Yellowstone 2015 and Boyfriend Turns 30

In 8th grade science we watched a documentary about Yellowstone's supervolcano. Because I am me, I spent the next few months not sleeping and fretting about the safety of my loved ones. If the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted we were all going to die! We needed exit strategies, communication plans, safe-zones! Unfortunately, no one else seemed to care and it is very hard to create a Save the World manual (I will create a manual for anything) without at least a little bit of cooperation.

Luckily, I grew out of this phase. Not the worrying phase, just the worrying about supervolcanoworlddestruction phase. I still try to solve non-existent problems years in advance.

As I have stopped worrying about Yellowstone destroying me, after all there really is nothing I could do (trust me, I have run through all the scenarios) I have come to realize that it is one of the greatest places on Earth, if not the absolute greatest. It stands out for its geothermic activity, but that isn't even the best part. The wildlife experiences and the sheer beauty of the landscape make it a worthwhile venture, not to mention it is just a four hour drive from us.

Boyfriend and I did not die from the cold or extreme geothermic activity this weekend. We camped in a different location than last time and got to experience a whole new part of the park.

We got there late Friday night. The reports said to expect inclement weather (see previous whining), but we had no issues. Apparently, that wasn't the case for everyone. Boyfriend's sister was on her way over from Colorado and ended up having to camp out on the side of the road for the night so she wouldn't hydroplane and die.

By Saturday we had all arrived at Bridge Bay safely and were ready to see the park. We saw a lot of wildlife and the dark, ominous skies made for some gorgeous photos. It was so relaxing. I'm planning on relocating next summer so I can live in Yellowstone. Even if I have to hide out in the park and join a wolf pack.

It was a wonderful weekend and a great way (I'm speaking for him) to celebrate Boyfriend entering a new decade with the big 3-0.

Coyote

Bison

Orange Tent: Boyfriend's birthday present from me.
Given for selfish reasons, now we can go on LOTS OF CAMPING TRIPS!

Boyfriend making breakfast

Bison fording the river

Baby pronghorn, cutest ever

Baby bear ... cutest ever ...

Moose! One was male with tiny antlers

Bia and deer

Me!

Memorial Day Repeat

May is almost over! Things are good! I hate my diet on the days I stick to it, but I rarely stick to it so it isn't that bad! I have made improvements though. I don't have two dinners every night anymore and I haven't had wine for almost three weeks. I think that no matter what happens we can call this month a win. Or a loss. Depending on how you look at it ... because I really miss second dinner. And wine.

Anyway, Boyfriend and I are hoping to end this month with a bang. We have a trip planned for this weekend and are thinking about going SKYDIVING on Tuesday, if the weather permits it. For our trip...we are going to Yellowstone. Because Boyfriend is illogical and psychotic.

Last year, for Memorial Day weekend, we took a wonderful trip to Yellowstone National Park. It was my first time ever to Yellowstone, I had wanted to go for ages but never made it. It turned out to be one of the best trips I have ever had. Definitely, top five. We saw at least six bears, a baby moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, all of the wildlife on our lists with the exception of wolves and river otters.

Thrilled and overexcited, we decided we could go to Yellowstone EVERY Memorial Day FOREVER! Turns out, Yellowstone is a fickle friend. It is raining like crazy up there this year. I was more than ready to throw in the towel and head down south to Arches, we'd still be going to a national park and it would be warm. I could lay out in the hammock and read a book.

Unfortunately, Boyfriend is not ready to throw in the towel. He is still insisting that we go to Yellowstone for our vacation. Despite my most heartfelt whining, we are begrudgingly preparing for our Yellowstone trip. Where we will freeze, and die. I don't understand it. He is normally very mellow and easy-going, but he is digging his heels so that we can CAMP IN THE RAIN because, he "was just really looking forward to it."

But, I love him so we are going.

Even though it will be freezing, I'm looking forward to the break. We haven't had a vacation since his cousin's wedding in Pittsburgh last December. And, I feel like we are always going non-stop. Yes, we live together now and technically spend every night together, but a lot of our time is taken up with homework and half of the evenings I go to school straight from work. It will be good to unwind, even if we are stuck in the car and buried under blankets.

May Day! May Day!

Happy May, friends!

I can't believe we are almost half-way through this month. It has been flying by. School started up again, I really don't feel like I even got a break. My professor sent out three reading assignments and an essay for us to do before the first day of class. I complained, A LOT. I went to class yesterday expecting to hate it, like I hate most things. BUT! I love it. Mostly ... I love my professor. Sorry, Boyfriend.

Another big development this month has been our decision to go on a diet. Big commitment, right? We are going to Virginia Beach the first week of June and I "want to look nice." I was expecting to hate it, and I do! I have stopped having second dinner (my favorite kind of dinner) and stopped having wine every night.

I can't wait for this trip to be over. As soon as we get back I'm going to the Pie and ordering an ENTIRE PIZZA. 

We did make banana bread, because we buy bananas but never eat them, but we were devouring the whole loaf so Boyfriend took it to my mom and dad. Which, was nice since they wanted to try it  buuuut WTF.

Here is the recipe we used, we doubled it. We had A LOT of bananas going bad :/

RIP Banana Bread

Spring Fever

It has been a wild few weeks!

Boyfriend had to go out of town for a bit, leaving me and Kitty to party. Then, I spent some time at home with my parents and my new niece Gabby, leaving Boyfriend and Kitty to...nap?

Now we're back in one place, and it is wonderful! We both took Wednesday off to spend time together and things are getting back into full swing. I even did my first post-marathon run! Six miles up the big hill by our apartment.

We're both winding down our second semester of graduate school. After this, I'll have two semesters left and Boyfriend will have three. It is exhausting working full time and going to school full time. I am taking extra classes in the accelerated track, just so I can finish before him, but ... eternal bragging rights ... ;)

For our one year celebration in March, I gave Boyfriend a bird feeder. We love it! In the mornings, we can sit and watch the birds! We're 90. They're just so fun to look at! We all like it, except Kitty. She makes these weird yipping noises because she wants to hunt, kill and eat them.

Running ... Away Part 2

I didn't die!!

Poster Emily made me :D

Things went really well! I was slow and everything in my body hurts. It was a journey! I wanted to quit a hundred times and I went through the whole spectrum of emotions-- from deliriously happy, to so defeated. I am so glad I did it though. I listened to a ton of Taking Back Sunday and Katy Perry. The last few miles I had Roar on repeat.

 

I feel accomplished :) During the race, I reflected (because there was so much else to do) on my life. Not the whole 25 years, specifically the last two to three and everything that has changed.

I've done four marathons now. The first three very clearly marked major life events, I don't tend to be cheesy, but it feels symbolic. My first marathon was the day after my college graduation. Yep. That was how I chose to celebrate; in bed at 8 p.m. and up and out of the house by 6. It was a real party. The next was a few months later, just one week before I was getting married.

After I got married I didn't run for awhile. I said I got busy, tired, distracted ...when truthfully I got miserable. To steal from Ann Prachett's Sacrament of Divorce, "I knew how we treated each other, and it wasn't well." Being married didn't change how we treated each other either, in fact it made things worse; unhealthy and unsafe.

Eventually, I broke away and out of the cycle. Eighteen months after my last marathon, and with no training under my belt, I signed up for another race. This time I ran the 26.2 miles, three days before my divorce would be finalized. I don't know if it actually had anything to do with what was going on in my life at the time, but that race was euphoric. I had literally been running from so many things in my life that it felt good to work it out on the pavement.

Spencer, Paula, Me, Mom

This year, nothing big is happening. Not in my life at least. Except the realization that everything is OK. Well, not OK -- better than ever. It has been a wild ride, with some drastic changes, but I'm OK with them. I know that to be happy, I can't hold back. I don't regret anything, I'm not the least bit sorry and I would do it all again. Every. Single. Thing. Every "mistake". I have realized I don't want forgiveness from anyone but myself. Because all of my missteps got me to where I am today and that is a wonderful place to be.

Running ...Away!

I have a marathon this weekend!

What the what?!?

I'm actually looking forward to it. It is my fourth overall. I ran the Salt Lake City marathon last year and did better than I ever have done before. Maybe, that is why I am so excited to run it again this year. I have three theories:

1. I did great last year and am looking forward to running it again, even if I don't do as well. The Salt Lake Marathon has so much energy. It is perfect.
2. This last year has been one of the best of my adult life, I'm happy, I'm carrying that momentum through to this race.
3. My brain could be broken? While I'm happy, I'm also busy. I'm working full time, going to graduate school full time so that I can graduate in four semesters and I moved again.

Either way, I'm looking forward to Saturday.

Support Team:

Cute baby & dumb friend

cute dad, mom is running the 1/2

Playlist: A lot of Brand New, Katy Perry and Taking Back Sunday
Gear: Arm band for iPod, Minimus New Balance Shoes
Plan: Eat at every aid station, FREE FOOD!
Goal: Last year I finished about 3:54, I would like to have a sub-four again. But with work and school, training has been minimal, so I just want enjoy my race and not die.

This week has been a little rough, Bella (the dog) has been sick. I keep monitoring to look for perkiness. The tests from the vet are inconclusive thus far. So I'll run out that worry too :). I'll write an updated post after. Unless I die.

Part Two of Dealing with a Hoarder: Someone Who Breaks Things or Throws Them Away

Happy Easter!

This was a great weekend. Boyfriend and I made wonderful granola bars to send off to his sister who is on deployment. They turned out great, were easy and were something I had never made before. So, hopefully she likes them.

I'm also supposed to make a confession. A few weeks ago I complained about all of Boyfriend's hoarding. I mean...come on. It is a little ridiculous. But, I'm not the only one who didn't know what I was dealing with.

The same night I wrote that blog, I accidentally threw away the screws that hold our TV onto the mount. He MADE me dig threw the OUTSIDE garbage bin to try to find them. I gave up almost immediately, which made him incredibly happy*. I found the first two screws. He found the second two, one of which I immediately dropped back into the trash. It was an accident. Finally we  dug all the screws out and the TV was assembled without trouble.

We went about five weeks accident free. A pretty decent amount of time considering we brought the cat home too. Until this weekend ...

Last night ... I ran over Boyfriend's phone with his own car. It was an accident! I was backing out of my parents driveway and he was running after me when he dropped his phone inconveniently underneath the wheel of the car. We didn't know what was going on until the sickening crunch and it was already too late.

Poor phone. Poor Boyfriend, what is he getting himself into?