Halloween 2011

Tonight I made the trek out to West Valley to go with my brother as he took Ivy, Elliett and Mo trick-or-treating. It's been a long time since I actually went door-to-door on Halloween, and it was pretty fun. I love the idea of all the neighbors giving out candy to the kids who knock on their doors and say "Trick or Treat!!"

It was an eventful night, as the kids got chocolate, doritos, popcorn, and more than a few scares. Mo was scared by a spider that moved when a front door was opened, and also by a house that had just a single red light at their front doorstep. And poor Ivy was scared so much she cried when she went into a Haunted House in one of her neighbor's garage/backyard. Good things Elliett and Mo didn't go, too!

Here are my cute nephews and nieces:

Josh and George

Mo (who refused to look at the camera), Elliett and Ivy.

Making Excuses

Saturday morning I participated in the SoJo 5k. When I signed up a month ago it was a way to lose a little weight before heading to Portland. Also because I need motivation for running and a race that I'm registered for is a good way to get that motivation. And for the first week I was awesome at it, full of motivation and running three times that week.

But then it came to a screeching halt. I started taking a new medication that gave me crazy intense headaches, making running a near impossibility. By the time it all got figured out, two weeks had passed and I had only ran twice. Then I was in Portland the days leading up to the race....

So I showed up to the race not quite ready. But ya know what, I got a time within seconds of the time of my last 5k a year and a half ago. Even though I knew I gave it my all while in the moment, I can only imagine how much better I could be if I actually was ready for it.

Portland

This past week was Fall Break, and I always try to get out of town during the week. Partly to save my sanity from work/school stress, and because I really love experiencing new cities. I had a voucher from my delayed flight in Chicago this past March and debated on where I would use it. Portland was the winner over Seattle and Em and boarded a flight Tuesday morning headed to PDX.

We shopped, taking advantage of their no-sales tax. Em didn't pack an umbrella (!!) and we had to buy one for her. I was on the hunt for skinny jeans to go with my new boots. We went to the movie theater kitty-corner from our hotel to see The Ides of March (I know some people think that seeing a movie while on vacation is stupid and silly, but for me movie-going is an experience that I really love, just as much as someone who would travel to see a pro sports team/eat at a restaurant/visit a museum/check out a famous burial site) and we loved it.

Then it was to Astoria to check out the house from The Goonies. Em and I LOVE The Goonies, so it was pretty awesome.

Thursday we did a bike tour around the river. It was like 20 miles or something. We rented cruisers and cruised along the riverfront. Oh, and Em fell off her bike. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants! She lost her balance or something, and I watched as she slowly fell to the ground. Best. Moment. Of. The. Vacation. We'd start laughing whenever we thought about it.

And then it was relaxing in our hotel (which was super awesome!), more shopping, including Powell's Bookstore. We had a good time and it was nice to get away, but I don't think Portland is a place for tourists. I'm sure it's a cool place to live and all, but there's not much to do if your visiting.

Don't Turn Off the Lights Pt.2

When I lived in New York, there was a couple of nights where I left the light on as I slept to protect myself from cockroaches that would come out to play in the dark. It helped my psyche more than anything.

I do not have a cockroach problem in my new abode, but have had enough spider sitings and incidences (the bathtub is the worst) to make me a little wary. I know rationally that there's not really anything to fear about spiders; I don't know anyone who's died from a spider bite and their lifespan is probably pretty short. But somehow the irrational part of my brain cannot accept this, and I end up worrying about them being in my home. I've actually had nightmares about them, where I've woken up in the middle of the night because my mind made me think I saw one falling down onto me. I jumped out of bed and turned on the light. Of course there was no spider, but I couldn't make my mind be convinced.

So my solution was to sleep with the light on. Not quite sure how this helps, but somehow it does. I feel very foolish about this, but I think spider fear is quite real, even if it is irrational.