astonishing

Paris. OHhh... Paris. The city I often catch myself day dreaming of. This time around not as awing as the others as it followed only in the foot steps of two other amazing places. But that city, oh that city, still held a sort of healing magic that you cant find anywhere else.  

Annecy France. A town by a turquoise lake nestled in the French Alps nearest Switzerland. It was beyond breathtaking and it hasn't really sunk in as real yet to me. Walking down the cobbled foot paths amongst a crowded colorful fresh food market. Mmmm. It’s any food lovers dream. So yeah I ate and enjoyed always precious time with my lover in one of the worlds most beautiful places. 

I could go on forever about all the cool things I did or ate or saw and every little detail... I did that in my journal so I could remember if I forget, but you might find it boring. To sum it all up though all the thinking time in great thinking places I just tried to enjoy the moment, because in my life I have realized that all moments pass too quickly and are gone and that if anything I can remember I enjoyed it. 

I enjoyed picnicking again next to the canal at Versailles and seeing all the fountains of the gardens, and the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower... I even enjoyed the whole experience of my wallet getting stolen by to little gypsy girls. Or getting in a little bicker with my friend. Or my feet hurting from too much walking and not enough sleep for I was in a hostel with beautiful people with different time schedules from all over the world who shared all these experiences with me. It was SO cool. My life is cool. Every part of it. And even on the days where I feel depressed I am happy that other days I come to my senses and realize how astonishing my life is playing out to be. Like, wow. 

La Bonne Vie

Before the A-man left to Europe we got to head down to Phoenix for the Valley of the Sun Stage race. The Chipotle boys were introduced to a big new sponsor called First Solar. They are the second largest solar panel company in the world and supposedly buying their stock is a good idea. I tagged along for the trip to get my fair fix of sunshine and bike racing. Plus I was excited to meet some of Alister’s new teammates. For the most part I think they are all pretty good guys. The ones I think I like most so far are Andz, Andrei, Danny, Rob Bush, and Mike. Teehee… and obviously Alister. They all have good heads on their shoulders and nice legs. ;)
One of the perks of going was being able to stay with my old friend Rusty from Ogden. He moved back down to mesa shortly after I moved to Durango. It was really nice getting to catch up with him. Not many cool people like him in the world.

We also volunteered to drive this girl ivy down with us from the fort. She is really young, but she has a really good support from her family that if she sticks to things she can be a good bike racer. Poor thing got hit by a car the first day we were there that kind of threw off the weekend for us. But I was just glad she was okay and for the most part we had lots of fun in the sun! I LOVE the Phoenix area in February. Such perfect weather!


So Alister is off in France! And I am here in Durango until I too am off to France to go see him! Some of the days go by really fast and some go by really slow and I miss him a lot, but mostly I am just really excited for him and all the cool things he gets to experience. And I can’t wait until I get to experience some with him. I will be going out for a month in may and a couple weeks in July for the Tour de France. (I hope)

But in the meantime...

I have been spending a lot of time in the gym to pass the time as well as doing some therapeutic shopping for myself. I day dream of all the cute clothes I get to wear while in France with my rock star gym body that I am going to have!

That’s all I have time for now. I will tell you all about mine and Alister’s ideal Valentine’s day next!

Off to the gym.

Carpe diem everyone!

another year, a different year

Bonne année! I am always so wowed by how much happens in one year of my life. I always end up in a different place then I had planned. Always go so many places familiar and new and exciting... excited to see where my legs and feet will take me in 2012....

Lots of things happened in 2011. I went a few places this year. I would have to say my favorites just to name a few were, Oceanside, California to visit my brother and his fiancé. Ensenada, Mexico for my brothers wedding with Alister. I always enjoy going to Redlands, California for the Redlands Bicycle Classic that Alister races in. Its always worth the 12 hour drive on just a starsucks, I mean starbucks, and a hot dog. I really enjoyed working at Nine Maine in Connecticut. I forgot how capable I was of being a positive part of a persons day to day routine. And east cost summer riding around the lake was always refreshing... I met lots of really nice people... friends.

I guess its time for that New Year thing. Were I make big plans to do big things. So things I want to do with this next year. France is definitely on the top of my list. Since that is where my hunny will be spending the majority of his year and not just because he will be there, but because a little of my heart belongs there anyway. Second. I really want a bicycle!! We all know that the wheels of my bicycle are my wings. I want to keep working out at the gym and be fit. And thats about it. Oh and grow my hair out really long. Thats all I have to say about that. Its gone and on to the next one.

Versailles....

One spring a few years ago I entered the gates for the first time. The gates to the Gardens; The Gardens of Versailles. Bigger and grander than I even knew. Angelic marble statues of men and women lined the paths to the pretty fountains. The air was crisp and the new leaves sounded like the earths breath as they brushed each other. Perfect white clouds painted the blue canvas of the sky. Swans gliding in the water and a girl riding a white horse on the trail arched with ancient trees. Was this real? Now, the memory, so distant feels only like nothing but a dream. If heaven were a blueprint of my imagination it would be like the Gardens of Versailles.

photos of the last few weeks.

the sunset in Moab while we were driving home from Ogden.

for halloween we dressed up like this... we're good for each other right?


we did a weekend trip to Moab. Alister's first time. Arches was awesome. He is the black dot under delicate.


We went to Utah for an early Thanksgiving! I loved getting to spend time with my favorite little kiddos.
my lil nephew Cody and Neice Charlette. You can see why I love them so much, right?

Astonishing

Just back from an early Thanksgiving trip to Ogden with Alister. I had a blast seeing my family and a lot of my Ogden friends. After our week there I didn’t want to come home! I liked staying with my brothers and sister-in-law Farrah. Farrah is my favorite gym buddy ever. I liked hanging out with my mommy and feeling the always welcoming hugs from my friends in the cycling community there. I feel like I belong there, like I am part of something special. I miss that. Even though the oh so loving arms of Alister are enough for me anywhere... I will be lonely when he is off racing around the world next season. I am so excited for him, but I will miss him. I am hoping I can use that time apart to pursue some of my own dreams and goals. I want to use and consider that time a good thing where I can self improve, become stronger and better for Alister... for me, for us. I’m sure he will do the same.
From past experience I feel like the lonely periods in my life were one of the best ways I really began to learn about myself. When I felt alone I was forced to really look deep into my emotions, my actions, feelings and my beliefs. Working through those things allowed me to come out brighter, happier, better and more aware than before.
Now dont get me wrong here. I am not excited to go through that lonely feeling again. I know how much it can hurt having my reality torn in two and feeling like I have to face the world alone, but I think that just from past experiences I am predicting to much and expecting it to be bad, but who am I to say what the future holds. I dont want to be scared going into these changes. I want to be excited. Not anxious, but just thrilled to have the life I have and positive about my future whatever it may hold. Lonely or not. I want it to be astonishing.

something old.

I'm sitting at a petit table in my favorite cafe, Kafe Mercantile. It’s the cafe just around the corner from where I was raised in Ogden, Utah. It is an early sunny spring morning after a rainy spring day. The sun is more than glorious as it rises over the massive Wasatch mountains and as it shines through the windows of this French-esque coffee shop. I'm staring out of the windows in awe at the new green leaves and grass. The water droplets on them are magnified in the morning light...

Mmmm. And the coffee is so good. My favorite. The best I have ever had from anywhere. Every sip of it is a bit of motivation, and every cup is a cup of encouragement to live a great day... a great life.

I am visiting from Durango, Colorado, the place I call my new home… It’s amazing there and fresh. And here is amazing too, but old to me and has many old memories…

The café window is like a looking glass to memories… As I sit at this petit table and look through the window and out at the scene, I remember many of my memories. I cant help but remember my days in France, my travels to here and there and everywhere. I remember many little memories; my happy ones, some sad ones, and some of love…. And I day dream… of happy things… all my happy things… and how I’m happy…