Snowshoeing

Despite having lived here for over a decade now, I still haven't gotten the hang of downhill skiing or snowboarding. Last year I really tried to embrace snowboarding, but at what point (after you've spent most of the time on your backside and wet in the snow) do you throw the towel in... I'm not saying it's in for good, but this year I wanted to find a winter sport I could enjoy and not resent. To my rescue? Snowshoeing. It is a great cardio workout for all the major muscle groups and instead of fighting against gravity or biffing it, I get to take deep breaths and take in the surroundings. I am loving it!

Kristin and I went to Mueller state park on Monday and despite the frigid weather, managed to work up a good sweat. Even better, we finished our adventure with a couple beers at Buck's, my new favorite bar in Woodland Park.

On Saturday I went up to Breckenridge with Neesha and Schelau where we took advantage of the gorgeous day and great nordic center.

I may learn to be a snow bunny afterall.

Stock Show

Hard to believe another year has come and gone. The best part about the start of a new year aside from fresh starts and resolutions???? the stock show. Like clockwork every January. As I've said before, I love it. This year the rodeo was kicking with extra fiesty bullriding.
We (christina, dad and me) know the stockshow. We know where to find the Bluemoon, the art gallery and the kettle corn. The only thing that changes from year to year is where we eat (this year burritos) and which hat my dad will purchase (this time the professional bull riders got his money). We had a great time.

The war of two

The parts of me:

I have come to the realization that I struggle with myself. Mostly because there are different kinds of me.... and before we all diagnose me as having multiple personality disorder, let me explain myself. There is a before and an after Jana. Or better yet, an evening (EJ) and a morning Jana (MJ). And they do not get along. Mostly because MJ despises EJ which is the direct result of EJ being horribly selfish and lazy.

For instance, EJ thinks, "hmmm I should probably pick out my clothes for work tomorrow. Nah, I'll just let MJ handle that."
"hmmmm, I should probably write the check for that bill tonight so I can put it in the mail tomorrow...nah, MJ can totally get up early or take a short shower and make sure it gets where it's going."
"I should probably take out the trash...but it's so cold. I'll just run down on my way out the door tomorrow."
Needless to say, in the morning, before work, with a list of things to get done before racing out the door and to my job, MJ curses EJ. "Darn you evening Jana, I can't get this all done this morning! Why do you have to be so lazy? Don't you think of anyone but yourself!"

Perhaps you can imagine the tension building.....which inevitably leads to self-hatred (that and an unpaid bill, trash that needs to be taken out, or 15 minutes standing at the closet)...not a pretty thing.

I'm going to go ahead and post this, so I/EJ can get to bed early and hopefully I/MJ will have plenty of sleep and tomorrow we all wake up on the right side of the bed.

But Baby It's Cold Outside

It's been a year since my jeep was stolen. I barely remember the trauma...and the bitterness when it was returned a mess and I had just gotten used to the comfy rental. Things had been going fairly well. Last Sunday, when I arrived 30 minutes late to church, no one would've known it was because my jeep stalled at a light, then wouldn't restart so I had to sit and wait and try a couple more times. Concerning but probably just a fluke.
On Wednesday, I drove up to Denver to see a concert (Ingrid Michaelson - got to love her!). It was cold outside and I knew it would be a chilly drive. I wore a couple of layers, including a down vest under a coat...and froze the whole way up and the whole way back. Despite the heater being on full force, it wasn't putting out any heat. At all. Miserable! I find myself in the same position I was a year ago. If I got a new vehicle what would I get? Is it time to put this old clunker to rest? Is it time to take a toasty ride? Or be the one to offer to drive?

Overheard...

in Starbucks just this morning near a group of young female highschoolers.

"Do you like know who is dating Scott? Because I was like talking to Bethany and she was like talking about they have sex on the weekends and stuff." "OMG really?!"

"My mom is like totally not letting me stay home - 'cause she like caught on that I would fake sick. OMG, you'd think she would've figured it out like a year ago."

Gymbeau

I've seen him around for a while now. But just yesterday I saw him at the gym (I used to call him my gym boyfriend, because I'd see him there and thought he was attractive - but we've totally broken up since then) and then at Starbucks on my way to work! I like to think he doesn't notice me because I look remarkably different when I'm coiffed than when I'm sweating and grunting at the gym. Once, I met him. I was out with a co-worker and her friends, who knew him... and we met. But after that, no acknowledgement that we could now see each other and smile or say hello. I mean we seriously have the potential to be good friends. I see him when I take a walk downtown during lunch. I see him driving his car while a friend and I run down what may be his street. I see him at the watering hole if I go out with friends. It's very awkward... I don't like it one bit. Mostly because I'm not sure if he's stalking me... or if he thinks I'm stalking him.

New Year, Old Flicks

What better way to start a new year than with some classics? It was mostly the result of Christina and I heading to Entertainmart one Sunday after church. There's little inviting about the this mega used media store... but little treasures in each aisle. After searching the used cds for some of the coolest music ever (which of course wasn't there because none of the other cool people who know of the bands had purged the great cds from their collections) we mosied over to the VHS videos. A steal of a deal at just $1.99 we went through every last aisle searching through decades of productions. And did we find some treasures?!

Over Christmas, as a family, we watched "Sneakers." Classic! In comparison, our viewing of "The Man with One Red Shoe" was loaded with archaic computer scenes/references. "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" was on tv; I don't think I'd seen it since it came out. While watching I felt my 10 year old excitement stir inside. I totally remember when they slide down the grass and it looks so fun, or when they find the oatmeal cookie in the yard and then tame the ant, and when the girl (who was so cool back in the day, which is strange because her hair is horrible and she is wearing that sad pale pink the whole movie) is dancing around with the mop.

New Year's Day was a treat, starting my year with "Karate Kid." Those kids were so stinking cool. I eagerly awaited the scenes of "wax on, wax off," the boombox on the beach and of course that last fight scenes. That was followed by "Flashdance" and now I have no doubts why I wasn't allowed to watch it when I was younger. "Greencard" was just as I remembered with the greenhouse scenes and Gerard Depardieu's accent.

I can't wait to pop in "Swiss Family Robinson," I can barely remember the tension between girl and boy and the scene where they fight the invaders. And if there's time left "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" or "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." I feel as lucky as Charlie Bucket, having discovered the golden wrapper.