mini vacay to Cali

Welcome to the Palm Springs airport.  I loved being greeted by a palm tree!  Great way to begin this adventure with Sara Jo.  I had been bugging her to do a girls' trip and wanted her to choose the destination.  Typically, I lead the cause and determine the details of the trips.  I wanted her to try this out. 

She chose Palm Springs since I had not been there and her brother lives there.  Seemed like a great way to achieve two goals--appease my desire for more trips and see her brother.  I had met Wes in 2006.  He has lived in Cali for the last 8 or 9 years. His girlfriend, Heather, and her daughter also live with him in the desert but in the high desert.  We would spend time in Palm Springs and in the high desert with Heather and Kay.  I knew that some family time would be involved and that we would also have time to explore the dining scene. 

We met Wes and walked around the downtown area after a quick lunch.  We discussed our options of the next few days.  I told Wes and Heather that I was up for anything as long as food and drink were involved.  They mentioned Joshua Tree and a music venue in the high desert that was worthwhile and something they would like to take us to.  Of course, when we booked the trip, we did not factor in Coachella or how busy things would be due to that music festival. 

Joshua Tree was awesome.  Many other people were touring the national park.  We chose a trail that led to water.  Gorgeous.  There was hieroglyphs and an easy trail to maneuver.  We stopped at a few other spots while driving around the park.  Toured the park that afternoon before returning to town for micheladas and chips and salsa.  There were limited dining options in their town.  We could choose between Chinese, greek or Mexican.  I can rarely turn down chips and salsa so it was an easy choice for me.  However, Kay really wanted Chinese and so we pondered that option.  Mexican won.  We stopped by a local market for street tacos before returning to their house

It was a lovely trip.  More family centered than I thought it to be and worked out well.  I saw cactus, became nostalgic for the desert and had some great food.  It was a quick trip.  Not too many options of flights on Saturday.  The latest return was 1:30 pm so we made the most of it.  Our final meal was at Spencer's.  Delicious.  One of my customers insisted that we should dine there.  Even went as for as giving me money to pay for our lunch.  Such a sweet guy!  He kept raving about the shrimp cocktail.  Of course, we had to try that.  It was all about the mustard sauce and gigantic shrimp.

Great quick trip and fun to watch the family dynamics. 

Upon returning to Denver, I am experiencing insane allergies and congestion.,  Something about the change of weather.  I woke up at 3 and was unable to return to sleep.  Super congested and irritated.

I will reflect more later.  It was a lovely much needed venture to California.

Saturday woes

As much as I love the colors of spring, the allergies, well, leave a lot to be desired.  I am going to have to buy more Claritin to keep evading them. I am not a fan of pills or medicating myself to avoid symptoms in my life.  Allergies cannot be left alone, though.
I considered a yoga class before my barre class regimen on Saturdays.  I like the instructor that is subbing the next month.  He is an ashtangi and I understand the sequence of his classes.  Plus, he encourages a yoga community by having the students talk to each other as well as do some adjustments in partner fashion which further aids in interaction and overall community.  The class that he is teaching is busy and the woman has a following.  I found this as I have encountered many of the people lingering around and blocking access to the studio for the barre class.  It's insane the amount of time these people take up, chatting, after class with this instructor.  They loiter in the studio and make it uncomfortable to enter and prepare for the barre class.  I managed to arrange my mat one day and was trying to hurry them along by helping them put props away when I watched two of them step on my mat.  I freaked out!  I despise when people walk on my mat.  I do not understand why people feel it is appropriate to walk on someone else's space.  It is sacrilege! 
So, I contemplated attending Mark's class.  I could support him and get a good class out of it and endure some of the people that I have found annoying in the past.  I know that Mark would call me out in his class.  He would want to involve me in his community developed class.  I opted to skip it.  I will focus on the Barre class.  My favorite instructor is in Palm Springs.  I hope that her sub ramps up the music. I like Maggie and I like her sequence.  I do not love her music selection.  Sometimes, it is passable.  Most times, it is sub par.  However, I want to go to a class and of all of the potential subs, I know that Maggie is the best.  I can overlook the music and sustain a great work out. 
I departed for the market to buy Claritin.  I stopped by another market to pick up a breakfast sandwich and returned home.  I parked my car and stepped out and twisted my ankle good.  It was nuts.  I stepped out of my car and somehow managed to completely jack up my foot.  I limped up the stairs and eventually evened out.  I still have no idea how I stepped down in such a way to create so much pain. 
I went to Barre class and managed to do the sequence of plies and squats.  I avoided the releve's as much as I could.  I did not want to further aggravate my foot.  There was a slight swelling, later, which I managed with some alleve and rest.  Work was interesting.  Mostly due to the onslaught of allergies.  Midway through my shift, I couldn't see.  I was struggling to not itch my eyes and see. Today, I will wear glasses and take some more allergy pills.  One of my customers actually gave me some Zyrtek.  It was funny! 
Day of rest in terms of physical activity.  I would love to attend a barre class.  I just don't have time for it today.  Work will consume the majority of my day.  And dealing with allergies.  Sounds fun, right?
Drink some bubbles and enjoy life!

days off and plans

I've been battling allergies for the last five weeks.  It started in my left eye only.  Itching, irritation...eventually not being able to wear contacts.  I bought an over the counter remedy to aid in my fighting the onslaught of allergies.  It helped as long as I was taking the allergy pill.  I ran out and have wanted to stop taking the pills.  Yet, I can feel the irritation moving into my right eye.  It's odd that it is a shift to my right eye now.  I know that I will need to buy more Claritin to stop the irritation.
I have had a few days off which enables errands, working out, shopping and planning more trips.  I have a mini vacay to Palm Springs next week with Sara Jo. Ironically, my Barre instructor and her husband are also in Palm Springs next week.  I might meet up with them for a drink while in the desert.  I asked Shannon where she will be working out while on vacation.  She responded that she will run, lift at their resort and use P90X.  I think I will do some yoga and maybe run.  I would like to return to running so that I can run along Lakeshore Drive while in Chicago next month.  Must start somewhere.  One step at a time, right?
I met Tiffany for lunch yesterday.  We met at a new restaurant that is whisky driven.  Huge selection of spirits with an emphasis on mixology.  Reminded me of my brief stint at the mixology bar in Santa Fe.  And completed by the bartender.  He was a mixologist.  Could speak the spirit talk and about their shrubs, handmade ice and cocktails; but, had little emphasis on the service or communication department.  I ordered a bottle of wine which he opened but did not chill and then never poured us more wine to drink.  It was disappointing in all honesty.  The food was okay.  Could have used a little seasoning but adequate. 
Afterwards, we met my friend, Janna and her mother.  Janna and I met while in Phoenix and hit it off talking about Denver and finding out that we both were from Kansas.  Both of us lived in the desert for a stint before returning to Denver.  Currently, she works across the street from my job and so I see her intermittently or when are schedules align as they did yesterday.  Her mom from Kansas was meeting her for the weekend and so we met Janna and her mom for happy hour.  Her mom lives in Manhattan and so I questioned where and that my sister lives in Manhattan as well.  We continued gabbing and her mom mentioned that she had heard of my sister who is an aestitician in Manhattan.   Had not received services from Jasmin but knew of her.  I thought that was cute and again, small world. As I continue to travel and meet people, I do find that my worlds collide in the most positive way.  I love that!
Today, I am hoping to attend a yoga class, clean my house and iron my work clothes.   Maybe meet the WP later for lunch. I am in desperate need of new running shoes and casual shoes.  I flirt with the return of plantar fasciitis on a daily basis due to my love of barre classes and beating up my calves.  If only I could pay more heed to my calves and foam rolling them. I do have a foam roller and another tool to aid my feet.  I need to add this to the regimen in the a.m. which includes coffee, brushing teeth and taking vitamins.  I cannot stop going to barre classes.  I won't.  Although, I do not enjoy plantar fasciitis.  It hurts and debilitates me and my ability to walk, work, enjoy life.  I should be more kind to my calves.
Yoga helps and inspires.  Off to greet the day!

events and my love of carrot cake

 Running of the Greens.  I meant to post this after we did the event.  The older lady between my friends wanted to photo bomb the picture.  Didn't really work out that way.  She was funny.  She couldn't hear how loud she was.  I cannot remember her age but I think she was 74ish.  She wanted to photo bomb but didn't look at me when I was taking the picture.
That race was fun.  I sort of dreaded it since I had not been running for almost a year.  Still after we began I remembered how much I do, in fact, enjoy running.  Plus, after the race, they treated us to two beers at the Expo which was nice and necessary. 
Of course while running that event, my friends and I contemplated other races we could participate in.  A 10k is probably the best event in my opinion.  It is the ideal distance and time.  I enjoy half marathons but they require a little more of a commitment.  A full marathon is a beast which I do not know that I will ever take on again.  I have not yet performed a 5k and do not know if I ever will.  So, we considered other events this year.  I want to sign up for a half or a 10k to motivate me to begin another running regime. 
In the meantime, I discovered an event and have signed up for it.  The Lemon Climb is our next event.  The goddess and I are participating in a non running event.  Or, actually, we could try to run some of the flights of stairs.  I doubt we will run 43 flights of stairs.  I don't want to do it, haha!  We are fundraising as well.  This is a really great cause and I love how it evolved.  I love that a little girl came up with a lemon stand as a way to raise money to fight cancer.  Her determination and efforts created the lemon climb events which are held, annually, in cities around the U.S.

Running and events enable me to eat as much carrot cake as I want.  I found this last night while dining at Solera.  When Joshua asked us if we were interested in dessert, we said no.  Intuitively, he placed a menu in front of us and when we saw the carrot cake, the decision was made for us.  I don't remember carrot cake ever being offered there and so we had to sample it. 
It was good.  I prefer a little more frosting.  I liked the presentation and it was moist.  I don't love that word but it is appropriate it this case.  It was a great conclusion to our meal there. 
I am off to hit a Barre class (further way to combat the sugars I ingest).  I will not cut wine out of my diet.  Or carrot cake for that matter.  So, I invest time and energy into barre and yoga classes.  I am teaching the mini tomorrow at my house.  I am finding more instructors at my gym that I like.  Thankfully.  And they have offered more classes during the day which are inspiring me to attend more of the classes.  It's finally coming together!  Or, I suppose, I am making more of an effort to go to the gym.  I want to find TRX classes nearby my house.  That would be the ultimate workout.  More and more studios are offering these classes.  I took my first TRX class in Santa Fe.  I wish that studio was here.  I loved the energy, the music and it was a kick ass class!  I might venture down, again, to take another class at Temple and Tribe.  Epic workout.
Off to begin my day.  Cheers!