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.

Look out, she's on the move!

One of my favorite pictures of Grandma and I!
(At the summit of Jungfrau in Switzerland). 

Grandma has an return ticket to UT booked! Yay! She'll be in San Diego until the 19th, so just 11 more days at the residential care facility! She has made so much progress this week; her need for pain meds is getting less and less, which means she'll start feeling better and better! I knew she was doing well, but I had no idea just how well until last night when she said, "Excuse me, I'll be right back." Before I even had a chance to even ask if she wanted me to get the nurse to help her get up, she was off the bed and walking to the bathroom alone. Take THAT, hip fracture! She is now able to get in and out of bed on her own and go to the bathroom without assistance. The care facility is wonderfully equipped with "help buttons and pull cords" just in case she needs help. I can not get over how fluid she is moving and maneuvering with the walker. I guess she's named Ann Walker for a good reason :) (did I ever tell you I make lame jokes? haha) She'll be using a cane in no time. I think she'd be ready to leave as soon as next week, but the extra time will give her the confidence that she's lacking right now. I don't blame her one bit-- what a scary fall!

After being completely amazed by her progress, last night consisted of our usual: Food Network and talking. As always, it ended up being more talking and laughing than anything else. She has the greatest stories and has so much wisdom from her 83 years. She's probably one of the most talented artists I've ever met. She still attends art classes, sells her artwork, volunteers at homeless shelters, has weekly lunches with friends, and is very active in her church. She has many goals and fun adventures waiting in Salt Lake, so I know she will do very well!

It was so hard saying goodbye last night! You have no idea how much I wish I could stay to help and be her cheerleader, but I guess finals are calling me... And I know my dad will do a great job keeping her company!

To give her something to look forward to each day and as a countdown to going home, I made little daily care packages with cards for her to open every day until she goes home! Hopefully it will help her next 11 days fly by :)

Simple, but great way to brighten someone's day!

Now... back to school, back to school... Let's do this!

Haha, so true.  Story of my life right now.

To Stanford, I go!