Newness

2014 Objectives:

• Pull off a successful party in Sept with all my family and friends (aka Wedding)
• Run the Moab Half (3rd time!!) in under 2 hours
• Save at least 30% of my income
• 'Plan' a trip to South America
• Learn basic Spanish
• Make myself a well fitted sweater
• 30 day challenges??
• Janet's Cabin in May
• Another several day hike/camping trip
• At least one 14er
• First Olympic Tri

2013 Danceology

Another year in the books. Or 7 if you're a dog or cat.  As a way to remember all the shenanigans 2013 brought I'll dedicate this post to the year that's left.  The things I want to remember about 2013 in no particular order:

• Got Engaged!!
• Bought a condo in Denver, in my favorite neighborhood
• Got promoted at Charles Schwab
• Ran the Moab Half Marathon for the 2nd time
• Diagnosed with Celiac Sprue leading to a Gluten Free life
• Raced the Crescent Moon Sprint Triathalon
• Went on a hut trip (this time with snow) outside of Leadville
• Climbed Mt. Elbert, the tallest peak in Colorado

A very happy year all around. I eagerly anticipate this coming year one I'm sure will be unforgettable as it hold the day that I marry the guy I love.  Here is to a happy and healthy 2014 to us all.

Hurdle day

Day 2 of this new gluten free life was a good test.  Of course it's the first game for the Bronco's of the season and of course we would celebrate at work. There was a plethora of gluten options available. Chips chips and more chips. Pulled pork with of course soy sauce (typically a wheat filled product) Oh did I mention that I sit 3 feet away from the snack table. We also had lots of dips, condiments, brownies and a cake. So much delicious food almost within an arms reach.

I know it's lame to say since this feels like a personal choice but I suffered mildly today. Several times I wanted to stand up and simultaneously devour the food and throw the food across the room.

I'm ready to be in my safe gluten free home.

Here's to the loss of work party food enjoyment.

Turn of events

Based on some lab results I learned yesterday that I have Celiac Sprue.  

I mentioned it to some of my coworkers as I found out about it on one of my breaks and their range of responses was pretty interesting. One very vocal coworker immediately said 'that is a fake disease' 'it's all in people's heads'.  Another asked if it could be controlled with a pill. While a third said that if I didn't have rashes then I probably didn't have it.

It made me realize how most people must feel about Celiac  and a lot of the misconceptions out there.

No matter.

Today begins my adventures in a Gluten free diet. So far, all of two meals in, I've been able to eat pretty normally.  A spinach shake for breakfast with bananas, spinach, honey and almond milk. And for lunch some leftovers of rice with veggies and fried chicken.  Looking for some dinner suggestions, something good as leftovers.  Google here I come... 

365 days ago felt like yesterday

This coming May will mark the one year anniversary of my move to Colorado from NYC.  It was the start of an adventure in which I had no idea what to expect out of it.  Turns out I've learned a lot, lost a lot, gained more than is fair for one year and am still figuring out where this adventure will take me.  Or better yet, where to take this adventure.

As my future lays unknown, something I've never been quite good at handling, I am thankful for the friendships that quickly formed since moving here.  I am in great company when I am with my friends and know that they spoil me with their shenanigans.

I have been on some great trips over the past year and for my own sake, as I have the worst memory ever, I want to list most of them here to reference later on in blog life.

Some Highlights (as I'm sure I'm forgetting some):
- Multi-day Canoe trip on the Green River
- Denver Rock n Roll Marathon
- NYC 2012 Marathon
- Snow Caving
- Moab weekend - half marathon!
- Hiking around Boulder
- Snowshoeing around Boulder
- A show at Red Rocks
- Rock Climbing outside
- First Duathlon
- Trip to New Zealand

Although most of the past year has been an amazing trip I also had to let go of a large part of life.  Someone I always thought I would be side by side with.  I am lucky that this person is still in my life and as we continue to figure out how a friendship after a relationship works (or if it does!) I am grateful to him for his constant advice, free of charge.  He is a great man and will realize it some day.

I must also admit that I  go through stages of home sickness still.  This kind of baffles my mind as I'm not sure what to call home anymore.  I certainly miss my parents and having them within a short train ride away.  I love them for letting me travel 2000 miles away while always remaining supportive.  I miss the city where I feel like I finally became an adult and learned to take care of myself, through several blunders of course.

Now I guess I call Colorado my home.  It's a beautiful state with so much more for me to explore.  With Spring coming back around I can't help but think about what lies in the year ahead.  I look forward to exploring a  new relationship that has me constantly sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation.  I both love and am easily perplexed by my lack of ability to read this guy, constantly finding myself happily surprised by him when we are together and even the times we are apart.  I am looking forward to more hiking/camping trips, perhaps a solo attempt one of these nice weekends?! And to a hut trip with eight of my closest friends (and no, none of them are cats!).

So here's to the unknown future and to my attempt and grabbing life by the horns.  Cheers to many more adventures and lots of life still to live.

Young and Wiser

I have been learning a lot about myself lately.  Some good and some bad.

I've learned that I can preserver through physical pain for over two hours in a hot desert canyon but have a hard time persevering through the pain of letting go of friends as they move forward in their own version of a hot desert canyon.

I've learned that what I do with myself today proves to me over and over that there is a lot in this world that I have yet to explore and experience but that what I do with myself today doesn't fix past errors.

But I've also learned that what we do in our past makes us who we are today and all you can do is take every experience as a learning opportunity.  

Some of my favorite people in life are those that are able to take the time and energy to reflect on themselves and make themselves better for it.  I admire these people.

Cheers to growing older, stronger, bigger and opening our hearts to learning from ourselves and loving others as they learn from their own selves.

Too Many Hobbies

Since moving out to Denver I've been exposed to a seemingly endless choice of new hobbies. Everything from road bikes, bike racing, duathlons, a potential triathlon in my future!, camping, hiking, rock climbing and the list goes on and on. It is amazing and I feel like I have been given a second life. Who knew this world existed?! Of course these activities can be done and ARE done in the Northeast, I was just never in the group on kids that made a point of taking advantage of what nature has to offer. Now I get that chance and have met some amazing people that are more than eager to exploit the excitement I have in trying out all of these new activities. I'll admit it's taking a toll on my budget... but it's the reason I work, right? To enjoy the time I'm not working. 

Here are some of the new and exciting purchase to be used this weekend when I do some of my first winter camping.

First off, my new backpacking bag! So excited to give this guy a try. The bag received great reviews for being a light backpacking bag that still hold enough supplies for 2-5 days. Check it out here.

And the second big purchase for the upcoming camping adventures is my new sleeping bag. Rated at 15 degrees, this bag should keep me incredibly warm on those cold winter nights. Can't wait to give this one a try. The best part is that it's petite and fits me perfectly, so unless your 5ft don't even bother asking if you can borrow it! More details and photos to come after this weekend's camping trip!