Ponderings

Went for a run this morning. Well, ok, it was more like a walk, then a jog, then a near-collapse, then a walk again, an attempt at jogging, an asthma attack or two, and finally a triumphant run--which only happened because I'd finally reached the part of the trail that went downhill.

But it was a good way to start the morning, getting the blood flowing, feeling the muscles working, the lungs nearly exploding. Ahhh, exercise! Very much needed after yesterday's sitting on airplanes, in airports, and in airport food courts (mmmm, lukewarm Domino's Pizza for $2.00 a slice!).

I felt a little depressed on the flight from Denver to Los Angeles. Maybe it was because when I looked out the window at the night sky and saw the stars, I remembered that I can't see the Southern Cross from this hemisphere, and suddenly I missed New Zealand and all my friends there. Maybe it was because I'm missing a friend that I had to say goodbye to recently, with no knowing of when I'll be able to say hello again. Maybe it's because I'm turning 30 in a little over two months and I wish my life looked a little different then it does right now.

Or maybe it's because I was listening to a lot of Matchbox Twenty. That actually might have had a lot to do with it.

Anyway, the run this morning did me a lot of good, in spite of nearly killing me. Once I was able to breathe again, I felt quite cheerful and excited to be alive.

Now it's time to get ready for work. Have a great day, kids. Be good and I'll catch ya later.

Leaving Minnesota

So my time in Minnesota has nearly come to an end. My friend's wedding was great, and the reception was lots of fun. It was a little weird to go to a wedding where literally the only person I knew was the bride, but I made a lot of new friends, especially on the groom's side, which is cool because he is from England, so now if I ever want to visit the UK again (which I certainly do) I have lots of places to stay!

I didn't actually get to sightsee much here. I thought I might try and see the Mall of America tomorrow, just to say I've been there, but to be honest, my idea of a nice little day trip does not really encompass trekking all around a three-story testament to blatant consumerism, with an amusement park thrown in for good measure. So I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow before I have to catch my evening flight. I guess I'll just have to surprise myself.

One thing I have to mention about Minnesota is the way people drive. Very different from California, where you can pretty much take for granted that, on any given freeway (but especially I-5 from LA to SF), people will be going anywhere from 5 to 100 miles per hour over the speed limit. So you can imagine my consternation when I found myself, at 70mph, breezing past every car on the Minneapolis highways as if they were parked on the side of the road. I swear some people were actually going under the speed limit--which in some places is 55mph. Can you believe it?! At first I thought everyone was just old. But I was wrong.

Hey, many thanks to MB and Kenny for putting me up (or putting up with me?) for the weekend. Maybe I'll see you in California one of these days, in which case I'll be happy to return the favor.

Off to Minnesota

Why do I always seem to get really early morning flights when I go anywhere?

So my flight is at 7am, meaning I have to leave my house by about 5:15am to get to the airport in time to wait in all the lines, meaning I had to set my alarm for 4:30am so I'd have time to do last-minute packing which I didn't quite finish last night due to being utterly exhausted from snowboarding, meaning that I actually woke up at about 3:30am because I was worried that I would sleep through the alarm clock because I was so tired.

All of which meaning that right now I am existing on a level of consciousness somewhere between zombie and, I don't know, death I guess.

I am not sure if I'm done packing, but I'm not sure anymore whether or not I care.

Men and Margaritas

Tonight was Taco Tuesday night at Pepe's, which means tacos are $1.25...not a bad deal. And the margaritas are sensational. (A little TOO sensational, actually.)

I went with one of my good girlfriends and spent the night talking about men and how impossible it is to understand them. For example, I can't count how many times I've been told 1) that I'm amazing, 2) that I'm beautiful, 3) that I am an awesome woman of God, and 4) that I'll make some man really happy someday. The fact is, I'm a little tired of hearing it. I mean, honestly...if I'm so great and wonderful and all, um...why am I still single? Come on guys. What's the problem? Do I need to turn cartwheels and balance a ball on the end of my nose to make the final cut?? Is that what I've been missing all these years?

Maybe it's my lack of cooking skills.

Thankfully, before my girlfriend and I could get too bitter about men, a nice one showed up who bought us a round of the aforementioned sensational margaritas (thanks Morgan!).

On another note, I'll be hitting the slopes tomorrow, amen and hallelujah! Toward the end of 2004, I really prayed that I'd manage to snowboard at least three times this season, and this will be my fourth time! So I'm pretty stoked that I got even more than I asked for. God has a tendency to be generous like that.

Well, I'd best hit the hay, 'twill be an early start tomorrow. And then I have to pack for Minnesota still! Hmmm. Nothing like doing things at the last minute, eh.

Ode to Gap Fitting Rooms

Went shopping today, which is not my favorite activity as a rule. However, I have to give props to the Gap for having the best dressing-room lighting EVER...going there really put me in a good mood today. I wish I could somehow package that light and carry it around with me, like in a little lamp that would hover perpetually over my head as I went around town. I look pretty fantastic underneath it, almost model-esque really--and that's even on a "fat day." Forget dieting...just get a dose of some Gap lighting! It will do the trick with a lot less sweat and starvation.

Not only did I get the benefit of seeing myself as the Gap mirrors do (oo-la-la), but I even accomplished my purpose for the shopping trip, which was to find a nice sweater to wear to this wedding on Saturday. Usually (and this is why I hate shopping) I drive around and visit a bunch of different stores, not finding what I'm looking for, and getting more and more cranky until finally I give up and go home in a huff.

Thankfully today's experience ended on the happy note of actually finding what I was looking for! Not to mention buying a few other nice things, which I actually look rather stunning in--at least, when I'm standing under Gap lighting.

Monday

Well, it's Monday and a gray one at that. The sun keeps making efforts to break through the clouds, but with dubious success. Hopefully that means snow on the mountains though, because I think it is time for another snowboarding adventure, before heading off to the frozen wastes of Minnesota on Thursday...someone told me that last week it was 3 degrees Fahrenheit out there. I was appalled...I have no clothes that would be appropriate for a cold-weather afternoon wedding/evening reception!!!! I suppose I could always show up in my snowboarding gear; wouldn't be the best fashion statement but at least I'd be warm.

The cowgirl came home last night, and will be leaving this morning, taking the dog with her. He is asleep here in my room as I type this, and I have to say I am going to miss him alot.

Annoyingly, she is not taking Leo with her yet...she has no room in her car for his cage. I am a little angry about this. The only animals left around the place are the ones I can't stand: my brother's cat (who has decided she doesn't need to be house-trained anymore) and this horrible screaming cockatiel. Great.

Sometimes Someone Else Says It Better

Jesus, I know I don't say it often enough...but thanks. For everything.

O Love that will not let me go
I rest my weary soul in Thee
And give Thee back the life I owe
That in Thine ocean's depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light that followest all my way
I yield my flick'ring torch to Thee
My heart restores its borrowed ray
That in Thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain
I cannot hold my heart from Thee
But trace the rainbow through the rain
And feel the promise is not in vain
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head
I dare not ask to fly from Thee
But lay in dust life's glory dead
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
--George Matheson, 1882