Steph Z is in town

While strolling along the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria enjoying all the street performers we came upon the most unique exhibit! We couldn't resist!!!

I HEART NYC

The energy of NYC always always always fills the tank when it is on reserve. It is the best cure for the after vacation blahs, the "back to school" blues, and the I've got three more months until an extended vacation dread. I always return to DC ready to tackle the tough stuff. I think it is because it's an escape that is only five hours away. Anywho, the highlight of the trip was going to the US Open. And what a night to go! We saw Roddick defeted by Isner followed by the downfall of James Blake.

Most memorable moments of the trip (sorry if some of them are locational and only those who came get the significance/humor)...

-Having no plans for a place to stay or transportation until the day before
-Stopping at Arby's on the way up and getting 5 for 5 sandwiches
-Not driving the Jersey Turnpike but taking the "non-toll" way up to NYC in Kevin's mile marker green Tercel
-Finding out the if you chew whole wheat kernels really fast it turns to gum (Deb you're mom was a genius! Think of all the money she saved by making you think that was gum...)
-Staying in Spanish Harlem
-Deb accidental exhibition of her hind end
-Steph's obsession with antibacterial hand sanitizer to avoid Swine Flu
-Deb's obsession with eating fruit every five minutes so she wouldn't get scurvy
-My fear of getting Mrsa after watching Oprah and dropping Arby's bun on the ground
-Running into Scott S., Sarah C., Tasha G., and friends at Grand Central Station
-Kevin making us miss two trains b/c he was internalizing which pass was the most cost effective
-Learning that Jr. Mints, peanut M&M's, and Skittles wake you up at a 10 pm tennis match which in turn will make all the silent fans upset at your efforts to stay quiet.
-Taking the same funny picture again and again and again and again
-Meeting up with Darren and Leolani at the match
-Taco's for dinner
-Kevin going down the street to get a hot dog instead of eating pizza with us to save money only to later leave the tournament to literally run to a Chinese restaurant b/c he was still hungry spending more money on the second and first meals combined than he would if he had only stayed and eaten pizza with us.
-Deb dumping water down some poor guys back at Starbucks and him thinking it was coffee
-A group of women not letting a pregnant lady on the train, yelling at her through the closed doors, then listening to them brag for the next 10 stops!
-60 year old men in red kilts, one spike in on hi shaved head, leather vests, and frilly shirts (where was your camera Jen?????)
-Carrying pillows around NYC subway system, Borders, and Kinko's in order to be comfy on Vamoose...following questions were asked..."Are you coming from a shower"..."Where's the pillow fight?"..."You must be really tired."
-Domestic disputes in Spanish Harlem that end up involving the members (and preacher) of the nearby baptist church to run out and get involved turning into a street brawl (which I was there with Deb and Steph)

What a great weekend! Pictures to come once I get my camera back from Jen whose camera ran out of batteries with two days left in NYC.

I HEART NYC

Marathon Sunday!

Wow! Sundays are such rejuvenating days! I find little time at church to catch up with people. To remedy this I invited a few friends over for a peach cobbler cook off. I thought for sure I would win with my moms famous cobbler recipe. I used her cookbook to help guide me...unfortunately she left out that flour needed to be added...I didn't win.

Same Outfit

Somedays I could wear the same outfit I did the day before...today is one of those days.

I could do this for a while!

Wow! Today is the first day of summer break. I could do this for a while. When I woke up I actually had time to read and ponder the scriptures. I then went for a four mile run in which I stopped by Thomas Jefferson's place for some meditation. The thought for the day is as follows: When ever I can't find something, the best way to locate it is to busy myself by doing something else other than focusing on the lost item. Once I am focused on something else, I miraculously find the missing thing. Somehow this translates into not getting all worked up about searching for what I don't have. Instead of getting so worked up about things I can't find, don't have, or want, my goal is to relax, focus on what I do have, and be grateful. Hopefully if the pattern is true, what I can't find will soon be discovered.

After my moment at the memorial I returned home to eat (one of many I hope) a healthy breakfast. I then proceeded to clean the bathroom and do two loads of laundry! It was miraculous. I've now moved onto prepping for tutoring and will hopefully stop by some shops to buy things that have been on my "to buy" list for the past several months.

My goal is almost complete...I'm busying myself already!

Happy SUMMER!

I've caught the insanity!!! March Madness

My roommate Mandy (an avid sports fan)suggested we have a roommate bracket going for the college basketball finals. This has been a great roommate bonding experience. However, I forgot that at one point in time I was a basketball addict. I went cold turkey and was able to stay dry for several years. I did such a brilliant job of staying away that I thought I had the habit licked. Well, I'm sad to say (not really) that as with all habits, once an addict always an addict. I LOVE LOVE LOVE college basketball!!!!
It is so bad that I had students checking the scores for me!!!! While my students were silently reading I "accidentally" looked at my computer and let out a yell, startling the poor tikes.

So far this round I've only had three loses. One in which I felt deeply and personally. For two hours my heart beat wildly as I was teaching! With each update I had to suppress my desire to watch real time. My heart goes out to my guys in blue (For all you BYU fans, let me remind you the blue that you stole from us) the Utah State Aggies. They played their hearts out! One point determined their downfall...(and my loss). Boys, I'm givin' you a slow clap for your brilliance, hard work, and heart. You gave Marquette a run! We were so close to a 6/11 upset! You will forever be mine!

Winter 2009