I've got a button

I was cleaning out one of my dresser drawers recently and came across packets full of buttons. For the past 4 1/2 years I have been throwing extra buttons from new clothes in this drawer. I was surprised by the number of buttons there were. It is sad that most of these buttons will not be used, at least not for the purpose they were intended. I thought about how sometimes I feel like a button forgotten in the bottom of a drawer, but then that was depressing. I would rather think about how each button is unique.

BIRTHDAY BANANA

My birthday was yesterday. I got a little sentimental over the weekend thinking of past birthdays. This year, I spent my birthday giving speech therapy in the dark, in my coat. The power was out for over 4 hours at work. Last year I spent the day skiing with Darren, Jeff, and Jarilyn. It was an awesome powder day and I officially became a member of the bent ski pole club. In 2006 I watched the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics with friends at the Skybox. Back in Elementary school I went to Aladdin at the old Villa theater one year. I remember another birthday with everything pink and heart shaped.

My family has had the same home teacher for as long as I can remember. When I was really young I remember him bringing frozen ding dongs. They were wrapped in tin foil and I loved them. At some point he stopped bringing ding dongs and started bringing bananas. For years now he has delivered a single banana on which he has written "Happy Birthday Suzanne." He hasn't delivered one yet this year. Sometimes he forgets the exact day, but I'm expecting a banana to be delivered any day.

I was born on my Dad's birthday. He used to say I was the best present he has ever received. He told my sister the other day that the gym membership we gave him for Christmas was the best present ever. I'm hoping he forgot about me for a short moment and that I'm still at the top.

SEE SUZ RUN CONTINUED...

I think people look funny while they are doing two things. What are those two things you ask...running and singing. I have to admit that Jeff looks way better than me when he is running. For some reason I look like I'm about to pass out, probably because I was about to pass out. Honestly I only put the best pictures up, there were pictures that were worse, much worse.

I was watching the Biggest Loser a couple of weeks ago and Bob the trainer suggested that people sing at the top of their lungs while running. No joke, he honestly recommended it. It is apparently supposed to increase your lung capacity. I can't even imagine how much worse I would have looked had a been singing. I choose to do only one funny looking thing at a time.

SEE SUZ RUN

Let me just preface this blog by saying that prior to this last weekend I would not have considered myself to be a "runner." I finished my first half marathon, the PF Chang's Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Phoenix Arizona this past weekend. My official time was 2:04:15. I can now say, I AM A RUNNER.

The road to my first half marathon has been long. Back in August I could barely run a mile. Whenever I did run, I had pain on the lateral side of my knees. After visiting a sports medicine doctor and a physical therapist I was able to strengthen the muscles around my knees and gradually increased my running distance. Just when I thought I was getting to a comfortable running routine a new injury would emerge. But I kept on going.

My brother Jeff has run in three half marathons, two previous PF Chang's and the Salt Lake last April. He lives down in Phoenix. In November I decided to sign up for the PF Chang with him and take a trip to sunny Arizona. I had the best time running with Jeff. He has not run since the Salt Lake Half Marathon last April, and I was afraid that he would beat me. The first 3 miles were tough, but Jeff really motivated me. We stuck together for the first 9 miles of the race and Jeff ended up finishing about 10 minutes after me.

Running is physical but mostly psychological. When I am running I have to consistently remind myself that I can keep going when by body screams to stop. The sense of accomplishment I felt when I crossed the finish line is impossible to express. I realized that I need to push myself to set goals in other areas of my life just as I set the goal to run a half marathon. I can't wait to see what the rest of 2009 brings. My next half marathon is in March in Moab. My sister is apparently quite motivated by my time and is hoping to beat me. Bring it on Sis, bring it on!

Congratulations Amy and Dallin!

My best friend Amy got married on January 16th . I am ecstatic that Dallin is now a permanent addition to my life too. I wish you two all the happiness in the world!

2009 Financial Plan

I was watching Oprah last week and Suze Orman was on talking about finances. She is offering a free download of her latest book on Oprah's website. The book has some great advice for the tough financial times that we are facing. So go to click on this link and download the book for free until midnight on January 15th.

Boots

One of my nicknames is boots or bootsie (when you have four brothers you have an endless number of nicknames). I love boots. (Refer back to this post to learn more about my obsession with shoes). My office at school is in a hall way with tile floors and all winter long I hear students stomping and clomping around the hall in their snow boots. I would love to stomp and clomp around in my snow boots. But, I have to look professional. So I wear my boots to the school and then change out of them. I found some rain boots over the break and couldn't resist buying them. I'll put a picture up soon. They are Steve Madden's and they are gray and yellow. As a side note, I have a yellow coat that matches perfectly (I will write about my obsession with coats soon). I love snowy Saturdays when my inner child gets to stomp and clomp around all day in my boots.