23 goals/adventures/things before 24

Well, here it is, this year's list of 23 things to do before I turn 24:
1. Scrapbook my London experience
2. Graduate from BYU
3. Complete an internship
4. Get a full time job
5. Go to Washington D.C.
6. Visit somewhere I've never been
7. Get a credit card
8. Go to the temple at least once each month
9. Do something that scares me
10. Move out of my parent's house
11. Finish my quilt (or at least start it)
12. Work on Family History
13. Blog once a week
14. Visit Alyson and Kenny in Florida
15. Visit Nick and Amanda in Virginia
16. Visit a national park
17. Take the GRE
18. Fall in love with a person, place, or hobby
19. Become a runner
20. Be better at staying in touch with friends
21. Accomplish all 12 of my new year's resolutions
22. Forgive
23. Visit campus with my parents and have them tell me stories from when they were in college (this counts as family history, right?)

put me back in the game, coach

So this past Saturday I decided I was done being a lump on a log and decided to get up early (or as early as sane people can get up on a Saturday morning which meant 7:30AM) and go for a walk/jog.  This was the first time I've really done substantial amount of walking/running/movement since before my surgery.  I was nervous but excited.  The plan was to walk for five minutes and jog for one minute and it felt amazing.  The first round of jogging was exhilarating!

When we finished, I thought we had walked just over a mile and I was happy with that, but I was mistaken.  I mapped our run today, and we actually went 2.25 miles!!  I am so happy/proud/excited that it was double what I thought we had done (It also helps me feel better about how sore I was)!  I can't wait to get out again and continue to feel and watch my body continue to heal itself.  It's been really hard to go from finishing a half marathon just a few years ago to barely walking a couple of miles, but I know if I work hard I can get back to where I was!

(Running in the St. George Marathon in 2010)

To help me get back to running, I am planning on following the schedule below.  Anyone is welcome to join me in my endeavors.  It's going to be hard (because it's SO hot outside) but it's going to be worth it!!

excuses

A list of lame and not so lame reasons for not blogging:

1. I had my leg sliced open by a doctor 3 weeks ago yesterday.  For over a year I have been experiencing some pretty intense Achilles Tendon pain, and after visiting multiple physical therapists and doctors without any improvement, I took the plunge and had a gastrocnemius recession surgery.  I would post a link or a video about what it is, but I can't because I tried and I felt sick.  You want to tell me about your surgery or watch open heart surgery together, I'm all for it, but you want me to research what surgery I had or watch a video of someone getting their leg sliced open, I'm out.

2. Because of said surgery I took all of my finals in two days... before they were even open.  On the last day of class I took three finals and on the first reading day I took two.  Don't worry, I'm alive, so I obviously survived.  I'm not gonna lie though, it was rough.  I am proud to report, however, I cried only once in public. The following are pictures of partying in the library with the beautiful Jill.

You know I need two computers to do my homework.

Studying is never complete without snacks and music.

Jill the Hottie.

1.5 hours BEFORE we left.

3. I got a new job!!  I am the letter of recommendation specialist for BYU's preprofessional advisement center.  If you are applying to medical/dental/podiatry school and you have letters of recommendation sent to our office, you know I'll be reading them, processing them, and then sending them to wherever you would like across the country or world.

4. Spring term has begun.  I am taking Statistics and Public Speaking.

5. The weather is beautiful outside.