Yay I'm Back, Moved and College is Going Great

Yay, I am exited to be back. It took me a bit longer to get Internet service hooked up at my new place.

I couldn't blog from my cell phone, because the area I live in now is a little out of full service range. It was taking 2-3 minutes to pull up a web page, because of that yeah I didn't even bother going online for much of anything.

MOVING

My move went pretty good. My fabulous parents came with me to help me so I could bring more than would just fit into my own car. They are awesome by the way. They stuck around a few days and helped me get moved in and settled.

I mentioned a few weeks back I was moving into an apartment sight unseen.
Fortunately, it all worked out fabulously. The place is much larger than I expected. Its also newer and kept up quite well. The views I have in my desert surroundings are fabulous.
I live on the side of a plateau and have some stunning views out all my windows. I'm also located within minutes of some of the most beautiful places you've ever seen. In short, I am very happy about it.

I've already been enjoying playing in my new backyard as you can see in the image above and below. Since it was National Parks 100 year anniversary and it was free to get into them. I couldn't resist a bit of hiking in Zion Nation Park. No matter how many times I go there, I am always in love with the beauty of it. I even love more how close I live to it again and can visit and enjoy it anytime I want!

BACK TO SCHOOL

In my mind I thought the first week teachers would ease into it all a bit.
I was wrong, very wrong. I literally had so much homework and reading after the first couple of days, I was beyond looking forward to the weekend!

One plus is I really do like my classes. Granted two of them are pretty much nothing new to me, having been working in the Recreation industry in the past. But it might be nice to have a couple of easier classes because the other two I am taking are going to be much more involved than I had anticipated.

MY EEKK MOMENT OF THE WEEK

Leave it to me in an open conversational debate on my 2nd day of class to be the one who had the question in relation to the reading assignment and my disagreement with it. Which put all attention on me as the two professor's (it felt like) grilled me on several responses in front of the entire class, before taking the question to the rest of the class.

Thankfully I have an opinion on everything so that kind of helped. But it did feel awkward at first, but seeing as how once a week we will be doing that, I'll get used to it. (I think)
Bonus, whenever you say anything profound, LOL you get extra points and I scored a lot of extra points that day they said, LOL

Campus life is significantly different than it was when I went to school here many years ago. Besides the fact that the University campus has changed a lot. Everything is different.

I just loved being the only one who didn't know we were all supposed to be using this online portal, it's like a Facebook for school (Canvas) and all my assignments and schedules are on there. Ha ha.

One new thing I do love is this book rental stuff. I was able to get all books for all 4 classes for $127. Sweet huh! I lucked out because one class the professor's (yeah I have a triple teacher class) hate books because they are ridiculously expensive. So one less book to buy there yay me!

The rest of college life is great. I am not the oldest in my classes, well in one of them I definitely am. But I think not looking my age helps a bit as oddly there are kids that come up and talk to me like I am one of their peers and I haven't seen them do that to some of the other older individuals in the class. Which is funny, but I have decided to play the obviously I'm a bit older than you. But no one needs to know how much, LOL.

RUNNING

I made a decision, or my lack of being able to get out and do long runs has made the decision. The marathon I signed up for which is about a month away. I am not going to be ready for it.

With the move and everything happening in my life, I had to skip the last 4 weeks of building mileage longer run days. I'm only running about 20 miles a week right now and that is nowhere near the 40 I should be at to be getting my body properly conditioned.

Plus, I am struggling. I've really got to dump some of this weight I think it's holding me back from being able to run as I would like.

It kinda sucks, because it's going to kill me to pass up on the race. The Marathon is actually and ironically in the new town I just moved to. (Didn't plan that when I signed up for it back in April!)
But when you're not ready, you're not ready. I am going to continue to train and begin the building process, but without a specific goal in mind. Other than getting my body back in shape, and boy does it need it!

I do however have many beautiful trails all around me. I think I could run a different trail every day for a month and not have to do the same one if I wanted to. This city has put a lot of money into making these gorgeous trails.

It is funny though, I can't tell you how many lizards I now have to watch dart out of my way. One was so big on the trail the other day I was sure I was going to accidentally step on his head when I didn't notice him in time, but he moved quicker than he looked like he could, LOL

I fully plan on getting back into blogging regularly starting this week. But I am going to ease into it a little and start with two posts a this week instead of 3-4. Just so I can ease into things and fit it into my new schedule and not get overwhelmed.


So tell me, what is something you've done lately that has put you out of your comfort zone?



I am linking up with HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin today for their Weekly Wrap!

 

  

Bee Sting, Spider Bites, Camping and Lake time. Catching You Up On the Past Few Weeks

I know my posts have been a few and far between, and yes there will still be about two more weeks of that before I can get back to blogging like I enjoy.

Before I get buried in things to do tomorrow as I begin the huge major changes I am taking with my new life path. I wanted to share with you a few tidbits of my past few weeks.

MARATHON TRAINING

* I've let life get too busy and take over. For the first time in marathon training ever I've let life take precedence. So can I be ready in a month and a half? Unlikely, but I know myself well enough to never say never!

* Living in the 2nd to driest state in the country, summer means wildfire season. Several days this year heading out for a run it was like running through a campfire, very smoky running days, meant less run days. Which didn't help!

SOME BAD LUCK

* Up camping late at night staring up at the milky way in the sky, forgot we had to tie ropes out further to keep the tent from blowing over during the heat wind storms. and fell and bruised up my hip and top of my foot. Was pulling those poky weeds out of my PJ's while my niece and sister just laughed their heads off at me. Gave a new meaning to lost in thought star gazing!

* Got stung by my first bee while out running. My foot/ankle and shin were swollen like this for a week (the swelling was so painful). Then it took another week after that for all the swelling to go down. Yeah, no running during that time, because I couldn't even fit my running shoe on. Same foot I had cut and bruised up a few days earlier from tripping on the rope, as you can see in the not so flattering picture.

* A few days later. I was in a friends yard at night and got 10 spider bites. Yes you read that right 10 spider bites. 2 on my (other) foot, 2 on my thigh, 2 on my hip, 3 on my hand and 1 on my arm.
I wanted to rip my skin off for a week, but I managed to not to.. Still not sure how!

* We had our first family pictures in over 25 years. My sister hired her friend who told her she was a professional photographer. (We broke rule #1 right there.)
It was horrid, in short the photographer looked like she just rolled out of bed, brought her kids, didn't bring a charged battery or spare. Then we got her a really nice expensive camera loaned from a family member and she put it on auto mode. Found out the next day she forgot to save the pictures to the card. She recovered some but they were terribly blurry. She pretended to photoshop them using one of those free apps, made them look worse. There were a few other terrible things she did too, it was so unbelievable. They are all worthless.

Myself and my sisters took pictures on our cell phones of the kids that turned out 100% better than any that we paid a fake photographer to do..... Horrid experience, lesson learned.

AWARD

* My 3rd to last day of work. I apparently won employee of the month. Of course since I was leaving they didn't tell me about the early morning meeting so I wasn't there to hear about it.
But I caught on a while later when people kept coming up to congratulate me. It was very nice of them to give this to me, even though I was leaving them in a few days. Even nicer will be the bonus I was told will be in my final paycheck.

* Speaking of leaving my job. I can't tell you how fabulous they were about it. Everyone treated me so amazing. They were all so supportive of the new adventure I am taking.

* I still haven't quit the library, note to self I need to do that tomorrow!

FUN TIMES

* Boating with the family at Flaming Gorge. It's such a beautiful place as you can see below.

* In addition to the beautiful scenery at Flaming Gorge, we were blessed one night with this sunset. No filter was added, this is really how it looked. Of course the brilliant colors were due to a huge wildfire and a lot of smoke in the air. Funny how bad things like wildfires can make for such beautiful sunsets.

* Lot's of SUP and Kayaking this summer. Sun and fun! I love my paddleboard, but now I need my own kayak I forgot how much I love it too!

*I've seen a lot of beautiful wildlife this summer while in the outdoors.

* Had a bear pass by my tent the other night, literally just a few feet away. No I don't have a picture, it was the middle of the night. Didn't wake the kids to show them because I was afraid they might not go to sleep after.

* Hiking with friends and family, I can't get enough hiking. The higher elevations right now are just blooming in a decent array of wildflowers despite this very dry summer.

* Camping with my nieces and nephews this summer, great times at night around 10,000 feet in elevation. We got to have clear views of the meteor shower, which was amazing. While we bundled up and sat around a campfire trying to keep warm.

* Of course days in higher elevations are awesome, just two days ago the high was only 60. It was perfect to escape the valley's heat and relax in some cool.

* Fun times on our family campout this year, even if I could only be there part of the week!

- I am an Olympics junkie right now. Can't get enough! I just love them so inspiring!  It didn't help my addiction last week having to sit in front of the TV at work all week watching it. Actually it made my last week of work go by fast an awesome! I may go through withdrawals when they are over!

PROCRASTINATION AT ITS BEST

* I move in 3 days, and I haven't started packing or preparing at all. I've been too busy and haven't gotten around to it. Instead I went camping and just returned.

* If your wondering why I am moving, and what I am doing you can check out MY NEW LIFE ADVENTURE HERE and read about it.

* I only just found out my new apartment will be ready for me. I haven't bought a single thing for it as I am leaving almost all my furniture and stuff here in Salt Lake, since I will only be gone 2 years I am hoping I can just buy things there.

* I am going to miss my family and all my amazing nieces and nephews so much! I have an awesome family, my sisters and I are best friends. If this new adventure wasn't going to be so worth it in the end, I don't think I would be able to leave them.
They have promised to visit often, they better!

Yup, so that is a bit of my last three weeks and the pictures that go with them. It's been fun, but crazy busy too. Best news is, the bee sting and spider bits have almost all but stop itching, that's a miracle in itself I thought it would never end, LOL

I've really got to get things going. So first thing this morning I am going to go for a run. (Haven't had a morning run in way too long), then a little target shooting and after that I MUST get going on the packing bit. Because come evening I promised a few other nephews and nice I would go sleepover at their house.

Yup, if I don't get my act together I will probably be down there with literally not much more than the clothes on my back, LOL LOL Good thing I work well under pressure!


I am linking up with HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin today for their Weekly Wrap!

 

  

Bee Sting, Spider Bites, Camping and Lake time. Catching You Up On the Past Few Weeks

I know my posts have been a few and far between, and yes there will still be about two more weeks of that before I can get back to blogging like I enjoy.

Before I get buried in things to do tomorrow as I begin the huge major changes I am taking with my new life path. I wanted to share with you a few tidbits of my past few weeks.

MARATHON TRAINING

* I've let life get too busy and take over. For the first time in marathon training ever I've let life take precedence. So can I be ready in a month and a half? Unlikely, but I know myself well enough to never say never!

* Living in the 2nd to driest state in the country, summer means wildfire season. Several days this year heading out for a run it was like running through a campfire, very smoky running days, meant less run days. Which didn't help!

SOME BAD LUCK

* Up camping late at night staring up at the milky way in the sky, forgot we had to tie ropes out further to keep the tent from blowing over during the heat wind storms. and fell and bruised up my hip and top of my foot. Was pulling those poky weeds out of my PJ's while my niece and sister just laughed their heads off at me. Gave a new meaning to lost in thought star gazing!

* Got stung by my first bee while out running. My foot/ankle and shin were swollen like this for a week (the swelling was so painful). Then it took another week after that for all the swelling to go down. Yeah, no running during that time, because I couldn't even fit my running shoe on. Same foot I had cut and bruised up a few days earlier from tripping on the rope, as you can see in the not so flattering picture.

* A few days later. I was in a friends yard at night and got 10 spider bites. Yes you read that right 10 spider bites. 2 on my (other) foot, 2 on my thigh, 2 on my hip, 3 on my hand and 1 on my arm.
I wanted to rip my skin off for a week, but I managed to not to.. Still not sure how!

* We had our first family pictures in over 25 years. My sister hired her friend who told her she was a professional photographer. (We broke rule #1 right there.)
It was horrid, in short the photographer looked like she just rolled out of bed, brought her kids, didn't bring a charged battery or spare. Then we got her a really nice expensive camera loaned from a family member and she put it on auto mode. Found out the next day she forgot to save the pictures to the card. She recovered some but they were terribly blurry. She pretended to photoshop them using one of those free apps, made them look worse. There were a few other terrible things she did too, it was so unbelievable. They are all worthless.

Myself and my sisters took pictures on our cell phones of the kids that turned out 100% better than any that we paid a fake photographer to do..... Horrid experience, lesson learned.

AWARD

* My 3rd to last day of work. I apparently won employee of the month. Of course since I was leaving they didn't tell me about the early morning meeting so I wasn't there to hear about it.
But I caught on a while later when people kept coming up to congratulate me. It was very nice of them to give this to me, even though I was leaving them in a few days. Even nicer will be the bonus I was told will be in my final paycheck.

* Speaking of leaving my job. I can't tell you how fabulous they were about it. Everyone treated me so amazing. They were all so supportive of the new adventure I am taking.

* I still haven't quit the library, note to self I need to do that tomorrow!

FUN TIMES

* Boating with the family at Flaming Gorge. It's such a beautiful place as you can see below.

* In addition to the beautiful scenery at Flaming Gorge, we were blessed one night with this sunset. No filter was added, this is really how it looked. Of course the brilliant colors were due to a huge wildfire and a lot of smoke in the air. Funny how bad things like wildfires can make for such beautiful sunsets.

* Lot's of SUP and Kayaking this summer. Sun and fun! I love my paddleboard, but now I need my own kayak I forgot how much I love it too!

*I've seen a lot of beautiful wildlife this summer while in the outdoors.

* Had a bear pass by my tent the other night, literally just a few feet away. No I don't have a picture, it was the middle of the night. Didn't wake the kids to show them because I was afraid they might not go to sleep after.

* Hiking with friends and family, I can't get enough hiking. The higher elevations right now are just blooming in a decent array of wildflowers despite this very dry summer.

* Camping with my nieces and nephews this summer, great times at night around 10,000 feet in elevation. We got to have clear views of the meteor shower, which was amazing. While we bundled up and sat around a campfire trying to keep warm.

* Of course days in higher elevations are awesome, just two days ago the high was only 60. It was perfect to escape the valley's heat and relax in some cool.

* Fun times on our family campout this year, even if I could only be there part of the week!

PROCRASTINATION AT ITS BEST

* I move in 3 days, and I haven't started packing or preparing at all. I've been too busy and haven't gotten around to it. Instead I went camping and just returned.

* If your wondering why I am moving, and what I am doing you can check out MY NEW LIFE ADVENTURE HERE and read about it.

* I only just found out my new apartment will be ready for me. I haven't bought a single thing for it as I am leaving almost all my furniture and stuff here in Salt Lake, since I will only be gone 2 years I am hoping I can just buy things there.

* I am going to miss my family and all my amazing nieces and nephews so much! I have an awesome family, my sisters and I are best friends. If this new adventure wasn't going to be so worth it in the end, I don't think I would be able to leave them.
They have promised to visit often, they better!

Yup, so that is a bit of my last three weeks and the pictures that go with them. It's been fun, but crazy busy too. Best news is, the bee sting and spider bits have almost all but stop itching, that's a miracle in itself I thought it would never end, LOL

I've really got to get things going. So first thing this morning I am going to go for a run. (Haven't had a morning run in way too long), then a little target shooting and after that I MUST get going on the packing bit. Because come evening I promised a few other nephews and nice I would go sleepover at their house.

Yup, if I don't get my act together I will probably be down there with literally not much more than the clothes on my back, LOL LOL Good thing I work well under pressure!


I am linking up with HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin today for their Weekly Wrap!

 

  

Excited to Announce Some Major Changes and a New Path I am Taking

I am excited to announce to all of you some major changes I am about to make in my life. 

So major, my life will be almost completely different in a few weeks than it is now.

Earlier this year I knew I was going to be cutting back on weddings and events and needed to find another full time job to supplement my income.  Going back into the workforce looking for a new career to be honest was not something I was enjoying because I have worked for myself for so many years. Even before that, I had jobs with nice positions that allowed great flexibility.

As I searched it seemed that every job I would enjoy, or do great in were jobs that required education beyond my current Associate of Science Degree.

After one particular discouraging day I was talking to a friend and she suggested I go back to school. While this has always been something I have wanted to do, I haven't pursued it because of the high costs associated with it. Although to be honest I've attempted it or wanted to attempt it many times over the past 10 years.

She mentioned that she had spend a lot of time applying for different grants and walked away with a nice sum towards her education. She suggested I may have a very good chance at grants because of being a (little) older, a woman and a small business owner.

While I thought this would be awesome to do, I was pretty sure even if I did qualify for some I couldn't afford to go locally as full time tuition runs high.

After that same conversation I was talking with my mom and she asked if I had checked the costs at the University I had graduated at back in 2005. At first I didn't want to, because that would mean moving. But on a whim I did. The costs were much lower and because it only cost $10 to register and I wasn't sure if anything would come of it, I decided $10 wasn't much to loose so I registered and added their name to all the grant applications.

Now I won't bore you with the details between February and now.

But life has a funny way of working out, when something is meant to be it is just meant to be. Recently everything fell into place, and well to leave it short and to the point without getting too specific, I will be moving to Southern Utah in a few weeks. (Yes I know I just gave a pre-quel to my after the fact blogging - decided to make an exception at this time.) ha ha.

Those grants I mentioned, well without getting to detailed lets just say I qualified for enough to pay for ALL my tuition, books and a little rent for an entire year. If I keep my grades up they will continue into my second year as well.  YAY

After a lot of searching I found an apartment, that I am actually moving into sight unseen (Scary but I think it will be okay). Not even sure if it will be ready by the time I need it. I may have to hole up in a hotel for a few days. Although, they are trying hard to get it all painted, new carpeted and ready for me if they can.

It's in a nice area, it's a little more money than I wanted to spend. But sometimes safety and clean and nice are worth the extra $$$.

I've got my major declared (Will be doing a double major - Digital Design and Recreation Management in the Integrated Bachelors Program), a full class schedule. All I need now is a part time job, but I will work on that when I get down there.

Blogging actually helped me get to skip one of the pre-requisites classes. I'm not even kidding. 

I was asked to submit some of my published work in Newspapers and some research report type writings. I dug through past blog posts, found a few that would fit. Cleaned those babies up, polished them with some extra care that sadly sometimes I don't have time to check for as I blog and write and then sent them off.

The department head liked them and allowed me to skip based on writing skill and previous life experience and this is allowing me to immediately start right into the Bachelors programs and the classes that count towards it.

I may be a little older, but sometimes age is irrelevant and in this case it is. Bettering yourself and your potential for your future is never a bad thing. Yes I will be quitting all of my jobs, and I will be leaving my Wedding/Event company behind for a few years. Scary yes, but it's scary in a good way!

Truthfully I am really going to miss my family. My sisters and I are all like best friends, we hand out and have a lot of fun often through the week. Of course you know I am the "self proclaimed" worlds greatest aunt. So leaving all my sweet nieces and nephews is very tough for me. Plus I have awesome parent, as awesome as they come. But I have made them all promise to come and visit me often. 

Thankfully I am moving to a vacation town that my entire family enjoys visiting often in the spring, fall and winter months to warm up from the cold temps and snow up north. I am offering them a free place to stay when they visit, with swimming pool and hot tubs so they better come!

I've made many of my friends promise to come so we can go hiking in the surrounding National Parks. On the plus side, I have a few friends living there that I am looking forward to seeing. I'm a people person, so I know I will make new friends quick.

In the end I know this will all be worth it and I am looking forward to this new adventure and what the future may bring.

This news is why you may not see me much in the blogging world over the next few weeks, as I get things prepared and ready to make my big move. But no, I will not stop blogging, I actually plan to take it up more and steady again once I get moved and settled in school. You can laugh at this, but since I will be a poor college student for a few years. I am going to see if I can't use my blogging and social media income to pay for all my food through college.  I think it will work out, we shall see!

I plan on sharing my journey with you. My blog interests won't change much, as I am still who I am. I am a running working on getting back into running marathons again. I am a hiker and adventure seeker and where I am moving there is plenty to see and do to keep me occupied between classes and studies.

But one new thing will be my journey going back to school, and the experiences I have. I've been tempted in turning my blog into more of a day in the life of this blogger. But we will see, I want to get settled first before I begin making any major blog schedule/post changes.

Okay, so if you actually read through my little mini novel above. Thank you, if you didn't no worries I totally understand! I only just recently broke the news to my extended family and friends and my employer. Once that was done, I knew I wanted you all to be next in line.

Thank you for all your loyal readership, I really do enjoy each and every one of you. I am excited about what is to come, and look forward to sharing my new and hopefully very healthy college lifestyle with you all!