LASIK

I finally got LASIK earlier this month and got to cross that off my 101 list.

I've been wanting LASIK for a while, but my eye doctor in Boise was really against it for some reason, saying that he had "seen too many go wrong." However, my eye doctor here said I was a good candidate, and the surgical center I went to agreed.

It was a little rough having to go back to wearing my glasses for five days before my consult. Then, once I scheduled my surgery for as soon as possible after the consult (another week out), I couldn't go back to wearing contacts. Wearing my glasses full time for a week and a half wasn't the most fun thing ever. I've worn glasses since third grade, but had contacts since sixth, and I would pretty much only wear my glasses at night before bed. So to go back to wearing them full-time was a bit hard. I forgot how easily they smudge! And they slid around a lot. Plus, I have seriously bad eyesight (-5 in one eye and -5.5 in the other, with a slight astigmatism in at least one eye), so not being able to see when I took my glasses off to wipe them, or just not being able to see clearly in my peripheral, wasn't fun.

But I made it through and got to surgery day. About an hour before the surgery, it hit me what I was actually doing and I got a bit nervous. I went anyways, and everything went really well. My dad and aunt actually watched. (My aunt was fascinated and my dad was having a hard time watching and was worrying they were hurting me.) I didn't feel a thing, as the numbing eye drops were great! The only thing that was a bit uncomfortable was them putting on the device to keep my eyes open during the surgery (my eyelids weren't numb). Other than that, it really was just pressure (and there were times the pressure made it so I could actually see stars). The smell of them lasering off part of my eye wasn't something I was prepared for. I was glad the doctor was talking to me the whole time, explaining what he was doing.

As soon as the surgery was over, I could see so much more clearly, though things seemed a bit foggy (like what happens if you're in a really humid sauna). Another doctor did an eye test. Though the prescription doesn't translate exactly to whatever 20/20 means, he said I had been at about a 20/600. I was at a 20/20 after my surgery. And at my one week follow-up I had this week, I was at 20/20 vision, and I was even able to make out a couple of letters on the 20/15 line.

It's incredible to be able to wake up and actually see! Modern medicine is amazing.

2017, by the numbers

I really like doing this year-end review by the numbers. Another year on the books. Happy New Year, everyone!

Traveling:
Miles driven in my car: 17,669
States lived in: 2
States lived in/been in (including airports): 11
States lived in/been in (not including airports): 4 
Airports been in: 12
Countries visited/lived in: 1
Round-trip plane trips: 4
Amusement parks visited: 0
Times driven to Utah and back: 6.5 
Nights away from home: 46

Work: 
Jobs held: 2

States where I am an LCSW: 2

Personal:
First dates went on: 0
Second dates went on: 0
Books read: 62 (20,583 pages, per Goodreads)
Places lived in: 3
Wards member of: 2
Roommates had: 0 (2 if you count parents, 3 if you add in one sister...)
Cars driven: 4
Blogs posted: 11
Friends on Facebook: 312
Calligraphy classes taken: 3

Physical:
Massages received: 5 

Races run: 7
Run/walk miles logged in RunKeeper: 550.1
Overall pounds lost: 9.8

Entertainment:
Restaurants visited/ordered from: 103

Times went out/ordered/got food from restaurants: 143

Movies watched: 27 

Plays/musicals attended: 4 

Spiritual/church:
Callings held: 3
Blessings (including setting aparts) received: 4
Temples/temple grounds visited: 6
Number of proxy initiatories completed: 67
Number of proxy endowments completed: 16
Number of proxy sealings completed: 0
Live sealings attended: 0

101 List:

101 list goals completed: 14
101 list goals in progress: 13

My Year in Facebook Statuses- 2017 Edition

January

• This winter needs to be over! I got stuck in snow four different times while driving home from work and almost got into two accidents. I was very fortunate to not have any damage to myself or my car and to have co-workers or random strangers come to my rescue each time. But I think I want to hibernate until all this snow is gone.
• So...I was trying to get to the Hyundai dealership to get snow tires and instead got stuck in my parking lot. Tow truck ETA is 6:30 this evening. Can any of my friends rescue me sooner?Update: landscapers got me out. The dealership didn't have any winter tires in stock. On my way to a tire store. Because I am not going back to my complex without winter tires. Thanks for all the concern! Update #2: Tim at Big O Tires on Fairview and Cole is awesome and very helpful and new winter tires are being put on now. :-) Update #3 (hopefully last one about this ever): The snow tires are handling beautifully. Though when I tried to get back into my complex again, I got stuck. It was a mess. I even saw an SUV struggling. I managed to back out and stayed away until they cleared the lot. But now it's clear, I'm home safe, and I might actually be able to make it through this winter.
• I really want to plan a small vacation to somewhere warm towards the end of this month/beginning of next month (I really need something to look forward to as we ride out these crazy storms). Nothing super long... just a couple of extra days tacked on to a weekend or something. Any suggestions or adventure buddies?
• So... I cancelled my paid memberships to dating sites a few days ago because nothing was really happening and I don't want to keep throwing away money. (And let's be honest, dating is kind of the worst.) But in the last few days, I've gotten more "flirts" and "likes" on my profiles than I did in the previous few months combined. So I think that maybe dating sites make your profile a "featured profile" temporarily when you cancel your membership so that you come back and pay again so you can see who the heck these guys are. It's a conspiracy. Thoughts?
• Am I too young to become a snowbird? Because I'm done with this winter. I just want to be warm again!
• A couple of friends were going to come up from Utah to watch Once with me this weekend, but with the weather they aren't coming anymore. :-( But...this gives you the opportunity to come watch it with me instead! I have two extra tickets for the 8pm performance on Saturday (at the Morrison Center). Each ticket is $41.22. Who's in?
• Power outage. Fun... :-(

February

• First day of the season for Boise Galloway and I dropped two minutes on my magic mile time from six months ago and I kept within 5 seconds of my pace each lap. Love seeing that progress!
• I'm considering finally getting a new credit card, as I still only have the one I got when I started college 9.5 years ago. (Yikes! Feeling old.) I think I want something that will give me good travel rewards regardless of airline. (I used to be loyal to Southwest, but it isn't always the cheapest out of Boise.) I might also be open to a credit card with other good rewards or maybe cash back. Suggestions?

March

• Hit double digits for the first time ever on my run today! Being able to complete a half is within reach. :-) 
• Beware the Ides of March is right! Grateful for a speed workout that let out some of the tension and frustration after a crazy day of work... and I'm especially grateful for the warm shower and cozy pajamas after said speed workout.

April

• I realize that April Fools' Day is not the ideal day to announce this... But Karen and I just registered for the St. George Marathon this October! (This running thing has gotten a bit out of hand.) Feel free to join us in our insanity. Registration opened this morning and goes on until they hit their 7800 runner cap.
• I was looking at my carpet today and realized how dirty it is. And I just vacuumed yesterday! I guess the vacuum cleaner I took from my parents' storage unit isn't working well. (Sorry, Mom and Dad). Anybody have recommendations on a good vacuum? Or have thoughts on robot vacuums?

May

• Some days are a struggle and they become even less fun when you somehow manage to lock yourself out of your car. Oh well. Thank goodness for Hyundai Roadside Assistance? (At least this gives me an excuse to miss hill training tonight. So...Maybe it's a good thing. Haha.)
• Came home to a 24 hour notice to enter on my door so my management company can do their biannual and HVAC inspections. I apparently need to remove all items from under all my sinks (obnoxious), make sure there's access to all HVAC and water systems (fine) and make sure all smoke alarms and light fixtures are properly installed. Normally not a problem, but of course, my smoke detector started beeping and now I have to go out and buy a 9V battery tonight. (All while hoping they they remember to re-lock my door tomorrow, since they didn't one time they did a check and my roommate came home to a wide open front door.) Renting is so fun sometimes.

June

• Glacier this month! What are the are the must-dos that I need to add to my list?

July

• Loved spending the last week with both sides of my family as we celebrated my parents returning from their mission. But as great as this last week was, I'm grateful to be back in my own apartment. Being an introvert in a family of extroverts can be exhausting! Good thing I love them anyways. I mean, I am stuck with them for eternity. :-)

August

• I've been feeling for a while that a big change would be coming in my life and now I finally know what it is. It is with incredibly mixed emotions that I'm announcing that I've accepted a position as (job) at (company) and will be starting with their new semester in three weeks. Boise has truly become my home over the last five years (it's almost the longest I've lived anywhere in my life!) and I'm going to miss it, my job, my co-workers, and my friends so much. I've grown so much in so many ways over the last five years and closing this chapter of my life won't be easy, but I'm also very excited to continue to grow both personally and professionally as I move to Salt Lake and tackle this new role.
• Okay, guys. Looking at housing is overwhelming and I would love any help/suggestions. I'm looking to move to Salt Lake County. Requirements: 2 bedroom (or a really large one bedroom, as I have a lot of stuff), W/D hook-ups, covered parking, safe area. Bonus points if near TRAX or in a really good singles ward/area. I'd prefer not to spend over $900/month in rent, though I could higher. Suggestions?
• Momentous occasion today: first time anybody has thought that I was pregnant and actually asked me if I was. (For the record, I'm not. Unless there's another virgin birth going on that I'm not aware of...)
• It's my birthday today. I always feel a bit awkward letting people know that. I struggle being the center of attention or feeling like I'm forcing people to do something for me. But with all the craziness going on in my life right now, I'd love a gift from you. I'd love to hear a favorite memory of the two of us or just something you appreciate about me. If that's not your style, memes are also appreciated. Absolutely no pressure to do so. But I think this is a better way for me to celebrate a birthday than just a lot of people wishing me happy birthday because Facebook tells them they should. Regardless, thank you for being in my life. I'm so lucky to have you.

September

• Had to scrape my windshield this morning. I'm not ready for this weather!

October

• What did you guys do today? I got a bit sunburned...And ran a marathon! I still can't believe I did it. Training has been hard physically and I've really been struggling with my mental game. There were even a few times today I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. But I didn't get swept and I finished! My body isn't super happy with me right now, but I am so happy with myself. Now I know I can do anything. 
• Ok. I need to get a new personal laptop. I don't need anything fancy... just something for internet browsing and Microsoft Office. And I need to get it before NaNo because I do NOT want to do that by hand. Any suggestions?
• My GPS wasn't working this morning, but I successfully navigated where I needed to go by just using the grid system! It works! I did get slightly lost when the grid didn't entirely connect, but I figured it out and feel very accomplished.
• More fun from my previous management company: got mail from them today and I opened it, expecting it to be a check with the rest of my deposit back. I was interested to see how much money they'd give me back (didn't think it would be much, knowing them). But nope. It was someone else's statement and bill. I don't know how this company has stayed in business and actually taken over a lot of the Treasure Valley. I'm so glad to be (almost) done with them. Here's to hoping they didn't send my check (or info to steal my identity) to someone else.

November

• It's a Sara Bareilles kind of night.
• I now have a Utah driver's license and license plates and a Salt Lake County library card. Guess there's no going back now.
• I was a NaNo rebel this year, working on several different projects instead of just one novel. But I wrote 50,000 words total, and with an hour and 15 minutes to spare... I'm counting it as a win! 

December

• Looking at getting LASIK. Have any of my Salt Lake friends had that done? I'm likely looking at going to either Hoopes Vision or LasikPlus and would love recommendations or insights.
• Running hills at 6000 feet is either going to help me get a lot stronger and faster or it's going to kill me. Let's hope it's the former instead of the latter.

Meridian Temple open house and dedication, make-up, and a brief life update

Once again, I am behind in blogging. But I need to update on a few things before I do my "year in review" posts tomorrow.

Over two months ago, I was able to cross "go to a temple open house" off of my 101 list. I was able to go back to Boise for a quick trip and got to help with the Meridian temple open house. I've been to plenty of open houses before, but never got to help usher, so that was neat. I especially enjoyed my first couple of hours, where I was at the doors and welcomed and counted people. (I even got a clicker counter to use, which reminded me of my good old speech therapy days.) They then switched me out and I wandered around and relieved people who needed a break. (I tried to, at least. Only one person took me up on it.) It's a really pretty building, inside and out, and I'll definitely have to go back and do a session there one day.

Then, a few weeks later, my dad and I popped over the border into Franklin, Idaho to watch the dedication broadcast. I'm glad I was able to go. It's kind of weird having been in Boise during all the groundbreaking and construction but not during the open house and dedication. I couldn't just not be part of it!

Also, as another 101 list note, I'm crossing off "try a new make-up brand/type." I bought some Senegence. Not totally in love with LipSense. I'm just so lazy when it comes to make-up and rarely use lipstick. But their foundation and mascara seem to be working okay for me.

In November, I won NaNoWriMo again. I was a total rebel, as I was writing four different things. But I did write 50,000 words in a month, so I'm counting it.

As far as life goes, definitely staying busy with my new job. Lots to do. But I love the people I work with and it's a really fun time to be there and help with a lot, especially being in a newly created position. Also, my parents moved into their new house and I'm living with them there currently. It's lovely, though I'm not loving the commute. I've been pretty spoiled to never have my commute be longer than 20-25 minutes. At least the train has been nice to at least do things during part of the commute. I probably need to start looking for my own house to buy, though. Eek! I don't know if I'm grown up enough to do that. Haha.

I'm still running. I've done 3 of 12 races for my race a month for a year goal. I did 10 miles today, which was the most I've done since the marathon, and my body is really feeling it. I need to figure out what race I'm doing in January and I'm debating if I'm up for a half or not. I ran into a kind couple at my December race and they introduced me to an awesome Utah Facebook community of runners, and that's been nice to connect to people at least virtually that way. I know I need to try harder to make some friends here, though it's hard when I don't entirely have the desire to. (#introvertproblems) But runners are great and this Facebook group seems super supportive, so I probably should tap into that more. I should also probably try harder in my new ward, but it's so ginormous and overwhelming. They're splitting into two Elder Quorums and two Relief Societies this next year though, so maybe it'll be a bit easier then. But for now, I'm grateful for my friends who were already in Utah who spend time with me. I'm lucky to have such great people in my life.

Marathon

I ran a marathon.

I still kind of can't believe that happened.

Just over a year ago, I ran my first 10K. I knew the next season with Galloway, I'd be training for a half, and I started training for that earlier this year. But when I saw that my friend Karen had "run a marathon" on her 40 before 40 list, I thought that maybe I could do that, too. So we signed up for the St. George Marathon and started training.

Leading up to the marathon, I was really struggling. My training hasn't been great since I've moved. It's hard to pull myself out of bed when it's darker and colder and I don't know the area as well. It's even harder when I don't have people to run with, as running has become such a social thing for me. I've had some foot, hip, and knee pain that's bothered me some. But I didn't want to give up on this goal. Though my parents and some friends were questioning me week of if I really still wanted to do it, I still went down to St. George.

As I was in my hotel room Friday night, I was really nervous and I wasn't sure if I could pull it off.  (St. George has a strict cut-off at mile 23.1. It's only a bit slower than my race pace and I've been worried about that since the beginning.) I called Louise, the Boise Galloway director (and my running coach and friend). She told me that she had tried to talk me out of doing the marathon, as she saw that I wasn't enjoying running as much since signing up for it, as I was always so worried about it. She told me that I better have fun or she would slap me and if I wasn't going to have fun, I might as well not get on the bus in the morning. She said just to enjoy the day and do my race. I think I needed that rebuking.

So I got up early Saturday morning (sometime around 3:30am, I think) and tried to start enjoying the day. It was actually pretty nice walking to the buses, but really cold at the start line. I grabbed a mylar blanket they were handing out and wrapped it around my legs and just tried to enjoy the atmosphere. I also got my foot professionally taped, and I think that really helped. As the time for the marathon approached, I still couldn't believe I was doing it, but there really wasn't a backing out at that point. The race started a bit late, which made me anxious, as the sweeper said that they weren't adjusting the cut-off time and we still had to be at the cut-off by 1pm, even though we were starting later. That meant I'd have to run each mile a minute faster than planned. But then... we were off. It was a really pretty morning as the sun was coming up and it was just really peaceful and pretty. People spread out pretty quickly, with people passing me all over the place.

A few miles in, Karen came up from behind me and we ran a few miles together before she went on ahead to run her own race (and she did awesome, finishing almost an hour ahead of me). I continued on, with it kind of being me and the road. The scenery along the course was pretty diverse and beautiful. From the meadows, to the Veyo hill/volcano, to the gorgeous red rock. I tried to take it all in, and actually didn't even listen to podcasts like I normally do. I kept repeating my mantra over and over, "I am strong, I am powerful, I am enough."

That "I am enough" one became important. After I had talked to Louise, I realized that I was so scared of being swept because to me, that symbolized total failure. As she pointed out, it wouldn't be the end of the world if that did happen. But in my head... it kind of was. And as I thought about why that was, I realized it was because it would reinforce some of my more negative thoughts about myself, about never being enough. So with that mantra, I was reminding myself that I am enough, even if I fall short sometimes.

As I enjoyed the course, I was just was really impressed with the St. George Marathon. Yes, it was pretty. Yes, it was a decent course. But I was super impressed with the volunteers. In addition to handing out water and Gatorade and snacks, they also handed out Vaseline (which I was so grateful for around mile 7, when I realized the body glide I put on wasn't going to be sufficient) and even had nurses at aid stations putting on IcyHot wherever you needed it. I stopped at three different stations to get that done. My lower back kind of starting spazzing out around mile 10, so that was great to have that and it calmed down. And I'm pretty sure there were PortaPotties at every mile marker. (Bonus: by being a slow runner, there's pretty much never a wait.)

As I continued to try and enjoy the course, I tried to notice accomplishments along the way. When I got to the 13.1 check-in clock, I looked at the clock and then at my watch and then at the clock again, and realized that I had run my fastest half marathon. When I was around mile 16, I was able to see my parents, which was a bit of a fun surprise (they said they were going to the spectator spots, but I wasn't sure where they were). And when I passed 20 miles, I celebrated running the farthest I ever have. (I definitely slacked in my longer runs towards the end of my marathon training.) I met a few people and enjoyed talking to them. (Slow runners are fun and generally more easy to talk to, as they're open to just having experience instead of beating a certain time. Or maybe I just tell myself that to feel better about being a slow runner. Haha.) As it got closer and closer to 1pm, I got nervous as I wasn't going to quite make the cut-off by that time. But some of the other runners said that they heard that they had extended the time due to them starting late. And it turns out they did and I definitely celebrated passing the cut-off point, as I knew that I was going to finish the marathon at that point. Once you passed the cut-off, you could take as long as you needed. And at that point it was only another 5K. Super doable when you break it down like that (though I think it ended up being one of my slowest 5Ks ever). And even that last 5K was super supported, even for us slow people. I know a lot of spectators had left and they were cleaning up the aid stations, but they were handing out ice in addition to everything else, and I put some cubes between my visor and my head and it felt wonderful. There were also icy cold washcloths towards the end, and a random St. George girl was in front of her house, misting people with a hose if they wanted (I definitely took her up on that). There were police officers on motorcyles kind of accompanying an older man who was running his 40th St. George Marathon (yes, a 70-year-old man finished about the same time that I did) and the police officers were singing over their microphones, including "The Final Countdown." That really made me smile. The sweeper passed me with about a half mile to go, but it didn't matter at that point, as I beat him to the cut-off (only by a few minutes, judging by when he said he crossed it, but I made it).

It was an absolutely amazing feeling crossing that finish line (in just under 7 hours chip time). There were so many times I wasn't sure if I was going to make it (even during the race), but I did it. I did a really hard thing! It was so taxing both physically and mentally, but I made it. Louise told me that after her first marathon, she saw someone wearing a shirt that said, "Now that I've run a marathon, I know that I can do anything." I really felt that after I crossed the finish line and I'm hoping to hold on to that moving forward. (Though I'll admit, that it's already been a struggle over the past 2 weeks.) I can do hard things. I'm continuing to do hard things. And, just like the marathon, I'll one day be able to cross that finish line and be amazed at what I was able to accomplish... while enjoying the super awesome misters. Haha.

(And yes, I accidentally got sunburned during the marathon. Whoops.)

So I was able to kick off this 101 list with a bang! Marathon complete! And as far as running goes, one of my other 101 list goals is to run a race every month for a year. I was planning on doing that starting with the marathon, but my foot got a bit injured during the race somehow and my runs have been really slow and pathetic. (Walking around during the course of a normal day aggravates it sometimes.) So I need to figure that out so I can continue in that goal, as well. But if nothing else... 5Ks count as races, right?

Second 101 list completed... and starting a third

My second 101 list ended on September 28. I completed 59 of the 101 things, which was less than I completed on my first list. I was a bit sad when I realized that, but I had so many great adventures from things I did on the list and I'm grateful for that. Doing 101 lists help me to do things that I would otherwise only think or dream about doing. Bucket lists are easy to procrastinate, but with only 1001 days, you really have to get things done!

Things I don't think I blogged about from my list that I did end up doing in the last little bit:

• Study church lessons beforehand for a month ("beforehand" may have turned in to reading the Sunday School lesson in sacrament and RS lesson in Sunday School, but I'm counting it)
• Go to a fine dining restaurant (My parents took me to Tiburon when some other dinner plans fell through. It was so good!)
• Tiburon also fulfilled my dining by candlelight. Not quite what I pictured when I thought up that goal, but it works.
• Read 10 different books as recommended by 10 different friends. I totally forgot about this one, and got three more recommendations with just a few weeks to go, and I was finishing the last one literally an hour before my list was over. (Why did my friends pick such long books?)
• Take a community education class (still in progress, but I started it, so I'm counting it)
• Write in journal at least once a week for length of project.

And with that, I am starting my third 101 list today!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Funny how life changes so quickly.

About a month and a half ago, I got a call with a job offer. I had applied a couple of months before and was surprised when I got a Skype interview, then was surprised again when I got an in-person interview. I was really surprised when I got the job offer, especially when they originally said they'd take a week or two to make their decision and I got a call towards the end of the third week. It was a tough decision, as I really was enjoying my life in Boise and accepting this job, moving to a new place, and kind of starting my life over was a big deal. However, I've been feeling for a while that a big change would be coming in my life and I kept being reminded how necessary change is to growth. Staying in Boise was the comfortable status quo and accepting this job and moving was all about change. I wanted to stay comfortable, but I knew that wasn't what I was supposed to do. I accepted the job offer and then immediately called my boss to give my two weeks notice, knowing that after the two weeks, I'd just have a week to move and be ready to start my new job.

It was a bit of a crazy few weeks. I am grateful to my family and friends who helped make that a bit easier. The timing was nice in that my parents are now home from their mission, so my mom was able to help me move (just like my dad had helped me move to Boise). I even was able to move in with my parents, as I didn't have much time to find a place. Now I'm not stuck in a lease when I decide I want to move somewhere else or even buy my own place once the market comes down a bit.

I am enjoying my new job. There's a lot of work to be done and a lot to figure out, but the people I work with are great and I think I'm up to the challenge. It's nice being near some friends who are around here as I work up the strength and courage to make other friends (going to a singles ward does not sound appealing right now). I've already thrown myself into some "extracurriculars"--two calligraphy classes that I'm taking with my friend Sara. Continuing running has been a bit difficult with the move, change in weather, and some physical issues, but I am still doing that. I even went back to Boise last weekend to run the FitOne Half, which was great. Two years ago, I ran the 5K, last year I ran the 10K, and this year I ran the half. It's a great race. I also finished my second 101 list and am going to be starting my third. But more about that in an upcoming post.

Change can be really hard. But I'm continuing to remind myself that it will lead to growth. And that is what life is all about, right?