Running: Past and Future

I wrote all about my first 1/2 marathon previously.

And I was going to count the 19+ mile walk my roommate and I took from the tip to tip of Manhattan (check out more on Twitter - @nicoleinrussia under #NYC13plusmiles) for the other 1/2.

Instead, at work today my colleague told me I should join her and some others on our team in running the Brooklyn Rock'n'Roll 1/2 marathon on 10.10.2015.

So I got on my computer and registered.

happy birthday to me?! :)

Nauvoo, Illinois

City Beautiful, that's what Nauvoo means.

And it is a beautiful city. I feel lucky to have visited it twice.

One time was on our way back from Branson, MO. And I was in a lot of pain. I remember walking around with my bandages ankles and reading about the sacrifices the pioneers made and thinking about what they were forced to endure. It made me cry, and it made me grateful that my problems and pain suddenly seemed small in comparison.

I think that captures the most meaningful thing between both visits.

Pennsylvania: Philly and Otherwise

I suppose I could just double count my Spring Break road trip my first college roommate and I took where we went to her home in Allentown, PA and then drove to New Jersey, and visited New York. And while that was a wonderful, relaxing experience with lots of fun (like when her sister and I rode bikes over to watch tagged railroad cars drive by), let’s talk Philly.

The first time I went to Philly was after my college graduation. My parents came out, and we took a little trip over to visit our former across the street neighbors. It was so fun to see them again, and also great to explore the city. I loved seeing the historic sections and learning more about Ben Franklin.

I loved it so much, that years later when I was looking to find a job in a new city, I contacted the same family and asked if I could come stay with them for a few days and follow up on some potential job leads.

This trip was also a lot of fun, and filled more with home things. I worked out in the basement with them, and watched the kids one night so they could go out, and watched Dickens and knitted with the girls. I love having “normal” experiences in different places and getting a feel for what they are like.

I can’t write about PA and not mention Gettysburg. Both on my Spring Break trip, and during a ward campout while living in the D.C. area I was able to go to that incredible, sacred place. I am awed by the experiences of those who were involved in that brutal, bloody battle. I am grateful for men and women who are willing to give their lives to fight for liberty and make the life I know and love possible.

A Drive to Maine

Twice while living in Boston I drove to Maine.

The first time was when my dad was in town on business and we decided to drive up since neither of us had been there.

We didn't get that far into the state, but we did check out Kennebunkport - the town and their lighthouse. And we did drive up and down the coast a bit. I think this trip might be where my desire to own/ run a Bed & Breakfast came from.

The second time some friends and I decided we wanted to go camping in Arcadia National Park, the oldest National Park.

I told one of my classmates, who happened to be from Maine, and he was shocked that we were going to drive "that far!" which made me nervous. "Did I just commit to a 13 hour drive without knowing it?!" I asked myself. Nope, turns out "so far" was less than 5 hours (in good traffic, which is most of the time in Maine - if it's not snowing :) and for a girl who grew up in a state that is more than 5 hours from top to bottom and who has taken several cross country drives, that didn't seem bad at all.

What a beautiful area, and such a fantastic trip. Between the amazing fall foliage, and the partner yoga moments, and the incredible hike (where we took the LONG way back), and setting up tents in the dark - this was definitely a trip to remember!

Ohio: Two Temples

Kirtland Ohio is probably not high on most people's to-visit list. But it is awesome.

This is where the longest standing temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is. While it is no longer owned by the Church (and hasn't been since they were driven out of town in the 1800s), you can still go in and look around. There is also a visitors center nearby that is operated by missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It's such a beautiful area, and I'm glad we made it a stop on our road trip.

We were also able to stay with my friends family near Columbus, so we got to see another temple.

Plus, her cousins gave us a grab bag full of the best snacks to take with us on the next leg of our road trip! Yum :)

Flute Lessons: Groupon Purchased

I've played the flute since 9th grade, but besides my neighbor sitting me down and teaching me to make a sound (using a glass bottle) and giving me a fingering chart, I've never had lessons.

A couple years ago at a fundraising auction to send our local NYC youth to camp outside the city, I bought 2 lessons - and despite trying to coordinate, we were never able to make the lessons happen.

So about a week ago I purchased a Groupon for lessons from a professional studio in Manhattan!

Flute lessons, here I come!

Arizona: Grand Canyon and Last Minute Road Trips

How to choose between the Grand Canyon and a spontaneous road trip to visit a friend? Don’t! write about them both :)

I believe I was in high school when we went as a family to visit the Grand Canyon. I remember it being one of the most incredible things I had ever seen or imagined, and to this day it still is high on the list.

One thing that sticks in my mind about that trip and experience was from one of the hikes we went on. I have always loved water (always as in from infancy – as in my parents used the sound of it to distract me so they could change my diaper and hearing it would often make me stop crying). On one of our hikes, I noticed a small dripping sound. When I located it, I saw the beginnings of a stalagmite (that’s the one that builds from the ground up, right?).

It awed me – that a tiny thing like a drip of water could build a totally new structure over a long time.

I wanted to remember that, and to emulate that. To know that with consistent, and often seemingly so small, effort I could do incredible things. Things that seemed too hard at first. And to remember that even seemingly insurmountable things are possible with perseverance.

Years later I went back to Arizona shortly after graduating undergrad. A number of us were living in Utah for the summer, and one of our dear friends was living in Arizona and having a bit of a rough go of it. So we packed ourselves into a car and drove down to visit, as a surprise. She was definitely surprised! It was such a cool thing to be a part of – to see her, to have her show us her part of the world, to leave her with her spirits lifted.

The Book of Mormon: Another Witness of Jesus Christ

This project has been a long time in the making. It's something I've thought about for years, and once I finally started it took me a couple more to finish.

I've know for a long time that The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ. That it builds upon and adds to the witness of Christ in the New Testament. That it gives insight into some of the passages from the Old Testament. But there was something about physically coloring in each reference to Jesus Christ and God the Father that made it even more real.

At first I was highlighting in olive green colored pencil in a soft copy version. Then, when I went to visit my brother in North Dakota, I took it with me to finish the last 10 pages, and what do you know? I left it at his house.

Naturally, I asked him to ship it to me, and I had him send it to my office to avoid some of the problems I've had with things coming to my apartment. And naturally, the Post Office says they delivered it, and I don't have it.

My initial reaction was to assume that all was lost and I'd never finish this project. Luckily for me, a wise friend told me I should just do the last 10 pages online. Genius!

When I first woke up this morning, I read the last chapter, which contains my favorite scripture:

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

What a great way to finish this goal, and start my day!

Two for One! Alaska AND a Cruise

When people ask me how my trip to Alaska was, I have two answers:

1. It was so beautiful and peaceful
2. I could live there

People always question my second answer: "Are you sure? What about the snow? You weren't there in the winter."

Honestly, I think that the dark would be more of an issue for me than snow. I love snow. And while I don't love being cold, I love so many things related to cold: sweaters; tights; boots; layers; snow; seeing your breath in the air... and as people also love to point out, I keep choosing to go to cooler places - like going to St. Petersburg in February and taking a cruise to Alaska instead of the Caribbean. 

As far as the cruise itself goes, it was great. I ate WAY too much - both at the all you can eat buffet and at the fancy sit down option (The Boudreaux). But dressing up and going to dinner with my family was fun.

And then there were the amazing views! Both from the ship, and from land. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves (with a few captions) and you can decide for yourself if you could live in a place as incredible as this:

While I think I would have loved seeing Alaska no matter how I did, seeing several different cities, and Glacier National Bay and College Fjord was INCREDIBLE.

There are too many words for this one and about as many pictures, so in choosing between the two, I’ll opt for (mostly) pictures.

*Warning, I may live in Alaska someday

We stumbled on this walking in a neighborhood - so great!!

Part of our Zipline Crew

This is the Church building in Skagway - built by locals!

I read this sign, took a picture, and then proceeded to NOT prepare for the hike we went on that afternoon :)

Some panorama picture taking fun - Craig fighting himself!

Puddles AND reflections!

"Movies Under the Stars" - or in this case, ominous clouds...