Ventura County Bucket List

Since we've lived in Ventura James and I have started accumulating a list of places we want to go and things we want to do in the local area.  It always felt like we had all the time in the world, but now that we are potentially relocating in a matter of months, we've decided it's time to get down to business and start crossing some things off the list. 

Last weekend we crossed our first one off.  Every time we drive down PCH (which is semi-often when we take that route to the airport, go to Malibu for our favorite breakfast burritos, or meet up with friends in Santa Monica) we see the giant sand hill across the freeway from the ocean and we say, "I want to climb up there sometime!"  Our friends Blair and Justin came to visit last weekend and, being the up-for-anything type, they were game to climb it with us.  So climb we did!

 It's hard to really tell how high we were from this angle, but I'll just say I was out of breath and had to rest a few times!! So glad we finally did it though!!


Later that day we crossed another item off of our list.  For several weeks James has been saying he wants to try out a brewery in Ojai, so we called up our friends Jay and Maggie and we all headed out there and shared a 20 beer sampler.  I wish I had gotten a picture of that!! It was so awesome!!  This pic is afterwards at the ice cream parlor :)  Jay is a dentist so I can only assume is his disapproving of all the sugar in this pic. 

Oh one more thing!! We also went to Bart's Books in Ojai which is a somewhat well known indoor/outdoor used book store.  One of its coolest features is that it is lined with books on the outside of the store, and if people want to purchase them when the store is closed, they can just slide some money through a slot in the door on the honor system.  You don't see many places like that!  Here's me soaking up the sun instead of browsing.  This is my Top Model pose, btw. 

Next on the list: Hike two trees!

Friday Poll

Since the passing of our beloved rat child I have been surprised to find that I can't stop thinking about filling the void with something new.  Lots of ideas have run through my mind, but since we are probably about to move I think I am leaning towards holding off for a while.

Well...the logical part of me wants to hold off...the impulsive emotional part of me wants something new to play/cuddle with immediately!!  I thought I'd see what you all think based on the following choices:

A) Guinea pig

B) Small to Medium Dog

C) Potbellied Pig

D) Baby Human

E) All of the above are a lot of work, expensive, and they smell.  Don't do it. 

What are your thoughts?

5k

Last Sunday James and I headed up to Modesto to run our 5k. I was really nervous, but felt great afterwards! I am proud that I set a goal and actually made it happen...and I ran the entire thing! It took me about four minutes longer than I would have liked, but I've got plenty of time to work on speed! The strange thing is that now that it's over, I don't want to just give up and never run again. I'd really like to keep going! I'm not sure what's come over me...

Getting ready to head out.

Ready to get this thing started!

Only half a mile left! (Look at me leaving that little child in the dust, mwahahaha)

Run, James, run! What a stud.

Relieved it's over!! Thanks for doing it with me hubs!

Rewarding ourselves with some grub! Nom nom.

Who Needs Friends?

Who needs friends?  I do!! For the last several months I have been whining to James about how we don't have any local friends.  Recently several of our friends moved away or were deployed and it felt like we were just suddenly left in the dust.  It wasn't so bad for a while because we are pretty content to be hermits and we really like each other so it's not an issue of needing time with other people, but sometimes a girl just wants to call up a friend for an impromptu pedi.  I've tried going to church and smiling at people at the gym, but to no avail.  (I admit, my attempts were minimal.  I'm shy!)  Making friends was so much easier in college...agggh.

Well, now that we are mentally preparing ourselves for a potential move this summer I have just stopped worrying about it and trying to think of ways to get involved and meet people.  I've given up for the time being.  And of course, as soon as I give up hope, a friend appears!  James's friend just returned from deployment and his girlfriend moved to the area and happened to lease an apartment just down the road.  Instant friends.  And we've been hanging out probably once a week since they've been here.  Last night they called up as James and I were about to head to the grocery store and we ended up meeting for a last minute dinner across the street followed by fro yo.  We were all scrubby from having either just gotten off of work, finished a run, or hopped out of the ocean after a surf...but just the ease of getting together and having unexpected company as we ate was so much fun.

 I guess I have been deprived for a while.  But it is nice to have friends.

Fruits and Veggies

I am one of the most unhealthy eaters that I know.  As I mentioned about a year ago in this post I am very picky.  Foods that top my loved-and-often-consumed list include anything at Taco Bell, ice cream, cake, Cheese-its, Doritos, pizza, etc.  You get the idea.  I love me some junk.

About a month ago I had a sort of epiphany while chatting with two of my friends: my eating habits are gross!  And what I'm eating is directly affecting how I feel.  And it's completely within my ability to change that.  So I set myself on a new path and started off small so as not to freak myself out which would inevitably lead to me giving up.  Instead I thought of three small, reasonable things that I could immediately change:

1) Stop drinking soda

2) Eat an apple a day

3) Switch from regular yogurt to Greek yogurt

Baby steps people.  As luck would have it, James' health nut friend ended up staying at our apartment for a few nights during my revelation process.  He introduced us to the Magic Bullet and now I'm a smoothie making machine!!  Every day I drink a smoothie consisting of fresh spinach, pure orange juice, and a banana.  If you know me at all, you know that I do not enjoy 2 out of 3 of these items.  But somehow together, they are pure deliciousness.  And every once in a while I'll spice it up by adding something else like blueberries or raspberries. I usually make it my afternoon or after-run snack.

I'm enjoying this, I promise.

In order to make sure that I continue on this path of (somewhat) healthiness I decided not to restrict myself from eating anything.  I am allowing myself to still have dessert as long as I've eaten lots of fruits and veggies throughout the day.  And, shockingly I've found that I am so satisfied by the healthy stuff I've been eating that I am not craving the extra stuff as much.  Apparently my body is pleased to have vitamins inside it.  The best part of the whole thing is that I went into it just wanting to feel better, healthier...and after two weeks I had actually lost 3 lbs.  I know it's not much, but it still makes me happy!! Of course, after birthday week I've gained 1 back.  Whoops!!

My next healthy endeavor is....dun dun dun...flossing daily!! I'm on day three and so far my gums hate me.  I hope this gets better soon!

Goodbye

I just wanted to let you know that Mayo died last night.  We woke up this morning and she was gone.  James and I are both sad, but happy that she is finally out of pain. 

She was a good little rat.

Jealous of my Rat

Well, as most of you know Mayo's health took a dive last week and we ended up taking her to the vet.  Who knew there were vets who treated rats?? I didn't...James had to call six places to find one.  Anyway, it turns out that all the snoring she's been doing the last few months has actually been a respiratory infection.  Also...I've always thought she may have some vision problems, and now it seems quite likely that she is completely blind.  Hard to ask a rat to tell you how many fingers you're holding up though.

Anyway, on top of all this she seems to have lost most of the function in all of her legs and has an ear infection that seems to be causing her to lose her balance...which means she scoots along to get anywhere, is constantly rolling over on to her sides, and sometimes ends up sitting on her booty like a human.  This also means eating has been difficult because she can barely use her hands to hold her food.  Not that she has had much of an appetite lately, but the last couple of days when we put something in front of her face she will take a few nibbles so we think that is a good sign.  The vet put her on two antibiotics which seemed to be helping for a day or two, but now she appears to be back where she started, just without all the snoring.  At least something is getting better I suppose.  She has another appointment this afternoon so I will keep you updated.  I know you all must be very concerned.

That's a look of love right there.

 Anyway, I have been busy traveling for work lately so James has taken over the role of going to the vet, cleaning her cage every day (vet's orders), and giving Mayo her antibiotics through a tiny little syringe.  He even bought her a humidifier.  He is a doting father.  And I think he loves her more than he loves me.

"Eat some apple my little schnookie-pooh!"

"Woman, stop taking my photo and leave me and my rat child in peace!"