11.30.2011

Dream

Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world a better place than when you found it.
- Wilfred Peterson
 

11.21.2011

Dr Seuss - One Smart Dude

Congratulations!

Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. 
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. 
Look’em over with care. 
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” 
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, 
you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. 
In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. 
It’s opener there in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. 
You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. 
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. 
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.
You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.
You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. 
And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. 
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. 
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! 
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? 
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? 
Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? 
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. 
With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. 
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! 
There is fun to be done! 
There are points to be scored. 
There are games to be won. 
And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. 

Fame! 
You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.
I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. 
Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. 
There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.
But on you will go though the weather be foul. 
On you will go though your enemies prowl. 
On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. 
Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike. 
And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. 
You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. 
So be sure when you step. 
Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. 
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. 
 And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)
Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So…get on your way!

11.20.2011

Escape

Even if it's only 10 minutes, and even if I'm shivering from the cold, my camera and nature together make the best companion and all troubles, fears and doubts melt away.

11.16.2011

"I Choose"

Because you never know where life is gonna take you
and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.

Here am I now looking at 30 and I got so much to say.
I gotta get this off of my chest, I gotta let it go today.
I was always too concerned about what everybody would think.
But I can't live for everybody, I gotta live my life for me.
I pitched a fork in the road of my life and ain't nothing gonna happen unless I decide.

And I choose to be the best that I can be.
I choose to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

I done been through some painful things I thought that I would never make it through.
Filled up with shame from the top of my head to the soles of my shoes.
I put myself in so many chaotic circumstances, but by the grace of God I've been given so many second chances.
But today I decided to let it all go. I'm dropping these bags, I'm making room for my joy.

Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.
I used to have guilt about why things happen they way they did ‘cause life is gonna do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.

From this day forward I'm going to be exactly who I am.
I don't need to change the way that I live just to get a man.
I even had a talk with my mama and I told her that today I'm grown,
"from this day forward, every decision I make will be my own."

And I choose to be the best that I can be.
I choose to be courageous in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

11.04.2011

Snow in Boise!


The first snow fell today. 

Crazy you ask?
Yes, I answer.  Sure is.

10.31.2011

New business cards!

Last week I ran out of business cards... so I designed and ordered new ones!

I super love them :)



10.23.2011

Taking a moment...

I'd like to thank God for many things including, but not limited to:

- Good examples of attitude and love where I work. It's such a blessing to have genuine positivity right in my office.
- The opportunity to be creative and interact with new people and personalities daily.
- New contacts and networking opportunities that lead to photography/design/writing opportunities.
- fall colors...they're finally here!
- weekends with a full schedule of all the things I love.
- the small things (comfortable jeans, hoodie weather, warm coffee and tea, choco chip pancakes, rain, sun, clouds, running buddies, and on and on.)
- friends who are honest, even when it hurts, because they truly love me.


And just for fun...

10.20.2011

A moment of the heart


I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face.  I have revisited this post 4 times now, trying to finish without dissolving into tears, and I can't do it.  That last line... "you'll know it when you find it."
I've found it.  Why in the world am I not pursuing it?


Empowered.

It's easy to give other people power.

It's easy to let them define me, to let them take leadership roles and say what's what and create the rules I live by.

The power I seek exists within myself. No one needs to give me permission.

I have the power.

I have the power to create my own qualifications.

I have the power to be competent, inspiring, passionate, obsessed, impatient, hungry, driven, adoring, inspired, an artist, a genius or someone who cares.

I have the power to lose weight and get fit.

I have the power to get out of debt.

I have the power to smile and be happy.

I have the power to find my passion and do something with it.

I have the power to become an expert on any subject I wish.

I have the power to live by any manifesto I like, or create my own.

I have the power to be my best self.

You have the power too.  Now what are you going to do with it?

10.19.2011

Concert Goodness

So the David Cook/Gavin DeGraw concert was simply... amazing.

The Knitting Factory is a small venue in Boise, and I love seeing shows there.  It's so small and intimate, and you can really see the stage well from virtually anywhere.  The other thing I love about it, is they have a full bar.

Good music, good friends, and good booze.
Does it get much better than that? ;)


Richard and I purposefully went late.  We hadn't heard of the opening band, and knew David would be last to take the stage, so we didn't bother waiting in the annoying lines.  When we got there Carolina Liars were just finishing their set.  I thought I had never heard of them, but immediately recognized them from my favorite Pandora station (Civil Twilight)!  I was glad to catch at least a few of their songs before they were through.  After the show they were hanging out near the door selling their cd's and I chatted with the lead singer about what a wonderful job they did.  Pretty cool :)


Next up was Gavin DeGraw.  I don't know much of his new stuff, so I wasn't too excited about seeing him, but he was GREAT!  He played a ton of his old stuff, and I had forgotten how much I loved his first album.  He put on a great show, and was very personable with the crowd.


Next up was my beloved David.  Richard and I immediately fell in love with him when he first appeared on American Idol in 2009.  He has an amazing talent and is so real.  He was a total nerd on stage, and I love it!  Man can he rock!

You're not supposed to take pictures during the concert, but I snuck my good camera in (hey, they didn't check my purse!) and could not resist snapping a few of David and praying they'd turn out.  I was so happy that they did!  You can see in the following pics that we were just a few rows back by the end of his set.

Sigh... such a beautiful man...




And my favorite pic of all.  It's not in the best focus, but he's looking RIGHT AT ME!  :D


Richard ended up catching David's drumstick and gave it to me!
Sigh, what a fantastic night!

10.16.2011

Fitness goals

I've been struggling lately. Experiencing depressive thoughts and energy. Depression I haven't experienced since before marathon training last year. A few nights ago I was chatting with my roommate (and fellow TNTer) about it, and realized that I don't have any goals on the calendar. No goals equals no motivation or pressure to workout. No work outs leads to a depressed Macey.

So I'm putting some goals on the calendar!

Here's what I have so far:
- Boise Turkey Trot relay November 2011
- Boise Christmas Run December 2011
- Race to Robie Creek half marathon April 2012
- Grand Canyon hike (take 2) May 2012
- Lake Tahoe Century Ride (take 2) June 2012
- Pacific Crest HALF IRONMAN (!!!) July 2012
- Nike Women's Marathon (take 2) October 2012

Things to train for, and something to look forward to around every corner. I can't wait!!

Fitness flashbacks...

10.14.2011

Omg!

Who has two thumbs, a big smile and tickets to see Gavin DeGraw and David Cook Monday night?

This girl!!

God's handiwork

Last nights sunset, and this mornings rise. Thank you for beauty Lord.

10.13.2011

Stumptown

My trip to Portland (which I haven't blogged about yet, I know) was hands down, the best vacation I've had... Maybe ever. (I'll blog about why soon, promise)

While on lunch today I came across this punchcard from one the coffee houses Rick and I visited in downtown, and the memories came flooding back. Relaxing, chill and minimalist- that's Stumptown.

I miss it.


10.02.2011

Grateful in Portland.

My 10 grateful thoughts this morning:

1- Family. Even when you don't see them for years at a time, they're there for you any time.
2- Friends. Old and new.
3- Overcast weather.
4- RAIN!
5- A break from the every day routine.
6- Opportunities and new horizons.
7- Smiles. They really make everything brighter.
8- Time with God. Even if it's just for a few seconds at a time.
9- Butterflies in my belly.
10- Awareness.

9.16.2011

Office birthday love

The day started with me receiving flowers my dad sent me. Every year since Kindergarten my dad has sent me flowers on my birthday (or before if it happens to fall on a weekend, like this year) and every year I look forward to receiving them. To me it means my birthday is officially underway. This year dad sent me the most adorable and happy bouquet and it totally made my day!


Liz (on my left looking at the pic) has a birthday on Tuesday and decided to make us a cake to celebrate our upcoming birthdays.  It was SO GOOD!  I'm not a big cake fan, but this one was amazing!!!  I love working with such generous and good natured people!  I also love that we're all in our BSU wear since there's a game tonight.  
GO BRONCOS!


Today, I am grateful for:
  • Birthdays!
  • Good friends
  • Smiles from strangers
  • Laughter at the office
  • A job I love

9.11.2011

3 a.m. alarm and yummy firemen


It's officially my birthday week, and oh boy, did it start off with a bang.

Well, a ringing really, but "it started off with a ringing" just doesn't quite have the right, well, ring to it.

I was roused (and I used that word in the most urgent and rude sense possible) at 3 a.m. from a glorious and peaceful sleep by my smoke detector screaming at me.  Now let me tell you, were it possible to wake the dead, and a person wanted to, a smoke alarm would be the tool of choice.

That sucker is LOUD.

So there I am, scrambling for clothes to throw on, while turning my head left and right trying to see where the flames were so I can plan my exit accordingly.  Only, there's no flames.  And upon further confused investigation, I see there's no smoke either.  Suddenly, just as loudly as it came on, the deafening silence set in.  Convinced it was a fluke, I laid back down to sleep.  And sure enough just as I reached slumber land, the alarm rang out once more.

Now I was pissed.

If there's no fire, and no smoke, why the hell was I being woken up at 3 in the morning!  I grabbed my phone and began googling "my smoke detector won't stop waking me up."  You'll be surprised to know this got me no where.  However, I did read some scary stuff about wiring malfunctions and smoke detectors catching fire, so I did the only thing I could think of and called the non-emergency fire department line.

Long story short, the dispatch decided to send out a truck just to make sure everything was ok.  I hurried into my bathroom to re-brush my teeth, run a brush through my hair, apply a little mascara (hey, it's not every night a single gal has firemen delivered to her door!) and went downstairs to wait for them.

It didn't take them long to discover the problem.  Apparently my smoke detector was announcing it's need for a fresh battery, and wanted to make sure I heard it loud and clear.  (Am I wrong, or don't most smoke detectors just chirp annoyingly in the background?!)

The beautiful men made sure I felt safe, wished me well and drove off into the night.

I have to say, being awakened at 3 in the morning is not pleasant, in any sense of the word; however, if you have to be, adding firemen definitely helps.  Especially when they look like this...


Happy birthday to me!

9.06.2011

Good to the Last Drop!


Why can't it be socially acceptable for adults to do this?!

PS - that bowl is about twice the size of her head.




9.01.2011

More Dirty Behavior

 I {may} have stolen these photos from online using a little trick I like to call shift+command+3.
Enjoy :)



8.30.2011

Another Dirty Birthday!

Remember this day last year?  Well guess what race I participated in again this year...

So. Much. FUN!

This year the mud run fell on Danielle's birthday, and we celebrated another year of her fabulousness by trekking through the mud and hills for 6 miles.  Her sister, Jana, and one of Jana's friends joined us in the excellence.  Out of sheer brilliance, Jana came up with a great idea for costumes for us.  Hopefully I'll have better pics soon (once the Dirty Dash team releases the 'official' ones) but can you tell what we are??

1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish!!!
Jana took old sweatshirts, cut off the sleeves and made us into cute fishies!


Here's the "face" of mine

Here's Danielle and I pre-mud.  Notice the lovely beer in her hand.  We took second in the costume contest and our prize was, among other things, BEER.  At 8:30 in the morning!  Lol... it made the 6 miles interesting!


Danielle and I post-mud.  However, this is also post shower and after stripping off our layer of sweatshirts, which weighed a ridiculous amount once filled with mud!!


After the run we got together at Jed and Danielle's to continue the celebration with family and friends. 
Joie loves a good party.  

She also loves good cake...