All grown up...and an escape from reality

So, the week is coming to a close where yours truly must hop on a plane and take off back to the La la land that is California. I would be lying if I said I wasn't ready, and not ready in the same breath. Ready because as nice as it has been to be back in our home of Colorado, my family nearby, my life, back to the way it used to be (somewhat) for a few days, I know deep down I must face the reality of getting back to work, seeing our meowers again, and just generally getting back into the routine I have forced myself to live by in California. It makes missing this very "fantasy world" of Colorado easier, if I am busy.

But that said, Doug and I were in town for much more than a Colorado boost in our veins. We had a better reason to come home...my brother and now NEW SISTER's wedding. 

For me, this has been an anticipated event for so many different reasons. First, it and selfishly it was because this week marked a milestone for me to look forward to. When California felt frustrating, and annoying, I only had to remind myself I had two more months, then one more month, then a few days until I hopped on a plane and got to see my family and friends here in Colorado. It was one of those "things to look forward to" that I pride myself on having a countdown for. So when it arrived here..and we got off the plane in Denver that first night...I only hoped it didn't slip through too quickly.

But the wedding...oh the wedding. First, lets start of by calling out the fact this wasn't just a one day event. Not just an everyone fly in, we get married, we celebrate, everyone go home. Nope, not my brother and Becky's style :) They knew that most of there family and friends were flying in from out of town, therefore, they did the wedding up in style...with weekend festivities from the day AFTER we got in (last Sat the 21st) until they day they actually got married (the 24th). Much different than weddings in our family. But it made for some key bonding time I shall describe later :)

Saturday started off the festivities with all parties heading up to Black Hawk and Central City for a bit of partying/gambling. The bachelorette party had taken place the night before so already, the bride, and bridesmaids had stories. Some revolving around a gal named Patty (no need to explain this story) and some involving my new sis Becky, doing the worm (yes..the WORM....the 80s dance craze that never took off) in a few bars and at home after hours. Already I wondered after hearing only a few sprinkling of these stories if i could hang with ANY of the bridal party. I mean, after all..I was a 33 year old. Those kids were/had to be younger than  me with all their shenanigans right?

Gambling night was fun, but a bit more low key. I think the girls weren't feeling the drinking (after partying the night before) and my brother's groomsmen while throwing in a bit of money here and there, weren't totally feeling the gambling. Plus they had to await the arrival of my brother's co-best man, who always finds a way to "make an entrance", Matt. So the night turned into a bit of gambling (and a few winning....with the pics to prove their winnings, right Stacy). My brother had hoped that night would bond the groups together. Give the parties a chance to intermingle, get to know each other..while having fun at a casino. I think it was still too early in the wedding mania for that. So we all headed to bed (after a bit more gambling) to start fresh the next day. The girls had plans for a bit of a hike, and the boys (including the groomswoman Amanda, and Nikki, one of the groomsmen girls, and my hubby) were going white water rafting the next day (I was a bit bitter missing out on this cause of my bum shoulder I had injured body boarding two weeks before..but in the end...was ok with missing out!). All seemed ok that night. Until around 2:30 AM. Some had just made it to bed a bit before then after gambling a bit more at the casino we stayed at. But at 2:30 AM we got a wake up call we all didn't ask for with the fire alarm throwing us into high alert, and making us, all 1/2 asleep find out clothes and rush out. I remember hearing my brother in the hall as we all booked it down the stairs saying to his future bride "don't worry Becky. The girls have their bridesmaid dresses. As long as they have them, we are still ok for our wedding :D) Now that is a groom in wedding mode!

Turns out the fire alarm was two stupid drunks who had pulled it after a night of revelry..but it shook us ALL up. (especially cause it happened again, 10 minutes after we got back in). It was an interesting reminder as well, how nice it cools down in Colorado at night, as it was freezing while we stood out in the cold awaiting our all clear to come in. It was then I discovered shivering does hurt the bum shoulder. Brr.

The next morning however, troops were rallied and the girls went off with Becky to "hike" and the rest of the gang (minus me, my mom, my dad, and Becky's mom) went rafting. Seemed like a good day for all. We hung at the casino until we almost had to drag my mom out then made our way down to my parents house for preparation for the "big girls slumber party" (meaning the bridal shower, or another night of the girls camping on a floor :)

The day turned into a bit of craziness when my hubby returned to tell us the raft the wedding party was on, had flipped, and all occupants had been thrown like salt out into the rapids. Doug, having come to his senses early on, had removed himself from the raft early on, knowing it was going to be too much, so had a view of the sprinkling from the shore. Oddly and very thankfully no one was seriously hurt..and it went down as just another story to tell on the wedding weekend.

That night at my mom's the girls arrived from their "stroll" to take showers and get ready to grub and chill. This was the first real night I actually got to see the girls for what they were to Becky, close friends, and what they meant to her. And it was the first night all of their goofy personalities showed through. After not being sure the night before in Black Hawk, and not wanting to break into the girl bond they had all formed the night of Becky's Bachelorette night, I realized the night of the big girl slumber  party that I would have fun with these gals..cause they were much like me...sarcastic, goofy, always look for a laugh. And I think they appreciated my ability to poke fun at them, and at myself. I knew the rest of the weekend would be fun from that point.

Leading into that, the next day found  us all heading down to the Lodge in Palmer Lake, the site of the wedding, rehearsal dinner, and all around craziness. The night before the wedding, Monday my bro and Becky and my mom had done up a spread people on Food Network would have been proud to eat. All for us to grub on. Between that and the endless supply of beer that seemed to find its ways into most of the bridal party, and Doug and my hands, the night turned into a party before the party. It was this night where parties intermingled a bit more, where I got a chance to hang out and be silly even more with the bridesmaids, and where the beer flowed probably as much as the jokes, laughter, and bullshit did :) I can't recall the last time I felt that at home, back in Colorado, hanging with people I had just met, just soaking up the night air, and general fun around me. I left that night probably a bit buzzed with alcohol, and jazzed that my bro and Becky had really some great people in their life. I appreciated we were all brought together for a special night. And I really did hope, after spending a bit more time with them all, that it wouldn't take another big production of a wedding to bring us all together again.

But I digress...wedding day arrived quickly on Tuesday. After the night of debauchery the night before, I think we were all ready for the ceremony. For the seriousness to cap our weekends of silliness and laughter. Nor my brother, or Becky looked frightened, worried, or nervous that day, which made me happy. To them, it was just another day of celebrating with family and friends, but a much more special day, when they officially accepted the other into their respective families. I can only speak for my family, but to me, it meant gaining a sister (what I did wish I had at times as a kid) and it meant officially welcoming someone who already had a place in my family into my heart wholeheartedly (wow..that was a lot of heart just there I typed :D) It was funny, I never pegged myself as the one who would be emotional out of my mom, dad and I. And I certainly didn't think my bro would break into a bit of a tear. But sure enough during the ceremony there were few dry eyes, mine included. I think we all realized thru our tears, that here were two people who found each other, and who REALLY, 100% fit and deserved to be together forever. Who we loved (all in our own ways) and who we couldn't help but be happy for. I cried cause I knew, at that point, as my brother recited his vows, he had officially grown up. He had officially asked for what he wanted out of his life, his new bride. He had officially stated to the world who was listening his love. It was hard not to get emotional seeing that for a little guy who in my heart still feels like the little bud I remembered seeing the day he was born in the hospital. 

Although, now that I have a few days to reflect, and after seeing them last night one last time before we leave for La Land again, I realized it started, his new life as a married man, exactly as it should. With a weekend full of stories of fun, and craziness, with our two families and friends coming together to celebrate with  us (and in turn consider ourselves friends and family as well) and to be able to go on their honeymoon really believing they were starting a new life. I know neither believes a whole lot has changed. They lived together before getting married, and to many already seemed like a married couple. But in the older sis eyes...they changed, my brother changed, into this grown up. Into this man I am proud to call my brother. And he gave me the one thing you can't gift wrap, by at a store, or find in a catalog, a new sister.

Congrats guys. Have fun in Spain. I'll miss you both, and the time you allowed me to come back to my fantasy life here in Colorado as we head back to Cali. But know I love you both.

To all others I met and hung with last weekend. Know you will hear from me often...for sarcasm and laughter knows no boundaries of miles!

I've committed, or SHOULD I be committed?

So for those of you who had to listen to me last year complain about the incessant amount of muscle pains and aches, and my knees falling apart, it was for good reason. At the end of last year, I tallied up all my races and amazingly enough I hit a higher number than I thought, 23. Yes..that's right. From April 8 (my first race in the sleet snow), to my last one (a colder run where there was still snow on the ground..but a nice finish), I did 23 races last year. Two one mile runs, two 10Ks (6 miles) and all the rest 5Ks (3 miles). To this day I am still shocked by how many I got through. And as a somewhat badge of honor, I have all my race bibs hanging at work.

So this year, one of the things I told Doug I really wanted to keep up was my running. I made it an important priority to get us signed up for the gym first thing in the first few weeks after we moved here.

So it goes without saying that while I didn't think I would outdo myself on races (I have enough tshirts as proof), I did want to keep running. When I was still in Colorado, one of the California guys (now one of my co-workers) told me about a group of them that ran the Rosebowl after work. PERFECT I though, I can keep up my running where it is not just doing a race and being a weekend warrior type runner.

I must admit, my running group has definitely made the transition out here a bit easier for me. It has allowed me to become friends with my co-workers cause we share a common "hobby" in running. Running the Rosebowl sometimes Tues and Thurs (when all our schedules mesh up) helps to provide me with a bit of consistency my last year's crazy running racing schedule did not. While I have less bib #s to show the races I did (only 3 so far), I feel much better about getting in my running more often.

So, this year, rather than trying to outdo myself with race, after race, after race...I picked a far greater goal. A race that actually will require me to train. A race that at the end, I will get a medal PROVING I did it. A race that I will be one of so many..but be able to consider it an accomplishment nonetheless, a 1/2 marathon.

I know, I also happened to pick a race with that dreaded word in it, marathon. It does scare me. As I was running my races last year, I had a couple of people ask me why I didn't commit to training and running one of those. But last year, the idea of running that many miles 1/2 or a full was WAY out of my league. Try and excel at a small distance I thought. Work on getting back in shape and keep your weight off.

So this year, marks a true test, and a push towards a goal for me. I (along with my fellow running fools from work) have committed to doing a 1/2 marathon in October in Long Beach. 13.1 miles. Seems like a lot, and not a lot all rolled into one. I am hoping that while I have committed, I am not someone who SHOULD be committed (to the loony bin) for agreeing to try running that far. I am confident I can do it, but scared of the times leading up to it. But if last year proved anything to me, it is that if I put  my mind to something and commit, I CAN do it.

And after all, 13 IS my lucky number!