My new friend

***This post is dedicated to Mel, who seems to think that blogging every 6 months is unacceptable.

I bought a bike! I got it just a few minutes ago. Isn't it pretty?

Running hurts me too much, so I thought I'd try out the whole biking thing. I thought it would be really easy to just say, "Hey, I want a bike. What should I get?" Turns out there are road bikes and mountain bikes and sizes and components and all sorts of crazy things like that. I asked around and shopped around and finally found one.

Now for a name. Any suggestions? Anyone still read this (besides Melanie?) :)

Guest post from Carie

Dear blogging community, Shannon has asked me to guest blog because she's going insane with work. So, without further ado...here is an update on her life!

1. The dryer in Shannon's abode finally officially died last week (trust me, it was definitely on its last limb)! It's good as new today, though! The landlord and his dad came over on Saturday to look at it. They ordered a part and came over this morning at 7:30am to fix it! Can you say amazing landlord? According to Shannon it's as good as new and so quiet. They even replaced the light bulb inside. The dryer light has never worked since they moved in!

2. Shannon feels that if Harry Potter World were in Disneyworld there would be no need for Universal Studios. I think I agree. Butterbeer...yumm

3. Shannon has volunteered to make me a Harry Potter quilt! I'll let her post a picture of it. I can't imagine trying to make it though. It looks way too hard. She's such a good friend!

4. Shannon will be traveling next summer (is anyone surprised?). As of the last update I had there were 3 'must visit' countries and I believe 2-3 more that may be on the list. This list obviously doesn't include visiting family or (uh hem) friends yet. Maybe she should just rent out her apartment for the summer... 

5. There was a needle-in-the-finger incident with a 9th grader recently. Luckily Bob (name changed) came in at just the right time to get it out so Shannon didn't have to.

6. If Shannon really loves you, she'll send you this valentine for Single's Awareness Day. If you don't get one don't be upset. She's really busy (hence me posting on her blog for her). Thanks for stopping in! Come again soon when the real (and more exciting) Shannon Lacey will be back

Check out my countdown

1 month

1 week

1 day

until I go to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands!

5k x 2 = unplanned 10k

A few weeks back, I signed up for a Harry Potter-themed 5k.  I love running.  I love Harry Potter.  What a great combination!

Well earlier this week my roommate asked if I wanted to run her school's Red Ribbon Week 5k this Saturday.  For the third year in a row, I had to turn her down because of another race (last year I was running the SoJo Half and the year before was the Halloween Half).

This morning I headed up to West Jordan for the Potter Run at 8:00.  I can't say it was the best organized 5k.  It seemed like none of the organizers had ever participated in a race.  The course consisted of 4 laps on a sidewalk around a park.  But that's okay...there were all sorts of people dressed up for it, which made for excellent people-watching. :)  You better believe I listened to the HP soundtrack while running. :)

Plus I got a sweet shirt and medal!

After the race, I got right in my car and headed to Annie's school to cheer everyone on at the finish line.  When I got there right at 9, the race hadn't started yet!  So when the race did start...so did I. :)

Did I mention I haven't been running since my half marathon in June?  And I did a double T25 workout yesterday.  Let's just say I'm going to be sore tomorrow (and by that I mean I'm actually sore right now).

Indiana Selfies

This one time I went to visit Carie in Indiana, and we did what we do best...we took ridiculous pictures of ourselves

 

Cover your mouth when you sneeze

A couple of weeks ago, one of you (maybe Katie?  I really don't remember...sorry) asked me when I was going to post funny student stories again.  I know I've had some good laughs this year, but I forget about them by the time I get home.  Well, I didn't forget what happened today...

My 9th grade class was working on a project.  This boy came up to me to ask a question, and as I was explaining it, I saw him gearing up for a sneeze.  Then the sneeze came.  Simultaneously, more snot than I've ever seen in one place in my life shot across his shoulder and down his arm.

It was disgusting.

I tried to be the mature adult that I am and pretend I didn't notice.  I was very impressed by the lack of shame from this kid.  He yelled out, "Oh sick! It's everywhere!"  Again, trying to be the mature adult that I am, I turned to another student who was waiting for help.  By then, the rest of the class had noticed and started coming over to look as he wiped himself up with some tissues.

That's when I lost it.

I couldn't stop laughing.

In fact, right now as I type this, I can't stop laughing.

It was all topped off when he asked if I had a washing machine he could borrow.  Or perhaps it was when he said, "Well, I guess that's why we turned our head into our shoulder when we sneeze.  Just think, Miss Lacey...that could have been all over you."

And for that I will be forever grateful.

Fun at the fair

I've been feeling a little sad that I didn't get to go to Montana this summer, so I thought the next best thing might be going to the Utah State Fair.  Okay, so it's not Montana.  However, it was still pretty darn fun.

There's something about a ferris wheel that completes a fair.

 In fact, it's such a symbol of the fair that they made a k'nex model.

The highlight may have been seeing Santa in the goat barn.  I was trying to take a secret picture of him, but apparently it didn't work.  He and his little apprentice are staring right at me.  I didn't realize that until I got home last night and looked at my pictures again. Oops. :)  Come on...if you're going to look like Santa, you've got to realize people are going to try to take a picture of you.

And the butter sculpture was so awesome!  It was a cow being abducted by aliens, and the farmer was trying to hang onto her. :)