So proud of my dad!

My cousins Carlee and Bryan and Jake and Mandie are all runners. Mandie's dad is a former Navy Seal and runs crazy races (literally does 100 mile desert races!) and got them all excited about a trail race in Calico (a CA ghost town). A few months ago, my dad started jogging in the mornings and has lost a ton of weight - GO DAD! - and my cousins talked him into doing the race, too! This was my dad's first race, and it was 21 miles! How crazy is that???

The race began early in the freezing cold of the morning and along the way there were stations for dropping off warm clothes, but from the photos, it looks like everyone still had their leggins and gloves on! Holy moly! I think it took my dad around 5 and a half hours, which to me is AMAZING! I guess the family started out together, then Bryan and Carlee ran ahead, while Jake and Mandie held back a while. Dad finished with Jake so Mandie could haul to the finish.

My dad said that around the 10 and a half mile, he couldn't believe how much more he had to go. He'd see people with legs all cut up from falling down hills, etc., but he perservered. I am SO PROUD of him for setting his mind on the race, training for it, then tackling it and finishing. In my book, he's a champion and I couldn't even begin to think about how hard it was physically, but mentally and emotionally, too!

Way to go, Dad! You're a ROCK STAR!!!

Ouch

I went up to Big Bear this weekend for a fun day of snowboarding -- it was to be the warm up for my Colorado trip next month. The traffic was not bad at all, the weather was sunny (though cold), and surprisingly, the slopes were not too crowded AT ALL! So, I was having a great time and feeling really comfortable, when WA-POW, I ate it hard...so hard that I fully dislocated my kneecap. Thankfully, it popped back in to place all on it's own and I was able to make it down the mountain without assistance. As the day went on, I'd feel it hurt here and there, and trust me, I was super nervous with each step. I think because I had my boots on so tight, part of my leg was immobilized. However, when I took it off, the pain really started to hurt. Needless to say, I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon in the ER for xrays, etc. No ligaments were torn, but because my kneecap went in a more unusual direction, they said that I'd need to be in a pretty serious brace for awhile. So, I'm rocking a freaking sweet brace with big hinges on the sides that makes finding the right work clothes a challenge. Hopefully, I'll be healed quickly and will be able to enjoy the CO trip!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me and your prayers a comin!

Oh well, at least I have some powerful pain meds AND the ER doc was super hot!!! : )

Skinny Bitch

I've lost 10 pounds... Just thought I'd share. : ) And no, I don't really consider myself a skinny bitch -- but sometimes I catch myself in the mirror and feel a little sassy! Now...just 10 more to go before I am bikini ready for Maui this summer! Who says 2-pieces are just for youngsters?!?!

New Favorite

Lately, I've been turned on to the poetry of the amazing e.e. cummings. He purposefully, wrote his name all in lower-cased letters as a sign of humility, but his words are bold, romantic, hopefull, and inspiring. I've never been much for poetry, but the more I read of his work, the more moved I am. I hope you like these two examples:

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

it may not always be so; and i say

it may not always be so; and i say it may not always be so;and i say
that if your lips,which i have loved,should touch
another's,and your dear strong fingers clutch
his heart,as mine in time not far away;
if on another's face your sweet hair lay
in such a silence as i know,or such
great writhing words as,uttering overmuch,
stand helplessly before the spirit at bay;

if this should be,i say if this should be-
you of my heart,send me a little word;
that i may go unto him,and take his hands,
saying,Accept all happiness from me.
Then shall i turn my face,and hear one bird
sing terribly afar in the lost lands.

Rockin family vacation!

A big pack of the Johnsons are vacationing in Breckenridge next month! My cousin, Mandie, booked a freaking rockin cabin. Check it! Oh ya, five stories, 5000 sq. feet, and you ski/board out the back door down to two lifts. I'm PUMPED!

Boo-yah Brett!

A Surprisingly Fun New Year's Eve!

This year a group of friends decided to be slightly low-key and hit a new local irish pub for New Year's, and I've got to say, it was the BEST!

Chris and Lori, Jennifer and Sean, Matt and Clare, Rebekah and Brett, and Barbie and I all went to The Auld Dubliner at the District and were determined to be the most fun people in the whole place. Us girls wore feather boas and we had a big booth for us all the hang out in. An Irish band played and they passed out champagne and hats for the big count down. We threw back a couple "Irish car bombs" and danced our hearts out. I've got great friends and I was really blessed to ring in the new year with them!

The girls, minus Rebekah

The first group Irish car bomb - kinda gross

My NYE smooch! Ha!

Rebekah and I being silly in our crowns