Vegas

I'm in Vegas for my 1st time ever! And there are so many songs that are running through my mind!! Mainly, some old school Faith Hill, "Let's go to Vegas!" There are more, but that's the main I've been humming the past 24 hours. 

As of now, I'll let you know that I have seen inside of the Las Vegas Convention Center, a few taxi's, and my mini suite at THE Hotel. I can confidently say-with abundant thanks-that THE Hotel has been warmer and more cozier than the convention center. Seriously, I saw my breath for most of the day. My teeth even chattered. Apparently it's one of the colder weeks here in Vegas. The stupid union at the convention center, (and most CC's), doesn't put on heat during set up. Lame sauce!!! My day was long and full of manual labor. But it's all for the cause. I have a mission. I've said it before, I'll say it again, I have a mission when it comes to my job.

Now I'm in my hotel resting upon my comfy couch in my mini suite living room. I can see the twinkle of the lights in the entertainment capitol of the world. And as I stare out my window, I know there is exciting stuff happening down in the mix of those lights and palm trees with those little ant like people that are scurrying about. I could head out and join them. But I've had a LONG day. And hanging out amongst the people is not on the top of my list right now. I want to...but I literally don't have the energy. So what do I do? Here are my options.  

Option 1, Outside the walls of my room, but within the safe borders of my hotel, I could get tattooed and pierced, take a magic carpet ride, gamble, shop, drink any concoction I could come up with, go clubbing, explore the many dessert options, get a massage or a pedicure, watch a show, get hitched, etc. etc. That's all within the hotel borders. Then there's an even bigger Vegas world out there. I'd really like to go, but I can't. 

Option 2, Inside my hotel I can stay within the safe confines of my comfy mini suite that has 3 tv's, 2 bathrooms, a separate living room, an amazing steam shower, a tub that is more like an olympic size pool and a bathroom with it's en suite telephone. You know in case I need to dial up any peeps or chat with the front desk whilst taking a bathroom break. Multi-tasking at it's best. Oprah would be so proud. 

I know, since you've made it this far in this blog post, that you are dying to know what I chose for my Vegas Saturday night fun. 

Drum roll please......

Tonight for my Saturday night fun, I chose Option 2!!! I took a really long and very hot bath*, watched junk reality tv and ordered room service. I realize how this looks. I should be out and about with the people. I'm young and fun. But, I'm okay with my decision of hiding away in my room. Besides I have another 12 hour day tomorrow. R&R is just what the doctor ordered. 

Exhaustion WINS tonight!

*by bath, I mean, I swam around in hot water--trying not to drown.Maybe even do a few water aerobic exercises. 

#vivalasvegas

2013

Wow! Another year has come and gone. It's true that time does fly by faster when you're older. I'm excited for 2013 and I am going in to the new year with great expectations. I woke up this morning feeling excited about what's to come. Not sure what that is or what it will look like? But dang it, I'm excited. It's good. I intentionally prayed last night that I would not allow disappointments of 2012 to follow me, drag me down or make me feel any less. Instead I choose to focus on the good of the past year, the amazing growth I journeyed through and all those wonderful places that God showed up in so many ways. I realize sometimes we (especially me) allow the negative to outshine the goodness that's all around. And it truly is all around. Ignoring that goodness is a negative way to be; but unfortunately, one that we (again, especially me) are so used to and generally choose to believe. Negativity is lamesauce.  I don't want to linger in that atmosphere anymore.

This 1st day of January 2013 I am choosing to thank God for all He has in store for me. I am choosing to believe in His goodness and that His dreams for me are FAR beyond my wildest imagination.  I know that He is already at work in me. He's been patiently waiting for me to let go already so He can move forward with His plans that He has already purposed for me. But, I keep getting in the way. I think I know better than Him. I don't. Shocker, I know. But I don't.

My prayer for this year is that God will continue to heal me, restore hurts and losses, make me braver, bolder and full of His goodness. That I'll learn what it means to know, undoubtedly, His love for me so I can really love myself in order to be better at loving my neighbors. I also pray that He'll awaken His dreams in me and fulfill the ones that have been hidden away on the shelf longing to come alive.  I pray for more wisdom, truth, joy, love and patience in my life. I want Jesus to overwhelm me with Himself. I feel all Rita Springer right now and want to shout, "more of you, less of me!" I realize this could be a dangerous prayer. But, I'm learning it's more dangerous to be lackluster and to choose not to move forward. I no longer want to be afraid of being who He created me to be. Even if it is different from everyone else. I'm me and that's how it's supposed to be. Different is not wrong. No one gets to define who I am. Or tell me what I can or can not do. My gifts and talents may not always wrap up in a perfect package; but it's okay. They are mine. I'm learning...it's really all okay. Better than okay. It's good.

I say: BRING IT ON, 2013 -- Let's do this party!!! 

I'm ready. Are you?

Winding Down?

It occurred to me this past weekend, when I woke up at 3am in a panic with the feeling that I miscalculated or somehow lost a work week to get ready for my upcoming BUSY season...that as people are winding down for the Holidays, I am getting B-U-S-Y!! (Wow, that was a long run on sentence!) Yes, my busy season is upon me. As the event coordinator, super dynamo, extraordinaire person, I have my work cut out for me. I'm about to see what i'm made of the next 2 months. But you know...

Oohhh, sometimes, I get a good feeling, yeah

I get a feeling that I've never never never never had before, no no

I get a good feeling!!

I got this. I. GOT. THIS.

it's been...

a full day of hard work, fun, yummy desserts, stress, laughter, frustration, youth kiddos, zoo lights, coldness, lots more laughter, more my fingers are getting numb coldness, funny van rides, youth laughter, knitting, relaxing, more laughter, exhaustion.

it's late and i'm spent.

off to bed i go.

Off the top of my head...

•  My head is pounding this morning. Must be the change in weather that is looming*. Or maybe even the champagne before bed last night to celebrate a friend.
• I feel the need to bake something this weekend. But what?
• So far, Siri, hasn't been all that helpful to me? Disappointed. 
• I need to start running**. Running is stupid. But, yet, running is good for you. Plus I somehow committed myself to a half marathon in April. I'm screwed.
• Speaking of April, I can't wait for my photo shoot, styled by the amazing Jill Carter of Common Couture to commemorate my birthday. Check her out y'all!!
• I need the warmth of a beach next to an ocean.
• Would really like to take a nap right now. 

*Not feeling any type of excitement for snow quite yet!! 
**Okay, I have been running, but not with joy in my heart. So maybe I need to change my attitude.

Okie Proud

You can take the girl out of Oklahoma,

but you can't take Oklahoma out of the girl.

Just purchased this from Tree and Leaf. Much thanks to the lovely Misty Bradley who led me to their site via her crazy pinning on pinterest. She's a gangsta pinna'. Queen of the pins. A pinning machine. Shall I go on? A pintacular pinner gal that's a pinnin' pins on the pinnin' page. Okay, I'll stop now. And onto the shirt I purchased....

And this (below) arrived in the mail on Tuesday! Word. I'll be sporting this on Fridays. I love wearing my Orange Pride on Friday's. (Don't worry Utah, I'll wear a Red Utes tee, too! Not at the same time, mind you, but at some point. You get the picture!)

"Go Pokes!"

I LOVE my State. I do, I really do.
I'm an Okie at heart.

why i shouldn't be sick for an extended period of time

Oh the perils of sickness. Why do you hover around me? Is it that you feel I should be irritable, unsociable, achy, groggy and drained for over a week and half now? I fought against you while in Colorado. I wouldn't let you keep me down while I was with those lovlies. But here you are in full force. Pushing back. Pushing stronger. And here I am being a pushover. Yet, I still have some fight in me. Even if you don't care that the next week and half is overwhelmingly busy. You pretend to be blind to the fact that I have much to do and no time to do it in. You have no concern for my feelings of health and vibrancy. Bastard, how very dare you!! You keep me up at night tossing and turning. You keep me drugged where my roommates think i'm hallucinating. You have been a pain in my arse for 12 days and nights now. You have me talking to you as if you are a person. And if you respond, I won't worry or become concerned that I'm hearing voices. I'll know its the cold and cough meds kicking in and working their healing wonders and I'll soon be drifting off into sleepy time land. In spite of your non-concern for me, I tell you this...I will prevail. I may sound like Liza Minelli or Kathleen Turner or like I've been smoking for a hundred years. My throat may burn and my ears may ache. BUT, the show must go on regardless of your callousness. I will prevail, damn it! I will prevail.

Strengths Test

Everyone here in Utah, literally almost everyone--just kidding..but not really--has taken the Strengths test. It's from the book called, "Now Discover Your Strengths". Not wanting to be left out, I rushed down to nearest B&N to get the book.

'Cause I'm in the know. I'm hip. I'm happenin'!

Okay, actually...

I feel like everyone has at some point in conversation since I've moved here has said, "Have you taken the strengths test? What are yours?" In reality I tried and tried not to take it, 'cause damn it I don't conform anymore just because everyone else is doing it. But after chattering Sharon's ears off for hours about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, she suggested I take the test. At first, the rebellious monster inside of me was like, Hell to the nah! But after a little thought and consideration I figured it wouldn't hurt. After all I am working on an upgrade in my life. And upgrades take work, take initiative, take tests to get better acquainted with oneself.

So as you may have guessed I took myself to Barnes and Nobles and got the "Strengths Finder 2.0" -the improved version, which was on sale, WORD! On Tuesday evening I took the Strengths test to see exactly how I roll--if your picking up what I'm laying down. There are 34 different themes, or strengths. Once you finish the test, they give you the top 5 themes from strongest down.

Here's my results...

Positivity
People who are especially talented in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.

Includer
People who are especially talented in the Includer theme are accepting of others. They show awareness of those who feel left out, and make an effort to include them.

Restorative
People who are especially talented in the Restorative's theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it.

Empathy

People who are especially talented in the Empathy theme can sense the feeling of other people by imagining themselves in others' lives or others' situations.

Woo
People who are especially talented in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.

******************************

Are you surprised? I'm not.

After you are given the results, they also include a broader synopsis of the theme with some ideas for action and application. The goal is to teach you how to best work within your strengths in order to succeed. As you learn about the other themes, you also learn how to work with others who's themes are opposite of yours.

Though I was rebellious, I have learned a lot. And they aren't wrong at all because as I read the broader definition and the applications, I was constantly laughing and saying, "that's definitely me!" I love it when that happens. The test is really great because it doesn't allow for you to edit yourself in a way so you will score high on something. You know everyone does that on tests, so they feel better about themselves and can be like, "see I'm so humble and good!!" This comes at you practically and asks in a way that you can't help but answer honestly.

I say, if you haven't done it...give it a go!! Just do it. You know you want to. Okay, be rebellious for a wee moment and then do it. Honestly, it has helped me shed light on why I do what I do. And the bonus is reading about other themes/strengths. Now I'm also learning about what makes those who are not like me tick. You know, what floats their boat. Revs their engine. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Do it, do it, do it. Then let me know your results.

Cheerios!

Rx for Homesickness

What up bloggy blogerson folks? To my faithful few readers, sorry i've been MIA. Its been a bit since my last post. I have been busy with my new job. It's an amazing job too. Be jealous, very jealous. I'm so thankful and blessed that God loves me so much that He would have a job for me within 2 weeks of arriving here. I've also been busy exploring life here in the beautiful and quirky state of Utah! I'm looking forward to seeing everything that unfolds. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. If you were here with me right now as I'm typing this you would see the big smile of wonder and expectation upon my face. That's right!!

I won't lie though, I'm still homesick, but I've come to understand, in a way, I always will. My friends, who became my family, in Colorado will always be utterly important. After all, they are some of the most dear and special people I know who have walked with me through the trenches, laughed with me in good times and are always there for me, even if I am 500 miles away. And when you can't be with them as before, your heart can't help but long for them. That's right Colorado folk, my heart longs for and misses you.

Below is a personal list of Rx for my homesickness...

1. Ikea.
You all know about my love for Ikea. I wandered around that store the first 2 weeks I landed in this state. It has a way of making me feel better as you walk around and peruse all the fun things they have.

2. Walks
You know, get those endorphins pumping. Once the endorphins pump, you can't be sad. Know what I mean, butter bean?

3. Sunday hikes with amazing Friends
Exploring the Utah mountains. Where there may be rattlesnakes that are ready to pounce if you're not careful. Seriously. Cody almost got it.





4. Singing
Lots of singing with my invisible air microphone. Yeah, I said it.

5. "Double L" with Sharon & Corky
L + L = Lattes and Love. I haven't been afraid to ask for some L&L from those wonderful Seevinck folk.

6. Wednesday Night Pizza and Ice Cream dessert
I have an amazing new roommate who wanted to carry on my Wednesday night pizza & ice cream dessert tradition that I had with Ellyn & Rhonda, so I have something comfortable and familiar that feels like home. Though she puts her own twist on it and we make pizza from scratch. That's right foks...from SCRATCH!! But, I do miss that Digiorno.

7. Exploring, living and being happy
Just out and about and exploring!! Seeing what life has to offer and learning to not be so afraid of everything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, and it always helps the homesickness when you get an email, text or phone call. And I do a happy dance when I get cards in the mail. Today I about broke something when I did spontaneous cartwheels* because when I got home from work I found a package waiting for me from the Stum-y-Garcia's full of goodies and comfort from home. I loved all the little sticky notes on each present. I had stuff for pedi's. Some yummy snacks. (I was told it was okay to NOT share sometimes, ha!). I think the one that really made me laugh was the AdvilPM with a note that said, "Get some freakin' sleep already".

They really know me well!!




*You can decide for yourself if I really did spontaneous cartwheels! ;)

The Big O

On my 16th day in my new State of Utah I got a job. Whoop, Praise Him!! I am super excited and encouraged with the opportunity and potential this job holds. After I got the call, accepted, called everyone I love to tell them how extremely excited and blessed I was that God has a perfect plan laid out for me, I knew exactly how I would celebrate. How you ask? It's simple...

With Orgasm!

However, I found my only dilemma was which one I wanted. Did I want the Regular, Super or The Multiple? After much deliberation I went with just the regular ole Orgasm. And let me tell you, friends, I am not disappointed!! Fan-freakin'-tastic!!! I feel so giddy and peachy and beautiful. The glow is fabulous. I've decided to save Super and The Multiple for my next celebrations in which I need to live it up. You know, start at the beginning and then continue to grow the Orgasm collection.

If you don't have Orgasm, Get it!!! You won't be disappointed. Just click HERE and all your Orgasm dreams can come true.

Ooh, la la...this was so risque of me. Just a fun little play on words folks.

You gotta lighten up. Deal with it.

Random Finds

I've made it. Utah is my new home. It took a very boring, not because of the company but because of 1-80 the end of the world, drive. The point is I arrived. Safe, happy, anxious, excited, scared to pieces. Yet ready to face the new adventure.

I'm trying to get everything organized so I can feel more at home. The organization helps distract the homesickness I have been feeling since E & R drove away. Tonight while cleaning/purging/organizing my stash of odds and ends, I stumbled upon these fun little finds tucked away in the back of my jewelry thingamabob...

1. Photo of a very young Papa Rod. I miss him so much. And it only fuels the homesickness I'm feeling right at this moment.
2. An old Oklahoma drivers license. I look so young. Oh those were the days of no wrinkles and no gray hair.
3. Keys: 1 to a house in Stillwater, 1 to a post office box somewhere, 1 to I have no freakin' clue.
4. 6.39 in Euros
5. 10 pesos

It's funny how you stash things away and then forget them. Or maybe it's that you are not sure what to do with the stuff so you just put it somewhere only to forget about it and then years later decide to organize because its what helps you cope with the overwhelming homesickness you're feeling that honestly you've never experienced before and that homesickness makes you want to curl up in a corner and cry like a baby until you can't cry anymore. Yes, a very bad run on sentence. But that's what the homesickness has done to me.

Hmmm. It's really late. I never stay up this late.

I must continue organizing.

Grrr!!

I've been trying to blog about what's going on in my head. As I've sat down the last week to tell the blogosphere what I'm feeling, all that I seemed to type was....

Grrr!!!

That's how I've been feeling the last couple of days. As I was talking to Jana today at lunch, we decided I need a "grrr" interpreter because I can't really place exactly what i'm feeling. It's not a

Grr!!

or a

grrr.

or even a

GRRR......

but rather just a,

Grrr!!!

So any 'grr' interpreters out there, feel free to let me know what's going on inside of my head these days.

jump in

"The character* has to jump into the story,

into the discomfort and the fear,

otherwise the story will never happen."

From Donald Miller's A Million Miles in a Thousand Years




* the character = Raelynn

bedtime ADD

really tired. but can not sleep...AT ALL!!!

the most random thoughts are floating around my head and, unfortunately, keeping me wide awake. i wish there was some sort of order to them, but my mind is in ADD mode right now. It looks a little like this:

....i don't want to go to work tomorrow...

...how many more days until i have a new niece?...

...sheesh, you need to go to sleep...

{insert quiet mind for maybe 3.2 seconds here, then the beat begins in my head}

...the scars of your love remind me of us, they keep me thinking that we almost had it all, the scars of your love, they leave me breathless, i can't help feeling we could have had it all...

...stop, go to sleep...

...i think i really want to write a book...

{insert rhythmic drum beat sounds floating around my head right about now}

...i wonder if there are any powwows coming up soon?...

...don't forget to write the pro's and con's for your future plans...

...Really, really?! Go to sleep...

...how do I become the main character in my story, rather than the quirky sidekick? more importantly, how do i make my story more meaningful?...

{insert frustrated sigh here}

...latte in the morning? yes, please! ooo, i'll get one for Janet too...

...okay, this is ridiculous, you need to sleep...

{silence for about 10 seconds}

...maybe i'll blog....

and so on, and so on!!!!!

funnily enough those really are only some of the thoughts, lyrics and sounds floating around in my head.

frustrating.

so here i am. awake. blogging. not sleeping. thinking. of complete utter ridiculousness. mixed in with a song that i can't seem to escape. add a dash of overwhelming thoughts--good, bad, happy, sad--about the joy ride i like to refer to as an emotional rollercoaster regarding the next season of my life. if i were to be completely honest, i would say that its more the "dash" that's keeping me awake, and avoiding, and in overdrive with bedtime ADD as i'm still not 100% how to process the next season yet.

???

can't get enough of...

1. Adele

Love her, love her, love her!! I'm loving her new album 21. I listen to it on repeat 24/7. The first track on the album called "Rolling in the Deep," moves me in ways I can't explain. It's her voice, the musicality, the drums, the feeling of the song...it all beckons something deep within me. I can't even explain it. But I know that every time I listen to it, it evokes crazy emotions out of me. From crying to happiness to overall courage. And the drums just call me. I'm positive thats the natural tribalness in me. I must see her when she tours the grand ole U.S. of A. (Hope, don't buy tickets without me!!) Seriously. I absolutley love her.




2. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

This book has totally been changing the way I see my life. It makes me look closer at what I want my story to be. And there's really nothing fancy schmancy about it other than its simplicity of making you look at your life differently. It's really helping me face the giants and not feel like such a grasshopper. I'm halfway through it, but can already tell that I will re-read this book.

"fear is a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life."

Boring no more, my friends. And, giants, I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

3. Dessert

Yep. Utter yummyness. Living with Ellyn and Rhonda has changed me in so many ways for the better. And that statement alone deserves a whole other post. However, at this time, one thing I will always include in my life because of them from now on is simply this...dessert. For so many years I would feel guilty about dessert. There's so much more to this on an emotional level and how I can equate dessert to letting go and enjoying the sweetness of life, but we'll keep it light. Actually, I have had dessert almost every night that I have lived with them and have continued to drop the pounds--maybe not super fast but the point is I'm not adding them. And that's without working out. Booyah!! Yeah, I said that. I'm not sure I have ever said that before. Weird. Again, there's more to this on a differnet level. But like I said before, we're keeping it light for now.


4. Vino

"Red, red wine you make me feel so fine, you keep me rockin' all of the time."

Name that tune and you'll win a prize. Okay probably not, but it was fun to say.


5. Olive

Love this munchkin face. I keep trying to steal her from my friend Danielle but to no avail. Fortunately, she comes and hangs out with me at my house every now and then. Plus I get to see her at the Y every day.





and last, for now, but certainly not least....

6. Carlos

He works at Beauty Brands in Boulder and always makes my hair so damn sexy. He and I will be meeting again very soon. He always gets a good laugh at me when I'm in because when he is done wiht my hair I normally flip it around in the mirror and say the ever so famous pantene commercial line, "don't hate me because i'm beautiful!"

Bake-ity, Baking!!

It's that time of year again. I have the baking bug. The need to be a domestic goddess like my friends Halen and Becca. I think its the cooler temperatures that tempt me to find my inner domesticity. As well as, there's something about baking and cooler weather that is comforting to me. To those of you who don't know the inner workings of Raelynn, I like to bake in my high heels and yoga pants. I may, or may not, also speak in a variety of voices. Voice of choice for yesterday, Julia Child. Also, yesterday, I decided that just maybe I need an apron to complete my random, but oh so sexy {NOT} look. Plus I had flour ALL over me. I spent the day baking until I had other obligations that beckoned my name. Namely, work. Boo to the hoo.

Baking experience for Sunday November 7th:
Homemade, from scratch--spent a good hour peeling and slicing up apples--apple pie
Not from a box or freezer, thank you very much, lasagna!!

It was all scrumdiddlyumpcious!!!!

Here's the filling that made the house smell like cinnamony, grandma's house on a Saturday morning, better than a yankee candle GOODNESS.....




And here's the pie all nicely put together....



My intention was to take a pic after the fact, BUT...as my life is, craziness distracted me. And as soon as the lasagna was scarfed down, the family was ready for some yummy pie. I can't show you a picture, but I can promise you that it was fan-flippin'-tastic!!! I was impressed with myself. Actually I think I pulled a muscle giving myself a pat on the back.

this and that

Fall is Yummy!!
I love the colors, the smells, the sounds. Mmmm, I love it all.



To those of you who are wondering...Yes, Tobey is still alive. I've walked him, fed him, played with him, talked in the ooey gooey you're a good boy voice. He made a comeback and ate a full meal, finally, on thursday night.



Though he did go on a food strike again today; and i'm surprised I haven't keeled over dead from the gas that is emitting from his bottom. Yeah, too much information, I know. He really wants his moms back. But honestly, so do I. I really miss my besties; they're my safe place. But I'm glad that they are getting some much needed R&R. They deserve it.

Tomorrow I bake cookies for the Halloween party at the Y. I'm excited about baking. I need some much needed baking and domesticity in my life. I think i'll bake in my sexy heals. Yeah, I said it and I'll do it.

zzzzzz...

i am so very tired. crazy tired. loopy tired. not only am i tired...

i looked a hot mess today.

my friend jamie, in the kindest way possible said, "you look deflated today". basically she was saying..."gurrrl, you look toe-up. go home and try again"!! and yes, i agree. it was one of those days that you catch a glimpse of yourself and you wish you could find a whole to crawl in to until it passes. i went back to her office later and said, "you were being kind!" Her response, "well, i didn't know how to say it and i didn't want to hurt your feelings".

why am i tired, you ask?

well let me tell you people. poor {not so} little tobey has been sad that his momma's are gone on a carribean cruise for 2 weeks. so he is stuck here with me who is not his momma. more like his lovable aunt, but not his momma.

how do i know this?

well, he's not been tobey-like. and he keeps going to the front window looking out investigating and i'm sure he's thinking, "hey, that's my mom's car." he then runs upstairs to the room and looks around. realizing mom is not there he slumps his head, walks over to his spot on the floor and plops down. other telltale signs include, but not limited to:

not eating

following me around everywhere--i know the pain of mother's who can't shake the kids on their hiney

not sleeping--oh the not sleeping, help me Jesus

still not eating

upset stomach--in which the rumbling literally woke me up this morning

depressed

mopey

shall i continue? no? fine.

we are only on day 3 people. day 3!!!

the poor {not so} little guy needs to shape up and realize he's stuck with me until their return--11 more days!!! and that he'll also realize i will take care of him. love him. feed him. take him on walks. here's to hoping we find our rhythm so he gets comfortable. but more importantly as its all about me, i'm hoping i get to sleep soon. i don't do well with no sleep. i get sick. i get cranky. i become crazed! so for tobey and my sake, lets say a prayer that his sadness will pass soon and that...

i. get. some. SLEEP.

shhh....

I have a secret.
A good one.

Really.
Nothing harmful.
Something exciting.

Very.
I can't say a thing.
I'm sworn to secrecy.

Girl Scout honor.

Pinkie promise.

A couple more weeks.
I'm bursting at the seems.

I have a secret.

Doo-dah, doo-dah!!

i just felt like runnin'

on Sunday i run a 5k

normally, i'd say no way

but it's for a good cause

so i did not pause

to jump right on in

though i know i won't win

unfortunately i'm sure i'm gonna die

or most likely, i'm definitely gonna cry

because on Monday i ran to Africa and back

well maybe that's a bit dramatic as a matter of fact

and my ankles got all blistered and bloody

and definitely the new shoes got all kinds of muddy

all this said

i hope i get out of bed

on sunday morning

or jill will come roaring

because she's my running partner

and i don't want to cross her

how and when will this poem end

here's a good place to put in the word backbend

adios, arrivederci, later, goodbye

now it's time for a little chocolate pie