Tag Archives: California

How a boa constrictor ruined my Saturday

The harsh realities of pregnancy got the best of me yesterday. I have been out in California for the past few days for work, which has been going very well so far. Yesterday morning, I woke up and prepared to drive to Sacramento to live stream a basketball tournament. While getting ready, I saw a piece on the Today Show about how a family’s 12 ft. pet boa constrictor got out and slithered into the baby’s crib, suffocating it.

Now, we don’t have any pet snakes, or plan to get one for that matter, but for some reason this got to me. I continued on and when I sat down to eat breakfast, I started crying thinking about all the potential things that I could unknowingly be doing that could harm the 18 week old fetus in my belly. I got myself settled down, and set off to Sacramento thinking of things that I could easily change to help make myself and my pregnancy just a little bit better.

I made it up there nice and early and decided to head to a store called Buy Buy Baby to start some baby shopping. As I walked around looking at pacifiers, booties, crib sheets and humidifiers, I immediately felt overwhelmed. Again, what if I pick the wrong thing and it hurts or harms this small human I am growing? Suddenly I came upon the stroller/car seat section. Near one corner, with a salesman, a very well dressed woman in a fedora, with her fancy husband and adorable pregnant belly. She was asking a million and one questions: What colors does this come in? Will they deliver to our house? What sort of attachments are available for the handle? Does the car seat snap into the stroller the same way it does the car?

Literally they have 400 strollers

OMG! Why don’t I have any questions to ask? Do these things have safety ratings? Can I sit in the stroller and hyperventilate while you go get me a paper bag? I managed to escape the store holding back tears and retreated to my car only to spend the next 3o minutes blubbering like an idiot. In hind sight, it is dumb, and certainly something to laugh about. But it still proves the point that I am unprepared, and being almost half way through this pregnancy, I/we have some major catching up to do.

Obviously lack of sleep, being away from my husband and hormones got the best of me yesterday, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that I still have to pick out a stroller!?! How in the world am I supposed to do that?!? I don’t know what I need in a stroller, because I have never really used one before. Do I take my dog to the store so I can try it out? Oh lord there is a lot to think about.

One day at a time Jen. One day at a time.

Started from the bottom

Well let me just start by saying that for a running blog, this is pretty pathetic. I can’t tell you the last time I posted about running… until today of course.

I have run one 5k, one 10k, one half marathon and two full marathons so far this year. To be honest, I am not happy with that, as I would like to have run many more. My last marathon was at the end of April. It was quickly followed by my biggest work event of the year, The Preppy Awards, a move half way across America, a wedding, 7 weeks of work away from my family back in California, and the death of my grandmother. That brings us to October 15th. Since that marathon on April 27th, I have run 12 times. TWELVE! I can’t even call myself a runner with those numbers! And honestly, I feel like a disgrace.

Here’s the problem. I am scared. I am scared to run. How dumb does that sound?!? What if it hurts or I have to walk? What if someone I know sees me and thinks I run like an idiot? (BTW that wasn’t something I had to worry about in California, because I had absolutely no friends and knew no one.) I’ve been using excuses like I can’t find my fuel belt, or I just took a shower and don’t want to take another one. I have lots of work to do is always one that won’t go away.

I’ve been getting up early to do it this week, and I still haven’t convinced myself to take the plunge. Pathetic. When my grandma was still alive the last few years, she wore a brace because her hip wouldn’t stay in the socket. I always said to myself that I was running because she couldn’t. Now that she is in heaven that doesn’t apply anymore. In California I used to see hummingbirds on my run, and I knew it was my grandpas making sure I got my run done safely. I realize this is probably all hubbub, but it always made me feel better to think about. I don’t think there are any hummingbirds in Hays, so who is going to keep me safe?

Chas and I lost a friend of ours last week. We met him and his wife at Disney World, and I was fortunate enough to get to spend some time with them on subsequent trips to the World. At 37 he was diagnosed with stomach cancer and it took him within 18 months. That is barely older than we are. Jonathan was a wonderful guy, and from what I can tell, I am sure he never met an enemy. What is my point in writing about Jonathan? I am scared to run, and his wife just lost her husband. SERIOUSLY?!? I am a complete pansy.

As I sit here writing this tonight, I had the privilege of watching the Royals sweep the Orioles to make it to the World Series. They are going to win the whole thing. What to know how I know? One of Chas’ best friends, who was also only about 37 to my knowledge, died almost a year ago of Leukemia. The connection? Travis was the biggest Royals fan you have ever met, so it is only fitting that he guide them directly to the World Series and get what he always wanted. After a 29 year drought, they made it to the big show. To come full circle, if after 29 years of not making it to the World Series the Royals can do it, I can run again after a few months break.

I know that I have been writing a lot about death lately, but in times of unrest I believe we learn the most about ourselves. I’m not really a pansy, and I know that. For pete’s sake! I ran 48.6 miles over the course of 4 days at the beginning of the year. I’m going to get back out there… tomorrow.

Life begins now

dsc_8521It seems like life has finally slowed down a bit. Since summer began, so many things have happened that weren’t just little. They were life changing. Back on Memorial Day weekend, I moved halfway across the United States to my new home in Hays, Kansas. Shortly there after, my boyfriend of seven years and I got married… at a Cincinnati Reds game (Best Day of My Life, by the way). Over the course of the next two months after that, I spend about seven weeks in California for work, which basically resulted in nothing getting done. Long story, but I met some great people and it showed me how ready I was to finally be with my family.

My Grandma Elsie at 91. She smile was infectious.

Once I got back to Kansas, there wasn’t much resting going on. About two weeks later, my grandmother, Elsie Mae Glassner, died at age 93. She lived a wonderful life, and even when we knew it was close to time for her to pass, she couldn’t figure out why nobody could make her feel better. She was convinced she would live forever. She was an amazing woman and tougher than nails. My grandfather died 19 years ago, and since then, she lived through 2 knee replacements, a hip replacement, a hole in her bowels which caused her to have to get a colostomy, breast cancer, chemotherapy and a mastectomy, multiple falls and congestive heart failure. Grandma was the sweetest woman you ever met, and her smile is something I will never forget.

The best part about grandma is that my mom is a lot like her: smiles like her, and is the toughest woman I’ve ever met. To know that I have that in my blood line is something that I don’t take lightly. I am sure that my grandpa was happy to finally have her back. They loved each other very much, and they are both missed.

We finally arrived back home to Kansas last Tuesday for what seems like it could be an extended period of time. I found myself saying, “Ok, what now?” Everything has been so busy the last few month. It’s hard to finally take a breath, look around and say, “Ok. I can get back to normal.” I haven’t had time to get into a routine, but that is definitely my goal over the next few weeks. I have been shuffling my time between work work and house work. It’s actually a really tough thing to do, because my office is on Pacific Time. I like working first thing in the morning, but then I find myself working till 8-9pm because they are still in the office until then! It seems like the balance is to switch back and forth between work stuff and home stuff. If someone has a better way, I would love to hear it!

Anyway, it’s nice to finally feel like our life can begin now. There will always be things popping up that knock us out of our “normal”, but a few weeks of calm are exciting to have in front of us.

When one door closes

mapWell, here I sit on my last night in my apartment in California. On my last night alone as a single person. Wow, what a weird thing to say. My last night living alone, hopefully forever.

I have this weird urge to cry, not because I’m sad, but because I sort of have graduation goggles. You know, like when you were finishing up high school, getting ready to graduate and you completely forget that you were picked on, beat up, or ignored completely every day for four straight years. My California experience has made me a richer, more well-rounded person. The naive little Midwestern girl has now be exposed to the real world, and I have made it through to the other side.

I moved out here for a lot of reasons, and I can’t help but think it was absolutely the right decision. I am coming out of this a better employee in a job that I enjoy so much. I have found so many strengths and turn weaknesses into things of the past. I have become  a reality show producer, an event planner, a photo editor. I have been involved in so many wonderful things over the past two years with Prep2Prep. I have dedicated my life to the brand. I love this company, I just know that something great is going to happen for us.

For years now I have worked like a dog. My career has always been number one. I am so excited to finally have a reason to make work number 2. Prep2Prep is allowing me the opportunity to do what I love, what I am good at, and take care of my family at the same time. I have sacrificed two years with my puppy dogs, and now, I get to work from home and stay with them all day long.

There is a lot going on, and I still have to make it through three days of work and a 24 hour road trip halfway across the United State, but moving out of my apartment is taking one step closer to my dream. The days to come will be so special, and I can’t wait for new challenges both personally and professionally.

Keep Moving Forward…

2013: A Year of Many New Adventures

When you read the above title, you will undoubtedly know that this post is meant to sum up the amazing year I have had. Your second question may be why it was published at nearly 4 am. Well the Dopey Challenge is just around the corner, and I am up early to simulated race day activities, minus the running part. It is way to cold outside for that this early in the morning. None-the-less, I am just 8 days away from the biggest race I have ever run. I just got butterflies in my stomach typing that! It will be so much fun, and I really am looking forward to it.

With that being said, let’s do a little year in review, shall we?

January

I was fortunate enough to get to start the year with Chas and my puppies is Kansas, only for a day, but I believe you can’t start the year with someone you aren’t going to finish it with. There was quite a snow storm on New Year’s Eve, and we spent much of New Year’s Day playing with the puppies in the snow.

If Lucy misses and Milton gets the ball, it takes 10 minutes and some slobber reduction before you can start to play again.

It was only days later that I traveled to Orlando for the ‘then’ biggest race of my life, the Goofy Challenge at Walt Disney World. It was an awesome race, and I PRed by nearly 25 minutes. It was an amazing experience, and it got me excited to try something even more challenging this year.

Running down Main Street, USA during the half marathon. Nothing is more magical…

February

While I didn’t get to see my family for Christmas in 2012, I did get to spend some much needed time with them in February. My father got inducted into my high school athletic hall of fame. It was just a weekend, but to have everyone home was a great pick-me-up in the cold winter months.

Back Row: Ben, Me, Krissy, Brady. Front Row: Mom and Dad

March

I turned 30 in March, and to celebrate, I went BACK to the Happiest Place on Earth, this time with Chas, my mom and dad. We had a blast, relaxing, eating at all my favorite places, and enjoying a few quiet days.

Oddly enough, this picture would turn out to be a source of inspiration later in the year.

April

In April, I spent just about every waking minute planning for the 1st Annual Preppy Awards. This was a banquet honoring high school athletes through my job. It was a huge event… that I ended up planning in 6 weeks. Chas and I also spent a ncie weekend in Las Vegas, during a wrestling event, of course. No pictures here. I honestly don’t remember much of this month.

May

After finishing the Preppy’s in the middle of the month, I got a much needed break to spend some time back in Kansas for Memorial day with Chas and the puppies.

June

June was full of trips back and forth to Kansas. We hired on a new guy and decided to expand. I spent much of the month traveling, and at one point drove over 2,500 miles in just 2 days.

July

Wow, talk about a life-changing month. I ran a half marathon over the 4th of July, but got very sick about half way through and spend the rest of the day on the couch.  Shortly after that, Chas came for a visit, and this happened.

Perfection!

August

With school starting back up this month, work got crazy, and I went back to Kansas to start filming a reality show. I got to spend some time with the puppies while Chas was in Canada. Later in the month, we had a very nice engagement party at his parents house.

The answer to your question is no. I don’t know what is going on with my left arm.

September

With September came another race, the Disneyland Half Marathon. I PRed in the Half, but struggled toward the end of the race. My brother also moved in with me, which made for an interesting and fun rest of the year.

Getting ready to take Anaheim by storm!

October

Football season brings lots and lots of work to our office, and as the work ramped up, so did my running. It was a very successful month in many ways, but I struggled once again, but emotionally this time, as I got more and more involved in wedding planning. In fact, as I write this, October was the last month I did ANY planning for the wedding, and I am fine with that.

November

As football season wound down, basketball season ramped up! Work again was busy as always, and my running schedule met the challenge as well. I got to spend a wonderful Thanksgiving on top of Mt. Diablo with my brother, aunt and uncle. But the best part? Earlier that morning, we ran across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was one of the things on my bucket list, and I am so glad Brady and I got to do it together.

December

December has been a great month! For the first 3 weeks of the month, I worked and ran, and repeated. I spent some great time with my brother. And then, on December 19th, I flew back to Kansas with Rock and Roll (my cats) in tow. Since then, we have been a family again, snuggling, walking the dogs, and visiting my family back in Ohio for the holidays. It has been a wonderful year, and being only 8 days from the Dopey Challenge, I feel wonderful about the past year and the progress I have made with my running.

Like I always say, I never spend enough time putting my thoughts, feelings and the events of my life here in this blog, but I can always try harder over the next year. And that is exactly what I am going to do.

My brothers and sister, along with Katie, my brother’s girlfriend, and Chas, my fiance!

Have a safe and Happy 2014!

State of the Jennifer Address

I’ve been working a lot lately, and by a lot and I mean from approximately 4:30 AM to, well, the current time, which is 8:22 PM. Days have been long but productive in the world of Prep2Prep and the future of this business is very bright at this point. I’m excited to be a part of this organization and to be at the bottom working to build the company to what someday will hopefully be an empire in the world of  high school sports. But this job is definitely taking a toll on my sanity. I’m gonna have days when I completely feel like I’m losing my mind, then there are days like today. I can’t take it sometimes though. I can’t take the loneliness of the job, as I am by myself a lot of the day. I know hard work pays off. Sometimes it just takes a long time.

Someday I’ll be the Vice President of Marketing or the CMO if that’s possible position. I just want to know that people appreciate the hard work that we put in on a daily basis. There are days when it seems like no one does and days when we can’t get information up quick enough. They need the content. They appreciate all the hard work that has gone into make the stories, photos, video content, and special features great. I have amazing bosses that have given me an amazing opportunity in this position I still consider myself a kid but they treat me like an adult who has a strong mind and great creative ideas. I never thought that I would be not only taken seriously, but in a position where I have such creative control over an entity like Prep2Prep.

California’s amazing place I understand why people came looking for a better life, because I did the same. My world is definitely different on the West Coast than it was in the Midwest. I love every minute of it, but it is still extremely taxing. My job in Kansas last year was so incredibly stressful.  But this job is a different kind of stressful.

I miss a lot of things out here. My family is number one, my dog is included in that. I miss her every single day. I know she would love California, going to the beach, taking walks around the nice neighborhood I live in, and being with her mom 24/7. She’s such a sweet dog, and I hope to have her out here sometime soon. While I am able to telecommute, I’m hoping that I am only out here for approximately one more year and then can move wherever I would like, possibly back to Kansas, down to Florida, or even back to Ohio. But the best part of that is I can be anywhere and do what I love and that is work for Prep2Prep. I’m in such a great position right now and so thankful for everything that has been brought to me over the past nine months I’m so excited to continue this journey with Prep2Prep and continue to grow at what I do so well.

Keep Moving Forward…

keep_moving_forwardWelcome to January 2013! Hard to believe that 2012 has come to an end, but I am always up for a chance to reinvent myself again by setting new goals and objectives for the upcoming days. I am heading back to California today after spending the last two weeks in Kansas. I was so sad to have to leave, knowing that I am going back to my tedious days of work, running and sleep. With the ultra-marathon just 10 days away, I am trying to prepare my body for the task of running over 40 miles in a single setting. As overwhelming a task as that seems, I am so excited. After training for 6 months, early mornings, freezing temperatures, and more Clif shot blocks than a person can count, the moment that I have been waiting for. Temperatures are scheduled to be in the 60-70’s which brings up another challenge: deciding what to run in. The wrong gear seems to be the root of any problems I have running, so I will spend the next week trying to decide what feels best on the treadmill, and hoping that I will be able to fit it all into a suitcase for the trek from San Jose to Orlando.

My mom is meeting me down there, which I have mixed feelings about. This adventure is something that I know I couldn’t do without her. She takes great care of me and has great advice for any issues that may arise. But since the A-bomb got dropped in July, or should I say GAY-bomb, my relationship with my brother, and the rest of the family for that matter has not been the same. That news was not something that I was, or am, prepared to handle, and I still have very mixed feelings about it.

California has made me a must more cynical person, and I almost hate that about myself. Everything and everyone is so impersonal, which is so much different than in the Midwest where I grew up. But life there is what I consider actual reality: bad drivers, traffic jams, lots of Asians, rushed work schedules, and beautiful scenery. Haha, that’s a funny sentence. Oh well, freedom of speech, right? I miss the innocence of Kansas, the crazy weather, the flat land, and the hometown people. You never meet any farmers in San Jose, that’s for sure.

Anyway, like I listed in my last post, I have set some goals for myself this year in hopes that I expand my horizons, fill the hole that seems to be growing larger by the day, and enjoy the beautiful state that I have the wonderful opportunity to live in.

I plan to try to make it down to Disneyland at least once a month, since I have an annual pass and have only used it once so far. I also need to make it up to The City. I have been in San Jose for 6 months, and haven’t made any trips. I want to go places to run and take photos as I don’t think that I explore my surroundings enough. 1,500 miles in 2013 is my goal. I have .65 down, and 1499.35 to go…

I have a ton of travel planned this year, from Orlando to Ohio, Birmingham to hopefully Hawaii, I can’t wait to explore these locations a lot more. I am so excited for the possibilities that lay before me, and I am grateful that I have the opportunities to see and do so many things. 2013 is going to be epic! I just know it. And the best part… I am going to share it all here, with you.

How the West was Won…

So a lot has happened since the last time I wrote on this blog. I moved 1,600 miles across the country for a new job. I am now a California resident, and for the two weeks that I have been here, I have loved every minute of it. It is always fun to move someplace new. Reinventing yourself is something that I think everyone should get the chance to do. I am so grateful for this new opportunity.

Over the past year, I have worked so hard for so little money. I spent countless hours helping others, and I have truly been rewarded for my work. 80 hour work weeks plus school on top of it is just overwhelming sometimes. I have found myself again. I get to run, watch tv, and be creative in my new job. I am enjoying my life so much right now, and I am truly grateful for this wonderful opportunity.

I am hoping to post more about my training experiences from now on, so look for more to come.