Salt Lake 1/2 Marathon 2011

Today I accomplished something I never in my life imagined I would even try. I jogged/walked the Salt Lake City 1/2 marathon. 13.1 miles.

 I have always said that I am not a runner - nor did I want to even give it a shot. But I decided it was time to try something new and push my limits a bit. I was doing great jogging most of the way until about mile 7 - then I think my feet and leg realized that I was torturing myself and the pain set in so I walked as fast as I could the rest of the way. But, when all was said and done, I finished! Not only did I finish, I finished a good hour and a half faster than I thought I would! I finished in about 3 hours and 45 minutes. My goal was to finish before the street sweepers... mission accomplished! 

Amazingly enough, I am considering attempting this again... and maybe I will actually train for it this time. 

In all of this I not only accomplished something incredible - that many people never even attempt, but I also learned a great lesson.  

Never Underestimate Yourself! 

 I have always been queen of "I could never do that".

Today that changed. 

I'm excited to try new things and push myself to the limit :) 

The starting line! 

 

 

Isn't this view AMAZING??!?!?

Maria & I at the start line :)

A few of my favorite things

My favorite view of Antelope Island

I have ALWAYS loved driving past this barn - just a few blocks from where I grew up.

Concerts, concerts and more concerts :)

I was reading a friend blog today and it made me think of all the great concerts I have been to in the past year or so and all the great concerts I have coming up! I love concerts!

Concerts I have attended in the past year include:

Chicago

Royal Bliss

Joan Baes

Brandi Carlisle

Pete Yorn

Ben Kweller

Swell Season

Electric6

The Constellations

Upcoming concerts that I am super excited to see include:

Ray LaMontagne

Brandi Carlisle

Moody Blues (hopefully!)

Indigo Girls

Adele -Crossing my fingers I can come across a ticket somehow - since she is already sold out :(

and I'm really hoping to add to this list throughout the year!!! Here is a sample of some of these GREAT bands and artists

Enjoy!

And Finally...

On Wednesday November 24, 2010 I finally got the keys to my new TOWNHOUSE!! 

On Friday November 26, 2010, I finally moved in. 

The last several months have been busy with work, painting, and just plain settling in.

I have been promising to post pictures for months and finally here they are! 

The view from the front door

 The living room

 The kitchen

 1/2 bath on the main floor

 Office - on the second floor

 Master Bath

 Master bedroom

I am still missing photos of the bedroom and bathroom on the second floor...

but you get the general idea :) 
I still have a lot of decorating I want to do but I'm sure it will be a while before 
I get things just the way I want them.

LEMONS!

They always say, 'when life gives you lemons, 

make lemonade'.... 

so I did! 

It is super simple to make and super tasty! 

Click here for the recipe 

I came back from Arizona with so many lemons I don't know what to do with them all- tonight was project #1 with many more to follow I'm sure... A few things I do have in store for the rest of these beautiful lemons include:
Homemade Limoncello
Lemon chicken
Lemon garlic potatoes
Lemon bread
  All super TASTY!!

Vacation = therapy

Arizona came calling with full force offering hours of entertainment - 

Spring training BASEBALL!!! Giants vs. Reds (and the Giants prevailed!!)

SUN 

Swimming

Lemon and grapefruit picking

Chicken watching

Tempe Arts Festival

Walking Old Town Scottsdale

and of course... 

Spending time with Grampa!

Unfortunately after a few days the real world comes beckoning... and it is time to get back to work and homework. So, until the next vacation, pictures of my latest adventures will have to suffice - and I can use all the yummy lemons and grapefruits I picked from Grampa's yard to make lots of yummy summery treats :) 

Pictures to come very soon!!! 

I'll go where the road takes me...

Sunday was such a beautiful day I couldn't let it go to waste. 

I packed up my camera gear, grabbed my keys and hopped into my car. 

Not knowing where I would end up, I knew I drove with only one thing in mind...

PICTURES!! Lots and lots of pictures. 

It has been far too long since the last time I just jumped in the car and went for a drive without planning out before hand exactly where I was going, what I was going to do and when I was coming home. 

This trip was different. I didn't plan where I was going, I didn't care when I came back 

an adventure. 

Exactly what I needed! 

In the end I hopped on I-80 and just started heading west. I took a self guided tour of Tooele (I had never been there before), and the shores of the Great Salt Lake. 

 

Grist Mill Tooele

View of the Great Salt Lake and one of the many Islands - from Tooele

Blue. I love this building and it's blue awnings 

Old signs are always fun!

The road to nowhere?!?? It probably goes somewhere - but I didn't stay on it long enough to find out 

The road back to somewhere... 

The shores of the GSL by Saltaire

Abandoned building and rail car on the shores of the lake. 

Has to be my favorite part of this adventure!

Rust. 

It is amazing what you can see if you look close enough!

Hang on!

SL,UT! 

Graffiti

It is amazing the talent some people have!  A lot of it is chaotic - but art nonetheless!

A diamond in the rough! 

Among all the chaos of graffiti in that building, I found this. 

Beautiful!

McGuire Cummings

I-80..

Where it all started... 

for this adventure anyway :)