Twenty. Four.

“…People change, too.  We all start out as babies, and our features mature as we age.  Our hairstyles and clothes change with the trends.  But what stays the same?  Spirit.  We can trust that love never goes out of style, and never moves away.” – My Ayurvedic “coach”

Well, another year has come and gone.

I celebrated my brithday in two of the most amazing and perfectly “me” ways.

The first was with a wine tasting and dinner for my friends and I last Sunday. Katrina hosted, and together we cooked six courses for 12 people. Mango. Goat Cheese. Home made hummus. Smoked salmon. Vegan chocolate cake. It was all of the foods I loved. I think we definitely pushed people a little — to try new foods, pronounce words they’ve never heard and sip wines they had never even noticed/heard of before. But I LOVED it.

On my actual birthday I had the most amazing “me” day. It felt great to reconnect with myself a little. I started the day with an sbux (natch) and a nice day at work. Cleared my desk (we all know I love that!) and then headed home, made a quick veggie soup in my crock pot before heading to yoga with Heidi. It was her last week for awhile, so I HAD to go. Tuesday night races — next week! I came back home, cracked open a bottle of wine, had some soup and a big piece of leftover cake, a little San Pelligrino and read the latest US Weekly. Took a long hot shower and bath, read some HP and fell asleep early.

Actually, its amazing to think what a year it was — last year, I was driving a green bug, living in Seattle with Katelyn and working with the twins. I hadn’t ever run more than a mile, I hadn’t even taken the GRE (let alone applied to grad school) and I had hair that hung down my back.

Here I sit, hair chopped to my chin, finishing a day of work at the office, about to head to class in my Master’s program, in my new white SUV, in Alaska, before I head to train for my 10k at the gym.

I guess time does make all of the difference. I feel as though in a lot of ways, I’m in a whole new place. I have a re-newed confidence in myself, my strength and my abilities, and yet, I spent a lot of time this past year out of my comfort zone and learning some lessons (not all fun ones) about both myself and life in general. I feel more on track and at the same time more misplaced than ever before. I’m rapidly pushing toward some goals, and yet I’ve reverted back to a simpler life in some ways also.

Mostly, I can’t wait to see where I’m at next year. If I could see my future I’m TOTALLY one of those people who wouldn’t hesitate to look. I love to have a plan — and that would be the ultimate way to know Crazy though — how the surprises are often the best part of life. The grass is always greener I suppose.

Life these days….

• Back to volunteering! I am working the Safe and Sound Fair on Saturday for the Med Corps, and then working the Bocci games on Sunday for Special Olympics. We all know how much I LOVE these events — can’t wait.
• I have to WRITE. AN. ESSAY. by next week. I haven’t written an analytical essay…in years. Yikes!
• I REALLY felt the love on my bday. My phone, my facebook, my mailbox, all blowing up. I can’t wait to return the love to all of you.
• I’ve had the house to myself for about a week now — lots of cooking, cleaning and soaking up the silence.

Highlights for my kitchen this week:

• Roasted butternut squash in wild rice with leeks and white corn (all from my CSA! Yum)
• Fresh carrot, ginger, beet juice — made at home!
• Veggie Tacos: roasted corn tortillas with zuchinni, corn, black beans, quinoa, diced green pepper, onion, garlic and cilantro.

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