Dear Mom and Granny,

I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for inspiring my love of reading, for showing me how important it is and how beneficial it is to my life.

Mom, thanks for reading to me as a child. I’m grateful that you always asked me what I was reading, and that my whole life I have seen you interact with youth, not just your students but all the kids you interact with, by asking them what they are currently reading.

I remember you trying to convince me to read Harry Potter, while I sat there trying to avoid the trendy book about wizards. Because of your persistence I fell in love with one of the most influential series ever, and thanks for the midnight releases with me (the books of course).

Granny, I’ll never forgot sitting in your home talking about books. You, my grandmother, showing me your journals filled with information on all of the books that you have ever read. Thanks for showing me the importance of continuing to expand my horizons into adulthood. I’m grateful for every time you told me of a particular book I should read and every time you would give me a book to read. I remember sitting at my home opening a package to find a book about an orphan train, I cracked open that book and knew I wanted to read it based on the scent alone.

I’m grateful to have such influential educators in my life. That there was someone to lead me to my love of reading, which has vastly improved all facets of my life. Thanks for tolerating my reading into the night, allowing me to read almost every babysitters club book that my library had. Thanks for your willingness to check books out of the library for me.

Please don’t ever stop asking people what they’re reading and don’t ever stop making book suggestions for me.

I am a Lady In Spain

I like the idea of being whatever you want.

"I can be anything that I see," perhaps it is a bit juvenile to believe that it is true but I do. I think that half the fun is figuring out that that is.

I hope that all young people still feel this way.

Rocky Mountain High Stylin

GQ compiled a list of the worst dressed cities in America. What I am sure is not much of a shock to most of us is that Boulder comes in at No. 40.

Here is what GQ had to say:

Strolling through this charming university town, you are most likely to find three major categories of clothing: 1) anything made by North Face 2) anything made by Patagonia 3) fanny packs. The observant eye will also spot unmistakable seasonal trends, such as Adidas for Fall, Crocs for Spring, and Uggs for Summer (we have no explanation for this). These are often accompanied by Boulder's year-round go-to accessory, the wheatgrass shot (sometimes paired with an unidentifiable vegan "cookie"). Yet of Boulder's 100,000 people, about 30,000 are students, some 99.9% are blonde, and all of them in better shape than you. This town is always obnoxiously flaunting its "fittest-place-in-the-country" awards, and you will be hard-pressed to find one person here, including your 85-year-old grandmother, without a six-pack. It is, in fact, a worst-dressed city that looks best naked. So Boulderites, do your fellow citizens a favor: next time you reach for the biking-shorts-and-sneakers as eveningwear combo, just take it all off.—Nurit Zunger

I love Colorado, but we definitely have some stereotypes that ring true, particularly when it comes to style.

Walking through Denver you’ll see many of the 20 –somethings strolling around in what I would deem the basic Colorado uniform.Jeans, northface and uggs are pretty much the standard for winter. The summer varies greatly depending on the outdoor activity you choose as your hobby.

Last night I went on a bike ride with some friends after work, we decided to grab a bite to eat. The three of us walked into Five Guys in all of our bike gear and we realized we had become one of “those people.”

*** let us take comfort in the fact that Provo is No. 15 and Salt Lake is No. 8

Mud Run

don't think i've mentioned my post tri plans. i will be competing in the mud run!

the race benefits the colorado MS society, and we're fundraising for the event. visit my personal page to make a small donation in my name!

The National MS Society is dedicated to creating a world free of MS. They simultaneously fund research for a cure while also helping people who currently live with the unpredictable disease. More than 400,000 Americans live with MS and your support can and will make changes in their lives.

Please help me fight MS! Join in the muddy fun by registering for the inaugural Mud Run MS Colorado, simply go to www.mudrunmscolorado.org –or– visit my personal page to help me raise money and make a donation to the National MS Society.

A Message For Today

I come this morning with a plea that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that we "accentuate the positive." I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. I am not asking that all criticism be silenced. Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is the man who can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and change his course. I am not suggesting that our conversation be all honey and blossoms. Clever expression that is sincere and honest is a skill to be sought and cultivated.

What I am suggesting and asking is that we turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good in the land and times in which we live, that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears.

~

I doubt not that we shall have days of trial. I am confident that so long as we have more politicians than statesmen, we shall have problems. But I am certain that if we will emphasize the greater good and turn our time and talents from vituperative criticism, from constantly looking for evil, and lift our sights to what may be done to build strength and goodness in our nation, America shall continue to go forward with the blessing of the Almighty and stand as an ensign of strength and peace and generosity to all the world.

-President Gordon B. Hinckley, Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled, Brigham Young University, October 29, 1974.

Adventures in Opera

I am slightly different, ok incredibly different, than most women my age. Last night I traded my traditional love of the midsummer classic (go NL!!!) for my love of the arts.

My friend and I attended Denver’s first Opera under the stars. We went to watch the Central City Opera’s production of Carmen, at an outdoor amphitheater. Purchasing the tickets seemed like a good choice at the time, however I did not anticipate weather complications.

In case you are located in Denver, we have had some nasty storms lately. Flash floods, lightening, torrential downpours… every afternoon. After brief showers during the afternoon and a little bit through dinner we thought we would make it.

The clouds seemed to break up at the start of the show and we were feeling good about it. At the end of Act II, it began to sprinkle… but it was intermission so we just sat. The rain came down harder, so up went my clear umbrella (clear umbrella=genius, you can still people watch in the rain).

We decided to wait it out. After a bit we realized that Act III was supposed to begin already… the production crew must have wanted to wait as well.

Suddenly the sky started to light up. Lightening was frequent but far enough away that we could not hear thunder. My friend Shareeta and I just sat and hoped that some weather magic might occur and spare us so.

Unfortunately the thunder roared, but the lightening was so frequent that you could not tell which booming thunder accompanied which lightening strike. That was until a huge bolt split the sky and it seemed to connect just outside of the amphitheater.

We decided it was time to go, unfortunately our decision coincided with heavier rain. We began to trot to the parking lot (and we did trot, trying to go as quickly as possible and still remain under the umbrella). I think I shouted “we’re going to die” and least three times after close lightening.

The umbrella failed, and we both were soaking wet, I had to take my shoes off to navigate though the streams that seemed to sprout up in the street. Our dirt parking lot turned into a lake. We were stuck for a little while, but managed to get out eventually (not after I stepped on a massive thorn bush with my bare feet).

I think it was punishment for missing the All-Star Game.

But the first half of the Opera was beautiful, and it was probably the greatest opera adventure I will ever have in my life.

A Girl Who Reads

I read this today and immediately loved it.

I loved it so much I have to share it with you. Because I find myself lying in bed unable to sleep without know what will happen to the characters that I have grown to love.

I am the girl who will read her favorite books over and over again when there is nothing else to choose from.

But I love this mainly because life it too short to spend all your time with someone lacking imagination, and I firmly believe imagination is a gift from reading. I think an adventurous spirit also comes from reading, and I want to spend my life with someone who loves those things about me.