• Random and Odd


    Going home!, originally uploaded by Suddenly Single.

    Saturday morning I was hell bent on sleeping in, but I woke up at 6am and couldn’t go back to sleep. So much for the excitement of not setting that damn alarm!
    I logged on Facebook and chatted with an old high school friend for an hour and then right as I was debating if I wanted to go for a jog or stay in bed and watch an old 80’s movie, I got a text from Tabitha.
    “Best time yet!” followed by her 2 mile time and picture.
    I love her, I truly do, but I could have killed her at 7am when my guilt started kicking in.
    I had eaten 4 bites of fettuccine the night before and the brain twisting guilt was too much to handle. I grabbed the phone and pulled another early morning phone call to the ex. “Get up. Going on a hike.” He agreed in another sleep induced fog.
    We grabbed a couple bananas and granola bars, which he enjoyed giggling over the fact that he called it bird food, and some water and headed back up to Foresthill, which is quickly becoming my favorite place in the world.

    On our way up to the hike, we both had joked around that we were going to probably push each other off the cliff, dump the body in a dumpster…typical joking stuff.
    The first leg of the hike was straight up hill. Before the second switch back I was certain this was his plan, to kill me with this hill…then I remembered it was my idea.
    We stopped and looked over the cliff edge and I looked at him and said, “You realize that if one of us doesn’t come back, after the comments on facebook, one of us is going to jail for murder?”

    On the way up the second switchback I was cursing at him for his ability to just chit chat away and none of his talking included, “Holy fuck this is steep fucking hill, what the fuck are we doing this for again?” because that was going through my head the whole time.

    By the time we got to the top of where I put my foot down as ‘far as I will go uphill’ I had gotten past the whole “i wanna go home, this sucks, why am I doing this, i hate outside, I hate that man, my legs hurt, my feet hurt, i’m thirsty.” silent temper tantrum I was having. I was actually enjoying the burn and the lack of air.
    We agreed to try this trail and see where it took us. The first part seemed like a walk in the park with trees, streams, nature…not a sound but Dan’s talking and our feet hitting the rocks. We found a steep part that was meant for mountain biking and ended up jogging down it. There was only one point where I got scared. It wasn’t the cliff or the momentum I gained running down the hill. It was the 3 mountain bikes that came out of NO WHERE at a speed I have never seen a bike go! I swear on all that is holy that I screamed like Pee Wee Herman and nearly ended up jumping on Dan’s back I was so scared. Of course I laughed and felt really sorry for the mountain bikers because I think i scared two of them into taking a whole new route.

    After we got back to the car, we decided to push forward a little further and ended up walking another 2 miles. We found the most beautiful part of the river because of it.

    It might not have been the smartest thing to do, but I then got in the car for three hours and drove to Redding. By Williams my legs were cramping up. Even smarter than that was the three miles I walked with my sister the next morning on the river trail. The fact that walking to the jeep hurt should have been the first clue for me to knock it off, but I love the river trail and didn’t want to miss out. AND because of it…i was rewarded. I accomplished my 30 miles in 30 days goal that my friend had set for herself and motivated us to follow along.
    This woman is such an inspiration with all that she does for her family and her friends.

    This next weekend, I am going to sleep in on Saturday and on Sunday I am going to take my friend out to hike, because football…CAN SUCK IT.
    (that feels like one of the best habits I have ever quit!)

  • Random and Odd

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    Sometimes our skydiving pictures get old. That is why we decided to narrate this one.

    Kristine: “Wendi…where did you put the cooler of beer?”
    Wendi: “FUCK! it’s in the raft!”

  • Random and Odd

    I had to laugh…

    Kara and Marina had their college night and when Tabitha showed up to pick me up, I giggled.
    We were both wearing jeans, black boots and a red jacket. Apparently the ex-wives club has a dress code!

    This year so far has been amazing. I’ve added a few more things to the list of crap I am doing to keep moving. In February I am walking the Golden Gate bridge. Seeing that I am dragging poor Tabitha along on all the things I’m doing, I invited her to be my Valentine’s date on the bridge. She has agreed to join me. This means of course that I will need to help her clean her car so she can drive us.

    I signed up for a 5k in April…and yes, I talked this poor woman into it too. I am SO proud of her. She’s been going out in the mornings and running to prepare. We have a theme song, “Ain’t no stopping us now!”. It’s amazing how your life can change when you start looking at yourselves through the eyes of those that TRULY loves and cares about you. We see strength in each other and don’t forget to remind each other of those strengths. There are times when we forget how awesome we are, and just about then we are reminded.
    Sometimes by the sheer stupidity of other people we are reminded.

    We are up to about 30 people that are going to climb Lassen in August. I put it up on Facebook and there are some people not on Facebook that are going that have committed. I’m aware that probably more than half may be unable to attend when the time comes, but I am doing my best to keep people motivated. I contact my friend Matt every other day or so to check in on his progress. I swear, people need to not telling me what they want to do when they are drinking. He told me he wanted to lose weight so I gave him my treadmill and I am hounding him. I’m sure he’s going to kill me by the end of February.
    I get how poor Matt feels because my boss keeps making me feel bad for not joining him on his half marathon. I told him, “Oh hells no!” and he gave me that, “If I can do it, you can do it” look. He did convince me to sign up for the 5k so he can TRY to be a little nicer. He’s going to have me running one of these nearly every month at the rate he is going! (I might need to quit my job to avoid shin splints!)
    Did I mention how much I think running is just retarded all the way around? It is. totally wrong.

    So on that note, my life is busy and that is good. It gives me less time to think about my personal life which is…chaotic and confusing. I just know where I am in my life and I have no control over where anyone else is.
    I know what is enough for me. It’s enough that I have many great things coming up including the Oka Cup which I can’t want to go to and get some amazing pictures and enjoy time with all my sky family. I’m bringing Chocolate cake for Craig to insure I have a spot on the floor when I pass out from too much fun.

    I heard a song the other day I haven’t heard in a long time by Faith Hill…”Keep Walkin on.”
    “Well the road is narrow and it’s straight
    But it leads right up to the Golden Gate
    It may be rough it may be long
    But I don’t have to walk alone
    Step by step and day by day
    He takes my hand and I hear Him say
    Keep walkin’ on, gotta keep walkin’ on
    Oh, keep walkin’ on, oh keep walkin’ on”

    I am…and I am not alone. I have a lot of people cheering me on.

  • Random and Odd

    No jumping? not in these pants!



    No jumping? not this trip ;), originally uploaded by Random and Odd.

    What an AWESOME hike this was!

    Don and Amanda came from the city to go over some prep work for the wedding and Don said he wanted to see the Foresthill bridge (large bridge in the back of the photo) in the day time.

    We walked the bridge to the middle and then back and then decided to come down to the trail and hike back up to the bridge. It was about 3 miles of hiking on the most beautiful day I have seen in forever!

    We saw this sign and had to laugh. No jumping? from that big bridge behind us? really? You’re going to tell us we CAN’T do something? :) hahaha! As my friend Wendi would say, “Don’t tell me what to do, you’re not my real mom!”

    I’m glad we made this hike today and I can’t wait to do it a bunch more. The weather was beautiful and it didn’t feel as far as when I am on the treadmill. I could have gone for a few hours more! twss.

  • Random and Odd

    Stuck in a moment….



    Mt. Lassen shoes., originally uploaded by Random and Odd.

    Alyx passed! She is a black belt now! I was surprised how hard it was for her. She was so nervous. It was a turning point in her life and you could see it. Proud doesn’t cover how I feel.

    Turning points seem to be a common thread in our lives. I can see a turning point in all our lives.
    Dan is getting healthy. Kara is getting ready to start her new life after school. Shea is changing and becoming quite a young lady. Me, I guess you can say I am finally seeing a change not only in my appearance, but in the way I feel about what is left of my life.

    There are moments when I say, “Tomorrow isn’t promised and we should be living each day, not just getting through it.” knowing that this life of ours is so short in the big scheme of things. Then I saw something today at the giant flea market, a violin. For a moment I thought, “I can’t wait until I am older and I will take lessons.” I could see myself in my sixties, sitting in front of a teacher learning how to play that complicated beast.
    It’s those moments that stop me in my tracks and make me look at the life I am living right now.
    I’ve changed. In the last few months, something shifted in my head. All the things that were enough for me, just aren’t anymore.

    Remember that movie when the lead says, “Love means not having to say you’re sorry.” That’s not true. Sometimes people need to hear that. They need to hear certain words to heal a part in their heart. Those words don’t always come and so they find a way to heal their heart without them.
    “Love conquers all.” That’s not true. Sometimes love just isn’t enough. Because sometimes you can love someone with all your heart and be nearly certain that there is no you without them…and then you have a moment when you see there is no future because neither will ever bend. Staying would be settling.

    It’s taken time…but I see that. I understand now and I don’t need to hear that sorry.
    I wanted more, but I know that this is enough for me. For now.

  • Random and Odd

    I’ve moved to the dark side…

    I was asked why I would switch over…and right now it’s just to be able to have proof that when I talk shit about Canon, I can have some sort of reference to the shit talking.

    So far, Nikon is still better.

    It’s Friday. Dear sweet Jesus it’s Friday.

    Alyx is testing for her black belt in karate tonight. I’m really proud of her. She has been working for this for years.

    This is turning into another one of those weekends that I am going to be busy. I’m not complaining. That means that I am moving around and I will NEVER complain about that!

  • Random and Odd

    The longest weekend in history!



    5 of the 15, originally uploaded by Suddenly Single.

    It feels like my weekend started on Thursday when my brothers and sister came to visit.
    On Friday they left and Alyx and her birthday party showed up at 3pm. She wanted a Toy Story theme, and who am I to deny a 14 year old? When they staggered out of the house on Saturday morning, we got the house in order for my friends Matt and Leslie to come visit.

    I don’t feel like I have really slept in days.

    My ankle is finally getting better and I am going to get back into the gym tonight. I’m going to start going every night until the muscle memory comes back.
    On Saturday night I got my ass kicked at Wii bowling and again on Sunday I was sore. It just doesn’t seem right that I am sore after playing video games.

    The dates have been finalized for this years activities.
    April 29th; Kathy, Judy and Mom go skydiving for the first time.
    March 25: My birthday party in…Vegas? Reno? Alaska (no), Tahoe? Who knows.
    May 27: Sacramento Jazz Festival & Jubilee.
    June: KARA GRADUATES!!!
    August 13: Climb Mt. Lassen
    November 24th: Turkey Trot in Redding with Kathy and Judy.

    It’s not much, but it’s what we have planned for the year. We are more than likely going to add more, but this is the rock solid stuff that is going to happen or we are going to die trying.

    Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone, say what needs to be said…but i’m still planning ahead and keeping SOME stuff to myself ;)

  • Random and Odd

    First 13th of 2011



    Jan 13th 2011, originally uploaded by Suddenly Single.

    This year I decided that on the 13th of every month I am going to do something fun and for me.
    This month I wasn’t prepared for it, but it turned out to be a great evening.

    Under not so good circumstances I ended up having my brothers and sister at my house for the night. We went to dinner and met my bestest of all the bestest friends I have ever had and her oh so funny boyfriend at the Tree. Our friend showed up and we all had a couple of drinks and watched the people sing horribly.

    I am liking how happy I am looking lately. I noticed it the last set of pictures, of course, Randy was in those pictures too. I’m starting to wonder if he is just making me look good. Most likely the case.
    Yesterday started out to be one of those emotionally draining days where it would have been easy to bury myself under the covers, but it wasn’t an option. My ankle is killing me and the ice and brace isn’t working. I’m getting kind of bitter about it too. I hate being down and unable to go run or hike.
    Regardless of feeling down and emotional yesterday I had a great night with lots of conversations, plans made and laughter.

    Everyday I learn something new. Yesterday was no exception.