It's true

City Living

Somedays I dream of living in a brownstone.

Update

• I learned a new song on guitar and currently trying to tackle Jim Croce
• Positive thoughts make the day better
• I need a haircut (and possible a dye...)
• Pumpkin gorging happened this weekend.
• I hate homework (that's not new)
• I'm FREAKING OUT about my Oral Proficiency Interview on Thursday. I'm supposed to know German? Wha? Why did I pick a major I'm not good at?
• God loves me! and you! and you! and you! (I don't even think that many people read this)
• I'd rather sing than do ANYTHING. It's been like this for days...probably more like years, but it's been coming out a lot in the last few days.
• It's cold.

I survived!

I made it through my first day vegan! BUT my survival was really getting through the day without enough sleep.

I had a rough start to today. It started with oversleeping an hour. I had to finish a presentation before my 9 o'clock class. I hadn't done any homework all weekend. I don't usually do homework on Sundays, but I HAD to do this presentation so I did the easy parts of it Sunday night and then finished it Monday morning.

Well, since I woke up late, I skipped really getting ready, skipped making my morning smoothie and didn't make myself anything for lunch. I scarfed a banana on my way to campus and decided to just come home between classes to make lunch and dinner.

And you know what my luck was? We ran out of time so now I'm giving my presentation on Wednesday. REALLY? I could have slept more?

Coming home after class was great. I did homework and made delicious food. Food was pretty easy for most of the day, but then at work I got hungry. Being vegan means no vending machine choices - that's probably a very very good thing.

And the verdict on veganism...not that hard. I already don't eat a lot of processed food. And those roasted veggies I had for dinner....delicious!

Swear Words and Latkes

Ok, so the big news and transition in my life and this blog. I'm going to go *whispers* vegan...

You still here?

You see, around these parts of Utah, "vegetarian" is likened to a swear word. "Vegan," well it's the grand-mother of dirty words (catch the reference? "The F-dash-dash-dash word.")

But I definitely don't see it that way. I believe animals are to be eaten and their by-products used, HOWEVER, I completely disagree with growing a chicken in half the time, dunking it in chlorine baths and not adequately paying the farmer who raised it. I disagree with spraying red meat with ammonia gas to kill the e-coli that is present because they're fed corn because corn is subsidized and it allows the rich to get richer. You should really watch Food, Inc.

I disagree with eating meat everyday - that's not sparingly. I don't even think every other day is sparingly.

But I don't judge you for eating it. Most people don't even know what's going on and even if they do, not eating meat won't be a solution to the problem. And also, who doesn't love a juicy burger with all the fixings?

Vegan because it's healthy. I read studies done. It helps diabetics (something I worry of developing) more than the diet suggested by the Diabetic Association.

This is just a test run. I've totally done my homework. If I don't like it, I might just be vegetarian. And if I want to eat animal products, they will be organic. I won't be too strict because Thanksgiving. Christmas. DUH

I'm currently eating the last of my eggs, yogurt, sour cream. This morning, it was veggie latkes with sour cream. YUM! And I can still make them minus the eggs and sour cream. I think it will be a favorite.

K, that was long. I'll give you updates on how it goes, how I feel, what I eat and also more interesting things like the research I'm doing in school, the adventures with my roommate and possibly my politic opinions (unless you don't like that kind of thing)

Back to running....and blogging

and it feels good! Except now I know how out of shape I am. I didn't run too far, but just enough. I'm wheezing and I feel like Wheezy from Toy Story.

I didn't wheeze this much when I started running last year, even in the snow, so I wonder if it has something to do with it being night time, me being exhausted and oh yeah, maybe the pizza and brownies I consumed at work tonight.

BUT that will be the last of that. More info on why coming soon :)

Tension Tamer

Tonight was the first day of classes. Man, oh man! This semester is going to keep my nose in one of the many books I had to buy today. I have 7 for ONE class! I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do. I'm meeting with my professor tomorrow to discuss when I should graduate. It's all overwhelming.

I wonder if which herbal tea I drink in the evening is a reflection of how my day went.

The highlight of my day

I walked home barefoot in the rain.

Win of the Season

"Only a couple guys in history hit the guts out of a baseball."


My friend Roger hit a grand slam today, helping us win our last game of the regular season. I'm on a coed softball team. Our team wears BRIGHT orange shirts and we're called Orange Julii.

I don't know if I'm prouder of his grand slam or the fact that someone quoted this to him as he got high-fives from the whole team.

Summer's in Full Force

It wouldn't be summer without a late night stroll and getting wet from sprinklers hitting the sidewalk.

My awesome roommates just made chocolate lollipops in the shape of hearts for all the girls in our apartment complex. They are just amazing like that. They even put everyone's first initial on them in white chocolate.

My sister listened to me ramble today. She's probably the only reason I really miss Arizona because it is clearly not the heat or the color brown that I miss.

It's also summer because the mosquitoes are hungry. I complained about my legs the other day, but now it's my legs, my foot, my hand, both arms. I'm just glad they haven't gotten my face....yet. I guess there is still over a month left of summer.

Love

Today on my run I was reminded of a biology professor who taught me that mosquitoes represented love to him.

He specialized in entomology and once, his wife was being bitten by a mosquito on her arm. Instead of swatting at it, she got his attention so he could look at it.

That, to him, was love.

If only I could be reminded to feel love with the two gigantic itchy, red spots on the back of my leg. I just feel frustrated.

Sentimentality

It's funny that I am terribly sentimental, yet I don't seem to keep a record of things. I need to though. Because when I forget, no else can remind me the way the trees made me feel, what the smell of the ocean reminded me of or what made us laugh so hard.

Update

My goodness is Utah green! I have been told it has been raining for the last week and it doesn't seem to stop, but the green trees remind me of back east. Now if only there were more of them...

I'm back in Utah for an exciting spring/summer. It was sad leaving Monterey. Even though I was only there for a month, I loved the area and the people. But the mountains here are beautiful and it's great to see friends.

Czech Me Out!

I saw these shirts when I was in Prague and I regret not buying one because they are awesome. Equally awesome is that my mom started a blog! I told you she was rad. Check(Czech) her out here.

Great Weekend

This past weekend was great!

Friday night, a friend was kind enough to take Tyler and I out to a fantastic French Restaurant. Amazing food, classical guitar and good company made for a wonderful evening. It was also fun to see Pacific Grove. It's a picturesque beach town.

Saturday, Tyler and I went to the beach down in Carmel where all the wild flowers are in bloom. It was a gorgeous day out, but then again, everyday is. Then we drove down the coast and it was breathtaking!

Mom

It was a great weekend, which I'll have to catch you up on later. Today, I have to say how grateful I am for my mom. Yes, it's a day later, but why not spread out Mother's Day? Shouldn't we celebrate our mothers every day?



My mom is rad! She listens to more pop music than I do, she is a true chocoholic and she is an awesome painter. She gives great advice, listens to phone calls that are just to pass the time while you walk to class and is always willing to help someone out. She's been an awesome momma and I love her!

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

I really hope you sang that title like I did. Did you play that game? I totally did, but honestly, I never really understood it. That goes the same for the show. I think it was just that catchy tune that always got me.

Well, instead of Carmen, you are probably wondering where in the world I am. It's not Provo, Mesa, Alaska or Germany. No, I am in paradise, also known as Monterey, CA.

And now you're wondering why. No, I still haven't graduated yet. You see, back in January, I went to dinner with some friends and this cool guy came with us. To make a long story short, I thought he was pretty awesome and he's in grad school in Monterey. So I packed up my things and headed to California. Oh, and yes, the feelings are mutual between us. I'm not THAT crazy!

Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo! It is a very important day.

No, not because I am celebrating the freedom of Mexico. My friend from Mexico said NOT to wish her a happy Cinco de Mayo because she doesn't celebrate it. Nor do I use today as an excuse to drink and party, because I don't really do that.

No, today marks the day of this new blog! Yay!

I know you are just as excited as I am... and if you aren't, you really should be because life is pretty exciting these days. I'll try and catch you up in the next few days.