It's no secret that Jill and I have really enjoyed living in Riverton. So much so that we bought our second home right here in this city. We love to be involved with community events, and Riverton fun runs are particularly fun for me.
Today was the 2nd annual Half Marathon. A year ago the wind was so fierce, and the temperature was so cold, it made for a miserable inaugural event. This year, while the weather was much more accommodating, I wasn't nearly as prepared.
My training runs have been okay, however last Saturday on a long run I rolled my ankle. It was the kind that turned my foot black and blue, and it swelled up pretty bad. I have been resting it all week including icing it to try and speed up the recovery.
Saturday came and while the foot was mostly okay, it wasn't 100%. I had to try to race, and I'm so glad I did. I was able to see so many good friends. 3 of my running buddies all ran, and I saw Steve Allen a terrific friend who coaches cross country at the new Stansbury high school.
After about 3 miles, it became clear this run wouldn't be a PR. My running buddies all ran ahead and I stayed back loping along. I decided that even though this wouldn't be my best run, I wanted to finish what I started.
My time is about 10 minutes slower than the 1/2 marathon I ran just 2 months ago in St. George. My official time was 1:58:28, it was quite disappointing. I could have quit and blamed my foot, but I thank God for my physical health to be able to run the race.
The boys were at a church activity searching for Easter Eggs, and didn't come to the race until I had just finished. It was so nice to have Jill and the boys come.
One of the songs I listened to was "I run to you" by Lady Antebellum. I listened to it twice I enjoyed it so much. I had known the song to be a pretty good one, but listening to it while running brought a deeper meaning. Music has such meaning and even though you've heard a song 100 times, in a new setting it can mean so much more. This was the case today with this song.
I run my life
Or is it running me
Run from my past
I run too fast
Or too slow it seems
While I've never been a particularly good running, it's something that I enjoy and it helps me focus, think, sleep, build friendships, keep off the weight from the cookies and ice cream I just ate, and tone my sexy legs.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Our House
Spring is just beginning and while the trees aren't in full bloom (we have no trees), I thought it would be as good of time as any to debut our home.
It's a lovely little home in the suburbs of of Salt Lake in the city of Riverton. As I've said before it's only 3 houses away from our former house.
There has been so much to do we have been busy for 2 weeks now getting it ready and still the pictures lie on the ground urning to be hung.
This weeks project has been all about getting new Martin garage door openers in and functioning. Our neighbor works at Martin Door so with his help the project went much quicker than it would have had I shouldered the project on my own.
With the garage organized (meaning I can park both cars inside), I will never scrape ice off my windshields again! Organized is a loose term meaning I mostly know where everything is and within 20 minutes I could probably even get it. To help me organize Landon was in heaven as he climbed the ladder and hung hooks on the peg board. Of course rather than hang Dad's tools, clearly Black and Decker toys fit so nicely.
We look forward to Spring where we can get outside and begin the painful yet rewarding - yard-work.
It's a lovely little home in the suburbs of of Salt Lake in the city of Riverton. As I've said before it's only 3 houses away from our former house.
There has been so much to do we have been busy for 2 weeks now getting it ready and still the pictures lie on the ground urning to be hung.
This weeks project has been all about getting new Martin garage door openers in and functioning. Our neighbor works at Martin Door so with his help the project went much quicker than it would have had I shouldered the project on my own.
With the garage organized (meaning I can park both cars inside), I will never scrape ice off my windshields again! Organized is a loose term meaning I mostly know where everything is and within 20 minutes I could probably even get it. To help me organize Landon was in heaven as he climbed the ladder and hung hooks on the peg board. Of course rather than hang Dad's tools, clearly Black and Decker toys fit so nicely.
We look forward to Spring where we can get outside and begin the painful yet rewarding - yard-work.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Broken
When you buy a home that is 15 years old and has been abandoned for the last year some things need to be fixed. This first week in our new home has included daily trips to Home Depot. I'm still not exactly ready to take pictures of the place yet, hopefully soon.
Jill has worked hard this week putting things away and settling in. I've been fixing so many broken things.
All of the toilets were broken, the garage door opener just broke (which I secretly wanted because it was so loud I'd like to replace it with one that is quieter), the electrical plug for the dryer wasn't compatible so I got to replace it, and many of the blinds needed fixing.
The boys have had so much fun, this first week of living in this home. Every morning they have been waking up at 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. because they are so excited. Having cousins so close has also been fun for them. They love to walk down to Taylor and Hudson's house to play.
This week we had our first haircuts in Shanel's new salon. It doesn't even look like the room in the basement we left for them. The carpet has been taken out and the concrete painted. Walls are painted, borders are down, and of course there is a sink. Shanel and Brian have done a very nice job and it's fun to get our hair cut there.
The Ludlows seem to enjoy living here in Riverton and have loved the space their new home provides.
Work was very nice this week as I'm handing over about 1/2 of my accounts to my peers so I can focus on 4 accounts. While it is tough giving up accounts that I have built up, I'm working way too hard and can't do the job the right way. With less responsibilities I should regain control of my work life and I might even be able to take a few days off this year (like in June when Jill has our baby). For a few months I've been telling my boss that I've been running a marathon at a 5K pace. Something has to give.
Saturday was fun as Jill and I spent 1/2 a day organizing the basement. When we moved, so many things ended up being stacked in the basement without rhyme or reason. The food storage room is set, but there is still quite a bit to organize. Our efforts were cut short as Mom and Dad came by to see the house now we are getting settled. Then a few minutes after that, Corwin and Judy came by to see the house for Corwin's first time. He was traveling on business the day we moved. Brett moved back to Salt Lake from D.C. and he and Rob came out with Corwin and Judy. They had nice things to say about the house which helps validate our new purchase.
We've got another week to organize the inside and then there is going to be an urgency to begin working on the yard. There will be so much to do. Aye Carumba.
Jill has worked hard this week putting things away and settling in. I've been fixing so many broken things.
All of the toilets were broken, the garage door opener just broke (which I secretly wanted because it was so loud I'd like to replace it with one that is quieter), the electrical plug for the dryer wasn't compatible so I got to replace it, and many of the blinds needed fixing.
The boys have had so much fun, this first week of living in this home. Every morning they have been waking up at 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. because they are so excited. Having cousins so close has also been fun for them. They love to walk down to Taylor and Hudson's house to play.
This week we had our first haircuts in Shanel's new salon. It doesn't even look like the room in the basement we left for them. The carpet has been taken out and the concrete painted. Walls are painted, borders are down, and of course there is a sink. Shanel and Brian have done a very nice job and it's fun to get our hair cut there.
The Ludlows seem to enjoy living here in Riverton and have loved the space their new home provides.
Work was very nice this week as I'm handing over about 1/2 of my accounts to my peers so I can focus on 4 accounts. While it is tough giving up accounts that I have built up, I'm working way too hard and can't do the job the right way. With less responsibilities I should regain control of my work life and I might even be able to take a few days off this year (like in June when Jill has our baby). For a few months I've been telling my boss that I've been running a marathon at a 5K pace. Something has to give.
Saturday was fun as Jill and I spent 1/2 a day organizing the basement. When we moved, so many things ended up being stacked in the basement without rhyme or reason. The food storage room is set, but there is still quite a bit to organize. Our efforts were cut short as Mom and Dad came by to see the house now we are getting settled. Then a few minutes after that, Corwin and Judy came by to see the house for Corwin's first time. He was traveling on business the day we moved. Brett moved back to Salt Lake from D.C. and he and Rob came out with Corwin and Judy. They had nice things to say about the house which helps validate our new purchase.
We've got another week to organize the inside and then there is going to be an urgency to begin working on the yard. There will be so much to do. Aye Carumba.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Master of the House
What a weekend! It finally happened. Jill and I put an offer on this home August 1, 2009. It's timely that we were able to close on March 3, 2010. 9 months it took to close on this home and what a baby it's turned out to be.
The events that led up to March 3, 2010 required tons of phone calls, emails, and nagging of real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and title companies. I swear these people do very little to all get their hands on "their cut" of our new home. I feel like it was me that did so much of the work we were able to finally close in such a timely fashion. "If it's going to be, it's up to me" is so true.
By closing on Wednesday we were hopefully able to get the keys on Friday. Of course there was drama at the title company as our loan hadn't funded because of some additional stips that hadn't been satisfied. What a joke. Friday at 4:00 p.m. we received word the loan funded and we could move in! After so much work, rather than being excited I was just angry.
In college a friend told me, "sometimes you have to succeed in spite of people." Why is it that so often when you want to accomplish something, one has to go through so many people who stand in the way as obstacles?
Now that Jill is officially 6 months pregnant she was full of energy to clean 2 houses and be in charge of boxing up the house and coordinating the move. She did so much more than I ever would have expected. Thanks for all your hard work Jill. In a few years it will be worth it.
We had quite a few neighbors come help, and our family provided so much help we couldn't have done it without you. Food was provided, help cleaning, moving, and watching kids all to help us move. Thank you all so much.
We are still settling in and pictures of the new casita will be coming. There is so much work with buying a home that has been abandoned for a year. The water softner, automatic garage, toilets, heating and air conditioning, even the vent to the dryer all needed attention and we are just begining to discover all that needs to be done.
With so much more to do I wonder if it's worth it. I'll need to go back to the last blog entry where I try and convince myself why this was a good move.
We are so tired. More to come when I can provide pictures of our Money Pit.
The events that led up to March 3, 2010 required tons of phone calls, emails, and nagging of real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and title companies. I swear these people do very little to all get their hands on "their cut" of our new home. I feel like it was me that did so much of the work we were able to finally close in such a timely fashion. "If it's going to be, it's up to me" is so true.
By closing on Wednesday we were hopefully able to get the keys on Friday. Of course there was drama at the title company as our loan hadn't funded because of some additional stips that hadn't been satisfied. What a joke. Friday at 4:00 p.m. we received word the loan funded and we could move in! After so much work, rather than being excited I was just angry.
In college a friend told me, "sometimes you have to succeed in spite of people." Why is it that so often when you want to accomplish something, one has to go through so many people who stand in the way as obstacles?
Now that Jill is officially 6 months pregnant she was full of energy to clean 2 houses and be in charge of boxing up the house and coordinating the move. She did so much more than I ever would have expected. Thanks for all your hard work Jill. In a few years it will be worth it.
We had quite a few neighbors come help, and our family provided so much help we couldn't have done it without you. Food was provided, help cleaning, moving, and watching kids all to help us move. Thank you all so much.
We are still settling in and pictures of the new casita will be coming. There is so much work with buying a home that has been abandoned for a year. The water softner, automatic garage, toilets, heating and air conditioning, even the vent to the dryer all needed attention and we are just begining to discover all that needs to be done.
With so much more to do I wonder if it's worth it. I'll need to go back to the last blog entry where I try and convince myself why this was a good move.
We are so tired. More to come when I can provide pictures of our Money Pit.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Time For Me To Fly
I've just had the most amazing 2 days! My job is pretty cool and I get to travel enough to enjoy it, but not so much that it's painful for the family.
Wintertime is when most contractors like to have conferences, conventions, dealer meetings etc. So I get to go to some fun warm places during the cold winters of Utah.
Monday and Tuesday I was in Phoenix. It just so happens I have some family in Phoenix and I couldn't have timed my trip any better. I landed in Phoenix and see my aunt Carma who works for Southwest Airlines. We spoke at length and then I headed to my hotel.
JW Marriott is the nicest kind of Marriott hotel you can stay. My room was AMAZING, and the resort was so terrific, I'll have to bring my family down sometime soon. It was so nice. While I was en route to the resort I called my good cousin Nate. He just earned the certificate to fly helicopters with passengers.
I was his first official passenger! While this may look like a Geo Metro 3 cylinder car, it is in fact a helicopter. Nate and I flew over Phoenix in this tin can and spent 30 minutes in the air. Nate is a terrific pilot and I had a blast on my first ever helicopter trip. Thanks Nate!
Oh yea, the convention was very nice and I'd call it a success. In-N-Out Burger topped off the perfection of the last two days, and I can say there is no way I could have fit anything else into these last two great days.
I've got an amazing family.
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