post-graduation plans... sort of

A couple of weeks ago I graduated:

So I decided I deserve a vacation:

holla

So I've made zero progress in accomplishing the run/walk plan I mentioned in this post, but don't you worry because this morning I got up at 5:35 AM and went on a bike ride with my momma.  It felt so good and I'm so happy I went even though I have been literally falling asleep at work today, it was totally worth it.  I hope that I'll be able to remember how awesome it was and I'll be able to get up early for the rest of the summer to exercise!

On a completely separate note, I am leaving tomorrow to make my way to CALIFORNIA and I can't wait. The beach, shopping, Disneyland, and just everything about Southern California is so great.  Be ready for the greatest blog post of your lives when I get back (Or rather a super long post about me and my amazing trip to California).

I got this picture on geoguessr right after my last post.  I guessed off the coast of California.  It was in Australia.

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!!

so many wonderful things

First item of business: the surgeon "released" me to full activity this past Friday.  I've already gone crazy and splashed it up at Seven Peaks.  I know I need to calm it right down.

On a separate note, I can't believe Spring is over and Summer has begun!  Spring was so much fun!  

Parties and games and WARM WEATHER. 

Men's Soccer games with friends!!

Thank goodness Stats will never be a part of my life ever again. Those cheerios are important to point out because they were the only thing I ate that day thanks to food poisoning.  I pulled through but my stats grade is still questionable.

Supporting my amazing roommates in the intramural tourney.  Of course, I would have played if I had not had my leg sliced open the week the season started.  Next semester I'm going to be out there tearin up the field though. Be ready.

I saved the best for last.  I became an aunt!!  This pretty lady is my most favorite niece in the entire world!!  I just want to hold her an snuggle her all. the. time.  It will be my worst day when July 25 rolls around and she and her wonderful parents move to Virginia for FOUR YEARS.  Good thing they invented things like the world wide web and skype so that we can be friends forever even 2,000 miles away.

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.

highlights from my day

1. Whilst taking pictures of campus, I traipsed across one of the grassy knolls by the JSB/Benson fishbowl area only to find as I descended the small hill a swampy wetland hidden by the grass.  Luckily, I was wearing my sandals, so I was able to make the long, muddy footed, trek to the Eyring Science Center(where I decided would be the safest/least busy bathroom) to use hundreds, if not thousands, of paper towels to clean my foot/shoe.

2. I saw a professor running to class.  At least I am fairly positive it was a professor, he looked older and was carrying a briefcase, and looked like he could have a PhD.

3. Avoid the bathrooms in the RB.  They're just sub-par compared to the rest of campus.

(This is a picture of me 'studying'-let's be honest, it's from the first week of school.)