March Flowers

While I was away in Pasadena, my parents dog sat for me.  They love their grand-doggy in part because that is the closest thing to a grand kid that they have.  My dad would trade us all in for my dog, Roms.   He loves him (well he loves all dogs & birds) so much and really is terrible about reinforcing bad habits.  But really, how can you refuse a face like this.

Waiting for a floor score

So I come home from Pasadena and my mom bought me flowers.  (now make sure you say the sentences by mom out loud with your best Japanese accent otherwise the effect is not the same).

Me:  Mom, thanks so much for the flowers.

Mom:  Ahhh, you know, you buy cut flower and you never water them so they die.

(I think she starts out most sentences with ahhhh, you know....in part because it gives her more time)

Me:  Well they only last so long because they are cut flowers.

Mom:  I know, so I got you real ones.  You can plant them after they done.

Live spring flowers from my mom

Double bonus for February and March!  The only bad thing is now I have to go find the time and find a spot for them to plant them.

True to form, I did go out and buy flowers for March.  Just because I received flowers does not mean I should stop buying flowers every month.  It means I get to enjoy more.  I have become quite adept at justifications.  I mean I've had 39 years to perfect this skill.

  I wonder what my mom will say when she sees another bouquet of cut flowers.....

March Bouquet

Ziba the Fortune Teller

Over the holidays, Tony came home to visit family.  So we met up for lunch and I was sharing with him about my 39 experiences before turning 40.

First I have to give you some back story on Tony.  I met Tony when I was looking for some make-up for a my cousin's birthday party. It was a themed party - Pimps and Hos.  So I was looking for some make up at the MAC counter.  Tony not only helped me but did my full make up.  From the very moment I met Tony I had complete trust in him.  So when I mentioned to him that I want to go to a psychic or have my cards read, Tony immediately told me about Ziba and insisted that I see her.  Tony told me that he has gone to see Ziba several times and everything she has told him has come true, including his move to Salt Lake.  He gave me Ziba's number and of course I contacted her.

Ziba met up with me and my partners in crime, Kelli and Karen, who also wanted in on the action.  Karen went first, then Kelli and I went last.  I am not going to disclose any details...but some of the things she said was completely spot on for all three of us.

Here is what I will share with you all.... when Ziba first began laying out the cards, she stopped and said "Oh my, this is not good.  I need a minute".  Ziba told me that she sees me going on a trip out of the country, my career is not changing and that I'm comfortable, I have two young people in my life that will be calling me a lot because of drama they have in their life, I may have some difficult times ahead of me especially this summer but in the end I have the best reading one could ever have.  This is the quick and dirty condensed version...as a lot more was said but I think I'll leave it at that for now.

Ziba said to call her and let her know when things start happening.  She also recommends if we want another reading that we wait at least 4 months, but 6 months is best.

Another experience completed....I definitely am curious to see how things play out.  I think what was most fascinating was how she was able to discuss things with such detail.  Two things she said to me that really stuck out - "Never argue with your fortune teller" and "If you try to change your future, the universe will make a stronger statement".  

So here I am allowing life to take its course.  Maybe I will give you an update in 6 months what has come true.  

PTFC - Go Timbers!

The Portland Timbers is the newest sporting franchise to come to Portland.  Last year tickets were snatched up so quickly so you had to win or go with a group.  So this year, pre-season game (or match? maybe a soccer aficionado can clarify this for me) tickets were available through a fundraiser to support the PCC nursing program.  I quickly jumped on the opportunity and requested tickets without even asking anyone.   Prior to the game I went out and bought a Timbers t-shirt to show support.

When setting up the self timer I must remember that I'm taller than Karen unless she is wearing heels.

As it turns out my friend Karen was the only other person who could go to the game.  We met up with our friend, John at Blue Moon and then headed to Jeld-Wen field.

At Blue Moon

So we arrive and find our seats.  I see another co-worker from student services, but other than that we do not know anyone.  The players are warming up and then they take what looks like a fire hose and begin watering the field.  It had snowed the day before and it is freezing.  I can only imagine what sliding on the wet turf in freezing weather might feel like.  The water is used to level everything out.

From our seats the view.

As the game begins, besides hearing my teeth chattering and I am realizing that we are in the "quiet" section.  At the far end from where we are sitting are fans waving flags and chanting.  I was informed by Rich (who is probably the soccer aficionado that I'm talking about) that this is the Timber Army.
The chanting is constant.  It happens the whole game!  We decided to move closer to the "fun" section.  All the moving and chanting in this section made me feel like it was physically warmer.  My reasoning for this was the Army was throwing off body heat and my teeth stopped chattering. 

It's blurry but the Timber Army is like none other.

The other thing I see is every fan has a scarf.  Hmmm smart thinking since it was so cold.  Why didn't I think of that!  At the break we decided to buy coffee.  I have decided if I attend another game, I will have to invest in at the very least a scarf.  In fact, Timber fans use their scarf and add sound effects to the Star Spangled Banner.  Something I have not seen or experienced at any other sporting event.

No Timbers wear you can see - another reason to get a scarf!

So this is what I know about soccer:

• Before Lacrosse came along this was the number one sport I lost athletes to 
• The field is not grass but turf
• The players comprise of a goalie, defenders, mid-fielders and forwards 
• There is a lot of hitting the ball with one's head
• The two halves - each 45 minutes long.  If they go in overtime it is for 2 minutes.
• It seems to be in some organizational sense in my mind a similarity to hockey (but not)
• PTFC stands for Portland Timbers Football Club (I did figure out what they were chanting some of the time)

Ok so as you can see I need to either get a Soccer tutor to catch me up to speed or find the book Soccer for Dummies.  Another thing that happens at the game is there is a lumberjack who roams through the stands with his chainsaw and occasionally starts it up to get the crowd going.  After a player scores, he cuts a slab off the log. 

Timbers score!

If you look at the picture above you see a guy in a pink sweater.  At first from far away I thought he was a crazy fan without a shirt on in freezing temperatures.  Who wears a pink sweater to a soccer game?  Oh wait we are in Portland....where we keep it weird or put a bird on it!

I definitely would go back to another game.  I had a great time.  That reminds me, I've completed another thing off the list of 39 experiences.

Superman is not super!

Last winter dragged on way too long.  I have known people to experience the winter blues of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) but I had no knowledge of what this was like.   Until last year.  I wouldn't say that I had SAD but I sure was tired of the gray and the rain.  I seriously contemplated a move down to Arizona after a friend offered me a job.  But with further contemplation, the idea of moving away from my parents and friends set in and I snapped back into reality.  In lieu of my move to better weather, I put out an inquiry amongst the women I run with (aka Runner Chicks) about doing a race somewhere sunny.  This did not illicit much response until I tempted them with "bling".  All of the runner chicks signed up for the inaugural Portland Rock 'n' Roll half marathon.  If you sign up for more than one race within the same year you get a medal called "Rock Encore".

2012 Heavy Medals Series

Well it worked and the next thing I know we are having a bbq at Shelly's and voting on whether to do the Phoenix Rock 'n' Roll half, Tinkerbell half or the Pasadena Rock 'n' Roll half.

Anyhow so we voted to do the inaugural Pasadena Rock 'n' Roll half marathon.  We bought our plane tickets....fast forward 8 or 9 months later and we were off!  

At the airport

It was great to have a girls weekend get some sun and a run.  Cyndi's sisters live near Pasadena.  Her sister Gayle graciously offered to put all of us up and Dyana hosted a pre-race pasta dinner.  We had a bit of fun at the expo and drove most of the course.

Playing around at the expo - A little less conversation!

The day of the race I felt good and actually was running quite strong through mile 8.  I started to get feel the steady incline but it was nothing I couldn't handle.  However, the course was deceiving and after mile 10.  I began to have a tough time. (I think we all had a tough time starting at mile 10).  My left foot started to seize up on the last steep incline and what goes up must come down.  Fatigue set in and my hip could not endure the downhill and my left foot took a beating.  I just got rid of my fascial tissue pain in my left foot...which started up and my gait shortened.  I struggled the next two miles.  I was more mentally irritated than  my foot.  I had a personal record (PR) of 2:05:16 and shaved off 22 seconds off of my last half marathon but was under what I had hoped to come in at.  

What a great team!

My post is not just about my race but the opportunity to go to Pasadena allowed me to spend time with my run buddies, get some sun and also ride one of the three tallest roller coasters.  Superman Escape from Krypton is listed as the third tallest roller coaster at 415 feet. 

Waiting in line at X2

The next day after the race we decided to have a fun day at Magic Mountain and we did.  Our first ride was X2 which takes you to the 5th dimension and probably one of the best rides in the park.  The souvenir picture looks as if I have a Joan Rivers facelift because of the force pushing back everything or as I've stepped out of a Beverly Hills medical spa with an overload of botox.

See Joan Rivers face lift for me...I think Shelly is about to have an accident.

So as we are in line for X2 I see the Superman ride but no cars.  Not a good sign.  So we wind through the park and arrive at the entrance I read the the sign.....

They are redoing the superman ride.  UGH!  Was I disappointed?  I would be lying if I said no.  

What can I do???

I think it's important to note that what I learned from this is that I cannot predict the future and things may not happen the way I would want them to.  I am creating moments that I want to experience.  Even though I was unable to ride the 3rd tallest roller coaster in the world, the time I got to spend with some amazing women will last longer in my mind and heart than any 2 minute ride.  

No trip to California is complete without a stop at In-n-Out.