Easter Weekend in DC

Of any adventure I've had, I have to say that my five days spent in Washington, DC was one of the most fun trips I've had in such a long time! I spent Easter weekend, in DC with one of my longest, and dearest best friend's, Nate. After five years of him living in the Nation's Capital, I finally made the voyage east!

Getting there, proved to be a little frustrating. I had a quick layover in Minneapolis, and was excited that it seemed my flight to DC would leave a little early! Well, after sitting on the runway for about 20 minutes, they announced that we were having "maintenance problems", and would have to taxi back to the gate. We ended up sitting at the gate for almost 2 hours with nothing being served to us, before it was announced that we would have to take another plane! Well, needless to say, I was ready for a drink on the next plane, only to find out that the cabin was entirely dry of food, water, and alcohol :(

Landing in DC!

But after a long day of travel, I made it! We had dinner at a popular joint in Nate's neighborhood where you could put a pin on a map of where you were from. I was so excited to put a pin in Lamar, CO; only to find out that someone else beat me to it :) We got back to Nate's house, where I had the great pleasure of meeting his roommate, Kyle. What a character he is!  Although we did not see eye to eye when it comes to fashion, Kyle and I had a great time bonding over our similar personalities and senses of humor. However, I did not find it funny how he loved to keep referring to me as a dirty hippie from Colorado. Not. Funny. At. All.

Kyle

After having my first Metro experience (which I absolutely LOVED!!!), Nate and I spent the next day doing all the touristy stuff. I couldn't have picked a more perfect weekend to go, as far was the weather was concerned! It was perfect, and not a cloud in the sky! We went to the Smithsonian Museums of African Art, the Portrait Gallery, and the Hirshhorn Sculpture Gallery. We had such a fun day walking around seeing the sites. That night we went to Good Friday Easter service at The Falls Church in Virginia. This was such a beautiful Anglican church, that is almost 300 years old!

The Smithsonian Castle

Film strip of Abe Lincoln in the Portrait Gallery

The next day, Nate and I went to the Old Post office, where we took the elevator up and were able to have a bird's eye view of the entire city! After that, we had drinks on the rooftop bar the the W Hotel. We sipped on the local craft brew, and had a perfect view of the White House. This was by far my favorite moment of my entire trip :) It was the most beautiful day, and such a perfect moment. I couldn't help myself of being flooded with happiness, as we talked, laughed, and had such a good time all with the backdrop of being high above our nation's capital city. After that, we walked to the White House and later enjoyed an amazing meal at an Ethiopian Restaurant in a jazzy district of DC. We cabbed back to enjoy the most spectacular view of the monuments at night. The Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, The Korean War Memorial, and my personal favorite, the Lincoln Memorial, were beyond breathtaking in their glory. We toured in awe, while under the light of a bright orange full moon.

Sunday morning, we slept in, and then walked over to the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial, in Arlington, VA, where we also viewed the Netherlands Carillon, and the Arlington National Cemetery. The Tulips and flowering trees were in spectacular full bloom, and was a beautiful site. That evening, we attended Easter Service at Nate's Church. We enjoyed a nice walk after service, to see the Capitol at sunset. It was so spectacular!

Monday morning, Nate had to head into the office, so I took full advantage of the day and took the Metro to Alexandria, VA, to King Street. This was a beautiful, historic neighborhood with brick sidewalks and colorful row houses. I took the Metro back into DC, where I spent the day in Georgetown. This was my favorite area of the city! It was a wonderful, colorful place with hip shops, historic buildings, coffee shops, restaurants, and people, galore! This is where I stood in line for 20 minutes to purchase an overpriced cupcake, from Georgetown Cupcakes, setting of the hit TV show DC Cupcakes. *NOTE: It was NOT worth the wait, nor the price, but it was fun for the novelty of it :)  I took the bus downtown to meet back up with Nate for a late lunch, before we had to rush back home to get packed up.

I left DC back to Colorado Monday night, and was so sad to leave. I had the most wonderful time with Nate, and it was so awesome to visit a part of the country I had never experienced before! I can't wait to go back! There is so much to see and do, and it is a part of our nation's history, and my own personal history, that I will never forget.

It's always hard to say goodbye.

February 14, 2012

On a day spent by most people across the world, celebrating their love with gifts of roses, chocolates, and other gifts that fade away, we were saying "goodbye" to a very important and loved man in our lives. It saddens me to say, that this year's Valentine's Day, instead of the romantic emotions that are typically taking the day captive, I had the pre-mature privilege of saying goodbye to Mr. Scott Bowen.

I first met Scobow back in 1999, almost immediately after he had moved his family from the Chicago area, to Lamar. His middle daughter, Rachel, became my instantanous best friend on the first day of freshman year at Lamar High. We shared three classes together that semester, and after discovering how much we had in common, we were inseparable. We shared similar values, faiths, and our awesome dads worked together at Neoplan. After countless weekends of slumber-party marathons shared between the Bowen and the Cook homes, I quickly became very close with the Bowen family. Times spent with the Bowen's at their home, at the family ranch, and countless youth-group activities and trips to Denver, were the days that I lived for.  Scott and Melody were almost second parents to me, caring for me in times like after I had my wisdom teeth removed! Years later in high school, the inevitable happened when I started dating Rachel's older, and cute brother, Nate :) Although our dating days didn't last very long, Nate and I stayed in very close contact all throughout college and the years after, when I was moving all across Colorado and Nate was off to bigger and better things in Washington DC. Of course Rachel and I stayed in touch, but surpsingly it was Steph, the youngest sister of the Bowen family, who's relationship with me in most recent years, is what has strengthened the bond between myself and the Bowen's.  She was always the little sister growing up, so I never really knew her all that well before I moved off to college and the Bowen's moved off to New York. But in recent years, I've had the privilege of becoming a close friend and confidant to Steph, which grew stronger each day as she kept me current on the issues regarding their dad throughout his illness.

Of course, it never was a question to me, just how much all the Bowen's meant to me, and that our friendship would always be in tact. I care for each and every one of them in such different ways, and they all have such a very special place in my heart. These are the people that I've known that I will always be friends with for the rest of my life, even despite our georaphical distances. Although I knew how much they all meant to me, I honestly had no idea that throughout all the years that had passed since I had first met Scott and Melody, and the years since I had last seen them, that I had remained in their thoughts as much as I had. It was such an honor and a delight to hear in recent months as Steph told me stories, just how much her dad liked me! I truly had no idea! I always just figured I was just this girl that was friends with his kids. But he truly loved me, and held me in the highest regard. And that means more to me than anyone will ever know.

It is sad that it is often tragic events that bring people even closer together. When I heard of Scott's passing last week, there was absolutely no question in my mind that I would be there for his family, my dear friends, as they grieved and laid his body to rest. I only wish that I had had the opportunity to properly say goodbye to the man that blessed me with the best friends of a lifetime.

Scott, you will be greatly missed. But your legacy lives on through Nate, Rachel, and Steph. I know that you are in a better place where there is no suffering. I take great comfort in knowing that we will all be reunited again in heaven, one day. We love and miss you. Please say hi to my mom for me :)

The Bowen Ranch, Eads, CO  2/14/12

Goals for TwentyTwelve

So, it's a little late, but January isn't over yet, so better publish my goals! 

I read somewhere, that you are much more likely to keep a goal when it is written down, so ever since then, I've made a habit of doing just that!

So, here they are!

My 2012 Goals

• Become DEBT-FREE!! (well, I will still have my car pmt, but eliminate credit card debt and pay off student loan!)

• Hike a 14er

• Travel someplace new

• Update my passport
• *get some stamps in my updated passport

• Compete in some epic races

• Set a new PR for my half-marathon time (Sub 2 hours :)

• Meet Tim Tebow.

That's all.

The end of a year is the beginning of new life.

One word: Dynamic.  Two thousand eleven was perhaps one of the most intensely up-and-down years I think I've ever had. As always, it was a year of growth, a year of constant learning, a year of winning, and a year of losing. I achieved goals, I made new friends, reconnected with old friends, I traveled to so many new places, I fell in love, and I fell out of love. Although at times the lenses may have been foggy, and the lines may have been a bit blurred; I never lost sight of myself and my direction for my life. I grew another year older, (and hopefully wiser). But the roller-coaster of the ups and downs was exhausting, and I am so glad that that year is behind me.

Winter in Crested Butte at my fav. hangout :)

It started out to be seemingly "my best year yet!" January 2011, was the beginning of a year with fresh hope and encouragement for settling into my maturing adult life. I was in love with so many things. I was in love with my lifestyle, I was in love with living in Colorado, I was in love with running, I was in love with my job, and I was in love with Erik Walker. Erik Walker. We began the year with the excitement of going deeper in our long distance relationship. I was jet setting off (what seemed like every weekend) to Texas, to be with the man who captured my heart. I was blissfully in love, and couldn't be happier. When one is in love, it is amazing how differently you truly view the world around you. Everything was perfect, I was motivated, I was optimistic, and I was full of life.

Erik and me in Texas

In February, I made the most spontaneous trip of my life. I had a 4-day weekend in which I was supposed to be traveling to Texas to see Erik, but bad weather (and a minor fight) had prevented me from flying south. So, to be in the airport terminal with a packed suitcase and a credit card; what's a girl to do? I took advantage of a last-minute ticket change to visit one of my longest best-friend's Marianne and her boyfriend, Ryan, in Portland, Oregon. It was really one of the best vacations of my life! I fell in love with the quirky city, and the time spent with my friend was priceless....(tell that to my credit card, ha!)

I am LOVING Portland!

Marianne in her city

Mysterious Lake in Washington

Marianne and Ryan

Beautiful waterfalls in the Washington Mts.

It was also in February, that my friend Alexe Colson, had invited and convinced me to sign up to run the Chicago Marathon with her. That from that point on, the idea and practice of running 26.2 miles, pretty much consumed every action of my life for the next 8 months to come.

Spending the day in Manitou with Alex, my Argentinian BF :)

In April, I turned 26. I was officially over the half-way mark of my twenties. I celebrated with close girlfriends in Denver, along with my new and fun, Argentinian boyfriend! {Erik and I had broken up for the first time by this point, as the distance issue became too much to handle.} It started out as a beautiful weekend. I rented a room at the Hyatt Downtown, and we wore cute little dresses to dinner and had drinks afterward. We were supposed to go to the Rockies game the next day on my birthday, but plans were ruined by a blizzard that decided to snow on my parade. It has snowed on my birthday every year for the last 5 years! I really hope for sunshine and hot weather on my next birthday, PLEASE :)

Birthday dinner with the girls!

Happy 26th Birthday to ME!

But summer was around the corner and on it's way. I was running my little tail off, doing race after race with Alison and new running friends, and soaking up every bit of the beautiful place of my backyard of Colorado. Weekends in Denver, Boulder, Crested Butte, and everywhere in between.

ROCKIES!

The Game with my girlfriends :)

ZOOMA half marathon with my girls!

I ran with Andy Baldwin, The Bachelor!

About to get our float on!

In June, I took a little weekend visit to Tulsa, OK for the first time, to visit Brandi and her boyfriend, Josh. I was pleasantly surprised at the lovely little city that is Tulsa. (Except for the awful heat and humidity that is The South, and the bane of my existence...ugh!) We spent the weekend laughing, shopping, and had an epic trip of "floating the river". Pretty much that means that we spent 8 hours getting drunk and blisteringly sunburned, with a caravan of twenty-something people with five, 8-man rafts, while floating downstream in some muddy Oklahoma river. Had I not reverted back to my college days of shot-gunning and beer bonging, I may have been able to actually remember the name of this mysterious muddy water.

The emotional roller-coaster of the Erik Walker Saga continued through-out the summer. After weeks and months of can't live with you - can't live without you, continued; he made the bold move and asked me to go on a week-long vacation to Hawaii with him and his family. I really should have known better than to go, but I was so desperate to make things work out between us, I signed myself up for what would be the most detrimental nightmare vacations of my life. Being stranded on an island with a person who turned out to be the most selfish and dis-respectful human being, was an experience that I never want to re-live. What should have been a romantic week in paradise was a torturous prison sentence. Finally, the escape did come, and I cried enough tears on the 8 hour flight back home, to fill the Pacific ocean to the brim. When my feet were back on Colorado soil, I was never so happy to have the reality check, and assurance that this is truly where I belong. Happy to report that never again, has a single tear fallen over that man, since somewhere over the ocean back in August.

 

Sheer Beauty. Ko'Olina Beach, Hawaii

Sea Turtle on the North Shore

Fresh Coconut on the North Shore

Paradise! The DOLE Pinapple Plantation



When I was home from Hawaii, I busied myself more than ever, trying to focus on myself and my amazing life in Colorado and the awesome people in it. I spent the next few weeks and months re-exploring so many parts of my favorite places and things to do in my own back yard.

Death Cab For Cutie with my BFF Alison at Red Rocks!

Death Cab.....Ahhhhh. Dreamy.

Garden of The Gods, CO Springs, CO

The Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Deep inside the Cave of the Winds

CB: my fav. little mountain town :)

Vinotok in Crested Butte

Brewary Tour with my girls!

Colorado certainly does beer right.

I also kept busy with fully submerging into the final weeks of training for the marathon. The excitement of traveling to Chicago was what fueled me. Running 15, 17, 20 mile-long runs and feeling the excitement of this monumental challenge that would come in October, kept my mind more than occupied.

Accomplished in Chicago

My victory was complete, and I proved once again, that I could do anything I put my mind to...but then I fell off a cliff into a depression. All of a sudden I found myself alone, with nothing motivating to look forward to. I had no energy, no drive, and I began to have a negative outlook on life. The cold winter months, and long, dark days didn't help me out much. I stopped and took a long hard look at myself, and my life. Although I am more than beyond blessed with so many wonderful things in my life, I realized that I had been putting a lot of focus and energy on some of the wrong things in life. Thankfully I snapped out of it and have so many wonderful things to look forward to. I began to realize that I know now, more than ever, that Denver is where I belong. I have spent every weekend in the city for the last 3 months, and I am more than excited to be back in the city where I feel most alive, and most like myself. I hope to be moved back to the Mile High ASAP, but hopefully by Spring, 2012.

Christmas time was wonderful, having spent it with my amazing family, and wonderful friends. I have so many people in my life that words cannot express how grateful I am to have. I have people that truly love me for me, and they support me and stand by me. I am lucky to have the kind of people that have no problem telling me the truth and looking out for my best interests. Also, I am so very thankful that the Lord is always with me, looking out for me; even though I am not deserving, and am not always living for Him. I am thankful that His mercies are new every morning, and every day.

First snow of this winter :)

Parade of Lights in Denver

Owen and Me keeping warm

Diana, Me and Alison at Owens Christmas Cocktail party

My sweet Lauren at my pre-NYE dinner

Last night, I spent New Year's Eve with friends old and new, and we had a wonderful time celebrating, and saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new. Goodbye, 2011. All in all, you were pretty good to me, but I hope 2012 is even better! So many things already to look forward to!!! Until then, as my dad always says, "just keep on keepin on".

Audrey, Robyn, and Me. Happy 2012

Peace and love people.

Be kind to one another.

Don't that forget that the little things

that matter are the monumental stuff of a great life.

Happy New Year.