Renegade Family Photo-

These pictures were taken near Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. On a freezing balls cold day in December. Just in time for our Christmas Cards. Back to Red Rocks. It is a magical place. You should add it to your bucket list. You must MUST must see a concert at this natural amphitheater. I've seen so many acts here. Willie Nelson, MOBY, Stevie Nicks, Big Head Todd, Tool, Widespread Panic and a few more. It's awesome! On my bucket list??? Go to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Maybe the Los Angeles Philharmonic? Or Metallica with the Symphony?? Dream big.

What is on your musical bucket list??

my annual post!!

Seriously? Last September was my last post Jeesh. I don't get out much! Well, it's summer here in the Mile Hi City. It's actually probably summer in most of North America. But, this summer has been remarkably superb! I'm not a gambler, but if I were, I'd dare to say that any summer that kicks off with my friends: Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, is going to be a GREAT summer!!!! Speaking of SATC, (if you don't know. you really should. and you should ask someone. and we probably would not be friends!!) Anyway, SATC. I'm not sure when they started serving alcohol in the movie theaters? And, I'm not sure, it was a great idea?? Regardless, here is a pic of me and my best girlfriend in the bar of the theater. Yes, that's right. It's ridiculous!!!

We've gone camping three times. And by camping. I mean, within 3 square miles of the nearest coffee shop,in an RV, with showers and a swimming pool And, lest you judge, this is all the husbands idea. He will NOT tent camp. He's totally over it. And I'm totally into HIM, so I oblige. This is my favorite picture of my whole entire life:

Sorry sweets. And by sweets, I mean me. Because I have yet to market this piece of me. No idea. Right now my marketing plan simple: If I build it, they will come.

Jeni Lately!

I just love the show Chelsea Lately. That reminds me, I must check out her books from the library! I've started reading the bible too. Roxie gave me a bible for my birthday and I just started reading Esther. I thought I should pick a chick to read first!! So far so good! Esther had her v-card and her soon to be husband, Sir King so and so ordered her to have 12 months of beauty/spa treatments. That's pretty romantic in my book!

Running is going well. I have been doing some kick butt playlists, keeping daily contact with my virtual running buddy and stalking some online message boards. I'm running tommorow morning too!

Eating is going okay. I upped my calories to 1800 this morning b/c I was not sticking to 1500 calories, eating sugar and feeling bad. I think I have some fucked up eating intuitions, so I've reserved the book Intuitive Eating at the library. I'm hoping that will work out my kinks. I'm also considering a dietician of some sort! I really want a healthy relationship with food. I love myself and I love my body. I just want to be healthier. No self hate/loathing here!!

Work is going well. Sometimes I get frustrated because several of my co-workers are atheists, don't believe in God and very vocal about it. They are also extremely liberal in their views which is hard for me, because I'm mostly conservative! I believe our government is getting too big and taking control of too much and it quite frankly scares the shit out of me. I feel if you are irresponsible with your spending, then maybe you should be held accountable, not given aid. I could go on and on and on and on and on. But, I'll save that for another day. Hugs and Kisses.

Mo' running!

Okay, so a few months ago, I visited my very best bestie, Mandy, in Baton Rouge....ugggg!! no pics on this computer..anyway....we went for a 4 mile run and ended with a snowcone in the parking lot....they do that in Louisiana...they sell snowcones in the parking lot of running/walking paths....AWESOME....they don't do that in Colorado....anyway, anyway, anyway.......we decided we were going to run a 1/2 marathon in Lincoln, NE (our homestate) in May 2010....holy wow!!...here's ma plan, suckkas:

Begin the one hour runner (OHR) on 09/21/09 (my three year running anniversary)
Run a TurkeyTrot on Turkey Day 2009
Finish OHR on 11/28/09
December: run 30 min/Monday, run 40 min/Wednesday, run long run/Saturdays
Jan: start pre training for 1/2 via coolrunning
Feb: run a 10k
Feb 15: begin 1/2 training

awesome!

I SWEAT in gym class.

That is my new mantra. It's true. There's a story behind it. When I was in high school, my mom returned from parent/teacher conferences. My gym teacher told her that "Jeni does well in class, but, she's not one to sweat in class". At the time I was thinking, duh!!, why sweat in gym class, ruins the day!!

Fast forward to my enlightenment about 2 weeks ago....I want to sweat in gym class...i want to put effort into what I am doing...whether it is my career, my relationship, my mothering, my RUNNING, etc...so, there you have it...

and NOW, is time for some goals:

RUNNING
1. run 3 times a week (larry's loop, sarah's loop, long loop)
2. sign up to run a 5k in November...turkey trot?
3. start training for the Lincoln Half Marathon at the New Year
4. Holy bejeezus. Run/Finish the Lincoln Half.
5. Run my race, for me, by me. Don't worry about other people. Oh yes, and sweat!

MY CAREER
1. check weekly denver post for jobs.
2. check weekly judicial postings.
3. keep my appearance up, SS!!!, better feeling=more marketable, sucks but true
4. stay on top of my current workload.
5. apply to atleast one job per month...

MY RELATIONSHIP
1. be someone that he looks forward to coming home too
2. smile big whenever he walks in the room
3. once a week, ebb with his flo, whatever it may be....burgers at Jays? sure!!
4. once a month....make his lunch (he really digs this crap)
5. look and feel my best...:)

MY MOTHERING
1. read to him once a day (in addition to bedtime books)
2. spend time looking at his fish with him, once a day
3. once a week, take him on an outdoor adventure
4. smile big whenever he walks in the room
5. never let go of his hugs first!

and that my friends, is all for now!!

Glad I'm not a follower!!

Gah. If I were following my blog. Which none of you are. Anyway, if I were following my blog,I would be pissed off. No new posts in 4 months??? Are you, am I crazy. Boring. But I'm here. I'm queer. Get used to me. No, I'm not queer. But I like to rhyme. Time. You dig??

Because, a blog ain't a good one without the eye candy....




Anyway, on to more important things....oops, more candy.


okay...

i'm done.

P.S: OMG, i'm famous!!! I've had my first comment on a previous post!!! Thank you!

Stop right there!

I'm warning you. There is a lot of cussing in this blog. Which is weird really, because in real life, i'm not much of a cusser. Okay, that might be a lie. But, I definitely know when to cuss and when not to cuss. On my blog = okay. Around my 4 year old= not okay.

I did a whole bunch of checking and unchecking on my blog today. And then I posted a comment that was not anonymous on another blog. And now I'm paranoid that others are going to read this blog. And then I decided oh well, no one I really know in real life will read this blog. Then I went and edited the post where I bitched and moaned about everyone i know and everything i do. Just in case.

This woman right here....she's a keeper!

This is Beverly. Or as I like to call her, Bevie. Or as River likes to call her, barewy....she has been a part of our family since our baby was 6 weeks old. I am blogging about her because I don't want time to ever be able to erase the gratitude I have for her in my heart. One day she was a stay at home grandma, content with taking care of Amanda and going about life as she knew it. The next day, she was meeting me, my hubby and our teeny tiny little boy. You see, River was a little early and a little little. He had a few health concerns and that left us, unprepared. unprepared. and oh yes, unprepared. Normally i'm a plan ahead type of chick. Which still baffles me, why at 37 weeks, i did not even begin to consider childcare for my baby, for when i had to return to work. It's as if God said, "everybody just chill out, i got this!"....so there we were, in her living room, meeting her for the first time.....beverly is kinda sorta not really related to us....she is (are you ready?) justin's step-brother's ex wife's mother.....neat huh???....she had heard about our dreamy mcpreemie and thought maybe she could help us out with childcare for a few months....well, a few months led to 4 years...during that 4 years, she went above and beyond the call of duty...she was AWESOME....she loves River like he is her own grandchild...he's had her wrapped around his finger since the day she met him...she was an intrical part of his first 4 years...i trust her with my heart (after all, that is what he is!!) and never EVER had to worry about him, knowing he was in good hands!...river stayed home with me until 11:15 every morning, went to Beverly's until daddy picked him up, every day for four years....river and amanda were the only kids at Bevie's and Amanda is school aged, so Bev and Riv logged a lot of hours together....there were their weekly trips to the bread store, there outings to the craft store, countless hours in her backyard, and even several golf tounaments (she got him hooked on golf!!)...we knew it wouldnt last forever...and this year, Beverly gave us plenty of notice that she would like to officially retire.....we ended up finding a school and river has since started attending...it is where he needs to be...he is progressing as he should...but i will have to tell you....nothing can bring tears to my eyes as instantly as thinking about our Bevie....she helped create my son and who he is today...and for that, i am beyond eternally and forever grateful!!!

Dear self,

dude!!! you are only 33!!! Quit thinking you are 34!!! I mean, we know you love Elton John, Willie Nelson and you like to go to bed early, but do we really need to really forget 33? What did 33 do to you anyway!!

Love,
Your beautiful 33 year old lovin' self

P.S: I know your 33 because I just pulled out the calculator. 2008 minus 1975 is 33 (haven't had a birthday in 2009). Laugh if you must, this is life on the OTHER side of the brain!!

If it were up to me....

I would live in my cute litte house, in my semi-cute little neighborhood, have my son go to the same cute little school, keep the same cute, er, shitty little job and keep my cute little husband the same every day for the rest of my God given life. I mean what is so BAD about all this?? Nothing really. But, the J man every once and awhile decides he needs a change. He would like to move. But, i don't want to move!!! or do i?? are we going to be able to sell our home?? i don't know. where in the hell am i going to find a job in the economy we have right now???ugggg....

well, on to bigger. and brighter. and more beautiful things. like, my little boy who is quickly. surely. before my very eyes. turning into a big boy.

Precious precious precious

is my time spent with family...after a whirlwind Christmas, i was left feeling void...of real and true quality time with some of my favorite people....so, as tradition dictates, we met in kearney...woo hoo....kearney, home of my alma mater and home to so many memories....also home to the 1/2 way spot between mamabear and me....so, we (gwammie, mamabear, river, me, aunt mary and amanda) met on a friday night at the good ole' Hampton Inn...best hotel on earth, imo....we had pizza from valentinos...went swimming...woke up and ate breakfast....went to lunch with bambi and family...went to target...bought some things...two dresses, underwear, shoes, yes, it was a good shopping trip...yee haw...went to the mall for more shopping and so river could play with the train set in the middle of the mall....back to the hotel....more swimming, more eating....stayed up late chatting...next day, run in the workout room, breakfast, drove home....i swear, it's weekends like that, they recharge my batteries, help me focus, cleanse my brain and boost my endorphins...it was good...it was all good....and here are some pictures to prove...