thanks for the endless hours on my ...

When I moved into my first apartment my parents gave me the couch from the basement. It had been my grandma's, remained in the basement and was rarely sat on. I have only 1 memory of the couch in its original place, some friends came over to watch "Seven" with Brad Pitt... I fell asleep (who falls asleep during movies like that?) It was a perfect first couch...once it had a slipcover. Mom and I ventured to the fabric store, found a great sage canvas material and some matching fabric for pillows and curtains. It was perfect!

Time went by, the slip cover wore, back to the fabric store. This time a brilliant red. Red was totally in (maybe still is?).

But there's something about being 29, a grown adult with a real job... the slipcover couch,now with a broken spring, more than 40 years old was no longer perfect.

Saturday, the delivery boys brought my new purchase up the 3 flights of stairs, complete with a lecture about how it would be more appropriate for me to have purchased a loveseat, given the dimensions of the stairs. It is big and comfy and dramatically changes the look of the living room.

Now if I could only get rid of the old one...without having to drag it down those flights of stairs. For now, it sits in the dining room, awaiting its demise.

Instead of sleeping in and being lazy, on this day off, I met a friend at 7:00am to hike the incline. I was in deep thought, is as best while on the incline. Anything to take the mind of each grueling step. With a challenge that is so mental, it's best I have things rolling around in head to process, otherwise there are too many, "why am I doing this?" "I hate this." "I can't do this" thoughts. I rolled around random thoughts, like how dark I felt Thursday night, after a week of gossip and sin-filled conversations of judgment with co-workers. And how deception by someone else can sting and revive hurt even years after it's been done. In my thoughts, I found myself attributing my inability to pump myself up the stairs with positive self-talk as a direct result of not playing organized sports as a child. Honestly, I think this thought everytime I climb the incline. No training in seeing myself achieve a goal, no coaching to be determined to conquer something and push my physical limitations.

At that time, I started a list of things I think I've missed out on in my short life. Maybe it's the ease of blaming circumstances or childhood on adult characteristics.



I stayed in town for college and commuted for classes, that brings a whole list of things: dorm life, keggers, frat parties, toga parties, RAs, going to class in pajamas or sweats.



My prom - I've never had a conversation like, "well, it hits at my knees and has sequence along the neck line and I think I'll wear my hair like this..."

Keds - the real ones - the ones with the blue labels on the heel. We got the generic ones, sure they came in different colors but even if you did have one to match your Mt. Rushmore t-shirt, the generic ones were still worn with shame. In junior high I got a real pair - big deal - I tried to glue the blue label on when it started to fall off. Finally! A real pair and the label wants to fall off.

I've died and gone to Mexico!

It started as a cheap trip with my dear friend Kristin, in celebration of our birthdays, which fall just one week apart. Over the years, we've celebrated together and we decided, in honor of her turning 30 and me turning 29, it was time to make it big. Strangely, and unexpectedly 5 friends who were invited were not only interested but able to go.
Jen had timeshare connections and got us hooked up with a beauty. It was something similar to the first show of a "RealWorld" season as we ran around the place screaming and jumping around. We had a living area, dining room table, two big rooms with big beds and sauna tubs in the bedrooms (not that they were used). Our patio faced the pools with a hint of ocean view off to the side. We even had our own dipping pool. It was amazing.

The pool was amazing with lots of different areas, nice chairs, even big beds with white canopies. The best was the lazy river which took a good 15 minutes to float through. At certain times during the day they would turn on the rapids for a little excitement.

We made a trip to Wal-mart (my disdain for the mega chain almost disappeared as I wondered the aisles and saw some of the comforts of home) where we each paid something like $20 for some basic meals and drinks, which left us with money to go all out when we went out to eat. At Wal-mart I used the ATM to get out some pesos (the exchange rate was 10:1 - should've been easy math but I found myself writing down my desired amount and literally moving the decimal to ensure I got it right). There was a sketchy guy to my side and so when the money came out I grabbed and headed off...leaving my little money card in the machine. I didn't even realize it until later that night. Fortunately, despite the opportunity for major disaster I was only inconvenienced with a cancelled card.

We went skinny dipping. And as a newbie, I'll say there wasn't a spot on the beach that seemed
nearly dark enough for me. Pandemonium as we all grabbed for our cover ups.

Kristin and I celebrated our birthdays on Saturday night. She made super cute hair clips and I got matching bracelets. 7 ladies hot to trot. Something to be said about a large group of ladies in Mexico... we were treated well. We went to dinner at Daiquiri Dick's as recommended by our concierge, Adolfo, who not only put in a good word for our fab room, but also gave us pointers on the good places to go. We got a table outside along the water and all had the pleasure of watching the sun set. The girls made sure we felt special with champagne and even a tune of happy birthday by the waiters. There happened to be a harp player who wowed us with his talent. They brought out cake and flaming shots....which is where pandemonium (again) broke forth. I managed to knock my flaming shot and as the alcohol poured out along the tablecloth and my lap so did the flame. With my napkin I patted out the fire (preventing the visions of marbled burned skin I saw in my head) and a waiter was quick to get out the rest. We caused quite a scene at that quiet, romantic restaurant with our fire and screaming. I thought I had gotten out of the shot, phew, particularly seeing Kristin's pain when she got hers down, until they came out with another one for me, this one not flaming but still so hot in my mouth.

We went dancing at a club called the "Zoo" where one of my honest friends pointed out we dance old. When did that happen?

We took the bus into Puerto Vallarta where we got to see some of the town and do some shopping at the flea market. I hated the bartering, mostly because I had no idea how much things should be costing. I fell into anti shopping mode (why does that always happen at the worse times?) and decided I didn't really need anything. We ate a Pipi's because it was suggested by wise Adolfo and because we had a coupon stating our second margarita would be free. Nobody needs a second gigantic margarita?! But we got 4 for more to go (should there be concern, be relieved they were dumped shortly after leaving Pipi's).

We took an excursion that included snorkeling (except the water was totally cloudy and I saw nothing but my hands under the water) and a stop to the island of Yelapa. I took a walk with our tour guide to the falls and heard about how the island had only in the last 5 years gotten running water and electricity. There were mangos growing and hibiscus flowers. We saw a woodshop where a man had taken over as the third generation working with rosewood taken down the island's mountain by mule. It was great to sneak a peak into some grassroots living after days in the resort life.

My second excursion, with Kristin, was the amphibian assault tour. We waited in a random gas station to be picked up by a stranger, who drove us out of town for a while. I didn't say it out loud, but wondered how much he'd get for our bodies. After passing through more "real mexican life" we arrived to a ranch where we loaded up on 8 wheeled atvs and took them on a dirt path until we reached a river bed where we did our best to drive fast, turn sharply and get wet and dirty. The gray haired couples called us the maniacs. When we got back to the ranch we sat at a little hut and tasted 9 tequila's and learned a little more about how the good stuff is made. And to think all this time I've limited myself to Jose.

Our last night (and one of my most favorite experiences) we traveled back into PV to the Westin Hotel where there is a restaurant outside, also along the ocean, where you sit on beds in the sand. It was posh...and it couldn't have hurt that after primping and even taking photos practicing our movie star poses, that the host said, "So, there are 7 of you movie stars." Well, we didn't want to cause a scene but.....
We had a great dinner and then made ourselves at home and danced on our bed...and around the bed....and along the water. It was so fun! My married friends swore that these are only girlfriend type of adventures...dancing recklessly and owning the night. That was until the bill came... my water was $5. Sometimes you pay for memories. I'm still going to say it was worth it.

On this adventure I discovered that I can totally enjoy a lazy vacation without an agenda or guilt and fear of missing things because I slept in. I discovered I really do love the sun and am sad to watch my sun glow slowly fade with each day back in real life. I love the sand between my toes, particularly the feeling of the grains running past my feet as the wave pulls it away from me. I was shocked that by the end hanging out in my swimsuit was totally comfortable. I discovered, despite my fears, that 7 grown women can have a great week, enjoy each other's company and differences without any chick drama.

29 is feeling mighty fine!

It has been a whirlwind of activities but let me say that my 29th year began on May 25th and so far... things are looking really good for this last year of a decade.

I started the day with breakfast with Schelau and Matt at Mimi's - mmmmm, buttermilk spice muffins. We all rode together to church and on the way we saw a tragic accident. We're talking dead bodies in the road. Plenty of time has passed, so this will be shared with far less emotion but I felt, intensely, the reality of how short life is. There is truth in the cliche "life is short" and "live everyday like it's the last." I really feel like this is something to pursue this year... I can look back and see how lackadaisically I have pursued my faith and sharing it with others. I need to feel some urgency in my purpose on this earth. So....if any of you don't know Jesus... let's chat.

The afternoon was chill and then the family (and boyfriends!) had dinner at the Macaroni Grill. Again...mmmmmm.
A group of friends met at the BlueStar for wine. Despite having called earlier in the week and being told they could accommodate us, we arrived to find they had nowhere to put 12 people. They gave us a tennis racket, a way for them to pick us out of the crowd when our table was ready. I was relieved they didn't hand me the sombrero. After an hour of patiently waiting and seeing no sign of hope toward progress we bailed. My friends were so patient and kind. Matt took the racket hostage and we were out. When we arrived at 15C disgruntled and talking of how the BS has lost some good business, the bartender at 15C told us the owner called over and said he'd cover a healthy tab. Nice! So, we drank and laughed on the house....now what to do with the racket!
It was a great day and I'm looking forward to a great year.

~while passing a storefront on Bijou, after a few glasses of wine this was the funniest thing I had ever seen. Even now I know I was right to think it would be something I would need to share with others. Enjoy....