Not Your Average Thanksgiving

This year, my Thanksgiving is not going to be like it usually is.

Typically, I have a pretty normal Thanksgiving. I brave the ridiculous airport crowds to fly back to Indianapolis, where I have three Thanksgivings (usually) with about 100ish family members (probably an exaggeration, but oh well). I usually talk my sister or mom into going Black Friday shopping with me (although that was slightly delayed last year by a hangover), even though neither of them really want to.

My Thanksgiving this year starts tonight (technically tomorrow) at 2:30am, when I get to the Amtrak station in Salt Lake City. I'll be taking the California Zephyr train through the mountains to Denver, where I'll be spending two days with my former roommate and dear friend Karen. After two days in Denver, we're driving up to the mountains for the Nature Valley Aspen Winternational, a women's alpine skiing World Cup. After two days there, it's back on the train and back to Utah!

It'll be interesting. I'll definitely miss my normal, chaotic holiday that I love despite its craziness. I'll miss my family and our traditions, both old and new.

But stay tuned for an update on my 15-hour train trip and the ensuing Colorado adventure!

30 Questions: Greatest Accomplishments

What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

1.) Sticking to my dream of working in the Olympic movement and making it happen!

2.) Getting my Masters degree

3.) Maintaining close relationships with family and friends despite distance

4.) Going from never using a DSLR camera to being an official World Cup photographer in less than two years

5.) Accepting myself for who I am and appreciating my quirks

Yeah, I know they're a little less than concrete, but give me a break...my life has only just started and I intend to accomplish a lot more with it! :)

My Recent Life in Photos

New bedroom with a new duvet cover!

My first piece of IKEA furniture ever.

Another IKEA item that also caused me to throw out my back.

Sporting 2006 Olympic-wear to work

Mountain life

Wandering Park City's Main Street...what ski resort are you trying to find?

New World Trade Center building in NYC

Bright Uggs!

Still the best vanilla cupcake I've ever had!

Cupcakes for Margaux's 21st!

Taking notes in colored Sharpies makes life a little brighter.

Repping the U.S. Ski Team

Absentee ballot!

Nice day in Salt Lake City

More delicious NYC cupcakes!

Gotta work out since I enjoyed all those cupcakes!

Mountain morning

Hot air balloons by the office

My first Utah rainbow

AWOLNATION with Korey and Ashley

Delicious, overpriced cookies.

Truth.

"This could be paradise..."

I'm FINALLY updating!  I know it's been awhile, but it's been pretty chaotic settling in.  I went back to Colorado and got all of my things packed up a few weeks ago, and all of those things finally arrived last night.  It was a hectic night of unpacking...and let me tell you, consolidating an entire apartment (even if it was tiny) into a small bedroom is no small task!

I also managed to get out and take the pictures I've been promising since I moved!  I really want to get to the beach late at night one of these nights because there's some algae causing the waves to glow right now.  Night photography is definitely not my forte, but I definitely want to try to capture something cool like glow-in-the-dark waves!  Shouldn't be too hard since I live 2 blocks from the ocean!

Life has been very stressful, but I am finding my niche here in San Diego courtesy of my amazing roommates and coworkers.  It's been a struggle trying to make new friends and figure out how to grow with the older friends who have now become long distance.  It has not been easy at all, and I have not handled myself the best, either. I just have to hope that the friendships I have made are strong enough to last through a few big speed bumps.  As is usual for me, I've found some solace from these stresses in music, particularly Coldplay's new song "Paradise." 

"So lying underneath those stormy skies, she'd say, 'Oh, I know the sun must set to rise.'"

It's sort of an optimistic take on dealing with bad things.  Yes, I might be stressed and dealing with a lot right now (although I have many positives to be grateful for, too), there's a sunrise around the corner.  You just have to stick it out to get there.

I'll post an update on work before too much longer...want to snap some photos around the office before posting on that! But...I am loving the new job!

That's it for now!

30 Days of Photos - Day 4

Day Four - A photo of your night

Margaux (one of my best friends!), her sister Isabella and I took some of the Russian pentathletes on a tour of Manitou Springs, Colo., yesterday afternoon, where we tried on some John Lennon glasses. The night ended up being pretty epic!

30 Days of Photos - Day 2

Day Two - A picture of yourself and someone you've been close with for awhile

Ever since the Backstreet Boys united us sophomore year at Ball State, Michele's been one of my best friends...and living in different states hasn't changed our friendship at all!  

30 Days of Photos - Day 1

I saw this on a friend's Facebook and thought it might be a good way to keep me motivated to update this blog.

Day One - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts

1. I love hiking and climbing mountains. I've summited two 14ers since I've been in Colorado (including Mt. Belford, where the above photo was taken).

2. I love to cook.  One of the things I am most excited about in my new apartment is the lovely kitchen!

3. Authentic Mexican food and margaritas are basically a guaranteed way to cheer me up if I'm having a bad day.

4. I love traveling!  I have a bucket list of places to go all around the world.

5. I cannot wait to get a dog, but I'm not a fan of large dogs...I'm hoping to keep the family puggle tradition alive.

6. Over the seven months I have been in Colorado, my respect for amateur athletes has grown so much...it isn't really possible to put the amount into words. 

7. I'm more than a little obsessed with Starbucks. 

8. If I'm drinking, it's probably wine (or the aforementioned margaritas).  Cheap wine is fine because I rarely notice the difference.

9. I'm alcohol intolerant, so I don't drink that often and when I do, I need to take allergy medicine about an hour before or else I get sick.

10. I form a strong opinion on most things and I love getting in friendly debates about them.  

11. I'm a tree-hugger, pro-choice, pro-immigration, pro-same sex marriage, strongly opposed to Don't Ask Don't Tell...basically, I'm a liberal and quite proud of it.  I'm educated about it, though, and I know there are flaws in every ideology.

12. I'm pretty much always cold.

13. I like to stay active...some of my hobbies include speedskating, hiking, cycling (in the gym for now since I'm bike-less) and going on walks.

14. I was inspired by the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games to apply for internships with the US Olympic Committee.  I got hired eventually by the digital media department.  Coming out to work for the USOC was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

15. I'm one independent study away from a masters degree in political science.  Although I have no intention of working in politics (I used to want to...I clearly changed my mind), I'll have the degree!