Rants, Recipes, and Running

When someone mentions Las Vegas to you...what comes to mind? Usually one gets images of bright lights, the Bellagio fountains, extravagantly decorated hotels, high end shopping, scantily dressed women, gambling, excessive spending, and hangovers. Well I'm here's to prove that belief wrong. :) I am currently in Vegas accompanying my husband. He is at a 2 week course for the Air Force, and I happened to have Wednesday-Sunday off from work (I had taken PTO many months ago as we were planning a vacation during this time). So I packed up the car, set off for a road trip to Vegas. The one thing I had to do was figure out how to entertain myself during the day while Ryan is at school. My initial thought was, " I know! I'll buy myself a pack of Marlbarols, drink Manhattans, and spend the afternoon with my ass planted at a slot machine so I can waste thousands of dollars!!!!" Oh wait, no. I wouldn't do that . Ever . In a million years . In fact, I loathe casino...

Greetings, friends! I am currently writing to you from Sin City. Well, kind of. I've received some, what I'd consider , critical eyes from my some people lately. I am well aware that life has been fun of much travel and adventure lately. Triathlon weekend in Tempe, San Diego, Lake Roosevelt, now Vegas, San Antonio next week. But it's been manageable. A few reasons to clarify....1) We worked out butts off in the preceding months. 2) All these trips we are driving to. 3) Lake Roosevelt was camping ....doesn't get much cheaper than tents, beer, and hobo meals cooked over the fire! 4) Our Vegas Trip is a kind of a work trip. Ryan is here for pilot training - we are staying at hotel at the Air Force Base Hotel. Our room has 2 twin beds...if that gives you an idea of our "digs" (as least is safe, and only a few miles from the strip) Many of these tips I'm about to share are kind of "no brainer's" -- but I've found them to be very valuable....

2 weeks left in our house, and then we are off to our adventure in San Antonio, Texas. My job will give me 90 days leave, so I will be returning in September. Ryan will be staying until October some time until his school is complete. We had a lovely "Send Off" Happy Hour last Friday. My cheeks hurt from all the laughter from an evening with friends. Life has so many blessings. I have to look back in awe. May 20 marked 5 years that we've been in the Tucson, AZ area! 5 years ago, I cluelessly stepped out of the U-Haul onto 100 degree, hot AZ sand (not soil). Didn't have a college degree yet (I was only 19), didn't have a job, all friends and family were clear across the country, Ryan was only my boyfriend at the time. Was I crazy?!?! Yes .  Here's a photo we took upon our arrival as we crossed the border into AZ.  Through the unknowns and fears, I was literally "embracing" this journey. (I'm embracing the sign...) Our first weeks...