Friday, February 13th, Day 1, arrival

Francois and I are taking off for our honeymoon. As most of you know, Francois and I recently received tickets to the Saturday Night Live Show!! Apparently , they are hard to get. The only month that you can request them is in August. So you can imagine our excitement. 

However, there was a minor problem. The race that I had been training for was the same day as the tickets to SNL. I quickly decided that SNL was a much more exciting and worthwhile event than my stupid long race. So we set up plans, booked a hotel, flight, and prepared for our stay.

As time was nearing this spectacular weekend, we also decided to book our Will Ferrell tickets on Broadway. Will Ferrell is performing in a Broadway show for only 8 weeks entitled " You're Welcome America, A Final Night with George W Bush". 

Friday morning, we  left around 8:00am and arrived at our hotel around 11:00 am in NYC. We stayed at the Hilton New York on 6th ave and 53rd street. We were an avenue over from 5th ave, the shopping district, and an avenue over from Broadway, and about 3 blocks down from Central Park. The location was 4 blocks away from Will Ferrell's play and 3 blocks away from SNL. Not to mention, we were only 2 blocks away from the famous Magnolia bakery!! 

Here are some views of our hotel. 

Oh, and as we learned on our TV / Movie tour, our hotel was featured in the movie Spider man and Enchanted. 

Here is a view from our window... awesome, I know!! We had about 5 of these windows in our room... Super sweet view. 

So, Francois and I walked around for a little  to get acclimated to the surroundings. we had lunch, shopped a little, and decided to go back to the hotel to make more of a game plan. Well, little did I know, Francois had planned a couples massage at the Hilton Health club and Spa. It was amazing and Deep Tissue, just what I needed!!

After this relaxing treat, we hit the town and grabbed some food and back to the hotel we went for a movie. We had to make a point to relax a little.  What a fantastic first day 

Predicament !!

Predicament: a difficult, perplexing, or trying situation

As of this Wednesday, Francois and have to make a choice. On Wednesday we received notice that we have tickets for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!!! on February 14th ( where Jonas Brothers are rumored to be the musical guest)..

So you may be saying.. what is the problem... well this is the same day as my race that i have been training for since October!!  

I think we have decided .. SNL!!! New York City ... on Valentine's day!! 

WHEWWWWW HOOOO

Anyone have thoughts on the choice??? Open to advice??

Weekend in Asheville

Wow, Work has been BUSY, for the last two weeks i have worked 4-5 , 12 hour shifts a week! Sorry for the neglect in Posting!!

This past weekend i traveled to Asheville to see my friend Ehrin. Francois has been traveling a lot this month, he currently is in Orange County, CA and the week before he was San Diego, needless to say we both have been B-U-S-Y!  

Here are some pics from the weekend in Asheville. Ehrin and I went Climbing  with some other folks and then we went for a 3 hour run around the Arboretum, NC..  and i was able to see my 1st snow of the season. Not much snow falls in Charleston SC, however... I did see flurries a couple of days ago!!! CRAZY

Ehrin's dog "Zona" went along for the run...  i miss the mountains!!

Here I am after my 3 1/2 hour run through the woods.. The hills kicked my butt... All i have is  a bridge to train on!! WHEW

Here is a picture of Ehrin climbing.. She has been climbing a lot lately and is amazingly strong!! 

Here is a picture of another climber named Howie. He is one of Ehrin's friends... very strong climber.. 

Here I am climbing... it was a little cold.. so we had to wear long pants. we were Bouldering, which is where you climb smaller rocks, following a certain path or route.. and the climbers like to call these " problems" ... so you try to work on a certain route until you get it.. I have not climbed since i left Appalchain State University.. so my hands where not tough enough, nor was my upper body strength up to par. I mostly played with my new camera. 

SNL Skit: hilarious!! Penelope -Therapy

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Training Runs

I am in the " meat" of my training for this race. As most of you know i am doing Holiday Lake 50K in Lynchburg, VA. There is a series of these crazy long ass races and this is the only one  I have NOT done, believe it or not.

Anyway, I have been training and recently I stumbled on this trail system in Charleston SC! The trail system is part of the Francis Marion National Park and it is very well maintained and is about 46 miles long.... one way! Crazy! I know! ( most of you are like what in the hell is she talking about... ) Well, this allows me to get different runs in and more true to what my actual race will be like in February, minus the hills.. which i will just have to suck it up, literally.

On this particular training run, I had my iPhone in my pack on my back, playing music from Pandora out loud.. which make the run way more enjoyable.. and this way I don't have to wear headphones... also.. the pack on my back has a water bag in it.... called a Camelback and it holds about 70 oz of water... also has pockets on the side for my food and a place to hold my map in the back , (sigh) I love technology and gear!

( This is the 6 mile water source, you got to PUMP it !!.. FUN stuff!)

So here are some pics of my runs out there. .. Francois Followed me on his bike for my 23 mile run this Saturday, Jan 10th... it wasn't pretty! 

New Years

Goodbye 2008!

I cannot say that I will be sad to see this year behind me. Francois and I went through a lot this year.. We worked through living 3 hours apart, I graduated nursing school, sold my first house, moved to Charleston, started a new job, etc. Life is challenging and sometimes you win and sometimes you learn... but with each hard time you learn and build.

I like to think in metaphors and so i like to think of building a house and you have to have a solid foundation first and build from there. In life you have a blue print and a vision.. i think as each year passes we build a little more.

This year I would like to make the resolutions

1. Say "I love you" more: ( maybe i will practice with unkind lady in the parking garage at work :)
2. Let the little stuff go
3. Say YES more.. it opens doors
4. Find events in Charleston and experience it while I am here!
5. For every negative I must follow with 2 positive statements

The upcoming events that Francois and I are planning this Year

January-- training for my race , Francois is traveling a lot this month
February --Virginia for my Ultramarathon Feb 14th.... 34ish miles!! Francois' 31st Birthday !

March --Honeymoon ? Maybe to Tarboro for Jr Miss :) Francois' parents here for a couple of months

April -- Maybe work to pay for trips? hmm

May ---Jon and Stasa's wedding!!! Asheville, NC May 16th / Our 2nd 2 year Anniversary( haha) May 27th!!

June --France for a Marathon on Mont Blanc and possible backpacking around Switzerland and Italy!!

July -- 4th of July annual beach house hot dog roast and firework exstravaganza!

August --Maybe a 100mile run with my Cousin in Colorado, Leadville 100?

September
October To be organized ...
November
December

SO.... Bring it on 2009... We are going to make it a Fantastic year!!

2 Year Anniversary

As I previously posted, Francois and I left Tarboro and went back to our life in Charleston where we worked our little bottoms off non-stop. However, we did hit the brakes for a gentle pause on our 1st celebrated wedding anniversary. Dec 28th 2006, Francois and my family were celebrating Christmas and a marriage in Asheville, NC. We spent that day, 2 years ago, looking for flowers, clothes and making reservations for the ceremony. Just the way I like it, last minute, perfect and shared with the closest people I love.

(Here we are picking up our marriage certificate minutes after our marriage upstairs. What is also interesting about the court house marriage system, if you cannot make it by 5:00pm for a marriage service, you can always go to the jail and get married there... we were ON TIME... no jail service here!)

My mom often asks me during certain situations, " Would you change anything about that day, do anything different...?" I would only want to have my closest friends and Francois' family. Thinking back on both of our ceremonies... Dec 28th and May 27th.. both days were absolutely breathtaking. On both days the sunrise and sunset were amazing, a painter could not even capture the moment...

So, 2 years!!! We made it .

This is our true wedding anniversary , Asheville sunset on the night of our wedding in Asheville.  

The sunrise of the morning of our wedding in Wilmington, the start of a perfect day!

Here is the sunset the night of our wedding in Wilmington, NC -    PERFECT

We have always enjoyed a sunset !! We plan on enjoying many more!