I was just reading the blog my friend from BYU keeps and she wrote the top 30 things she wants to do before she hits 30. I turn 30 on Feb 4, 2011.
That gives me 14 months, 25 days to accomplish 30 new things.
Here is my list of 30:
1. I want to pay off my school loans. I have two.
2. I've read the Book of Mormon once and I am 2/3rds done with the Doctrine and Covenants for the first time. I might as well add the bible to round out Mormon scripture.
3. I would like to go to Japan. There is a game industry event that takes place there in the fall. I want to go along with Adam if he goes.
4. I would like to run a 7 minute mile. That will involve a track and a clock, but I could totally do it.
5. I am going to finish my first manuscript. I don't care about getting it published, but if this story spends any more time in my head, I may go crazy.
6. I will finish landscaping my house. I have had a heck of a time getting things to grow over the past three years- but the soil is rehabbed (as evidenced by the weeds sprouting up in the right side of the yard), now I gotta get stuff growing.
7. I am going to learn to make a cheese cake that my lactose intolerant husband can eat. It's possible- it just may take some serious trial and error.
8. I am going to learn to sew well enough to make curtains for my house. Sewing is a skill I need to have anyways since I am SOOOOOO cheap.
9. I am going to learn to swim well enough that I can swim for 30 minutes straight.
10. I want to read 100 books in a year. That would work if I start on January 1st.
okay... I need to keep thinking of more. This is kind of hard. I go on all sorts of adventures or I do new things all the time. I will add to this as more ideas come to me.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Photos Share
So I promised photos and I thought I might as well include some from all the crazy... so in order from start to finish...
First up: Kelly's wedding in Colorado Springs
I haven't really edited these, but I think they are really fun!
The reception was a blast. There were a lot of people my age (25-35) to hang around with which made the dancing super fun. Plus, everyone knows that a wedding will rock so long as the bride a groom are having fun. Well Mike and Kelly were awesome!
Thanks for letting me hang out at your house and at all of your pre-wedding craziness Kelly! I love ya! Congrats guys on almost 2 months of marriage-hood.
First up: Kelly's wedding in Colorado Springs
I haven't really edited these, but I think they are really fun!
The reception was a blast. There were a lot of people my age (25-35) to hang around with which made the dancing super fun. Plus, everyone knows that a wedding will rock so long as the bride a groom are having fun. Well Mike and Kelly were awesome!
Thanks for letting me hang out at your house and at all of your pre-wedding craziness Kelly! I love ya! Congrats guys on almost 2 months of marriage-hood.
Friday, October 16, 2009
60 Days Later
So I have been MIA from the blog since August 17. That was like 60 days ago. Two months exactly- tomorrow. I can assure you that time was NOT spent frolicking around my house, eating candy and watching the TV. Here's a rundown since Camden left:
1. Camden left. Taking with him his mom and brother. My mom also went home, which left us in an empty house.
2. About 4 days later, Adam went to Promjam in Phoenix. And I got the Sokol pugs. There are three Sokol pugs.
3. About 3 days after Adam got back, I went to Colorado Springs, Colorado for Kelly Whitacre's wedding. 5 days later, I came home.
4. 3 days after I got home, we had the first of our several September house guests show up. Mary Ann and Dan Genzer came for Labor Day weekend. Dan was interviewing for a transfer and they were both house hunting in case the transfer went through. They left Austin on the Wednesday after Labor Day. They came on the 4th and left on the 9th.
5. And the next day, Thursday (October 10), Alec Holowka of Marian, Papermoon and Aquaria fame showed up for Austin GDC.
6. On Saturday (October 12), Phil Fish showed up.
7. On Monday (October 14), Flashbang and Data Realms and David Whitlark arrived. (4 from Flashbang, 1 from Data Realms and David.) Adam's mom also calls to let me know that Dave, Adam's brother, backed out of the 7 day rafting trip in the Grand Canyon and wanted to know if I wanted to take his place. I said yes. I had 16 days to get all of my gear.
8. Just a heads up, I am now up to 8 guests, 2 pugs, 1 chinchilla and me and Adam.
9. On October 15, Tuesday, Austin GDC started. During GDC I took photos for Offworld and Tigsource. I was also the transportation and logistics czar. In the middle of all this, Sebastian ripped through Dan Tabar's bag and ate all of his caffeine gum which prompted an emergency vet visit and a long sleepless night when I though my Sebastian was going to die.
10. On Thursday, October 17, Whitlark went home. On Friday, October 18, the first of Flashbang went home.
11. On Saturday (October 19), we had a "man-day" which involves rock climbing, burgers, shooting real guns, going to Total Recall at Mr. Pancake Theater, and then hitting Dirty 6th on a UT home football game night. It was crazy.
12. On Sunday, (October 20) Flashbang (3 left) and Dan Tabar went home. At this point we have two house guests.
13. Both Alec and Phil left on or a day before Tuesday, October 22. Because Jeff Lindsay arrived on Wednesday, October 23 for Fantastic Fest.
14. Fantastic Fest started on Thursday, October 24. We saw like 26 movies from 9/24 - 10/1. Jeff went home on 9/30.
15. Canabalt for the iPhone started releasing worldwide on 10/1 at 6 PM. That was midnight on 10/2, the official release date. Adam stays up all night getting emails, promotion codes, etc ready.
16. We road trip 16 hours to Phoenix on 10/2. My packing was horrible- except for the rafting trip. We had everything we needed for that, just not most of our toiletries, clothing, etc.
17. We roadtrip to Flagstaff on 10/3.
18. We arrive at the trip meeting place at 5 AM on 10/4. We go off-grid for 7 days as we raft 90 miles, from Lee's Ferry to the Bright Angel Trail, through the Grand Canyon which includes white water rafting. We hike out the Bright Angel Trail on 10/10 with 30 pound packs, up 5000 vertical feet over 7.5 miles. It takes all day.
19. We stay in the El Tovar hotel on the South Rim until Sunday, October 11th. We roadtrip back to Phoenix from the Grand Canyon.
20. We meet up with the indies at Tigjam which is being held at Flashbang on 10/11 in Tempe.
21. We hang out in Fountain Hills with Adam's mom until 10/14, when we leave late and roadtrip home 16 hours. On 10/13, Adam also does a radio show-thing in Phoenix.
22. We get home at 4 AM on 10/15. It was a rough drive home.
23. Our houseguests/house sitters were dealyed with their house closing, so we have house guests until this morning, which is 10/16.
And now we are home! Until Adam leaves me for London on the 26th.
This is the reason I haven't updated this blog since August 17th. Photos of the Grand Canyon trip forthcoming.
1. Camden left. Taking with him his mom and brother. My mom also went home, which left us in an empty house.
2. About 4 days later, Adam went to Promjam in Phoenix. And I got the Sokol pugs. There are three Sokol pugs.
3. About 3 days after Adam got back, I went to Colorado Springs, Colorado for Kelly Whitacre's wedding. 5 days later, I came home.
4. 3 days after I got home, we had the first of our several September house guests show up. Mary Ann and Dan Genzer came for Labor Day weekend. Dan was interviewing for a transfer and they were both house hunting in case the transfer went through. They left Austin on the Wednesday after Labor Day. They came on the 4th and left on the 9th.
5. And the next day, Thursday (October 10), Alec Holowka of Marian, Papermoon and Aquaria fame showed up for Austin GDC.
6. On Saturday (October 12), Phil Fish showed up.
7. On Monday (October 14), Flashbang and Data Realms and David Whitlark arrived. (4 from Flashbang, 1 from Data Realms and David.) Adam's mom also calls to let me know that Dave, Adam's brother, backed out of the 7 day rafting trip in the Grand Canyon and wanted to know if I wanted to take his place. I said yes. I had 16 days to get all of my gear.
8. Just a heads up, I am now up to 8 guests, 2 pugs, 1 chinchilla and me and Adam.
9. On October 15, Tuesday, Austin GDC started. During GDC I took photos for Offworld and Tigsource. I was also the transportation and logistics czar. In the middle of all this, Sebastian ripped through Dan Tabar's bag and ate all of his caffeine gum which prompted an emergency vet visit and a long sleepless night when I though my Sebastian was going to die.
10. On Thursday, October 17, Whitlark went home. On Friday, October 18, the first of Flashbang went home.
11. On Saturday (October 19), we had a "man-day" which involves rock climbing, burgers, shooting real guns, going to Total Recall at Mr. Pancake Theater, and then hitting Dirty 6th on a UT home football game night. It was crazy.
12. On Sunday, (October 20) Flashbang (3 left) and Dan Tabar went home. At this point we have two house guests.
13. Both Alec and Phil left on or a day before Tuesday, October 22. Because Jeff Lindsay arrived on Wednesday, October 23 for Fantastic Fest.
14. Fantastic Fest started on Thursday, October 24. We saw like 26 movies from 9/24 - 10/1. Jeff went home on 9/30.
15. Canabalt for the iPhone started releasing worldwide on 10/1 at 6 PM. That was midnight on 10/2, the official release date. Adam stays up all night getting emails, promotion codes, etc ready.
16. We road trip 16 hours to Phoenix on 10/2. My packing was horrible- except for the rafting trip. We had everything we needed for that, just not most of our toiletries, clothing, etc.
17. We roadtrip to Flagstaff on 10/3.
18. We arrive at the trip meeting place at 5 AM on 10/4. We go off-grid for 7 days as we raft 90 miles, from Lee's Ferry to the Bright Angel Trail, through the Grand Canyon which includes white water rafting. We hike out the Bright Angel Trail on 10/10 with 30 pound packs, up 5000 vertical feet over 7.5 miles. It takes all day.
19. We stay in the El Tovar hotel on the South Rim until Sunday, October 11th. We roadtrip back to Phoenix from the Grand Canyon.
20. We meet up with the indies at Tigjam which is being held at Flashbang on 10/11 in Tempe.
21. We hang out in Fountain Hills with Adam's mom until 10/14, when we leave late and roadtrip home 16 hours. On 10/13, Adam also does a radio show-thing in Phoenix.
22. We get home at 4 AM on 10/15. It was a rough drive home.
23. Our houseguests/house sitters were dealyed with their house closing, so we have house guests until this morning, which is 10/16.
And now we are home! Until Adam leaves me for London on the 26th.
This is the reason I haven't updated this blog since August 17th. Photos of the Grand Canyon trip forthcoming.
Monday, August 17, 2009
It's a Wrap
My foray into parenthood ended yesterday at 5 PM when we dropped Camden, Chan, and Asher off at the airport to fly home to Fresno. I didn't cry.
But I wanted to. I love that kid.
People have been asking me all summer how things are going. Are we able to handle his energy? Is he well behaved? How is it working from home and having a 6 year old running around like an idiot in the house? Is he expensive? Does he eat what you cook?
You know- it is all the questions you have been thinking.
The best one though is... "So Bekah, are you baby hungry yet?"
(This is Asher, my nephew, and Camden's little brother. He is 10 months old.)
The answer is no. But it isn't because Camden was such a handful- it has nothing to do with watching him all summer at all. I feel just the same about having a child of my own as I did before we took Camden for the summer. The sentiment is still the same- yes I would like kids of my own, but no I don't need to have one, like, tomorrow.
I loved hanging out at the pool, taking Cam to Sea World, teaching him how to ride a bike, taking him rock climbing, or to play in the fountains. It was fun playing video games with him, going to the library, reading books at night before bed. It was even fun cooking meals, grocery shopping for the truckloads of food he kiddo ate, and even, in those rare moments when he was being a pill, scolding him for being a total pain in the ass.
He is an amazing child and it was wonderful to have a playmate for 2 months. Not only did he learn how to swim, he learned how to swim underwater, without plugging his nose, in the deep end. And he is 6. He can dive to the bottom of the 8 foot deep end and fetch diving rings from the bottom of the pool. This is the kid who couldn't swim at all 8 weeks ago. He had to wear those arm floaties.
I am really going to miss having him here.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
The story of the wolf
Adam told me a story about a wolf pup raised by a human. It is an apt metaphor describing the last several weeks of my life.
The wolf was raised in a young mans house in the upper northwest. As the months passed the wolf's traits, his wolfy traits, started to show. The young man bought a new couch. He brought in the new, and took out the old. For several weeks the wolf crept around the house, avoiding the couch. It was something new and unknown, thrown into the midst of it's den. The wolf wasn't okay with it.
Eventually the wolf adopted it.
As any dog owner knows, intimately, the first year of a puppies life is fraught with adventure. Namely, the puppy is a crazy asshole and you have to chase it around making sure it behaves itself. Some of the things my own pug did when it was a puppy still make me and Adam laugh after 5 years. The wolf was no different. He chewed through things, on things, under things. He ate things he wasn't supposed to and fled the scene of the crime. But this was a wolf. Not a snub nosed pug.
To combat the dogs endless energy, the young man decided to run the wolf everyday.
They started out running one mile. After a week they upped that to 2 miles a day. After 4 or 5 weeks the young man noticed his clothes were getting too big and realized he was running at least 5 miles a day with the wolf. But the wolf still had boundless energy.
He upped his mileage a little more. 7 miles, 8 miles, 9 miles, even up to 10 miles a day.
On one particular Saturday he didn't feel like running. The wolf brought him his leash, expecting to go on his long run. The young man shoved him away, telling him he was too tired to go for a run that day. The wolf didn't like that. As the young man left to get the mail from the box, the wolf dashed out the door.
The young man gave the wolf chase. Miles and miles on their normal running route. Their entire running route. He dragged himself back to the house after his 10 mile chase, to find the wolf sitting on the porch, waiting for him to return.
With each step the young man took, running with the dog for those many weeks, he was only making the wolf more and more capable of running those extra distances. And he realized the wolf wasn't going on a run with the young man, the wolf was taking the young man on a run.
I have had a 6 year old for 7-8 weeks now living in my house. That first week we went to the pool for 45-60 minutes. And that wore him out. We gradually increased this to 2 hours and then added a morning bike ride. Then we upped the pool time to three hours, and added an evening bike ride. We are up to 4-5 hours at the pool now.
Who knew 6 year olds were actually wolf pups.
The wolf was raised in a young mans house in the upper northwest. As the months passed the wolf's traits, his wolfy traits, started to show. The young man bought a new couch. He brought in the new, and took out the old. For several weeks the wolf crept around the house, avoiding the couch. It was something new and unknown, thrown into the midst of it's den. The wolf wasn't okay with it.
Eventually the wolf adopted it.
As any dog owner knows, intimately, the first year of a puppies life is fraught with adventure. Namely, the puppy is a crazy asshole and you have to chase it around making sure it behaves itself. Some of the things my own pug did when it was a puppy still make me and Adam laugh after 5 years. The wolf was no different. He chewed through things, on things, under things. He ate things he wasn't supposed to and fled the scene of the crime. But this was a wolf. Not a snub nosed pug.
To combat the dogs endless energy, the young man decided to run the wolf everyday.
They started out running one mile. After a week they upped that to 2 miles a day. After 4 or 5 weeks the young man noticed his clothes were getting too big and realized he was running at least 5 miles a day with the wolf. But the wolf still had boundless energy.
He upped his mileage a little more. 7 miles, 8 miles, 9 miles, even up to 10 miles a day.
On one particular Saturday he didn't feel like running. The wolf brought him his leash, expecting to go on his long run. The young man shoved him away, telling him he was too tired to go for a run that day. The wolf didn't like that. As the young man left to get the mail from the box, the wolf dashed out the door.
The young man gave the wolf chase. Miles and miles on their normal running route. Their entire running route. He dragged himself back to the house after his 10 mile chase, to find the wolf sitting on the porch, waiting for him to return.
With each step the young man took, running with the dog for those many weeks, he was only making the wolf more and more capable of running those extra distances. And he realized the wolf wasn't going on a run with the young man, the wolf was taking the young man on a run.
I have had a 6 year old for 7-8 weeks now living in my house. That first week we went to the pool for 45-60 minutes. And that wore him out. We gradually increased this to 2 hours and then added a morning bike ride. Then we upped the pool time to three hours, and added an evening bike ride. We are up to 4-5 hours at the pool now.
Who knew 6 year olds were actually wolf pups.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Populous Rage
I am all for general populous rage. For example, I joined into the populous rage when it came to the war in Iraq, North Korea, anything that comes out of Iran's presidents mouth... media bias, etc. My populous rage is usually kept to myself- or to my husband or my mom who generally share my rage and views. These people I can rant to without offending or sounding like an idiot.
Which, by the way, I am sure I do sound like an idiot. That is kind of a side effect of populous rage. It comes with the territory.
I came across some populous rage today that I didn't share and was so hypocritical that it is still chafing my... well that would be pretty crude to share.
I understand the recession sucks. I really do! But I am also under no illusions to my own, my friends, my families, the companies I worked for in the past, and my neighbors part in creating the mess we are in. I also refuse to begrudge those who are financially more able during this recession the things which they are able to buy or experience. They prepared, or maybe they were just lucky- but it is their money to spend or their vacations to experience.
I came across an article with commentary about the presidents vacation to martha's vineyard. Half the people commenting were angsting against the presidents choice of going on vacation and the other half were of my opinion- which is thank god he is taking his family out of the white house for some one on one time- because lord knows he doesn't get any peace there!
I guess if I was able to go on a two week vacation to Europe in the midst of this recession, do you think I would care about what others around me thought? Do I care what others think about my purchasing Wicked tickets, or hopping off to Colorado Springs for the weekend, or road tripping to Phoenix so my husband can go on a Grand Canyon white water rafting trip, or my husband flying off to Montreal for a fun conference or spending T-Day in Michigan or or or... Do you think I feel guilty that we can do that and others can't? No. Do I think we should cancel our trips because others are suffering during this recession? No. Does that make me a bad example to others around me or does that mean I lack compassion? Of course not! Do I help as much as I can- what my own two hands and my pocket can help the needy? Of course! It is what is expected of me as a human being who loves their neighbor (well except the one to the left of us. I don't particularly care for that neighbor... but whatever.) We keep our volunteerism and donations and familial help private, but it is there and it something we love to give. Because we love to do it.
So back to the president... the guy works 24/7- ever day of the year, rain or shine, in war and in peace. So he takes his wife and two young daughters to a place where they can have some privacy. Maybe he wants to teach them to ride their bikes without the press snapping shots. Or maybe he wants to picnic in a field with his family while they eat watermelon and spit the seeds into the distance. Maybe he wants to grill in an apron that reads worlds best dad... and maybe he burns the hamburgers. Because this is a real person asked to do extraordinary things. I say give the guy his illusion of a vacation to a 5 star restaurant or an expensive private hideaway in martha's vineyard.
Populous rage or no.
Which, by the way, I am sure I do sound like an idiot. That is kind of a side effect of populous rage. It comes with the territory.
I came across some populous rage today that I didn't share and was so hypocritical that it is still chafing my... well that would be pretty crude to share.
I understand the recession sucks. I really do! But I am also under no illusions to my own, my friends, my families, the companies I worked for in the past, and my neighbors part in creating the mess we are in. I also refuse to begrudge those who are financially more able during this recession the things which they are able to buy or experience. They prepared, or maybe they were just lucky- but it is their money to spend or their vacations to experience.
I came across an article with commentary about the presidents vacation to martha's vineyard. Half the people commenting were angsting against the presidents choice of going on vacation and the other half were of my opinion- which is thank god he is taking his family out of the white house for some one on one time- because lord knows he doesn't get any peace there!
I guess if I was able to go on a two week vacation to Europe in the midst of this recession, do you think I would care about what others around me thought? Do I care what others think about my purchasing Wicked tickets, or hopping off to Colorado Springs for the weekend, or road tripping to Phoenix so my husband can go on a Grand Canyon white water rafting trip, or my husband flying off to Montreal for a fun conference or spending T-Day in Michigan or or or... Do you think I feel guilty that we can do that and others can't? No. Do I think we should cancel our trips because others are suffering during this recession? No. Does that make me a bad example to others around me or does that mean I lack compassion? Of course not! Do I help as much as I can- what my own two hands and my pocket can help the needy? Of course! It is what is expected of me as a human being who loves their neighbor (well except the one to the left of us. I don't particularly care for that neighbor... but whatever.) We keep our volunteerism and donations and familial help private, but it is there and it something we love to give. Because we love to do it.
So back to the president... the guy works 24/7- ever day of the year, rain or shine, in war and in peace. So he takes his wife and two young daughters to a place where they can have some privacy. Maybe he wants to teach them to ride their bikes without the press snapping shots. Or maybe he wants to picnic in a field with his family while they eat watermelon and spit the seeds into the distance. Maybe he wants to grill in an apron that reads worlds best dad... and maybe he burns the hamburgers. Because this is a real person asked to do extraordinary things. I say give the guy his illusion of a vacation to a 5 star restaurant or an expensive private hideaway in martha's vineyard.
Populous rage or no.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Laser Eye Update
So it has almost been one week since I got my eyes fixed and I am not exaggerating when I am saying this was the best thing I've ever done barring stuff like marrying my Adam, etc. I am loathe to remember that I wasted years debating whether or not I should do it because I was too scared and too cheap.
Did I have any pain from the surgery- not really. I had 20 minutes that felt like I had a ripped contact while I was basically asleep and where my eyes watered a whole lot. That was it. My eyes get dry right now but in like that "I've had my contacts in too long" sort of way. My eyes have felt great since i woke up from my nap after surgery- no pain and I could see. Seriously, last Friday night, less than 5 hours after surgery I could see and my eyes didn't hurt. it still feels surreal.
I went into the doc last Saturday for a quick check and my eyes tested at 20/20. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER! it was so cool. My flap was healing great and I went to Dallas for the weekend- driving the four hours home on Monday morning.I was able to go off my steroids and antibiotics after my appointment on Tuesday morning. now I only put artificial tears in my eyes if they dry out (and you buy those from like any drug store).
I see great, I don't have any severe light sensitivity and I can do anything- except swim (for another like 5-ish days.)
If my last post scared you- sorry... but I was terrified about how it would feel and I couldn't find anything online that described how the process felt as opposed to just telling me the process. I mean I know how the surgery works, I watched several- both at my own doctors office and online before deciding to get my eyes done. It was such a piece of cake compared to what I imagined.
I would do it again in a heartbeat- and I won't be concerned at all if i have to have mine altered in the next two years. It just isn't a big deal :D
Did I have any pain from the surgery- not really. I had 20 minutes that felt like I had a ripped contact while I was basically asleep and where my eyes watered a whole lot. That was it. My eyes get dry right now but in like that "I've had my contacts in too long" sort of way. My eyes have felt great since i woke up from my nap after surgery- no pain and I could see. Seriously, last Friday night, less than 5 hours after surgery I could see and my eyes didn't hurt. it still feels surreal.
I went into the doc last Saturday for a quick check and my eyes tested at 20/20. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER! it was so cool. My flap was healing great and I went to Dallas for the weekend- driving the four hours home on Monday morning.I was able to go off my steroids and antibiotics after my appointment on Tuesday morning. now I only put artificial tears in my eyes if they dry out (and you buy those from like any drug store).
I see great, I don't have any severe light sensitivity and I can do anything- except swim (for another like 5-ish days.)
If my last post scared you- sorry... but I was terrified about how it would feel and I couldn't find anything online that described how the process felt as opposed to just telling me the process. I mean I know how the surgery works, I watched several- both at my own doctors office and online before deciding to get my eyes done. It was such a piece of cake compared to what I imagined.
I would do it again in a heartbeat- and I won't be concerned at all if i have to have mine altered in the next two years. It just isn't a big deal :D
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