Spreading Blog Appreciation

04. February 2013 · 7 comments · Categories: Introspection, Writing · Tags: , , ,

I have admittedly felt like I am in a blog rut the past few months. It may be a form of writer’s block, or perhaps it’s that time of year when I am so focused on my work that I feel less creative. What can I write about in the gray and foggy weather of January and February? Does anyone even read my blog anymore? As someone who has been blogging for 3+ years, I can say this is something I go through periodically. I need to remind myself that this spring, I have many adventures to look forward to, that I hope will also be interesting and inspiring to others.

So I was excited to learn that I’d been nominated for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award by A.M.B., who authors the blog The Misfortune of Knowing. I have been following her blog for nearly six months, and have enjoyed her posts on books, her insightful perspectives on the law, and her reflections on raising identical twin daughters (and a toddler as well). One of the things I have enjoyed most about blogging has been connecting with others throughout the world with similar interests and passions. Although I may not comment on too many posts, there are dozens of bloggers that I appreciate, and I would like to acknowledge their work.

very-inspirational-blogger1

Here’s how the award works:

The Rules:

  1. Display the award logo;
  2. Link to the person who nominated you;
  3. State seven facts about yourself;
  4. Nominate and link to fellow bloggers.

Seven Random Facts about Me:

  • The last red meat I ever ate was a Burger King hamburger in November 1995.
  • I am a former intercollegiate pole vaulter.
  • Every morning, I drink exactly 12 ounces of black coffee. If I drink any less, I can’t function. If I drink any more, I can’t focus.
  • My favorite television show ever is ‘The X-Files.’ While I am on the subject of television, I haven’t really watched it since 2003.
  • In college, I became a member of the sorority Alpha Sigma Tau.
  • Currently, I have a minor obsession with feta cheese. One of my favorite snacks/side dishes at the moment is lightly-buttered peas topped with feta and black pepper.
  • My husband and I boycotted the Super Bowl yesterday. Instead, we walked to happy hour at our favorite local café, and asked to be seated away from the televisions. I love happy hour.

My nominations are (participation is optional, but know that I really appreciate your blogs!):

Getting Back into Running and Writing

26. November 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Introspection, Oregon, Running, Writing

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend! I’d had ambitious plans going into the weekend — to check out several open houses at local wineries and to head to a bar to watch the big Civil War football game — neither of which panned out. But I did participate in the West Linn Turkey Trot with my sister on Thursday morning and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with my brother-in-law’s family at their home near Oregon City. I’d meant to post picture of the race much earlier, but I got distracted with other writing projects and sitting around home in my pajamas (mostly the latter).

The Turkey Trot was held on paved and unpaved trails at Mary S. Young State Park in West Linn, Oregon. My sister and I had originally planned to jog/walk it, but when she arrived at the race with her 10-year-old Doberman, Sydney, the dog was just too excited not to participate. We were told the dog could participate if we stuck near the back of the pack. Fortunately, the park was great for hiking too.

Three things I was thankful for this Thanksgiving: (1) that my sister agreed to do the race with me; (2) that the rain temporarily halted, so we didn’t get incredibly muddy; and (3) that I live in such a beautiful state. Seriously, how beautiful is this setting for a Thanksgiving Day run?

Participating in the Turkey Trot reminded me how much I miss running. I’d given it up in Las Vegas after a combination of: my frustrations with the heat and wind, limited places to run near my home, and being constantly harrassed by passing drivers and exhaust smoke. I’ve managed to keep in fairly good shape thanks to karate, but now I live in a community with a vibrant running culture and loads of trails, so I think it’s time to pick it up again. I hope to register for my next race, an all-women half-marathon, by the end of this week.

Prior to our move to Oregon, I wrote about some of the challenges my husband and I have faced this year. While we so far feel like Oregon is a much better fit for us than Las Vegas, it has taken some time to get used to our new community. This is the first time in my life I’ve moved to get away from something, rather than to move because of school or a new job. We are finally starting to meet new people, and to feel assured that this move was the best decision for our careers.

So this weekend, instead of going wine tasting or to a bar to watch football, I start to write again. I’d started an autobiographical novel back in 2007, but haven’t written anything on it since 2010. This new book I am working on is a memoir, based on my experiences living in 4 continents in my 20s. While it is much too soon to know if I would ever try to publish this story, I feel it is a story that needs to be written down, at least for my own sake. Perhaps it is what has been separating me from moving on from my past, and getting on with the rest of my life.

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