Take Flight, Sit Back & Relax

Does anyone else just have a week they are completely excited about?

This week has been that week for me. Granted the only thing that sucks is that my friend left for work and won't be back for a couple months.  But  it's knowing that he's coming back that keeps me happy.

So most of my excitement has come from work this week.  There is one week in spring where the entire school does something called STEM/STEAM week.  This years theme has something to do with flying, airplanes and helicopters. 

UH-60 Black Hawk (sorry the soccer post is in the way)

UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter

I'm not sure who was more excited about this.  The kids or the adults. I'm glad I'm not the only teacher who said they were excited about this. I know I've probably seen one of the Black Hawks flying around post but it can be something you take for granted sometimes and also had never actually seen one up close.  One of the teachers was awesome and arranged with one of the parents to have a Black Hawk land at the school for the kids to see.  Well, I can be a big kid too!  She was even able to arrange for us to be able to climb up into the helicopter!

Hanging out in the pilot's seat

This whole week the kids were building paper airplanes and seeing how far these airplanes can fly.  Different designs, types of paper, anything you can think of with building a paper airplane, they're doing it and learning the history of planes/flight.  All the students were called outside early in the morning to stand on the blacktop.  The helicopter came from the direction of SAA and then circled around the school and then landed on the soccer field.    Once the helicopter had landed the sixth graders stayed outside and were able to climb in and get strapped in and even get into the pilots seat. 
I was with a SPED student that day so we stayed outside with the sixth graders, the OT and PT were also with the teacher and I,  and we were able to get him up into the helicopter and strap him in.  We even got him to stand up and lean out of it.  It's so exciting to see him do things like this.  After we went back inside he went with the OT and PT and did some work.  His teacher gave me permission to go back outside to the helicopter.  I wasn't able to get in when I went outside with the kid I was working with but going back outside and being able to talk to some of the guys and get into to the helicopter, strap myself in and hang outside of it.  I was also able climb into the pilot seat.  I actually asked if it was okay that I did.  I told them I really just wanted to take a ride in it and they said, "Well, you can start it up if you want."  You should have seen my face when they said that.  My response, "Seriously!"
Unfortunately, they couldn't let me but just the whole experience in itself was pretty cool.  

*Adding that to the bucket list

Dogwood Festival
Twice a year this town does and event called The Dogwood Festival.  Usually two big bands come out and play and this year Parmalee, the country band, was coming.  I had planned on going since I learned that they were going to be there.  It had been a busy week and it was going to be a much needed relaxing break from all the craziness of the week.  My girlfriend Krystal came with me.  She's crazy with work as well, so it's a much needed break for both of us and a fun girls night out. 

Waiting for the concert to start. 

We got there early so that we could find a place to sit, needless to say it was already packed.  But we were able to find a place to sit.  There was a band before Parmalee called Landco.  They were okay.  They played right up until 9pm which was when Parmalee was suppose to start.  And with the long annoying announcements in between Landco and Parmalee, Parmalee didn't start until about 930/945.  The definitely need to do a better job of keeping to that schedule.  They played some of their new songs and did covers of others, that they shouldn't have done covers of.  But my favorites of the night were "Roots," "Carolina" and "Already Callin You Mine."  Krystal and I headed home right at the end of the concert cause they started playing right at our bedtime anyway. haha yes I know I got to bed super early for some people my age and even some people older than me.  And I did cry a little during some of the songs and although the concert was good I wish I could have said it was awesome because unfortunately my mind was somewhere else almost the entire time.

I had planned on having a very busy weekend, but got a last minute dog sitting call so I took that.  This dog is one of my regulars and I didn't want him to be in the kennel again because of his dad working so I'm taking care of him until Tuesday.

Just some things on my mind....

So all of you have read about my trip to Colorado for my birthday.  I had invited a friend to come with me.  She moved, her husband is in the Army, a couple months back and I thought this would be a fun way to get to see each other again.  I told her about the dates well in advance, like February just so she could plan for it if she would be able to come.  I would check in with her every once in awhile just to make sure she could still come and everything was good to go.  About a week before she messaged me asking me for the address to the place we would be staying and I haven't heard from her since then.  I doesn't really bother me that she didn't show up on the trip because it's not the first time for me that someone has said they were going to come and then not show up or even bother telling me they weren't going to show up.  That's the part that gets me.  How are you going to ask me for an address to the place and then not even bother to tell me you can't make it or just don't want to come.  That's just slam damn rude and disrespectful.  I've tried to get ahold of her since then and she doesn't answer anything, text messages or messages/posts on facebook.  And she's clearly on there every day.  I guess I'm that friend she just texts when she needs a confidence boost in herself.


O and the guy from 16.4 that said he wanted to start over has officially left for work and I decided to write him a letter about everything going on in my head with me and him since we both had feelings for each other even though he was leaving soon for work.  I was nervous because I knew it could change things.  But I was just remember that meme that says if you miss someone, tell him; thinking about someone, call them; like someone tell them.  So that's what I did.  You never know what might happen unless you take that chance right? 
So he finally read my letter that I wrote him and of course he isn't going to date me because of work the next 2 years, always being gone.  Well what's going through my head again is how am I still not good enough?  Feelings are there and he knows what I'm willing to do to make things work.  I feel like an idiot for putting myself out there with him again.  I'm an amazing woman he said and it's funny because even after the 2 years is over of all his leaving for work he's going to keep doing it and I have a feeling it will be the same reason again.  And I told him I would never hold him back from what he wants to do in his work. He loves it and no one should take that away from him, and I never will.  But I'm just confused on why ask to start over if you knew you didn't want to date?  What damn sense does that make?  I'm so confused as to what he wants from me?
There's just something about him that makes him different.  And some of this is stuff that I haven't told him but he'll find out because he reads all these blogs (if/when).  And I started writing again because of him and part of me has thought about stopping for the same reason.  He knows a lot about me and my work and how much I love it.  I don't share the detailed stories of work with to anyone but him.  I've very protective of who I tell those stories to.  He's seen some of my quirks. I've let him help me get ready at night and I never let any guy do these things because I'm so OCD about some stuff  but for some reason I've let him get that close.  I can't figure out why him but I have. 
I'm sure a lot of you are going to say move on with your life.  You deserve someone who is going to make you worth the time no matter the situation and how difficult it may be.  But honestly I've lost that confidence.  And I honestly thought that the next time I would see him he would be happy, in a relationship with someone and I'd still be here, single and just training my butt off like I currently do.  And it won't surprise me one day if this is what the truth turns out to be.  But for now he's on my mind and what would happen if he would just try and give it a shot no matter what crazy situation he's having to deal with in work.

And I promise to throw some of my training in here next time too.  

My Crazy Week

My weekends when I go home to visit always seem to be crazy.  I never feel like I have time to relax even if I do go home when there is no family event going on.
But the week had already been pretty overwhelming anyway. 

Pet Sitting

Maddie & I relaxin on the couch

Right after coming back from spring break for work I started taking of a family's pets, 2 dogs and 1 cat.  Just the driving back and forth was a little exhausting even though it was only about a 20min drive.  I only needed to go over there about 2 times because I would spend the night and then come back in the afternoon and in the evening only to spend the night again.  The dogs were great but the cat on the other hand was a devil.  She chased me up onto the bed the first night I was there trying to rip me apart and hung out under the bed almost the entire night hissing at me.  And I promise you I'm not scared of cats.  She had already attacked me earlier in the day when I tried to let her get to know me.  I had talked to the owner Sunday night and told them what was going on and they said just do what I needed to do with her (throw her back in the bathroom where I had let her out of) and the owner informed me that this was normal for her.  I told her I hate to do it to her but if I had to I would.  But come Sunday morning she was nowhere to be found. I honestly prayed that she didn't pop out somewhere and attack me.  I literally was trying to check everywhere to see where she was hiding...probably a good way to get my face pounced on!  I just didn't want any surprise attacks.  The dogs hung out on the couch with me while I watched some episodes of grey's anatomy cause I never take the time to watch that show anymore.  The owners came back Friday night and I was able to take off for home for my nephew's 1st birthday party.

Before I hit the birthday party....you might remember me mentioning the guy from 16.4  that I went to DC with and how he was back in town.   He  flew into town on Monday morning/afternoon because he is leaving for work for a couple months from here.  No, I won't tell you what he does  and you will never see pictures of him out of respect for him asking me not to.  But let me be the first to say...it kills me not to be able to post at least one picture of him or at least us together (I only have one of us together haha).  I mean I like the guy and would like to share that with everyone but I have to be respectful of what he asks.  But in my free time, what I have of it, every extra second has basically been his when he doesn't get tied up with work as well.  He leaves tomorrow (Wed., and yes I know you're reading this after the fact) and it will suck but he's left before.  But at least this time I know I'll see him again and that he's coming back.  But the plan was to have him come with me if he had the weekend off from work.  He didn't so off to home I went all by my lonesome.

Jameson's 1st Birthday🎉

I didn't get into town until late Friday night which I also didn't realize when the owners said they would be get back at 9, they meant 9pm.  I could have sworn I had asked them that question and they said AM and not PM.  O well it allowed me to get some extra stuff done around my place that I wouldn't have to take care of on Sunday.  More time with the guy :)

Saturday morning, I got up and went and worked out and my coach's roommate's class where I had my last Oly meet back at the end of March.  He has some awesome roommates and it's funny to hear all kinds of stories about my coach he probably doesn't even know that I know.
After that it was time for the monster mash party for my nephew.  My nephew has the same personality as my brother, very laid back. He just enjoys being held.  They had ordered Dominos pizza for food and even though it's not within my macros I needed food!  Don't worry, I didn't have much.  My sister-in-law made his birthday cake, Confetti cake that was shaped like Mike (one eye) from Monsters Inc. but was the color of Sully (blue), and had some cupcakes as well.  
We did presents before cake and cupcakes and Jameson actually climbed up on top of one  of his presents.  He wasn't much into unwrapping them though, even though his older sister certainly was!  Jameson was moving too slow on opening presents to make Addison happy.  Jameson getting into that cake was hilarious and then trying to share it with other people.  He had it all over his face and hands. I honestly thing he would have destroyed the entire thing if his mom would have let him.   Maybe the cutest thing I've ever seen but let's face it, I'm biased because he's my nephew.  I only stayed for about 2.5hrs and then headed home and got in the bed.  
I was waiting on my mom to get home and we were planning on going to go  the White Water Center and listen to the band but she feel asleep on the couch which isn't unusual for my momma.  I was dying to get out of that house though.  So since we missed the band we went to the grocery store instead. Cause I needed eggs.   And we just came back and watched the latest love story on Hallmark channel.  I know we're party animals.

HWC Unbroken

Sunday morning I skipped church because I had volunteered to work one session at an oly meet that morning.  I enjoy going to Oly meets.  And it was a free pass to get into the Europa Games Expo, which I had never been to, fuel that burning itch to compete in another meet and get some free samples.  And of course to help out referring and get my judges book signed.  I was really impressed by one girl who could lift more than I could...no wonder I was impressed right? I got there early and was able to walk around for a bit and see all the different vendors.  What fitness girl wouldn't love all the vendors that usually give out free samples right?  And I wanted to stop by and see my friend Krystal since she was a vender there as well with her store Rogue American Apparel. We talked for a bit and off back to judge the oly meet I went.  I was the center judge, which they wondered if I was comfortable with.
Well what do you know the first time I ever judged a comp, I was thrown in as the center judge.  Which is a little nerve racking considering you're the one who makes the decision of when the athlete is allowed to drop the bar.  But it also didn't help that Europa also had a CrossFit competition going on right beside us. I get ADD sitting still, so I would watch the CrossFit comp while in between judging lifters.  Some times I would look over just in time for the next lifter to walk on the platform....bad head ref!  But we all agreed on good lift and no lift 95% of the time.  I think there was only twice I almost forgot to tell/give the down signal for the lifter.
After I finished referring I swung back by my friend's booth but she wasn't there.  So I doddled around a bit trying to see if I could score anything free from the vendors.  My only luck was with Quest which I got a couple of free cereal protein bars from them (which I already have plenty of) and some quest bars.  Saves me from having to buy some!

After the Eupora expo and finishing referring I went home and finished up a couple things and then hung out with the guy from 16.4.  Not sure if I'll come up with a name on here for him yet or not...and if I do, what will it be?

Some more exciting things coming up in the next one...or at least I'm excited about them!

~God Bless

"Training strength and endurance mentally, physically, and spiritually."

Steamboat Springs Colorado (Birthday Trip)

Let me just start by saying, if you have never been to Colorado you NEED to go.  Yes,  I went a little later in the year for the snowboarding/skiing aspect but was still able snowboard.

There was no problem with my flights on the way out except for the fact that from CLT to DEN feels like 5 hours instead of the 3-3.5 that it's suppose to take.  I might have been over it about an hour into the flight.
Note to self:  bring something to entertain yourself with!  When landing in Denver there was a nice place to eat inside called Modern Market that gives you a macro (protein, carbs, fat) count for each menu item and you are also able to get a half size, which was very nice because the macros counts on a regular were double what I needed.  I did all the calculations in my head and then got the closest thing to it, half Fiesta Salad.  And the receipt had a list of the half size macro counts on it as well (posted this picture on my instagram)

The flight from DEN to Hayden/Steamboat Spring was only 25min., so that was wonderful. It was nice that Colorado was 2 hours behind.  It made it somewhat easy to keep up with the time difference but I did forget on occasion when checking facebook at 430am on my return flight and wondering why people were posting about working out so freaking early...o yeah, NC is two hours ahead! But who am I to talk about working out early.  I get up at 330 and hit the gym by 5.
A fellow neighbor of mine moved out to Colorado 5 years ago and actually lives in the area of Steamboat so she was nice enough to pick me up from the airport.  But how was I going to get around the rest of the trip?  Steamboat's bus system is free!  So that was wonderful.  And the bus route was a straight line from the top of the mountain to the end of town.

-=CrossFit Steamboat=-

CrossFit Steamboat is the only CrossFit gym in Steamboat Springs.  I had contacted them a couple months ahead of time just to get a heads up and see what needed to be done about me dropping in.  I didn't need to do anything prior to dropping in except show up a few minutes earlier to film out forms on Wodify.  I went in for open gym both days, 930am and 4pm, as I have my own programming. 
Note to self:  67/64 degrees in CO feels like the 70s in NC, wear shorts!

The first day at CF Steamboat everyone was really friendly. (Which they were nice both days.)  It was funny, when I first got there a lady  asked me if I was a regionals athlete.  Very flattering of her but I honestly laughed in my head at that question.  I told her I was an oly lifter and some asked me if I was going on join in on their class workout.  So just got all stretched out while they did their workout. After I had just gotten started, two other guys came in during open gym to do some oly work and a small workout.  The lady who had asked me if I was a regionals athlete came over and told them I was a real oly lifter, haha.  I tried to help them out some when I was on breaks between my reps and then when they finished they asked what tips would I give to someone who was just getting started oly lifting, a true beginner.  I gave them a few tips that I learned from my USAW course, and some things I have learned from my coach just from my form.  Funny how you learn new things.

I do have to be a little understanding when it comes to dropping in at gyms and realizing that unless I'm in Europe or drop in at an oly gym all the weights are going to be in pounds and not kilos.   It's just not CrossFit's thing in the USA.  It is quite annoying to have to "calculate", thanks Siri, from kilos to pounds but if it calculated to 101lb from kilos I would just make it 105lb.  I'm not a person for going under in weight when transferring from one to another.  I definitely enjoy dropping in there.  Plenty of space, and weights to use.  It was a well equipped gym and didn't have trouble finding anything I needed or making myself at home.

Snowboarding

Back Story:
So last time I attempted anything related to snowboarding was when I was maybe at the end of elementary school/beginning middle school and my brother was in boy scouts.  I was "taught" how to ski.  And the only reason I have quotations around taught is because it didn't last very long.  I couldn't stay in the cold long when I was younger because my circulation is terrible. Ha granted it still is. I get asked all the time what is wrong with my hands because they are constantly red and turn purple when I get cold, and it doesn't take long for me to get cold (20min when I was younger in the snow). 
So we went to Winter Place, I believe, for the boy scout ski trip.  We got our skis and poles and of course we are playing around because we've never been on them.  So then we are divided into groups for a ski lesson.  I don't remember how long it was, but the first thing the instructor does is take our poles away and have us start moving in a circle.  Welp, about 10min later I'm telling him I need to go inside because my hands are freezing.  His response, "Keep moving around, they will warm up eventually."  I can't tell you how many times I've had people tell me this in my life.  And when I was younger I had no filter for my mouth like I do now that I'm older. So I think I moved around for about two more minutes before I took my skis off and went and got my mom with tears running down my face because I was so cold.

Fast Forward:
So, because it was a beautiful day in Colorado, 67 degrees, I was able to wear light layers.  I mean I wore a tank top with a light lulu jacket over top of it.  On a semi snow covered mountain.  That's not heard of in NC!  I was very lucky, my neighbor had extra gear...boots, pants, butt pads (cause it was my first time and I would be falling a lot), wrist guards, gloves, helmet, goggles, and she even had an extra lift ticket for me :) 
We only went down the mountain once.  Cause learning to snowboard is harder than it looks but it's easy to get good at.  And yes, we started up the hill...no bunny slopes for me.  She said it was easier to learn that way and I honestly believe it was.  I did fall on my ass several times though and got a little frustrated but I wasn't going to let that stop me from getting down the mountain as best as I could.  Plus who was going to come get me all the way at the top of the mountain anyway?  I learned how to lean and turn, stop, stand up, and do falling leaf. 

This is from the very top of the mountain...my
first time snowboarding!

Falling leaf was honestly my favorite. Probably because I felt like I was in control of what I was doing instead of going full speed down the mountain.  I figured you'd put most of your weight in the back, but nope, you put it in the front leg.   I went half way down part of the mountain doing that, without busting my tail.  I was proud of myself on that one.  I did face plant once and did a little tumble another time, which I figured would happen and I laughed it off.  Just glad my tumbling and face place didn't send me a long way down the mountain.  My fingers did start to get a little cold toward the end but that's cause I had to keep putting them in the snow to stand back up from all my falling down.
Getting on and off lifts is a completely different story (I'm sure it's easier with skis ha).  Stephanie, my neighbor from when I was younger, had them slow the lift down so she could try and help tell me how to get off...I ended up on my stomach face first in the snow.  And then ducked for cover cause I was still close to the lift and didn't want to get hit in the head.  Think duck and cover.  That's what I looked like.

I wanted to go again the next day but don't know the mountain that well so I was afraid to go by myself.  But it would be awesome to be able to do that one a regular basis.

🍓Strawberry Park Hot Springs🍓

So my mom has always told me about hot springs and how her and her boyfriend go all the time.  So Colorado has plenty and there was some about 20min from my resort.  And added bonus, you can get a free shuttle to take you up there, but I went with Stephanie, her boyfriend (Adam), and her boyfriend's dad (Don) after happy hour after I finished up at the gym.  I was super excited to go. Nice relaxing way to end a vacation,  and to be able to soak in some warm water.  You take a long dirt road almost to the top of the mountain.  It was a little scary cause you could feel the back end of the truck moving around going over the dirt and gravel.  Guess it was a little bit of a rough drive.  We changed clothes once we got to the top. 

In front of the snow cold river..in the hot spring.

There are several different pools at the hot springs, each different in temperature depending on what pool you were in.  The higher the pool, the hotter the water.  But the pool I got in was right by the river.  And the river was colder than normal I was told because of the snow run off.  The hot springs water feels like you are getting in a hot tub and what's nice is you can leave your stuff sitting around and not worry about anyone taking it.  Completely different from NC.  We were only at the hot springs for about 30-45min and I was only half-way in for most of the time.  My body for some odd reason doesn't do well just sitting around in hot water.  I could never just hangout in a hot tub when I lived at home (we did have a hot tub).  I think I only lasted about 15-20min in the hot tub at home.
When you looked around everyone was being entertained by the people jumping into the river because it was so cold.  And seeing some people's reactions were quite funny.  I figured it was cold if people were jumping in and then people weren't even making it to the other side.  So I'm not going to lie...I had to try it for the heck of it.  And like I mentioned earlier, me and cold don't mix very well. 
So I tried to ease my way into the snow cold water.  Not a good idea.  You're just suppose to go for it like in a cold swimming pool, just dive right it.  And funny thing is, is at an actual pool, I would.  But anyway.  So I decided I would ease my way in.  I could handle it about up to my thighs and then you just step off into the river.  And in the process there were some words coming out of my mouth, nothing terrible though.  But as soon as I stepped off and a little ways away from the steps I 100% turned my ass back around for those steps.  But the funniest part of that is when Don decided to come with me to get in.  He was on his way in as I was on my way out.  And Don did it the right way, just dove right in making me even more wet and water hitting my face.  My legs started to get splotchy red from the temperature change of the water hitting my skin when I switched back to the hot springs.  We only stayed for about 20 more minutes after that.




Steamboat → Charlotte
My first flight was at 810 in the morning and that meant leaving for the airport at 6am...but why?! I want to say I got up at 430 that way I could make sure everything I needed was packed, took any extra food I had left over to my neighbor, and we headed off to the airport.  We got there around 7 and had to wait about 20-30min after getting there for the check-in kiosks to open.  We waited for around 45min-1hr and before we took off I had to call a friend.  You remember the guy for 16.4 last year in DC?  Well he's back!  So we talked for a bit before I got on my flight and then headed out for Denver.  Don was also on my early flight but he was taking the next plane from Denver to Missouri.  Flying into Denver and seeing the snow capped mountains is really beautiful.  And when we first took off I was looking for my neighbor Stephanie's house, no luck.  We landed in Denver and I had to find a board to find where my gate to Charlotte was going to be.  I found it, of course on the opposite side the airport I was already on, and then went and got some food.  I was starving.  I couldn't decide between the Modern Market or TCBY for a fruit smoothie with some whey added to it.  I went with the smoothie.
After I got to my terminal they were asking for volunteers to be bumped from the flight, they had overbooked.  Good job United.  Yes, I was flying with United.  Now cut me some slack I had booked my tickets back in February before this whole debacle had happened with the passenger who refused to get off when asked and got his face smashed in.  I was a little worried about not getting to workout on Saturday, since my programming is Mon.-Sat. but coach said take the day to relax so it wasn't going to hurt me to have to miss my currently booked flight.  I went up to the kiosk and asked when the next flight for Charlotte was (1.5hr after my current one), and was there any compensation for volunteering to be bumped....$400 flying voucher and a food voucher.  So I volunteered.  I'll take $400 toward another plane ticket please!  Means I get to go travel more than I had already planned, so I'm perfectly okay with that.  Now if they didn't need me to get off the flight I wouldn't get any of that but lucky for me they did and they booked me on the next flight to Charlotte....American Airlines on another end of the airport.  I had to take the subway to get to the other side of the airport.  
My luggage stayed on the United flight though and I just had to go to the United baggage claim when I got to Charlotte to pick it up.  I took my food voucher and got a salad while on the plane so I could have dinner besides all the pretzels and biscotti they were handing out.  I finally landed in Charlotte around 530 and then didn't head home until Sunday.  There was no way I was going to drive back home after traveling all day!

It was an amazing trip, just wish I would have stayed longer....next time.  And I'm going to snowboard more next time too.