have any pictures of him)

On Sunday we took a trip to Snoqualmie Falls.

John and Bobby went out at night with some of John's co-workers and Monica and I caught up on our chick-flicks (Catch and Release- didn't like, The Holiday- liked) and ice cream. Then on Monday evening we went to the spa (which is now a tradition for us). Good times. I can't wait to see everyone again at Christmas!