A New Year...A New Me

Things I believe in:

• Both good and bad things happen to good people


• You have to work hard to get/have/do what you truly want or else its not worth it


• You have to work hard to be happy and its no easy task


• You can set the tone for the year by where you are and who you are with as the clock strikes 12 on NYE

These are just ideas that have popped in and out of my head the last couple of days while I think about life, my life in particular. And the last one just happens to be a new belief of mine because of my Nye. This past Nye as the clock struck 12 and the date turned into January 1, 2010 (yes people 2010, isn't it crazy?), I was standing on the Las Vegas Strip with my one and only admiring the fireworks shooting in all different directions. I like Vegas and at the same time I think its pretty cheesy. But boy can you go wild there, but that's beside the point.

Faustino and I across from Caesar's Palace in Vegas after the countdown.

2009 was a hard year for many. For me it was emotionally tiring, so I was glad to ring in the new year and the new possibilities. And being on the Strip was exciting...the biggest firework show in recent years coupled with 300,000 people cheering and the one I love by my side. This may not be how most like to bring in their new year but it was perfect for me.

That being said, I feel the sparks of the fireworks lit up my insides. You could even say they lit a fire under my ass. And as the first few weeks of the new year have passed I feel more motivated than I have in a really long time. I am ready to dive into volunteering, running, reading, exploring and most importantly...living. This year I really just want to live. Forget this year, forget the past...I want to live in the present! I am making this change in my life. Simply put, I am going to get my life organized and I am going to be happy!

Now, you may be wondering "how did spending Nye in Vegas set the tone for your year?" Well... that would have to do with my traveling/wandering soul. I started the year off traveling and I'm going to spend the year doing just that. I want to spend the year exploring and I already have 4 trips in mind. I am even hoping to return to Salamanca in October, if only for just one week. My fingers are crossed and my money is being saved.

So here is to the new year and a new me...a more organized, happy, living life to the fullest me.

The view from the plane on our way to Vegas.

Run Ali Run

I did it. I really did it...I completed my first 10k (okay maybe 2 months ago but still). Some would think 'hey thats cool but I could do that, its easy enough.' Now, no one has said that to me but I have a feeling some feel this way. However, to me it is such a great accomplishment that I never saw coming. Who would have thought that a couch potato like me would have run a full 10k and in 60 minutes??? I wouldn't have guessed it in a million years.


Here is how it happened...


In January 2009, my very good friend sent an email to her family and friends stating that she was going to participate in the US Half Marathon Women's 10k. And she invited us all to join her in goal of completing the race on November 1. As soon as I read the email I knew I had to accompany her in her mission. Looking back on it, I feel it was almost as if I were destined to do this. It sounds a little funny and dramatic to say that, but there was no real reason for me to do this, it just sounded right. I replied to her email and informed her that I too would run the race with her.

A week or two later I started a running program that would help me be able to run a full 30 minutes within 8 weeks. Now at the time, when I first started running, it was January and my body was not happy with me. I actually got shin splints the second week of training and my knees were crying. I'm pretty sure it was because of the cold weather and all I knew was that I kept thinking "If this is how its going to be the whole time, I'm going to quit right now." Well, I did quit...for the time being. But I wasn't going to quit the race. I made a commitment to run with my friend and I was not going down that easily.


After running two weeks in January, going on vacation in February and being lazy in March, April and May, I decided to make the effort...again. In the beginning of June I resumed the training program from the beginning. Within weeks I was running 24-28 minutes out of 30. Granted they were in intervals, but that was a big step for me. After 6 weeks of running I was able to run a full 30 minutes!!! Oh my, I was amazed, astonished and ecstatic.

In August I backed out of training as hard as I had in June and July. But I was still able to run 30-40 minutes straight. In September I came to the realization that I only had two months left. I started to train harder and usually in the morning before work. Because it was starting to stay dark later, I knew it wasn't the safest idea to be running outside in the dark. So I made the decision to join a gym. It was the first time in my life that I had ever belonged to a gym in my life. I started working with a trainer and maintained my running program. On September 16th I participated in the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge which was 3.5 miles. I finished in under 35 minutes. Oh my, oh my, was I surprised. It was the hardest thing I had done to date. Once again I was unsure and skeptical the race in November and how it would go if this one was so hard. But I kept training. I kept up my running schedule and before long, before I knew it, my race was here.


Race Weekend...was a blur. Saturday was halloween and we took Faustino's niece and nephew to trick or treat. My legs got tired after 1.5 hours and I was more than ready to go home. Though the hour was going to fall back at 2am, I knew that I would need plenty of rest for my first big race. Sunday came and I woke up at 5am for the 7:30 start time. We had to leave the house by 5:45 due to the Bay Bridge closure. I made it to the start line 5 minutes prior to start time and met up with my friend.


And the race begins...


The first minute was uphill and then from there it was all about getting my timing down. I knew I wanted to complete the race in 60 minutes so I just had to maintain a good speed. Actually it was a speed that I had never maintained for that long. When the race started I forgot to look at my watch. But I approximated the start time so that way I would be able to monitor my time. About 5 minutes into the race I got a text message from my Aunt Pat wishing me good luck. I didn't open it but I could see the beginning of the text it helped set the tone for the race. For the next 55 minutes I kept a steady pace, always trying to stay close behind the woman in the pink top.


About half way through my race the half marathon runners were passing me up (they started 30 minutes before the 10k runners). Man, were they going fast... but that is beside the point. Finally I finished mile 6 and only had a few more minutes to go... but it was uphill. This was really tough and my pace slowed down. But there were people sitting in the park along the walkway that kept cheering everyone on. It was a struggle and I finally made it to the top of the hill. But they say what goes up must come down and sure enough there was a steap downhill portion right at the end.

Knowing my luck, if I sprinted down the hill and to the finish line I would either 1) fall down right on my face or 2) throw up at the end. So instead of taking my chances, I maintained a steady but increased pace. And there it was... the finish line. I finished my race just shy of 60 minutes which ended of being a 9:40 mile.

That was two months ago...so now what do I do? What else? I start training for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Seattle on June 26, 2010. My parents, my brother, my Aunt Pat and I have made a pact to run the half marathon together. I was proud of my feat but what I am even more proud of is my parents, their dedication and hard work. I know we will do great come June. :)

My Little Bootsie

On the left is the newest addition to my two person family. She is annoying and adorable. Her name is Bootsie and her birthday is June 5, 2009 (yes we made that up after a quick calculation of how old she was when we got her).

She loves to play with my hair, putting one paw on the right of my head and one paw on the left, like she is holding a bowl. She does this mostly when I'm doing some sort of exercise on the ground. Though it can be bothersome, it is cute too.

She loves sleeping with Faustino and I, on either one of us or the spot we moved from. When she is trying to get comfortable she kneads our chests and licks until she feels like she has had enough. When she is done licking and kneading she curls up into a ball, usually under our necks. Then she repeats the process, sometimes she completes the routine 5 times before completely settling in. She also loves to walk on Faustino's face when we are laying down and normally she is careful not to claw.

She hates being left alone and will cry and cry when we both leave to go somewhere (we can hear it all the way down our hallway). When we get home she races to the door to greet us, she then proceeds to walk in the hallway only to come back 5 seconds later.

She hates being left out. HATES it! If we lock her out of the room when we are having alone time she cries at the door until we let her in. If one of us is doing something in the kitchen on the counter that she can't reach she cries because she can't see what we are doing.

I think she has a dual personality. She is feisty and calm. She is crazy and mellow. And it all depends on the day and time. During the day she likes to play and claw. At night she likes to lounge and cuddle.

So, to say the least, she is so damn spoiled. But what can you do? She is our baby (she really is). In the end we love her and we are happy to have her. She is the cutest addition to our family and home.

Inspirational Reading

About a year or two ago, I met a woman who said she read around 100 books a year. I could not believe my eyes (she had at least that many under her desk) or ears. 100? That is more than 8 books a month. How did she have the time? I could understand reading a lot because I have always loved reading and getting lost in books and their characters but never felt like I had enough time to read. Last year after a series of unfortunate events, I began to read in order to get my mind off of everything. Off of my life, work and most importantly reality. I read every second of the day and I barely slept some nights. I even began to neglect one of the most important people in my life, Faustino. He had been right next to me during those trying days, that turned into weeks and then months. But I couldn't help it, I kept reading like a mad woman.



Finally after a few months and one great vacation I began to return to my old self but I didn't stop reading. I could not stop reading. Now, almost 8 months later, I still read 1-2 books, maybe 3 per month. BUT, I can now say that I'm not avoiding life and reality. And I no longer neglect that person who helped save me from months of depression.


During this past year, I have read multiple great books and a few that were so-so. Just yesterday I finished a better than decent book. Though it was not my favorite it was a book that made me think and want to do something. To take action. If anything else, it inspired me. What book you might ask... The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton. The book is about a group of 5 housewives in the 1960s who begin to become self aware and want to do something with their lives. And so, what do they do? They begin to write and create their own writers club. The book is about their bond, how they make each other better, and how even though the odds are against them they succeed. One becomes an editor, three get published and the last keeps writing and having fun. In a time when many women weren't working unless they needed to, they went above and beyond and made something for themselves.


To understand how this book inspired me, you need to understand my passion and hobbies. My passion is traveling, thanks to my grandma who provided me with the opportunity to roam. I would travel every day of my life if I could afford it. And, two of my main hobbies include cultures and photos.


For years I have loved to take photos. And for a while I had thought about buying a high quality camera. I finally had the opportunity to purchase a DSLR in January and so I did. This was the first big step into what I have decided to pursue. After my trip to Argentina, I found photo classes that were being taught at night in Hayward. It was starting to come together. I was learning about my camera and snapping some decent artsy photos. While taking my photography class I began thinking...what do I want to do with this? Where do I want to go with this skill I am learning?


And like that...a bright light popped into my head. Travel writing. One problem...I'm not a creative writer. Sometimes I don't believe I have one creative bone in my body (those talents went to the others in my family). And though it was just an idea in my head, I didn't really think I could actually do it. This is where the book comes into play.


After reading The Wednesday Sisters, I thought "hey I can do that too." I can start writing. I have something to say. I have a voice and a strong one at that (I really hope you are not one of the unfortunate few who have heard me sing...its not pretty). So there it is. Inspiration from a book that I was not even sure I wanted to buy in the first place. Now all I need to do is buy a small journal I can take with me in my purse and write. Write about anything and everything.

Just keep swimming...

How is it that one day you feel like your flying, like everything is going exactly as you planned and then the next day you feel as though your a million miles away from what and where you want to be in your life? Is it mood swings? Being too emotional? Depression? Tell me what it is...

Truth is nothing is just black or white. There are many gray zones. And no one gets to do exactly what they want the first time around. So why do I get down on myself when I haven't achieved what I thought I would right out of college?

I realize that we often forget where we want to go because the path isn't clear, but I have to believe that eventually I will be able to be where I know I belong. It just might take me a little longer than originally planned. In the end, I just have to concentrate. Concentrate on myself, concentrate on my goals. And, one day I will get there. In the meantime, like Dory, I need to "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming swimming."

Booked

Its booked. Their booked. I'm booked. And its the greatest feeling in the world. I haven't felt this excited or alive since I lived in Spain. I haven't travelled this much since that wonderful year abroad. And though its costs a pretty penny it is well worth it.

I am truly a wanderer and am not fully happy if I can't see my next trip, big or small, in the near future. Traveling or planning my next adventure is the only time I feel at peace and true to myself. Tonight, after speaking with my ladies, I have a hint of that peace that I have been seeking for what seems like years. And its all because we booked our hotel.

San Diego in August with my lovely ladies of Spain will no doubt be the highlight of my summer, followed by my first of many trips to Seattle to see my big brother, his girlfriend and my auntie. Possibly back to Seattle for Christmas and then Las Vegas for New Years. What more could I ask for of this year?