Last Days in Utah

After a fun-filled day on Monday with Janae, it was Mission Sister Time.  I love my sister so much it's crazy.  We watched the Great Gatsby while eating Pho (I could seriously eat Pho every day of my life) which was a perfect way to end a Monday.  The Great Gatsby was a great movie - I definitely recommend it!

On Tuesday, I got to see my Grandma who is probably one of the toughest people I know!  I don't know if you remember, but last year while she was visiting me in San Diego she fell and broke her hip and had to stay in San Diego for a month to recover from surgery!  She recovered so well that she decided to have her knee replaced 5 weeks ago!  She is already walking without any assistance and doesn't even have a limp. Did I mention she is 83 years old?  I hope I inherited her genetics!

She is a phenomenal painter and I got the tour of her gallery.  She still spends hours in her studio painting gorgeous works of art.  Here is a painting she made for me based on a picture I took in Tanzania, Africa. Stunning.

The most entertaining part of our day together was looking at pictures of my sister and I as children.  Man we were cute.

After my sister got off work, she took me on a run up City Creek Canyon.  The fall colors were out in full effect and the temperature was perfect.  I wish I could bottle up the smell of fall and open it in January when it's freezing and dark outside.  There is something so soothing and nostalgic about it!  Although the run was straight uphill (and starting at 5,000 ft altitude...) I didn't seem to notice.  Catching up and laughing with my sister was far too fun.  Sis, please move back to Alaska???

The day ended with a delicious dinner with my Aunt and Uncle followed by a visit to my cousin's house where I FINALLY got to meet the cutest twins in the world.

They all gave me my FIRST baby gifts and it made me want to swaddle and dress the little one already.  How is baby stuff so cute?  So excited.

Now, I'm off to Alaska.  As much as I want to stay and spend time with family, I am so excited to see my two boys back home!  Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!

Learning to speak "Bahston"

Today Jake was introduced to my Bostonian family.  He was also introduced to the wonderful world of the Boston accent.

"Weh goin' in the cah with yeh Ahnt to the marathon expo to pick up yeh bib, then latah we'll get  some suppa!" (We're going in the car with your Aunt to the marathon expo to pick up your bib, then later we'll get some supper!)

I love it.

We had a leisurely morning with a free hotel breakfast... which in my mind is the way to make back the money you spend on a hotel room.  Get 2nds and 3rds, and if you're Jake and I, make sure to get plenty of snacks for later. :)

My awesome Uncle came to pick us up at the hotel and we drove to his neck of the woods to meet my parents who flew out from Utah! It was so good to see them since it's been a few months!! After catching up we went out to the garage to get the tour of my uncle's pride and joy, his hot rod ('36 Chevy)...

My family is Italian, so every moment of every day revolves around food.  Just when you start eating the first bite of lunch, the aunts and moms are already discussing when the next meal is going to be.

You know they're family when this tray is sitting on the table...

My favorite part of the day is probably going to be pretty obvious... but I'll give you a clue.  It involves 20,000 other runners and a lot of free goo and gatorade....

Yep.  The Expo!!  I got my bib, my runner's passport, my t-shirt, and a few samples of sugar-loaded gooey treats to tide me over until the next meal.  Jake and I were on a bit of a time crunch so we only had an hour or so to explore.  Don't worry, we'll be back tomorrow for more.  I think it's a cardinal rule of marathoning that you must get as many free samples as possible and drool over all of the running toys you definitely (and definitely don't) need.

Tonight we went to dinner with relatives I hadn't seen since I was a little kid.  It was a great day and I am loving this "life beyond PA school" thing.

I don't know how I ever survived the past 2 years without this guy.
Love him!

Family Love and My Sunday Long(ish) Run!

I just wanted to share that I love my family.  They make my world go round.

And I guess they love me too! (In spite of the past two years of grad-school-induced grumpiness and emotional breakdowns!). I got another package from my mom and dad yesterday that definitely made my day.  I think care packages are the greatest thing in the world.  If you know someone who needs their day brightened, send them a care package.  It is definitely a nice surprise!  (And I highly recommend including chocolate and goldfish.  YUM.)

The card says... "You've got brains, courage, and heart..."

"All you need is a pair of red soes and a feisty little dog!
You can do it!" 

The best part is the package included red shoes and a little stuffed doggie!  Just click my red shoes together three times and I'll be done with board exams, right?! 

I am SO SO blessed to have these two to call my parents!

At Machu Picchu!

Best parents ever.  End. Of. Story

After an exciting day of studying yesterday, I came home and relaxed.  And by relax, I mean reviewed the histological differences between Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis, memorized the drugs associated with agranulocytosis, and read up on the x-ray findings of the 293, 049 different kinds of pneumonia that exist.  Jealous?  Yep, studying rocks.

So I'm sure you were dying to find out about how my run went this morning!! I did 10 miles and on a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 6 or 7.  Yeah... it wasn't the greatest, but I went past my "pain zone" that usually starts around mile 7-8, so that's an accomplishment.  The annoying gluteal pain did kick in around mile 7, but it didn't stay and just came and went until I finished the run.  So what does that tell me about running 26.2 miles in Boston next weekend?  I'm just not sure.  I'm thinking I'll rest/taper this week and decide the day before.  Nothing like a little last minute planning!

Beautiful run this morning...

To all of my running friends that may be fighting an injury or hoping to prevent one, I posted a Injury Prevention/Treatment section on the blog <here>.

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and to all my Alaskan friends... I'm so sorry you're getting dumped on with snow!  (I still don't know how I'm ever going to survive Alaska after living in Cali...)

Springtime in Alaska...
Courtesy of adn.com

Care Package, TJ's, and BEST news ever.

I have the best big sister in the world.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  Yesterday when I got home from studying, I walked in my room to see a package sitting on my bed.  Inside were all of my favorite things: chocolate, Starbucks gift card, snacks, crystal light, and running socks.  She wanted to give me something to help get me through board exam studying, and I can't imagine a better surprise!

Those Mini Eggs aren't going to last long...

It's been almost 6 months since I've seen my sis, so I am looking forward to seeing her in one month at my Graduation!  She is a rockstar Physical Therapist in Utah and probably one of the smartest most selfless people I know.  Love her!

Since I only have one more month left in California, I decided it was necessary to do my favorite Californian things as much as possible.  It is a toss-up between numbers 1 and 2.  Maybe you can help me decide:

1.) Run every day in the beautiful weather
2.) Go to Trader Joe's every single day

I'm thinking #2 is probably going to take the lead.  I have literally gone to to TJ's almost every day in the last two weeks.

I like this aisle the best.  A whole section devoted to ice cream, desserts, and chocolate. 

Between their sweets, amazing salads and the yummy free samples, it's impossible to resist.

Salad Heaven. 

I don't know what I'm going to do without TJ's in my life when I go back to Alaska.  One of my suitcases will be just have to be devoted to Trader Joe's snacks.  Hopefully Alaska gets the memo soon and we'll have one there too.

Today is the SF Giants season opener home game.  Being from Alaska, I didn't grow up being a big sports fan (we don't have pro sports teams), so it was a big adjustment when I moved here!  I had no idea of just how vital sports were until I witnessed the fans of Stanford and SF 49'ers football, and Giants Baseball.  It is not a part of life for San Franciscans, it is a way of life.  The family I stay with have had Giant's season tickets for years, so they are off enjoying a day of celebration and fun!  Orange and Black are everywhere today...  GO GIANTS!

Lastly, in case this post wasn't random enough...

Need I say more?

You have no idea how excited I am.  Counting down the days until Thanksgiving 2014.

#24 - Thankful for a Mother's Wisdom

November 24th - I am grateful for heart-to-heart talks with my mom.

How is it that a mother knows just what to say when you need to hear it?  It amazes me.  After a long, emotionally trying day, it was just what I needed!  It seems that in time of stress and high emotions that a persons' true colors shine through. Sometimes the colors you don't like to show, but all it takes is a mother's reassurance and everything seems to turn out okay.  I feel so lucky to have her :)

Yesterday my Grandma had surgery to repair her hip fracture.  She had a partial hip replacement which should heal quickly and has a much better prognosis than if they were to have pinned the fracture.  Her surgeon, Dr. Tonks, was top-rated and very friendly! She couldn't have been in better hands.

Teaching Moment: Femoral neck fracture (the weakest part of the joint) fixed with a new hip! 

It is so humbling to be the one on the other side of the operating room.  As much as I love being in the OR, it is nerve-wracking to watch the clock tick by as your loved one undergoes a major surgery.  Grandma did very well and there were no complications with the repair.  She was extremely groggy last night, but I was so grateful to be there to support her.  After a day in the hospital, my night was filled with airport runs to bring my sister and later my Grandpa (my mom's dad- not married to my Grandma!).  It was SO hard to see them go!  :(  There is no greater support than the ones you love.

My Grandma had a rough night last night as you can imagine.  She has got to be the strongest person I know.  If falling off a step onto pavement wasn't enough, she had a new metal hip put in!  I don't think anyone can anticipate the amount of pain that causes, so she was very distraught over how painful it has been.  I wish there was a magic fix for pain.  It is just so unfair to see her in such pain!  She made great strides this morning with her PT when she stood up and took a few side steps.  She's definitely on the right road to recovery, I just wish it were an easier, less bumpy and twisted road.

Thank you all for your support and prayers.  I am overwhelmed with the love I feel from all of you!

#18 - My Thanksgiving Visitors!

November 18 - I am grateful for my parents, sister, Grandma, and Grandpa who traveled to be with me for Thanksgiving!

My parents live in St. George, UT during the winter, so they decided to make the 9 hour drive to San Diego to celebrate Thanksgiving!  My Grandma lives in Salt Lake City, so she was able to tag along for the road trip.  Then my Grandpa, who lives in Florida, decided that it had been WAY too long since we'd seen each other (almost TWO years! Eek!), so he flew in yesterday.  Then... to make the whole Thanksgiving extravaganza even more exciting, my big sis will be flying in on Wednesday!!  Was that way confusing, or was it just me?! In summary, my family ROCKS and I am so grateful that they wanted to come all this way to see me!  If that doesn't make you feel important, I don't know what does :)  They rented a VRBO within a mile of me, so I will get lots of much-needed family time!

Grandpa!

Best Family Ever. 

All of us together at Amber's PT school Graduation 2.5 years ago! 

We all went to church yesterday morning, and I heard the best sermon in the history of sermons.  No exaggeration.  It's amazing how God knows just what you need to hear. I just wanted to share this amazing poem that the Deacon used for the theme of the sermon:

Live the life that matters. Starting NOW.

It is hard to focus on the big picture when life is filled with little tiny moments of temporary stress.  What will matter in the end?  Acts of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice.  

I am so grateful to have my family here (even if I have to work, study, prepare a presentation, write papers, and take a test, haha).  Seeing their faces each night will make it much easier!  

I hope you all get to do something fun for Thanksgiving!!! 

A week of Thanks...

This week was CA-RAZY busy.  And stressful.  And I couldn't run. All of these things add up to Brittany the nut-case.  But, enough complaining!  There was PLENTY to be grateful for!

November 12: I am grateful for all of the selfless veterans that have served our country, especially my Grandpa Walker and his heroism.

My Grandpa died when I was in 7th grade and it was the hardest thing I had gone through in my 12 years.  He was always my bestest bud. We talked for hours on the phone, snuggled during thunderstorms in Utah, he listened to my wild child stories, snuck out to the garage when my Grandma wasn't looking to raid his candy stash (he had diabetes), and most of all, he just loved others more than I knew possible.  He was soft spoken, had a giant heart of pure gold, and gave the greatest soul-warming hugs.  All the things that are important in life. 

Family fun.

He fought in WWII and was sent to Hiroshima to clean up post-bombing.  Unfortunately, he was exposed to so much radiation in the process, he, years later, developed Leukemia (AML).  He fought the great fight and will always be my hero.  

Alaskan Glaciers with Grandpa.  

Don't be jealous of my sweet fanny pack.  You can be jealous of my awesome Grandpa though, he rocked. 

Grandpa, not a day goes by that I don't miss you!  Love you to the moon. Thank you for being my hero!

November 13: I am grateful for the supportive people in my life. That includes you.

I know you know those days.  The ones like this:

Those days that you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, you look in the mirror and say... "Wow! I'm a grump, but for some reason I can't snap out of it!"  Then you look at your To-Do list and contemplate going back to bed and not leaving it for approximately 5.5 months.  Tears are shed, dramatic exaggerations are made, and ultimately, you know every minute of your ridiculous negative mood is unnecessary, but it still sticks to you like a leech.  

Yep, that was my Tuesday.  As I'm nearing the end of the quarter, the assignments are stacking up for both PA school and my Master's program.  Plus the usual studying for finals, and the added pressure of my board exams nearing in just 5 short months.  The main factor missing in this equation is my motivation.  For some reason, I am struggling to have quality study sessions.  It's the "in-one-eye-out-the-other" syndrome.  Call it burn-out, call it straight lazy... I don't know why I've hit a cement wall, but that's where I am!  Luckily, Jake is the most supportive husband in the world and helps reason with me when I have weak moments. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have cheerleaders in the longest PA "game" in the history of time. (Perfect example of my dramatic over-exaggerations. ha)

Noted. 

I am swimming along like Dori from Finding Nemo, and I know the stressful times make the good times THAT much better.

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim. 

November 14: I am grateful for my love of cooking.  And these delicious morsels of Pumpkin goodness that I whipped up.

Pumpkin-mousse-filled cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.  All from scratch! 

November 15: I am grateful for the hostess with the mostess, Carrie.  And her PHENOMENAL Pre-Thanksgiving dinner.  

My Thanksgiving table will never look like this. I didn't even know such creativity existed outside of the Food Network channel! 

How does it get better than this?!

Dessert Heaven

November 16: I am grateful for Fridays.  Even if I have to work on Saturday.

Seriously.

What is it about Fridays?! They are phenomenal.

November 17: I am grateful for my new road running replacement: deep-water running.  

Okay, I have a secret.  I'm still not back to running.  My half marathon last weekend felt fabulous, it's true.  But 4 hours later, I did not feel fabulous.  My PT ordered me to stay off it for two whole weeks to allow it to heal completely.  I was at 95% healed before the race... then I thought it was wise to run a half. Now I'm probably back down to 70% again.  Oh well.  Lesson learned. 

To save me (and those around me) from my lack-of-running-induced psychosis, he also introduced me to my new found running replacement.  You know those awesome people that you see in the pool that look like this??

Insert Brittany Here. (You'd better believe I bought a sweet flotation belt.)

Well, it turns out that this really funny looking sport actually is the closest replacement to running you can find.  Many injured world-class elite runners do this while recovering and they actually come back stronger and faster than when they were training on roads.  And let me tell you... it is NOT easy.  Boring...?  Well.. maybe.  But by incorporating intervals and imagining you are running on a track, you can almost feel the ground under your feet.  Okay, that's a complete exaggeration- unless you regularly run in a sumo suit against a brick wall and can't escape from a giant raincloud splashing water in your eyes, it is nothing like running outside.  But it does mimic the running movement and it is a killer workout.  So, be ready.  I will be back in action - and hopefully stronger - in about 2 weeks!

For more information, this is a GREAT website: HERE

Overall, it was a week of learning more about myself than anything which is something to be VERY grateful for!  Thinking of all of the amazing people in my life... I miss all of you!