Finding a new roomate is NOT fun to do!

At my house right now we're looking for a new roommate. I can safely say it is not one of my favorite past times.

I've placed an ad on a website and I get calls and emails from scam artists. The format for their replies is usually the same even though the sender names differ. I've even had several replies with pictures attached and the same woman is in the replies but the sender names are different from the inquiring potential roommates.

There was a great potential roommate that seemed normal in talking to her, but things got funny once I started checking her references. She gave me disconnected phone numbers and didn't give me new reference contacts when I explained the ones she gave me were disconnected. She was supposed to call and talk to my roommate Anna and she told me she had tried several times to contact her when in fact she hadn't. I happily told her we weren't interested.

I've had people talk my ear off and make appointments to come to the house and then not show up. There was a girl who came and spent more time playing with Pili than talking to me about the house. And there was a girl who had a ferret and promised it was an outdoor pet when I explained the $100 pet deposit as well as our house isn't looking for any more pets.

Its tough making sure Anna and my schedules match the time the potential roommate wants to come look. Its also hard when we really like somebody who visits and they call to say they chose another place.

Its been an adventure talking and emailing these potential roommates. I've been at my house for almost a year and a half and its never taken more than 2 weeks to find a new roommate.

As with anything I do I'm not giving up. I just wish the process wasn't taking so long and wasn't full of so many crazy experiences!

The cold that kicked my butt was good for me?!

On Saturday April 11 I woke up with a terrible cold. I was supposed to run in a 5K at the U of U institute but I felt terrible! I couldn't even walk upstairs to put Pili outside. I spent the weekend and 3 days of the next week in bed. My roommate Anna was a fantastic nurse for me. I had no appetite and barely ate. Then there was the nasal drip and congestion that had me coughing up mucus. Plus I had a horrible cough that kept me from sleeping through the night.

The worst part about being sick was that I wasn't able to run. I've been training since February for my race in June and I was heartbroken that I was sick and stuck home in bed. The week before getting sick I had hit a wall with my training. I was convinced I had taken on too big a challenge running the Wasatch Back and that my knees weren't able to handle it and the thought also came to me that my weight isn't in the "ideal" range and that should be holding me back too. All these thoughts ate at me and when mixed with stress at work I think my body shut down and made me take a break.

I started running Wednesday April 22 and I was still coughing, but only for 20 minutes after my run. The night coughing had ended. Being sick only made me miss 6 run days. And for the last 2 weeks I've been more focused and determined and stronger in my training. I'm gaining muscle and I'm losing weight. And just pressing on each and every day.

This isn't easy for me. Like I said I've got extra weight on me and knees with no cartilage and this race is a big challenge. The thing I'm learning and proving to myself is that its amazing what we can accomplish with a heart full of desire and a goal. I sure know I'm doing more than I thought I could or have been told I could. And really, I'm loving every minute of it.

I'm 30 now

This year's birthday was a milestone for me - I turned 30. Over the last few months before my birthday I had many ideas for my party but ended up finally feeling most comfortable with a formal dinner at the house with my roommates and a few other of my favorite people. And lots of my favorite color - PINK!!!
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All guests were given or mailed official invitations and asked to RSVP. The house was decorated beautifully! My roommates made an adorable sign that I was so surprised to see and absolutely loved! The dinner table was covered in rose petals from flowers I'd received from my visiting teachers and each person had a place card. My roommates also gave me a Happy Birthday tiara and a Birthday Girl sash that was of course - pink!

We ate a fantastic meal of some of my favorite things. Salad was by my roommate Sarah. She makes the best salads and that night was no exception. She combined lettuce and spinach and bacon and almond slivers and strawberries and we had our choice of salad dressing. Our main course was my own homemade lasagna. I like toconsider it my signature dish. Its one of a few things I make and don't even use a recipe card. Our dessert was of course - birthday cake!!! The cake came from Costco and is so delicious!! It was a 4 layer chocolate cake with chocolate icing and chocolate shavings.

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After dinner there was conversation and opening of presents. It was fun to be asked what advice I'd give after 30 years of life. After teasing and saying not to spit into the wind or tug on Superman's cape I told my guests that I think the most important things in life are not things, do the things that scare you the most, and solve grudges you hold as soon as you can. Over the last year of my life I really feel so settled and have been able to take on risks and things that scare me with just the promise of no longer having the fear. I've enjoyed trying new things and making sure every day is just another adventure.

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As with all good things, the evening came to an end. One by one the guests went home and my roommates and I sat around basking in the joy of the day.

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By the way - Just in case you were wondering, I DID blow out all 30 candles. Don't go thinking you know what I wished for. Its not at all what you'd be expecting I'm sure. I'll make sure to let you know the details as soon as it comes true. I should be able to report back around July with that one.....