Snowboarding Videos

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About 8 weeks ago Manu, Joel and I headed up to Snowshoe for the day. It was great - weather was mild but not warm enough to melt the snow - slopes were covered with great snow - lift lines weren't too long - great company - etc etc. Perfect first day out. Since Manu totally rocks and he's crazy - he followed me down the slopes while video taping. It's cool to be able to see the retarded things you do while boarding. Like using my back hand as a rutter. Not my best show - it was early in the day so I was still warming up - next time we'll have footage of the half pipe.



Do you remember when you were a kid - how tempting it was to flip over things - it's not so easy when you're a big kid - be ready to laugh ;)

Attempt 1 - Not Quite



Attempt 2 - Success


Sorry that's as exciting as my snowboarding tricks get so far. At least the tricks taht don't leave my with whiplash!

I'm looking forward to our big trip at the end of Feb - I think we have 23 folks going right now?? Here's our house.

Tuesday evening at the Sugarshack

Pizza - Settlers of Catan - Madonna - Perfect

I'm going to miss my girls next year!!

Final AZ

R, R, and J did a fantastic job highlighting our trip. I'll just add a few things :)

1 - My friends are the greatest!

2 - Loved the radio stations in Phoenix!! I think 'Hair Band' weekend may have been the best one!
3 - I can't get enough of palms trees and blue skys!

4 - Moral 1 - Jilian is always right :)
5 - Every city has to have a crazy painted exhibit. Phoenix - Guitars. (look close - it's a cactus guy)

6 - Moral 2 - It's Joel's fault
7 - Who knew Robert's alter ego was a hummingbird?
8 - At 'real' mexican/southwest restaurants - everyone gets their own salsa!! (plus you can eat outside in the winter!)

9 - Be careful taking pictures of cacti ;)

10 - Robert's pretty good at Rex impressions!

11 - I didn't realize I missed hilly curvy roads til we got back to the burg. Just wierd all their roads are sooo straight and sooo flat!
12 - Rula Bula - Best Irish Pub in Tempe. Why? Check out the entry.

13 - Dreamer is a very emotional movie - make sure you have tissues.
14 - My fav little guy from our hike.

15 - Margarita's can turn the worst airport into the funnest airport!


16 - We didn't see the tool at the expo :(
17 - Post Race Ritual

18 - 5 adults can fit into a mini. Helps when one is a midget.

19 - The sunset is beautiful every night in AZ.

20 - All the highway interchanges have really cool designs on them, they put a lot of attention to appeal - even strip malls have really cool roof lines!

21 - I take darn good pictures while driving - this was even going around a curve on an exit ramp!

22 - Frisbee in January - Watch out for the camera!

23 - What is this?

24 - If you have tile floors - Make sure Robert has a plastic cup.

25 - 2006 is going to be a great year!!

AZ Results

Time: 2:11:09
Pace: 10:01
Place: 6684 (out of 18536)
Gender Place: 3038 (out of 11,678)
Div Place (F 25-29): 607 (out of 1883)

Splits: (My GPS wasn't synced up right at the beginning so I missed the first .1)

Mile	Time	Heartrate
1	10:38	155
2	9:45	173
3	10:00	176
4	10:14	177
5	9:46	180
6	10:03	177
7	10:21	181
8	10:17	178
9	10:10	173
10	10:31	167
11	9:34	174
12	9:02	172
13	9:09	172

I'm pretty darn happy. Followed my plan of starting slow and steady, then pushin it towards the end. Really helped I was able to run with a friend - kept me from stopping when I wanted to during those first few miles! I obviously still had some fuel left - though I could feel myself fading fast during the last .2 miles!! I was surprised to see my heartrate didn't sky rocket when I turned it on at the end :)

It helped the race was flat :) Great weather. The course was lined with fans. The bands were playing awesome music. Might be my favorite last mile into the finish line - kinda made me feel like I was on the lined streets of France during the tour. I highly recommend this race!

From this I go into race number two with hopes of every mile being sub 10. Even if they are all 9:59's I'll be happy! I suspect a good pace for me would be 9:45 though. Bring on the interval training!

Injury update - no shin splints during the race!! A relief. The whole butt/knee/foot thing did flare up :( My right root was totally numb miles 4-9. I'm thinking it's something with my piriformus muscle - not really sure what the catalyst is though. Since it's been bothering me for a year and has become a chronic ache I made myself an appt to have it checked out Fri. Let's cross our fingers 'rest' is not the prescription!

It's not too late to sign up for Nashville!! Hal's plan would have you start training in the next week or so :) We have a fun group already signed up! JUST DO IT!

Just the Right Shoe

You'd think with my love of shoes and collection disorder I'd have all of these, but it's one collectable I've managed to live without. I do have a couple, all cowboy boots I think... go figure.

My mom gave me the desk calendar for Christmas - I love it. Most days just describe the shoe or have fun style/design facts. The weekends are my favorite - they include a shoe quote! I'll be sharing the good ones.

"When a woman pulls on a great pair of [cowboy] boots, she not only walks differently - she behaves differently." - Catherine Wilson, Harper's Bazaar
[~ajf]

Speaking of cowboys boots - I think these might be the next pair... I tried them on in AZ and fell in love ;)

Lucky Day?

13's my lucky number so Friday the 13th has got to be my lucky day! Haven't won the lottery yet.. but the night's still young. It's only 7 here in Scottsdale. And it's a full moon tonight!!

Robert, Joel and I headed West last night. The trip is two-fold, to run in PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon (R&J) and 1/2 Marthon (Me) (more on 2006 race plans in another post) and to hang out with our pals Rob and Kris who left the burg for AZ this past summer!

I keep warning R&J they better not make me mad since they have to spend 4 days with me... but they don't seem to care!! :)

First quote of the trip. Our flight left ROA behind schedule, but no worries - the pilot said he'd make up the time once we got in the air by 'flying this plane like it was stolen!' Apparently he'll never make it as a thief - we still had to practically run between terminals in ATL to catch our flight that was oversold by 22 seats. The stewardess' requested when we landed that folks with later flights held tight while those of us with close connections got off, I was very impressed that people actually did it!!!

We arrived pretty late ECT but lasted long enough to drink some guinness and try some of Rob's quesadilla's and homemade guac. Mmmm! Their house is wonderful!! Great floor plan, bold colors, beautiful tile, very homey! It's kinda crazy to be in such familiar surroundings yet be across the country. Sometimes I feel like I'm still back on Dogwood Lane!

This morning we slept in til 8 :) then started with a KK run for doughnuts and coffee. We then headed downtown to hit the race expo before the majority of the runners got to town. The expo center was very spacious and nicely set up compared to some. No sign of the 'tool' anywhere :( After the expo we had lunch in Paradise and stepped by Hard Rock for some souvineers :) Believe it or not, none of us remembered a frisbee. So after stopping by a western store (they are so good to me!) we found an REI and managed to get in and out in about 5 minutes with just a frisbee, it was difficult! We headed to a local park to enjoy the amazing weather!! I could get used to winters in AZ! They can keep the 120 degree August! A trip to Coldstone to cool us off and use our expo coupons and now we're (they're) playing PS2 before we head to dinner.

There's about 100 different kinds of restaurants out here to choose from, but I think tonight will be Mexican. See how authentic margaritas taste ;)

Sorry there are no pictures to post yet. Don't fear, our goal for the weekend is to fill my memory card... unless we start taking video's that'll require 3000 pics!

I owe you....

Blogs on:
Floyd
Snowboarding
Basketball
Bunko
Race Plans

December was an insanely busy month... I never thought I'd be ready for Christmas. I made some executive decisions, like not decorating my tree except for lights, and everything somehow got done! My mom was in town from the 23rd until the 2nd. We traveled to Charlotte to spend a very nice Chrismas with J&C. It was good to have her around for so long!! We never got around to working on my quilt but we take knitting lessons. I'll post a pic of my scarf if I finish it. We also hit the post Chirstmas 75% sales hard core!! Just wait til next year, my house will light of the block. I'll have to start decorating in Oct so I have a chance of getting it done!! If you're reading this, it's your job to remind and motivate me next year!

My hopes for January being somewhat slower were shot to pieces when I looked at the calendar and realized I'd be in AZ the 12- 16, my best friend from LA is in town the 21-23, and I leave the 29th to spend a week in Vegas at the furniture market. Meaning also that we're pusing hard at work to prepare for Vegas!!! Doesn't help one bit that my computer pretty much crashed Wed morning, instead of spending Wed and Thurs finishing things up before I left town, Wed I was saying four letter words all day and by Thurs I was in my happy place trying to back everything up so I can reformat it.

Every time my life gets intense I have to remind myself that's the way I like it. Otherwise I'd be bored out of my mind!! Not bored at all this past week!

Bye Bye Marcus

University President Charles Steger Statement on Marcus Vick

January 6, 2006

Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick has been permanently dismissed from the Hokie football program due to a cumulative effect of legal infractions and unsportsmanlike play.

Virginia Tech had suspended Vick in 2003. The university provided one last opportunity for Vick to become a citizen of the university and re-admitted him in January 2004, with the proviso that any future problems would result in automatic dismissal from the team.

Head Football Coach Frank Beamer met with Vick and his mother this afternoon and informed the quarterback and his family of the University's decision. His recent actions are unfortunate and we wish him well in his future endeavors.

****

Said Coach Frank Beamer, "I'm very disappointed that this didn't have a better ending. We wanted what's best for this football team and Marcus. I certainly wish him the best."

2006 - Happy New Year!

I'm calling 2006 the year of weddings :) Congrats to all of my friends who'll being tie'n the knot this year!!

Nate and Bri

Abbey and Tommy

Heather and Josh

Rex and Erin

Napoleon Dynamite meets Waffle House

Most people know I'm not a fan of last summer's most quotable blockbuster. I think it's just stupid. After this morning the dislike is not so strong.

Before my family left town we went to breakfast at the Waffle House. I have never laughed so much at WH in my life.. and I've had some pretty crazy times there! ;) Our server soooo reminded me of Napoleon.. and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the movie. I wish I'd had a video camera.. I can't do the experience justice with words. His attitude was just 'duh'. He had a lipstick kiss on his shirt he said was from Christmas! Everything he did was so monotone. You know how they call out the orders... well he calls ours out... then you hear... 'you're not even paying attn' - all in the same I don't care tone. Some other guy that worked there kept going on an on about needing duck tape. All of them were constantly bickering. I felt like I was in the movie - but I know it's a you had to be there story - I still had to share.

And my waffle, the first time I've ever ordered a waffle at the woho, DELICIOUS P:)

PS. Happy New Year!