Silent Deadly Ninja Monkeys!?!?!

This weekend I went to Vegas (which I love altogether too much for a gal who won't drink the kool-aid) to run a Ragnar Relay Race. There were 12 of us that ran 195 miles total - each of us running 3x. Our team name was The Silent Deadly Ninja Monkeys. That's right! I still have no idea what a SDNM is, but as you can imagine, a boy was in charge of the name, so we just tried to wing it. And, it all turned out so perfectly...



Because sometimes we acted like monkeys...

And, sometimes we acted like ninjas...

But, ALWAYS we acted like crazy people. We even made it on the news in Vegas (though, we may or may not have been mistaken for dogs from time to time).

The race took us 28 hours (or so). Which was apparently ridiculously fast because we finished in the top 20 (19th place overall out of 258 teams).

I can only imagine how fast we would have been had we not been late to the start, 5 minutes late to exchange 6 and late again somewhere else along the route.

We split up into groups of 6, so we could take turns picking up/dropping off/running and eating/sleeping (or trying to). Our Van (Van 2 - the best van!) may or may not have taken a wrong turn and ended up 40 miles from where we were supposed to be (but miraculously lost no time because April has a lead foot). And, we may or may not have somehow locked the car keys in our van, requiring Kelli, Jess and I to hitch-hike (in Vegas at 1 in the morning - no big deal) to our next exchanges while the others waited for AAA. But, we pulled it off.

And, as a reward for our accomplishments, we stayed at the Venetian, got dolled up and trolled the town, on Zombie Walk Weekend. I thought the people-watching in Vegas on a normal day was awesome. Zombie Walk Weekend topped everything I had ever seen in Vegas. Jess and I both got yelled at (in Zombie). Nothing like a whacked out chic with fake blood dripping down her cleavage yelling at you "I want to eat you for dinner" or "you can't come to Vegas during Zombie Week and not expect to get *messed* with by a Zombie".

Viva Las Vegas!

Tender Mercies

Bad week. REALLY bad week.

But, I had one of those weeks that people have when they notice that although they were puking all weekend, someone was holding their hair back. Well, I wasn't sick, but hopefully you get the analogy. I recognized a lot of greatness in the midst of a really bad week. Tender mercies, if you will.

Here are my thank yous for all four:

1. Wes. Thank you for showing up at my house with a drill ready to fix everything that's broken in my house, since you clearly recognized you couldn't fix everything broken in my life. I adore you for that.

2. Mo. Thank you for sending me a ticket to come home, knowing that's the only place I need to be right now. It means more to me than you'll ever know.

3. Elyse. Thank you for being you. And, for shaking me around like a snow globe for the better part of a day. But, more than that, thank you for being that friend that I can look at sideways... and then... "whoa, look at that Devonshire, I used to live on Devonshire....". There are very few people who can make life better and know exactly how to do it with only one glance from a very close friend. You make my life better.

4. Jeanette. You are a blessing in my life, every day. Cute as a button! I am glad I don't have to go through a lot of my uncertainty alone.

We're all being punk'd

Cori and I met when I was just starting college. She's 12 years older than I am. And, when we met, her youngest son, Bricen was 4.

Cori now lives in Hawaii, where she grew up, which works for both of us. If she lived in Kentucky, I might NEVER visit her. And, I am beyond thrilled that our latest Hawaiian adventures are about to happen for a week in November.

Is it November yet?

Bricen promised me when he was 4 that he would NEVER grow-up. Well, he lied, of course. And, now he's 18... sweet mercy, where did the time go?!?

Now the liar lives in California, right down the street from me. And, I couldn't be more stoked about it. We play, and it's fun.

Bricen just got his first job and he recently had a conversation with his mom, which she retold to me. I found it perfectly apt in describing how I feel lately. It went a little something like this...

Cori: Bri, how is the new job going?
Bricen: Well, it sucks I hate it.
Cori: Why?
Bricen: I just don't like it. I feel like I am being punk'd.
Cori: Welcome to life son, we're all being punk'd.

I have an amazingly wonderful life. I am blessed beyond measure. But, I sure could have done without 2010. Each and every day I hope I am getting punk'd. But, I am not. This entire year was one I could have done without. I sure wish trials and tragedies would space themselves out a bit. I am exhausted.

If it's not November yet, I don't suppose I get any repreive from 2011 yet either... oh well.

It's Official (part 2)...

And, the first thing I want to sew is this. It's just so stinkin' cute. Someday, I will. Sigh....

My new favorite past time...

Every once in a while I replace my former "new favorite past time" with a new and improved one. This week, I did just that.

As I am sure all of you are brutally aware, I am not a techie. With the exception of purchasing an Ipod Mini (the old skool version of a Nano) which I pre-ordered because words can't even begin to explain how much I love running to music, I have never been on the cutting-edge of electronic technology. I keep the same electronics (and cars) until I HAVE to get a new one. Becuase I am super lazy about getting new electronics and learning how to use them. And, we all know how much I enjoy doing things I am not good at. Additionally, I am bored as all get out when people try to explain to me what is available and then I have to make a choice about what to get.... ugh.... For a REALLY decisive person, it's my nightmare.

But, necessity forced me to get a new cell phone (which is now probably worth more than my car, which I also need to replace, but I am SO dreading going to a car dealer... ugh). The track ball fell out of my phone. It was probably assisted by my friend Jeff TAKING it out (under the guise of "I am cleaning it for you"). One day it just stopped wanting to stay in, which rendered my Blackberry utter useless. So... ta da... I got a Droid 2.

And, I have to admit, I absolutely love it.

One of the things that many applications that my phone has is touch to talk. Which is, in essence, a walkie-talkie that can be used with other people who have Droid phones. Well, Wes has a Droid. And walkie-talkie conversation with Wes, is super fun for 2 reasons. 1.) Wes works in an cubicle, surrounded by other traders in an open environment where all business is conducted. 2.) Once you've established a walkie-talkie connection, you can talk at any moment in time, without any warning. Of course during the middle of every work day I have taken to saying things to him like this:

Ali (over the walkie-talkie): Wes, you left your jock itch medicine in my car. You must have forgotten to take it with you. And, I am sure you must be really itchy.

Ali (over the walkie talkie, the next day): Wes, your ballet teacher called. He said your class has been switched from 3 to 4.

Hee hee hee... I know, I am very childish sometimes.

Wes did come up with a good one for me. Unfortunately for him, I work in an office, with a door, so no one heard it, but it went a little something like this:

Wes (over the walkie talkie): Als, I have your Depends. I am sure you really need them. You must be real leaky.

I told him that his accusation wasn't funny, since I am getting older and everything. (But, secretly, I thought it was quite good).

Who can I talk to....???

... about having the LDS church set up and automatic payment plan for my tithing?

I have the worst memory. And, then at the end of the year (every year) I have a near panic attack.

Anyway... Claire and I would definitely sign up. I am just sayin'... maybe someone who is privy to communication with church royalty can throw that out there for us.

It's Official...

Have I really not updated this blog for 2 1/2 weeks?!? Oops.

And, after all that time, this is my big news...

Drum roll please!

I really really really want to learn how to sew. I think I might even take a class.