and the thunder rolls...

last night i was awaken by thunder.
thunder out here is not like in the west...you know the phrase "rolling thunder"?  well, the midwest thunder really does roll.  immediately following the first roll of thunder, i heard our printer in the other room start beeping and acting like it was going to print something...creeeeeeeeeeepy.  so naturally i woke my husband up to go check it out.  then in my mind i decided we really need to keep the baseball bat in our bedroom.  

anyway, it's been almost a month since leaving the 801, and we've decided columbus is a pretty cool city.  we love living in a bicycle friendly city and our date nights usually consist of riding our bikes into downtown to find somewhere to eat or check out some event (like the festival latino, woot woot!).  

               

one of our favorite places to eat is the North Market.  it's basically just a bunch of local restaurants in a warehouse, and on saturdays there is a small farmers market outside.  but the most awesome thing is that it's right off the olentangy river trail, so we ride our bikes and eat delicious food.  win.

        

just a few blocks down the road is columbus commons which might be the coolest park downtown.  they have fitness classes, concerts, an interactive game thing, a carousel, a food truck rally, and who knows what else!

   

korean bbq in a burrito.  everything tastes better in a tortilla

if we don't want to go downtown, there are some pretty awesome things right in our backyard.

like Antrim Park, complete with a quarried lake and jogging trail around the lake.  or in the opposite direction there's the Park of Roses -- 13 acres with three different rose gardens and 400+ different kinds of roses.  both of these parks are about a 10 minute bike ride from our apartment.  did i mention there is a park just about every half mile along the river trail?

there's also lots of free concerts, delicious bbq, one of the best ranked zoos in the world, the best ice cream you'll ever eat, and cool people (aka us), so now that you know how awesome columbus is, come visit!

m.i.a.

it's been over a month since my last post...perhaps i should update my blog...

then again, maybe not.  see you when summer is over.

peace+love

that time i was caught curled up in the fetal position on the floor of a public restroom...and no, i wasn't drunk.

so, remember the whole "spend one on one time with my bike everyday" resolution?  ya, that sort of backfired on me today.  

i woke up and the sun was shining.  the roads were clear and i thought, oh perfect, i bet it will be warm enough to ride my bike to work.  

well, about 5 minutes into my commute my fingers began to feel numb. (yes, i was wearing gloves.  it was about 30 degrees today).  i'd left early enough that i could have turned around and gone in my car, but i thought, no, i've made my decision. plus my car hates the winter. stubborn, stubborn me.  by the time i got to the last little 50 yard stretch i was in so much pain that i thought i was going to throw up.  

i got to the mtc and locked up my bike and went right into the bathroom to run my hands under warm water.  i hurt so bad, i thought i would pass out.  so, i curled up in a ball on the floor just in case i did pass out.  yes, that is how much pain i was in--i didn't even care about the fact that i was laying on the floor of a public restroom.  that's when a girl walked into the bathroom and looked at me kind of funny then asked if i was okay.  i said, "yes, my hands are just really, really cold".  she washed her hands then said, "yeah, your hands are kind of pink...well, i hope you get feeling better" and walked out. i think she probably thought i was mentally ill. 

luckily i'm mostly better now, though my fingertips are a little sensitive.  and i ended the day off right, with a trip to nickel city, the classiest joint in utah valley.

peace+love

words of wisdom..

what a funny day.
this morning i went on a bike ride (shocker, i know), and on the way down i passed this old guy on the provo river trail.  he caught up to me and we started chatting.  he is turning 80 this year and has been cycling for 60 years.  he said he wanted to chat because he used to race and doesn't like when people pass him so he "had to know who this sharp looking young girl on this first class bike was".  before he turned off to finish his ride he said, "well, i thought i'd share with you my wisdom...you don't have to look like a potato with toothpicks sticking out of it when you're old".
then, later i went to this local farm to buy some fruit.  when i paid for it, the lady that sold it to me said, "always remember to be kind to yourself."
apparently i look like a troubled youth.

fye...cousinly/sisterly love

peace+love

earth day, everyday

i saw this movie last night. i had to keep reminding myself that the vibrant colors and flowing movement was real, not animated. every living creature on the earth has a spirit. these animal have personalities and a purpose. the movie made my heart break.

i didn't know much about the oil spill before this and now that i know a little more i wish the focus would shift. because ultimately, it doesn't matter whose fault the oil spill is. what matters is that it gets fixed so the oil stops flowing into the ocean and destroying lives.

there is one part in "oceans" that shows how much pollution is being spilled into the ocean everyday from us. you don't have to be an activist by any means, but i do encourage everyone to try a little harder. turn off the lights. throw your garbage in trash bins. ride your bike more. and pray that this thing gets fixed fast. this is our earth and it's our job to take care of it.
peace+love

somewhere O.V.E.R. the rainbow

that's right...finals are o-v-e-r, over! well, technically i have a final at three today, but it's my climbing class...which consists of climbing, setting up an anchor, and rappelling myself down. can you say fun final? oxy-moron, but not today! now that the semester is over, it's time for the

-highlights of spring semester 2010-

{in no particular order}
-getting ruby-
-finding paulie bleeker-
-discovering mumford and sons-
-spring skiing-
-c.a.l.i.f.o.r.n.i.a.-
-free dinners thursday nights at the episcopal church (what i affectionately call "episcopal dinner"). thanks rev. sue and congregation!-
-final season of LOST...sayid is going to break my heart and desmond is going to mend it-
-late night chat on the roof...what roof? the music building-
-camping out on said roof-
-living 45 minutes from zion national park-
-the pastry pub ...the only pub that doesn't actually sell alcohol-
-earning an almond rocha from my voice teacher-
-fabulous friends....seriously, fabulous-
-"so runs the world away" don't worry, i'm listening to it right now for the 5th time this week-

and during my summer of fun i'll be living in the college turned tourist town cashiering at cafe rio in the evening (where they call me "mamasita") and baking sweets at great harvest in the morning (as in before the sun comes up).

peace+love

i left my heart in salzburg

one year ago i was traipsing here

{from ali--thanks girl}

now, i'm cycling here{via}

in case you were wondering...yes, life is beautiful

peace+love

meet ruby...

top 10 reasons i can't wait for summer:

1. this weekend, i got a road bike
i feel like that's the only reason i need...i just have to keep reminding myself "only 3 more weeks, 3 more weeks..."

did you get anything fun for easter?

peace+love