Touching Base

It seems all I do these days with this website is try and catch up. I wonder if I'd even post if I wasn't so obsessive compulsive about having all the months lined up so nicely in the Archive section. You know if you don't write for a whole month, they won't put the months name up and you CAN'T have October touching December!! It just isn't right! So, here I am. There have been quite a few interesting things happen this last little bit. The best of which, I got to fly home for a weekend. What a wonderful, marvelous trip. I got to go home because MY FAMILY WANTED ME. What a nice thing to be able to write AND to have it be true! I got to spend some time with everyone and had such a nice time. The big suprise was that I even got to go down to Portland and see S and A and their kids. Ahh, what peace, what joy, what a cold I got! I blame sweet little C. She better watch it. When she's 16 and comes and stays a weekend with Dear Auntie Maija, she's going to hear about how sick she got me. Sweet little thing.
So, I've been trying to decide my fate which has led me to a couple of decisions. I'll list them as they come to mind but that's not necessarily the order they belong in. It's all so interconnected now I'm not sure which came first. Alright, it starts with the assumption that because I can't have The One that I want then I want to plan my life with all the control that I can, which means I'm doing it solo. So, because I've just condemed myself to a lonely life all by myself alone with no one around, I might as well have a little fun. So, come May, if all goes according to plan, instead of moving straight to Oregon, I'm going to buy a Honda Element and move into it for four months. I'm going to spend those summer months touring the Nat'l Parks. I'm going to head East first, visit some friends out there, spend some time with my own dear Auntie and then hit all the sweet spots on my way back to the West Coast. Now, with that trip in mind, I've decided to take a Jui Jitsu class. I want to do it for the confidence it will give me to be by myself. And if that doesn't work, I'm also going to get my concealed weapons permit and a big gun. So, also with this trip in mind... now, this really cracks me up... but I figure if I'm going to live alone I might as well make myself laugh... I'm practicing not washing my hair. I mean, I'm going to have to figure out how to get showers at gyms and things like that but I doubt I'll be washing my hair everyday as I've previously been used to. I'm already up to going 2 WHOLE DAYS!! I'm well on my way and very proud of myself. And then, I guess lastly because this post seems long, I'm practicing living a life of Voluntary Simplicity. To me, mostly that means I'm getting rid of a lot of stuff I own and not buying anything more. Also, I'm recycling more. And saving water. And eating fruit. And wearing Birkenstocks. Umm... don't worry though, I already got rid of my hemp necklaces. Mostly.

Maija Does It Solo

So I had my first big adventure by myself. This last Saturday I woke up bright and early at the butt crack of dawn (6:00am!) and left by 6:30am for Arches Nat'l Park. I had to drive all by myself in the dark and the fog through SF Canyon and I had to find my way to Hwy 191. Then it was all south. Well, I guess it was pretty much always all south. I mean, it's a pretty straight shot once you're in the canyon... But I did it by myself and that's the point. It actually took only about a half hour before I realised my teeth were clenched and another half hour before I could relaxe them. And by 9am... okay, okay... by 10am my nuckles were no long white on the steering wheel because Ta'da! I had made it to Arches. The weather all the day before had been rain and rain and rain and so my plan in Arches had to be tweaked abit. I had planned on doing three things. One, see Balanced Rock. Two, hiking to Delicate Arch and three, hiking to Landscape Arch. But because of all the rain the road to Delicate Arch was washed out which freed up a lot of time for me. So, I spent the next 4 1/2 hours exploring every part of the park that I could. All by myself. I had set some goals for this trip which I'm glad to say I met. I had to have the radio off the whole time I was in the park to enjoy the natural sounds and to allow time for myself to really think without distractions. I had to hike something that I didn't really care to (I went out to Broken Arch). And I had to start a conversation with a perfect stranger and keep it going for a bit. This one actually I didn't have to try at all because this guy named Laurence saw the 'S' for Sweden on the back of my car and started speaking Swedish with me. This was a very good, very holistic, very fun trip and I couldn't believe really how much I enjoyed myself. Driving back in my head I made all sorts of plans about going to all the National Parks in the US all by myself and just having a great time. I wasn't scared at all, I mean, even if I wanted to be by myself I couldn't have been because of the crowds! I think though, before I hit the road to Yosemete to hike Half Dome, I better finish off the five Nat'l parks in Utah. So, what does that mean? Next up Zions, then Canyonlands, then Capital Reef and a grand finale in Bryce. But not necessarily in that order!

A New Direction

So, I've decided that while I've been quite happy with the way may life has been going thus far I'm going to try and well, take things in a new direction. Under the advice and tutaledge of a Master of Many Things, I think I'm ready to strike out on my own for a bit of adventuring. What you may ask am I up for? Well, first on my agenda under the watchful eye and kind guidance of the Master is a short weekender trip to Zions which must include at least one hike by the river and one overnight stay in the camp of my choice. I think I'll bring my Lovely Yellow Tent (dear sweet tent) and my camp stove and make Noodles (...and Aye-ye-yai will always love noo-oo-dles...). After that? Well, I'm not sure. I should hit Moab before it's to late. And I hear the Grand Canyon is lovely in the winter. I jjust feel I guess after all that if I'm serious about growing up and making big decisions I should probably get a handle on who I am and what I want and not be scared to do great things. And not be scared to move to Oregon either. Or anywhere else the wind might call me.

Alright, Alright Already

Okay, okay, fine, I'll write something already. I know I've been a little remise lately and have got quite a bit to catch up on. I know I've mentioned this before but if I have a great adventure and don't write about it right away, then, yeah, it's pretty much not going to happen. So, let me just run down some of the highlites of the month and then I promise to do better next time.
Okay, so I went on one of the most wonderful and magical and great and phenominal and exciting and awesome adventures I've ever been on. And the funny thing about it is I almost scared myself right out of it. J. and J. and I went sea kayaking in the San Juan islands. We drove from Utah up to Spokane and spent some time there visiting with Adv. M. and J. We then went up to Seattle and spent a night with the folks. Then up to Anacortes and we spent 4 days on the water paddling around the islands. We camped on Saddlebag, Cypress and San Juan. We did a moonlight paddle with a full moon and green glowing algae. We saw Orca whales and dolphins, eagles, herons, raccoons, starfish, a newt, banana slugs, everything. We hiked and camped and played and had one of the most magical vacations ever. Don't tell anyone, especially Mom and Dad who might expect me home for Christmas this year but I think J and I are going to go to Baja Mexico to kayak down there this Christmas time break. (Yeah!!)
So, another adventure you want to hear about? Okay. These last two weekends I've had a wonderful time being absolutly domestic. The weekend before I spent the day drying nectarines in my food dryer and this last Saturday I canned all by myself (okay, Mom was on speed dial and the greatest resource and help ever!!) fourteen jars of beautiful golden peaches. I loved it! I put my hair up in a 1940's style bandana and just enjoyed domestic goddessness. The dumb part of the whole adventure (which of course if it was MY adventure you knew there would be one...) is I guess you are NOT supposed to touch the jars after they have boiled to make sure that they seal on their own. Well, of course, Maija, ever the impatient one had to touch 7 of the jars and so ended up having to reboil them. Oh well, I'm learning, see?
Another adventure? Okay... I went to the Ben Harper concert last week. I think I'm still high. I love that crazy hippy, gypsy type of people. And the music of course is just great as well. I went with my friend A. and we had a great time. It was a beautiful outside venue and we had tried to sit close at first but there was this ridiculous drunk girl in front of us who was kissing EVERYBODY - boy, girl - didn't matter. We got tired of that real quick and ended up sitting in the back against the fence just laughing and chatting and chilling. It was a fun concert.
Oh my goodness, you're insatiable. ANOTHER ADVENTURE? Okay, this one is As. We. Speak. I am sitting on my couch in my cute little house typing this up and I am drinking tea. Now, what is the adventure in that? Well, I should mention this is like my SIXTH cup of tea. I guess I boiled too much water and made too much tea, but it's Lemon Myrtle tea and it's really good and I don't want to waste it. So, I'm breaking out in a sweat and can hardly sit still, I've got to pee like nobodys business and I think I've still got two cups to go. I WILL NOT waste tea!! After all, hot flavored water is hard to make and I Don't Cook!
Okay, hope that was enough because I just can not focus any longer. Love to all!

Yet Another Adventure!!

Last night J took me kayaking down P. river. I have been feeling a little bit hesitant about our ocean trip after reading books about tides and currents and tide rips and such and so J wanted to take me down the river in an old extra wobbly kayak in the midddle of the night with a fast current and small rapids as well as a couple of bridges with pilings to navigate. Just to get me used to it. So, ever up for an adventure I consent to not only going but to being a shuttle driver as well. J and his brother in law C come to pick me up about 9pm and we head out. We park my car and head 10 miles up the canyon, get in the water and head down. River kayaking is a lot different then sea kayaking because you have to do a lot more to keep yourself going straight. I mean you are constentaly correcting your allignment. So, in the middle of the night, by the light of the full moon with two good friends I face the river. I made it through all bridge pilings with only having the tail of my kayak hit once on the last one, I effectively corrected myself after hitting a rock broadside in the middle of the river that I couldn't see and was fortunate enough to not once tip my boat. Well, we finish our run down the river and I'm absolutly in heaven. We heard beavers slapping the water as they enter, we enjoy the way the light of the almost full moon reflects down the current of the river and we have a great time laughing with each other. Everythingis great until we pull out of the river and hike our stuff back up the hill to where my car is parked and I realise I forgot my key. In my defense though and also now to my absolute embarrasement and regret J had given me a super hard time about making sure I had everything and was well put together. I thanked him for being my dad but told him I already had a great one and to back off. So, for me to have forgotten my key after telling J to take a chill pill means that I will NEVER hear theend of it. So, anyway, we are now about 7-10 miles down the canyon from J car and my keys and so C starts hiking up. J and I decide to try and flag down a ride. I'll just paint the picture for you and leave it at that... if you can imagine me in my bathing suit standing on the side of the road (smartly under the dim light of the one street lamp that luckily was there...) with my thumb out trying to flag down a ride from cars going 60 miles an hour in a canyon that usually closes in about 20 minutes in almost the dead of night. Classic. Luckily, a car that I think missed it's turn and did a u-turn where I was stopped and as J. came out of hiding almost took off again before we were able to convince the guy to give J and I both a ride up the canyon to J's car. We pass C on the way to get the key back and then come back to pick him up. Anyway, end of the story is everything turned out okay and it was just another great adventure for the members of the one and only Adventure Club. Next up on the agenda... we leave tomorrow at either 6pm or midnight (don't ask) to head up to Seattle for our next big adventure. The Ocean!

Maija finds her sport

Oh man, oh man. Saturday was a freaking phe-nom-in-al day! So much fun. J. came and got me at 9am and we went Sea Kayaking on Utah Lake for the next 5 hours. It was so much fun and I was so comfortable and relaxed. K. even said I looked great at it. She was suprised how naturally I took to it. Of course, I didn't tell her that I had done it a couple of times before in Seattle. We practiced our open water re-entrys and I got it handed to me. I guess getting out of an up turned boat is easy but getting back in in the middle of the lake with waves all around you is a little harder. I'm bruised everywhere and sore and so happy. It took me like 20 minutes to get back in the first time. I couldn't get the balance just right so as soon as I was on top of the boat then I'd pitch forwards or backwards and roll the sucker again. But I finally figured out the trick that works for me and so *hopefully* shouldn't have a problem with it now. Oh man, really, I was high the rest of the day. I'm already to go again. I don't even know how to express to you the great joy and happiness that was mine that day. SO MUCH FUN!! Maija has definatly found her sport. Yup, I'm a sea kayaker.

Unsent

Last night I wanted to write letters to some people in my life, sort of saying what I wish I could say but for lots of reasons can't. It was very holistic. I guess by the time I've got them from my heart to my head and then paper and now computer I'm pretty much purged of it and can let it go. I don't know... Maybe I've been listening to to much Alanis Morrisette. But anyway, here for you all in all of it's raw gore is my own personal version of 'Unsent...'

Dear XXXXX,
Frustrating that I can't be friends with you any more. The epitome of all my control issues, I guess. I miss having the ball in my court. I miss you chasing me. I'm tired of running after you. It turns out in the end you don't understand me like I had hoped. Or if you do, you're cruel. I don't really miss the chase I guess as much as what it represented. The excitement of thinking you wanted me and the hope of what that could mean.

Dear XXXXXX,
You made me almost believe in nice guys. I almost believed that I could find what I was looking for. That was awfully mean of you. Especially when you knew you weren't available. You shouldn't have spent those late nights climbing, those deep conversations, those laughing fun moments with me. You shouldn't have lifted me so high when you knew how hard and fast I fall... and how scared I was to.

Dear XXXXX,
So much time invested and what to show for it? You've been a good springboard for some life lessons but your teaching style at times is to harsh. I'm frustrated though by how badly at times I still want you. The hope for future and family sometimes is stronger then the voice of reason. I'm sorry we can never really be true, great friends. You've seen me at my worst and known me at my best and still you said you didn't want me. I'm sorry, but I just can't get over that.

Dear XXXX,
I'm happier pretending with you then I am in reality with everyone else. Sometimes I wish you could just come and rescue me from everything. But such a big difference between could and would. Would you? I guess that's where the pretend part comes in. In my dreams you are everything. But then again, I guess it's easy to fall in love by yourself.

Another Adventure!!

From : graftonstreet
Sent : Monday, June 19, 2006 5:02 PM
To : maijabee
Subject : sea kayaking

talked to j. a bit and ...... it looks like a sea kayaking trip just might become a reality this summer. D. will be here the whole month of august so I have a baby sitter. San Juans seem like a nice destination. I assume that you'd be joining us, especially if we stay at your folks house for a night. :) anyway before that we may wish to get you into a boat at least once. we'll also need to figure out an itinerary. leaning towards the cheaper the better.

Yeah!! Looks like Maija's getting ready to go on another adventure. I love summer!!

Oh Hum

What to write, what to write. So, I've decided to get out of dodge. I'm going to move to Oregon. I haven't decided yet if I want to move to Portland or Eugene but I'm thinking that this should all go down next June. That's just 1 year from now. In the mean time then I've got to get my finances under control so I've got a lot saved up for first and last and incase I don't find a job right away. I've got to finish my last semester of school which is going to take money as well. I've got to start looking on line for apartments, maybe contact the Ward out there and see if people are looking for roommates. I should probably update my resume and maybe post it on Monster or someting. If nothing else, I should at least start figuring out how to check out the job market. Hmm.. interesting. This may take me two years. So, what has inspired this desire to pick up and take off? Well, I've been fighting the feeling for about a year or two already. I love Utah and I've been very happy here but I just feel that I've gotten to old and to mature for this town. It may also be that I've started wearing my Young Women medalian necklace in the hopes of attracting some pencil necked geek in a white shirt and tie and it turns out that it doesn't work! The only person who has noticed and subsequently asked me out is a guy with tattoos all up and down his back and neck. He asked me about it and I told him it was advertising. He laughed and thought it was an interesting idea. He says he may not look the part but really, you can't judge a book by it's cover. Good or bad. Awesome. Anyway, yeah, I'm done with Provo. i just hope to go out with a bang. I'm going to have to take every advantage this year. That means, I've got to do everything that I can do in Provo in June this June. Because, hey! this might be my last June here! Yippy! Oregon will be fun. I can just tell.

Maija goes accoustic

So, on this last camping trip with J. the big joke of the trip was that J. brought a guitar. If you can imagine a nice guitar (yeah right! He bought it at a garage sale for 40$) all double wrapped up in two dry bags tied to the back of a big raft, it made quite the picture. But it was for me a highlite. J. and I were in the same boat and the first day on some of the long slow stretches of straight water he'd pop the sucker out and play. It was fun to have him play songs I know and get to do a sing along. I suck at singing but it's fun to belt it out anyway. I think that there is nothing nicer in the whole wide world then a guitar at a campfire. J. said, and I agree, that he wouldn't want to be around one without a guitar. Well, the only way to ensure there is not only one but also someone who can play is to learn to do it yourself. So, I know I've previously mentoned in an attempt to better myself I started guitar lessons... well, I've picked it up again full force. And, because I don't have two drybags and because I've always got to be just a little bit different I am pleased to announce...dun du du da... ta dah!!... I bought myself a mandolin. It will fit in ONE dry bag! Yeah! So, I'm going to teach myself to play and I'm very excited about it. And just in case it turns out to be too hard, well, I was sure to pick a very pretty one that will look beautiful gathering dust on my wall. Good job Maija!

I know, I know...

Yikes! I haven't written in so long now, I have so much to catch up on its a bit overwhelming. So, I'm just going to start writing and when I get tired of it I'll stop. So, now you've had fair warning. Okay, first of all I went on a week long rafting trip down Desolation Canyon the week before Memorial Day. I went with my friend Adventure J. and about 14 other friends. We took 4 paddle rafts, a duckie and J.'s kayak. We spend 4 days on the river doing about 25-30 miles a day. During the flat water points we'd just paddle and coast and anticipate the rapids. Sometimes we'd pull over for lunch and sometimes we'd do a floating lunch where we'd tie the rafts together and make a big barge. When we were ready to stop for the day we would pull over on river right when we saw a sandy beach and set up camp. We went for some hikes, saw some abandoned cabins that Butch Cassidy used to hide out in in Robbers Roost, some petrogliphs, everything. I had a book race with J. that was a lot of fun. Trying to see who could finish theirs first and that was a lot of fun. One of my favorite memories of the trip was one night J. and I lied in both ends of the duckie and read until dusk. It was a very nice, very relaxing trip. I got nice and tan and just the littlest bit burned. Perfect. I came back nice and rejuvinated. I'd like to fill my summer up with trips like this. I love backpacking/back country adventures. I wish I could live out in one of those little cabins, or maybe a teepee somewhere and just spend my days sitting under a tree and wondering about catching a fish for dinner. Phenominal.
Okay, another fun thing... a couple days ago I did a Sauna. My friend K. went on his mission to Finland and when he came back he built a Finnish sauna in his back yard. A little cedar hut with a wood burning stove that has hot rocks on top and a bucket of water. I spent about 3 hours going in and out and in and out. First we started with dry heat, just sitting there until your body starts to sweat profusely. We had the tempurature at about 190 degrees. Then, you take a dipper of water and through it on the rocks. When the steam hits you at first it's SO scary because it's SO hot and you have to take a deep breath and let that hot air into your body and let it just sort of consume you. You have be sure not to panic because you want to but just sort of accept it. A very interesting lesson for something in life, I'm sure. Once you've taken all you can stand you run outside and there is a cold shower. It's crazy!! But it feels so good. So, then you wait a bit and do it again. K. had built a fire in his back yard so we sat around that before we were ready to go back into the sauna. Okay, in my perfessional opinion the first bit of "landscaping" I'm going to do when I have my own house is to build a sauna. If you can imagine I'll have this nasty dirt yard with no order and then a beautiful sauna just sitting there. That was just so much fun.
On a different note that might not be so much fun I had to move. I had to leave my cute little house with a tree and a yard and a garage and a garden and move into an apartment with noisy neighbors that stomp above me and asphalt. Lots of asphalt. But I live there all by myself which I like. Actually, it scares me how much I like living alone. I wonder if it's healthy.... But anyway, I have it all set up now mostly just the way I like it. And home really isn't as much where you hang your hat as it is where your heart is anyway. Which by the way is out in some teepee somewhere with some mountain man in leather and I really wish it would come back because I need it here at this stupid apartment, but I digress...
On the last note, I've started to wear my Young Women's medalion necklace. I know, I know. I've already been teased a bunch for it. But the point of it is this... I'm tired of Non LDS type boys asking me out all the time, because I go out with them and like them and it sucks that I can't marry them. So, to kind of discourage them I'm going to wear the most obnoxious sign of my religion. I mean, worse then the CTR rings which I might start wearing as well. I figure I can't realistically fast for 40 days and 40 nights like some people did, but I can do something else that's just as painful. So, until some good LDS boy asks me out, I'll take all the crap. Bring it on Sucka's.
Anyway, I'm tired now. So much love to all!

Maija kicks the habit

So, I've gone holistic...again. This time in the form of a 10 day detox. I've started and am well on my way. The first day of the detox is water only. No food from Wake Up to Sleep. Only water. That was a hard day to say the least. I had had a wild night the night before I started so to compound the tiredness I already felt with having no food multiplied by a raging headache pretty much equaled a long day. Days 2-4 is fruit only. Meaning, I can eat ONLY fruit. Hard days. My advice is if you're going to do it, remember to drink a lot of water. Days 5-7 are fruits and vegetables. A little bit closer to normal but remember, I've had no protein in a week. Turns out I'm aggressive enough without it. Days 8-10 are fruits, vegetables and finally beans, nuts and seeds. Oh my. So, I'm somewhere in the middle and how am I doing on it? Well, so far I've stuck pretty much to schedule except for that lunch at Wendy's and that dinner at Burgers Supreme. So much for detoxing, huh? But the fruit day was kind of fun. I figure that this is really more a lesson in self control and discipline then it is an exercise in cleansing your digestive track. So, I'm cutting myself some slack. After all, it's a LESSON in discipline. I've still got the whole semester ahead of me to cram!

And She's Off...

Little Sis A. came to stay with me this weekend, yeah!! High Five! We are going to my cousins wedding tomorrow which should prove to be interesting as well as fun. We'll have to have some fun while she's here in town and hopefully I'll have the mental clarity to post about it. On a different note, I agreed yesterday to go on a five day River Trip with J. He promised that he would throw me in to the river but we'll see about that. I'm kind of slippery when I'm wet and I figure as long as I keep moving he won't be able to get a good grip on me. That will be a Tuesday through Saturday trip. Then if all goes according to plan I should take off that same Saturday for Moab with K. and B. to camp out and do some slick rock Mtn Biking. I've already got the days worked out with getting them off at both jobs so now it's just a matter of sitting tight till it's time to go. When I asked my boss for the days at the one job, he laughed and said, "sure, it has been a while since you've gone on one of your crazy adventures." Boy do I ever feel the truth of that statement. It's nice to have some plans and feel like I'm back in the saddle again!

Another One Bites The Dust

I had a date tonight. My second this week. I'd like to take a moment and discuss them both with you as well as mention two other fine gentlemen. Okay, so first on Thursday I went out with this boy named N. who is only 20 years old. That's an amazing six (6!!) years younger then me... BUT... he is really quite mature. He has had legal guardianship of his 13 and 15 year old brothers for the last year and a half or so... Anyway, he was really sweet and very sincere. He was so anxious to get to know everything about me and so complimentary. He told me to put my blue eyes away before they hurt someone. How sweet! Then tonight I went out with this boy who was from a friend of mine who set us up. We climbed together at the Quarry and I am glad to say I pretty much smoked him. But, I digress. He was nice and all but there just wasn't nothing. I loved having him at the Q. though... afterwards I got to hash with all my family of co-workers there. I really don't think I'll ever see him again. Okay, as for honorable mention, J. the Gypsy called me after not having spoken with each other in 4 months. He wanted to know if he could come down and see me tomorrow... We'll see... Also, A. the one who pretty much has all of my REAL attention is still out working with the at risk youth. He's been gone much to long for my liking. And the saddest of all is that he won't be back at least until May 9th. But I made him the funniest card and sent it down with A. The card has 5 note cards with questions written on them and then left blank on the front. On the back is my response and when A. feels like he wants to have a "conversation" with me he can take a card out, read it, respond it, and feel like we are conversing... Anyway, I wish that one of them, ANY of them, were ACTIVELY LDS and engaged in that good cause. Oh well, stiff upper lip and chin up and all of that. And in the mean time, it's nice to have dinner out, no?

Yeesh!

Yeesh! I always feel bad when I see I haven't updated this in a little while. So, quick as I can, here is a run down of what's happening and what's going on...
Last night I had A. and M. over for dinner. It was an orange dinner. I had made carrot soup, then salad (with shredded carrots), then salmon and sweet potatoes, then for dessert, peaches and cream. It turned out lovely if I do say so myself and was so much fun! Saturday night I'm going to the symphony at Abravanel Hall. I'm going to hear Vivaldi's Four Seasons. I'm very excited. I'll be more excited though if my date actually comes back from his camping trip and will come along. I finished the audit for the adoption agency and am now doing piece work for them. Everything went off with that just fine. All though the stress of it almost put me in the hospital. Um... what else... no trips planned for the immediate future but I've always got something in the works, so I guess... stay tuned for that!

I feel it in my bones

Tonight my boss M. made mention of the fact that I'm going to be 27 years old this year. I have to admit that it hurt to hear. I mean, it really bummed me out. It is quite true and I guess truth does hurt but it seemed to be worse tonight for whatever reason. I wouldn't mind it so much I guess if it didn't seem that people younger then me, all around me, are passing me up in life. It seems to be the season. I don't begrudge them. I'm happy for all my friends. It's just hard to be left behind. I hate treading water, especially when it's stagnating swamp water with frogs and water skippers and slimy algae that I seem to be stuck in. I don't want to pathetic but tonight I'm tired and I'm sick and I wish I was somewhere in life where I didn't have to be sick and tired and take care of myself, by my self. Oh well. Enough moping. Maybe I should go plan an adventure so someone will be jelouse of me for once instead of so often the other way around...

Ouch!

I went snowboarding this weekend. It was great fun but I forgot how much pain I end up in. I think it would be a lot less painful if I went more then once or twice a season and so could get a little better at it, but I'll still take what I can get. I went with K. the only girl I love and adore outside the fam and she is a snowboard instructer. She's very patient and very kind and I'm very greatful. On a different yet interesting note, yesterday I went to dinner with a friend at his uncles house. It was a lot of fun and the joke turns out to be that I had actually been to his cousins house before about 5 years or so ago and had exchanged a few letters with one of my friends cousins. Such a small world. On another different yet personal note, this same friend pointed out in all kindness that I'm very good at avoidence. He said this as I told him that I hadn't ever brought someone to a family dinner, as I covered the clock and odomoter in my car with stickie notes and as I covered my eyes when he backed down the steep and icy drive way. Hmm... Interesting. A lot of evedince in one night to agree... I'll have to look into that further.

Belly Dancing

I don't know if I've told you this yet or not but the past eight weeks I've been taking a belly dancing class. It's been a lot of fun and I've learned a lot of great things such as "rolling undulations" and "the three-quarter shimmy" ( a personal fave...) Anyway, I'm off in about 10 minutes to go to a Belly Dancing Expo at the State Fair grounds in SLC to see a bunch of professionals. Pictures I'm sure will follow. I get made fun of a lot for this with my Buds and the Q. but I've got to tell you, I just don't care. When I do that 3/4 Shimmy, all my troubles shake off with each shake of my hip. Yee Haw!

Slacker

So, I've been a little remiss lately in writing here... I've had some great things going on but I have been so busy I haven't had a chance to sit down for two minutes and let you all in on it. The biggest thing was this last weekend I went to Colorado with all of the Adventure Buddies to visit Adventure Matt. He is doing really great. It was great fun to get to drive down there, swim in a hotel pool, visit with good friends, catch up a bit. I love road tripping especially with these guys. Absolute riots, all of them. So, now here I am back in Provo and wondering what I'm going to do next. On the horizion...? I think I'm going to get my tickets to Hawaii in the next week or so. June is reserved for Alaska and this just in... I think I'm going to do a Breast Cancer Research walk in Boston in the Fall. It is a 60 mile walk, it's 2500$ to be allowed to walk with all proceeds going to research. I've got 3 girlfriends who want to do this and we are trying to get a local corporate sponser. I think it will be great fun if it all works out. We'll see. In the mean time though, business as usual.

Yeah for Meds!

Q: How can you tell if your thyroid medicine is off?

A1: You can run 12+ miles in a week and eat nothing but oatmeal for dinner and not even lose half a pound.
A2: You fall asleep at noon on a Wednesday for a quick 15 minute nap and wake up at 5:30pm. You then go back to bed at 7:30pm and sleep soundly through the night.

Yeah for an increase in Synthroid!! Yeah for no more naps!! Yeah for research and advancement in medical science!!

Happy Valentines Day!!

So, I'm going to make this quick because I've got to get up at 5am to run and I'm really tired, but I've just been so blessed this week I would be remiss if I didn't give thanks and take a minute to write it down. My goal for this year is "Remember, remember." I want to remember the powerful events in my life and use them as catalysts for greater change and growth. Anyway... here are this weeks highlites in no particular order. Call me if you want more details.

*I signed up to run a half marathon in Alaska in July. My friend wrote out a running/training schedule for me which I am dutifully following, and loving every minute of it. I've always wanted to be a runner. I've known it's in me. I think it has something to do with feeling and smell of wind in my hair. Anyway, I'm accepting all sponsorship donations to my Paypal account. I could REALLY use a new pair of running shoes (the Neilson knees' you know...) I'll puff paint your name on the butt of my running shorts just like Nike.

*I started doing contract work with a small International Adoption Agency. I'm just doing their paperwork now but have been offered the position to fly to the South and North Pacific to pick up the children and bring them back to the States. I'll keep you abreast of this situation as it arises.

*I went to the Banff Film Festival tonight and won a pair of hiking boots in a drawing by the skin of my teeth. They called my number but I was out chatting it up with a cute boy and so my friend J. ran out and grabbed me and told me to rush in there. I just BARELY made it and every one laughed that it was me. (I knew about 80% of the people there...) Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! to J.!!

*Last night at the gym I saw this cute boy and I thought, "Oh what's the use. He's way to cute. I shouldn't even bother thinking about him..." Well, I changed my negative self thought to something positive and not only did I end up being introduced quite randomly to him by a mutual friend that very night but I ended up sitting by him at the Festival tonight!!

*Last but certainly not least, last week I gave my number to a cute boy from New Zealand not really expecting him to call but certainly hoping! Well, he called tonight to see if I wanted to hang out tomorrow with him. YEAH FOR CUTE NEW ZEALAND BOYS!! YEAH FOR AWESOME ACCENTS!!

So, to end this quick update on all things great, I really just want to say that I realize that I am very blessed. I have had MANY great opportunities for growth. Some have been harder then others and some have been bigger lessons then others but above all, I want to really show and express my gratitude for how lucky I really have been. Especially lately! The Lord provides!

Oatmeal

So, I've officially turned into one of those annoying people. You know, the ones who know the calorie content of every single item that goes into your mouth. I like that about me. I like knowing. I like being able to make choices based on knowledge. I blame that on Dad. The fact I know that is now annoying is due to this little story I'm about to relay. Today was my friend E.'s birthday. I know she likes big muffins so I bought her some. When she offered me one I just couldn't do it. I went off about how many calories they were and how I couldn't afford them in my "calorie budget" for the day... Poor girl. She couldn't eat one in front of me after that. Anyway, I'm now sitting down for my dinner of oatmeal and raisins and an apple all for under 250 calories. Good girl Maija!!

Oh great.

Thanks a lot you dumb internet. I didn't want your dumb ideas anyway. I did end up getting in touch with a friend and had a lovely day running errands with him and hanging out with his family and having a lovely day, so there. Humph.

I Need a Project

So today is a beautiful Saturday and by some freak accident or maybe by some Divine Intervention I have the whole day off of work. Even more rare then this is the fact that I have nothing to do today. I mean, I have no where to go, no errand I can afford to run, no pressing engagements, nothing. I am utterly devoid of activity. Which is nice, in a way. I mean, it's 11am and I'm writting this in bed, in my pajamas with my hair still all askew. But I know that in about a half hour after I eat Brunch I'm either going to be bored enough to sit and watch TV for the rest of the day or bored enough to go back to bed. Both of which I'd rather not do. So, I'm posting this out to the cosmic internet, sending my plea for a project. Just like when I was a little girl and would beg my Mom for one, I'm now pleading to you. Please, please, I need a project. If anyone out there has any sort of idea, I'm open to all sorts of suggestions... Otherwise I might just have to resort to calling a friend and asking if I can tag along on their errands. Sheesh.

Update

I went to the funeral yesterday in Wyoming. It was a long, emotional day. I got home at 5:30pm and left for the Opera at 6pm. It was nice to end it on a beautiful note. I got to visit Matt today at the hospital. It was very nice to see him. When I was at the ICU on Wednesday to visit Pam, I went across the way to visit Matt. Well, sort of. I mean, I thought that visiting people in the ICU was for family and clergy only so I went to the counter and wrote out a note for them to deliver to him. They looked at me funny but I didn't know why. When they read the note to him they all thought I was crazy that I didn't just go see him. I WAS ONLY TRYING TO FOLLOW THE RULES! Oh well, I got to see him today and he looks great. He still has the same smile which I love. His mom has started a blog for him so that when he goes to Colorado for rehab we can still get updates on him. For those who wish to add their prayers the blog is MattClinton.blogspot.com Please, add your prayers for him. We want him back with us.

A Hazy Shade of Winter

Or maybe I should say the Winter of my Discontent. It seems I've had some bad luck lately. A friend died today. Her name was Pam. She just turned 29 two weeks ago. She tripped going down the stairs and tore some ligaments in her leg on New Years day. This last friday she had a blood clot get to her lungs and it put her in a coma. This morning I went to say my goodbyes to her at the hospital and an hour later they took her off life support. Life is so fragil. There are so many things that we take for granted. Who would have thought that missing that last step would have been the beginning of the end. My gosh, how many bumps and bruises and broken kidneys have I lived through? I need to tattoo on the inside of my eyelids the truth that when we said we wanted to come to earth we agreed it would be for an indeterminate amount of time. That we felt, 1 year or 90 it would be worth it. It's been a really hard winter. I'm tired of losing friends. K. was diagnosed with cancer this weekend. D.G. died in a car accident over Christmas break. I thought my friends and I had agreed, no funerals this year. On a different note, an update on M. They are moving him to a long term care facility in Denver. Guess we're going road tripping.

WARNING!!

Yesterday M. my boss I'm in love with was teasing me. He said, "Maija, you need to come with a warning label. Something printed out I can hand to boys who are interested in ya..." So, I took the opportunity today to spend a quite moment writing out my own personal warning label. Here it is in all of its tongue and cheek glory:

Caution:
Dangerous curves ahead. Each one hides a land mine.
Please so slowly.
Caution:
Open field holds shards of broken heart.
Please watch your step.
Caution:
Watch for falling tears. Recent events have left land unstable.
Please proceed with care.
Caution:
Must bring own provisions. Land has nothing left to give.
Please plan accordingly.
Caution:
Climate changes are drastic and sudden. Might be scorching, might be icy.
Please bring protection.
DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! Proceed at your own risk.
Landscape has been left in terrible state of disrepair. Please obey all warning signs, make no sudden moves and if all else fails... tread softly and carry a big stick!

Thank you and good night.

Catching Up... again.

It seems that the quick after New Year blog seems to be the thing to do after this last small hiatus. Life is good. My birthday way great, I enjoyed it immensely. Solstice as previously mentioned was the most memorable occasion. Christmas Eve was wonderful with A. and Christmas Day with friends. I flew home the day after to celebrate with Family. It was great to see my brother and his fam, and my sister and hers as well as the 'Rents. I love Seattle. I love being home. It's hard sometimes to go but it's even harder to come back. So New Years was spent just the way I wanted it, at a friends with a movie and a pizza. And then back to work jiggity jig. So, here I am now with great hopes for a grand New Year. I hear that even years turn out to be great. Oh, and I'm sure it will be good because my New Years day was great. And I've always had a strong belief that how you spend your New Years day sets the tone for the rest of the year. Yeah!