365 Days Later

So, one year ago today I wrote a post about the demise of my running career. I promised that I only needed one year. One year and I would be back. I had a perfect plan that couldn't fail that would get me back into running shape all while healing my knee. I didn't stick to it as closely as I hoped I would. I think I am actually in about the same shape. I have done some running, but not enough. The developments pretty much include buying a road bike and taking running easy like the last few years. I am doing a 5k Dirty Dash and Ragnar in June, so that will be fun. In order to train for Ragnar I bough some Altera zero drop ultra fusion square toe box shoes that I really love. I have had the normal knee pain around 20-30 minutes of running, but just this week I did a run that included substantial downhill without pain - I'll take it! I am pretty much praying I can get through Ragnar without a problem, and after that I will reassess. I am disappointed in my lack of improvement in running, but I am excited about biking! I am doing a relay in June that I am also training for, so that should be a blast. I am hoping I won't have to replace running with biking, because I hope that biking will help my knees and my strength. *sigh*

Busy Season and Graduation

We arrived home from the cruise on Sunday night around 8 pm. The next morning I began an internship with Tanner LLC, a public accounting firm in Salt Lake, and Chase continued full time employment with Utah Broadband. And we both began our last semesters of school! Chase had a full schedule and I had one class. He was working 40 hours per week and I was too, until busy season started. In accounting, the months of February through April and August through October are "busy." These are the months leading up to tax filing deadlines. Thus, in February I worked 55-60 hours per week, in March I worked 60-65 hours per week, and until April 15 I worked 70 hours per week. Let's be honest, there are many accountants (and other professions) that work more hours than that. But it was hard. Being at work all day everyday wasn't the hard part. The hard part was getting home, getting straight in bed, then waking up and going straight back to work. Chase and I had time to chat a little before bed and in the mornings, and I called him everyday while I ate dinner, but it was tough. I don't know how some people spend half of every year doing that. I enjoyed my experience and I learned a lot. The people at Tanner are great, and I made some good friends. But after the April deadline, I took three days off and went to St. George with my family for Easter. I got to mountain bike with Zach for the first time ever and it was a blast! I am already addicted and I need a mountain bike! Maybe next year. Anyway, I came home, went to work on Monday and decided it wasn't something I wanted to do long term. I went to graduation that Friday without a job, which was hard for me to swallow. I am a bit embarrassed because I have planned on this for so long. But I am really excited about a job prospect coming up. We'll see how that turns out. 

Graduation! What a fun day. My dad wasn't able to come to the ceremony so he invited Chase and I to breakfast that morning before he had to leave town. Yummy Moore's! When Chase and I pulled into the parking lot at the Dee, we got out to put our caps and gowns on and just laughed at each other! We, and everyone, looked so goofy in the traditional get-up. We then walked inside, lined up, and waited with our respective colleges. It's a very long process, and rather boring, but it feels good to put a cap on our degrees. Our friend Abe spoke at commencement and did a great job, the symphony was beautiful (really), and we were able to spot each other from across the Dee. We moved out tassels, and that was that. We had to move quickly to the Browning Center for my college's ceremony. I lined up, walked in, and listened to some more speakers. And then, I was hooded by my two favorite professors. I was actually really excited about this part. It's just cool to be recognized for the degree earned. It was quick, and I really enjoyed it. After, we took pictures outside with our supporters. Parents, Lauren, Avery, and some of our grandparents were able to be there. Then, it was time for Chase's college ceremony. He graduated from the college of Arts and Humanities, and his ceremony was a party! A far cry from the traditional ceremony of the college of business and economics. They played music and performed and it was a lot of fun. Chase was darling walking across the stage as he winked and gave a thumbs up. He gave his favorite professor a bear hug, and just like that, he was done too. After more pictures outside, we went to my mom's house where she hosted lunch for those that came to be with us. Thank you for everything, parents, for never missing a chance to cheer us on. Thanks to Lauren and Sean, perfect examples of hard work, particularly in school. Thanks to grandparents for being supportive. And thanks to Zach and and Ave for working so hard, having a few years to go, and being happy for us. It was a good day. That evening, Sean got back into town and wanted to celebrate with us, so we spent time with the Fowlers, and the following night they took us to dinner to congratulate us. It's really cool to have your sister and brother in law be your best friends. I recommend it. 

And now, we are done. It's the first summer in a few years that we aren't taking classes. Chase is still enjoying his job and I am looking for a new one. It's weird not constantly having a to do list; study, read, homework, exam, repeat. Real life, or post college life, is sort of fun! Chase goes to work, I take care of everything else, and following on this job prospect (cross you fingers!) and we still have time to do fun things together. I am really excited to enjoy the status quo for a while. No moving, no new cars, no school (no tuition!), but yes, I will start a new job soon. It's a great time to be 23, graduated, married, and absolutely loving life. I couldn't be more grateful for where I am and where we are. When Chase and I got married, he had one semester of school done and I had two years done. And now, between the two of us we have three degrees, no student loans, a healthy savings account, and the world is our oyster. Toot, toot!

The Cruise

So, cruises. I had never been on one, so of course I wanted to try it out. Chase and I had talked about going because he had been with his family when he was younger and loved it. A few months before Christmas Mom announced it was booked! We didn't know where we were going immediately, and when we finally found out we were obviously excited - St. Thomas and St. Martin for New Years! It was perfect. After all of the crazy business from Christmas, we packed our bags and got on a red eye to Florida. I don't know if I have ever been so tired in my life. I don't know what it was but I was a zombie. That painful kind of tired. I am sure we all looked pathetic laying in a heap in the middle of the airport. When we finally got to board the ship, I was mostly surprised. It's like a small city. I was completely disoriented for three whole days. I never got sea sick, but the boat definitely rocked. We were on the Freedom of the Seas - Royal Caribbean. It's huge. The first day we basically had time to get settled, watch some football on the upper deck, and go to dinner. I was really looking forward to the food part of the trip. The dining rooms are massive and very fancy and the menus each night were unreal. Steak and lobster and escargot and everything else under the sun. By the end of the week I almost couldn't think about eating a big dinner again. Can we talk about the all you eat pizza? Seriously, all you can eat, 24 hours a day. Luckily the pieces were smallish, but I am pretty sure I ate multiple full sized large pizzas that week. Also, the french fries... battered and crispy to perfection. Yum! I had intentions of working out at the gym on board everyday and I think I did once. 

Each day we had a million things to do - flow rider (I really thought I would be good at this, but I am so so not), ice skating (yes on a cruise ship, with my mother, wearing helmets, so hilarious), mini golf (in 100 mile an hour winds on the front top deck of the ship), karaoke (with Lauren and Avery - Avery chose the worst possible song "Say My Name"... remember the part where Beyonce sings a million miles a minute? Well we looked like fools in front of a bunch of 13 year olds), basking in the sun, reading good books (Women and the Priesthood - excellent for anyone who wants to understand that relationship better), endless pina coladas, and the casino! Chase and I faced sure addiction had we been on that ship too much longer. But seriously, it's fun. We came out about even playing blackjack, craps, and roulette every night. We came home and bought a set of chips at target so we can play at home! 

The days on the islands were my favorite. Day two we stopped at a tiny island owned by Royal Caribbean and played in the sun, sand, and ocean. We also found some Brazilians to play soccer with on the beach! Definitely a top five moment of the cruise. We white folks held our own and had a bunch of fun. 

Day four we were on St. Thomas. We signed up for an excursion to snorkel and it was fun. We rode a boat to the opposite side of the island where we snorkeled and saw a few turtles and stingrays. I just loved swimming in the ocean. The salt was a little much (dry lips!) but I was just happy to be in the sun with the family. Unfortunately, we only had a bout 6 hours on the island and we were on the excursion most of that time. 

Day five we were on St. Martin. And I seriously would move there tomorrow if I could! What a gorgeous place. We decided against the excursion so we could stay together (Huddy couldn't do the excursions) and see more of the island. We found a man (who was a body builder and a very massive human) who took us around the whole island and recommended all the best places to see and eat. We had smoothies and seafood on the French side of the island and hiked to the top of an old fort on a hill. On our way back to the other side, we stopped at airport beach. How had I never heard of this place before? Chase had seen it on the travel channel or youtube or something. Apparently it is world famous. It's this wide but very short beach. There was probably only 30 feet of beach in some spots before you run into a two lane road and a fence. On the other side of the fence is an airport and landing strip. So you have people swimming in the ocean about 60 feet from where 747s are taking off and landing. CRAZY. The planes were coming in only a few minutes apart and every time you thought they were going to hit the fence, or your head, because they flew so low. And when a jet took off with its back to us we could feel the heat from the engines and it nearly blew us away from the fence! And the beach it's self was awesome too - the water was so so blue and deep too, so we could swim close to shore. This was the highlight of the trip for me. So beautiful and so fun. 

On the day that we got off the ship, we went to Orlando for the afternoon before going to the airport. Such a beautiful city! I pictured it more like Miami - very tight and concrete. But it is actually very open and the are cobble stone streets and a huge farmers' market and a beautiful park! I would definitely go back there. We ate lunch on the patio of a yummy restaurant (before learning that inside it was a drag show!) and headed back to the airport. Back to real life. Thanks for the memories and experiences mom! You are so generous and good to us kids. We all had a blast!