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. :)

Better brush up on my Indiana accent

Dear Carie, please forgive me for not posting about Indiana before Ecuador.

My next adventure really is to Indiana for Fall Break.  I can't even tell you how excited I am to go visit this girl...

Can't wait for scary stories in the cemetery, covered bridges, and some amazing people-watching!  Oh, and I'm sure we'll have a Johnny Friday...and I'll fall asleep...and Aaron will take a hideous picture of me with my mouth open. :)

Better brush up on my español

In case you haven't talked to me or haven't seen my cute turtle countdown on the top of my page, you may not know about my next adventure.

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, here I come!

I'm going with the same friends I went with to Ireland.  I don't think it was until tonight that it finally hit that I'm going, and I got really excited.  I've been doing some research and thinking it would be fun, but now it's becoming a little more real as we book hotels and plan a few of the details.  I even thought it would be fun to read the Origin of Species by Darwin as a little preparatory reading.  I changed my mind.  It's not a fun book to read.  Though it does help put me to sleep at night...one paragraph does the trick!

We'll be spending most of our time in the Galapagos with giant turtles, cute penguins, and these funny looking guys they call blue footed boobies.

 Look how massive these turtles are!

I'm also excited to spend a little time exploring some culture and architecture in Quito, Ecuador.

And of course standing on the equator!

 South American has never been high on my destination list, but I'm getting excited for this adventure.