Sorry for the serious update ...

So being back in Biloxi = weird. People drive way slower than I remembered. It takes me an eternity to get ANY errands done. In many ways, Southern folks are kinder; yet the very day Danny picked up his BRAND NEW CAR, we caught some lady SLAMMING AND SLAMMING her car door into ours trying to get out. Really?!? Needless to say, he was not happy.

I have realized--to some extent--the things I took for granted. Friends I didn't realize I had, yet am grateful that I do. It's a lesson that--when life gives you crap, it's easy to think that it's crap--but there is good everywhere and we've always been lucky to stumble across a small handful of great people.

I hope to know soon where we are headed. Biloxi is a tough place for many (quite justified) reasons. We are hoping to be in Phoenix soon, but we'll see what the cards have in store.

In the meantime, at least I have a closet filled with my things (or Danny's) and not a random assortment of stuff as if I feel like I'm squatting. Nothing negative toward my previous residence for six months. There's just something to be said about having a place that is yours. As hard as it is for me to fathom--I'm in my mid-20s and Dan will be 30 this year. We are past the point of camping on couches and thrive much better in our own environment.

And yet, still, life is complicated. With nothing but smiles, I ask "Who knows what lies ahead?" After a brief carbon monoxide alarm scare today, my mom asked, "What do think things will be like when you reach NORMAL?" She continues by adding, "I hope when that time comes 'normal' is satisfying." Of course, I'm paraphrasing, but it's true. The last few years have been a whirlwind of madness. We've NEVER had normalcy and perhaps, when we reach that, it will be anti-climatic and dull. Perhaps I'll be left wishing for more...more of something.

For now, we're just trucking along, doing what we can with what we have.

And, heck, I got Danny to eat a portobello mushroom burger tonight! Definite progress :) Until next time...eat, run and love, my friends.

Second to last night...

Well ladies and gents...or for my ghosts reading this because Lord knows I'm just writing to myself right now (and, actually, there's a peace in that). Tomorrow/Today = July 5th --> one day before I leave Phoenix and head back to Biloxi for a whirlwind of trials. Drama aside (c'mon, we all have some--mine's nothing special), there are so many decisions to be made. I'd love to put it to a jury, but that would be a pretty lazy way out. No. I must make this decision on my own. Scary.

I am committed to looking at the positive. I have had a wonderful 6 months in Phoenix. I've had a great time with my brothers, my extended family. I've met new friends in places so unexpected. Some of my new friends have no idea how much of an impact they have had! They are so sweet and wonderful--I am blessed to be in their company! I have a renewed vigor in my music. I have a renewed hope in humanity (I've realized some people are super sweet!). Without knowing where my future leads, I hope that it guides me "home". Somewhere where people are friendly, the food is good, and the sights are beautiful. It takes little to please me, yet I know rough times lay ahead. We will surmount them. I'm far too stubborn to succumb to all of this! '

Que sera, sera...and in the meantime, let's watch the World Cup with upmost enthusiasm!

First day of July ... only six months 'til summer is over.

It's only been a few days since I started this blog and I'm already finding myself void of blog-worthy thoughts. Perhaps it's because I've been supremely unmotivated to do much of anything these last couple of weeks. The worst of the Phoenix summer season is coming into full swing.

It always seems too hot to run but I'm trying to get off my butt as much as I can so I don't fall so far behind in my marathon training. For those who don't know, I'm hoping to run the Flagstaff Marathon September 25th (if I'm in Phoenix) but the big kahuna is the San Francisco Women's Marathon on October 17th.

I get to run here:

To get this (yes, my first Tiffany!):
Nope, not a ubiquitous glorified chain link dog tag...it's a bit more dainty and certainly will have taken a bit more work to earn.

As I'm plunking along, there are a few things which I'm currently loving more than running in Phoenix when it's 90-110 degrees (yes, I fail at getting up in the morning, so I've relegated myself to this):


(Falafel and tzatziki)

Well, that's all I've got for today. I'm a glutton for punishment because I'm headed here:

...for an awesome Ashtanga class (athletic yoga in heated room--not Bikram at least) taught by this lovely lady: