Streetlamps.....

Why do some street lamps turn OFF when you walk/run by them? The whole point of the lamps is to provide lighting to us runners, walkers, passer-byers if you will, so that we can see where we are going, and so we feel just a bit safer. But last night while running on my irvine path that parallels Jeffrey Rd. the street lamps were turning OFF as I ran by them. Now granted it was only just after 8, so not too late, but I kinda got a bit freaked. Maybe you're thinking to yourself, "Well, Becky, you shouldn't run by yourself when it's dark". Yes, this I know, but let me explain last night.
I went to the gym for my training appt. which was at 7:30. My trainer and I had some miscommunication which ended in me talking sternly, and him also talking sternly in a loud volume in front of all his gigantic trainer co-workers. Needless to say I left feel lousy, upset, crying, and decided, well, I'm worked up, I should go run. So I did. I grabbed my ipod with my new ear buds, and went running. Although it was late, I passed many families walking with kids, dogs, bike riding, etc. so I felt fine. I ran down to the end of the path and turned around, noticing all those people must have called it a night, because no one was around. I kept running, pace quickening, and heard faint screaming. Then the screaming grew louder, and it was a bunch of girls screaming bloody murder. Now practically sprinting toward them, I see it is just 5 girls running around thinking its funny to scream for their lives; yes very funny. Then, the streetlamps. I swear the sensor is opposite; sense someone coming, turn off. Don't get it. My heart is racing, blood is pumping, and adrenaline going. I am running faster than I have in a long time, just to get back to the main road. I start passing the families again, and some lights manage to stay on.
Anywho, I get home safe and sound, really nothing ever to worry about. So, all in all tonight was an eventful 3.3 mile run: Got yelled at by my trainer, thought some girls were being chased by a creepy guy, and left in the dark with Irvine's amazing streetlamps. Oh, but I managed to shave 1 min 28 sec. off my mile time. Nerves?....

I miss Beth!

I know I've missed her this whole time, but it really hit me last night at the CORE meeting. There we were, seated in Justin's TV room, and we were outnumbered guys 5, girls 3. This is core history! It has been so long since the men out numbered us women, and 5 to 3!!!! We had a blast tho, making jokes, and going off on tangents (and Justin rocks, bc he lets us go off), typical core meeting style, but it has been soooo long since we have laughed so hard; it was kinda a freeing laugh. I'm a little sick, so when I laugh, i cough, and then laugh, and cough a smoker's cough, and well, I got called a horse, haha! But I wished Beth could be there. She was always fun to laugh with and joke with, and take some of the jokes, now there were only 3 girls to make fun of.
I went to Yogurtland twice this weekend, not the same without Beth. Beth and I used to go every chance we could, actually I used to drag her, but I believe she became fond of it on her own. :) Beth! the yogurtland in san diego has mini reese's pieces!!!!, of course I got those, then loaded it with shredded coconut, my fav topping, oh! and they have ANOTHER yogurtland on Irvine Blvd now, even close than the other one!!! They are popping up like starbucks!
I went to the beach with Liz last Friday, HDBD, if you will. I had a blast with Liz, she is great, one of my best buds. But, it made me miss Beth, and the times we went to the pool and beach for halfdays, even if it was too cold to swim and we wind up listening to sisters fight and argue at Holli's pool. :)
So, Beth, I miss you! I have realized that over the summer that she became a big part of my life, and is missed. I love what she is doing in Uganda (FYI - Beth went to Uganda for a year to teach children, and spread God's love), but I miss her!
But this is life, and I experienced it not a year ago. Sometimes doing the will of the Father is hard, and rips us from the life we loved, but in the end, we become a better person, molded to be the person He created us for, and that is exciting!
So I am going to continue to go to yogurtland (like i could give that up), the beach, and laugh at core meetings, and maybe just a little louder for Beth, even if I am a horse. :)

1/2 Marathon of HB

Yep, that's right; I signed up to run a 1/2 Marathon on Feb 1st 2009. This is a HUGE step for me bc I have had bad knees since I was 12 and was dragged to go to some stupid line dancing thing at Salt Brook Elementary. (No, I'm not bitter) Its actually due to the fact that I have hyperextended knees and stand with them almost bent backwards, kinda like a flamingo, but I will blame it on country music. :) 25 dislocations later, a torn meniscus, torn MCL, and 2 surgeries later I am now able to run without knee braces, something I have not done for 10 years, and its wonderful!!!!! I have always enjoyed running, I don't know why, its absolutely painful sometimes. I remember El Rod, my track coach in NJ forcing us to run the school hallways when it was snowing outside. Let's just say old school hallways + hurdles = some major shin splints. Each girl had her own tube of Bengay and I have come very fond of the smell. :) There's something about running tho, that clears my mind, and makes me feel ever so healthy. Once I start getting into a routine, I get these urges to keep going. Last night I got one of those urges to run. Even tho it was 9pm, and even tho I had only had 4.5 hours of sleep the night before (i need to sleep more), and even tho I spent my day at work, then helping Spanish families register for church, then Bible Study, the urge came, and I knew I couldn't fight it. I wound up running 5.5 with my classy headphones that I bought in Ushuaia, Argentina 6 years ago for 22 pesos (less than 8 dollars) bc my awesome pair that Continental airlines gave me officially dies yesterday. They are huge and bright yellow, need I say more? I really need to invest in a better set of headphones.
But, here lies my problem. I can run way more at night than I can in the AM. I am almost worthless in the AM. And it just so happens that all marathons are in the AM. Maybe a week before I can start changing my sleep cycle, so I sleep during the day and then when I run, it will feel like running in the PM. Hmmmm.......

Estado 29

Although I have spent the past 5 hours creating insurance invoices and modifying my excel worksheets so that my Q books will be correct, I am still living in the greatness of this past weekend otherwise known as Estado 29. I have been told that I need to get some pics up to support my stories, and once I have more computer capabilities I will for sure, bc I know this must be boring without pictures.
Estado 29, also known as an orphanage in Mexico near Ensenada that I volunteer at. This was my third time going down there. I went with three friends: Kenny, Dunkel, and Victoria, teaming up with Carlos. Normally we do a bunch of construction and play with the kids on our free time, but since this was not a Fuel trip, we were able to just enjoy time with the kids. It was a totally different experience. A lot of the older boys weren't even around due to summer time, and were in Ensenada working. I was a bit sad, bc I wanted to see Tyson, but hopefully I will see him in November.
Other older siblings had moved on, bc they were 18+ to go and live with their families in Mexico. This idea always perplexes me, that these kids do have parents and for whatever reason, they now live at an orphanage. That must be so difficult for them to live with. The weekend was filled with its normal drama of the girls fighting for attention of us all, tho Kenny is their favorite. We played basketball, cards, talked, sang, etc. I brought down 33 bottles of nail polish and for about an hour painted nails with the girls. Slowly the bottles disappeared as girls were taking them in their room. I decided that it was ok if they kept them all. Some of them invited me in their dorm room to watch a movie. (pretty hard, btw, bc all dubbed over in Spanish, but I got the jist of it)
All in all it was a great weekend, taking pictures, roasting marshmallows, and just spending time with God's precious children, hopefully letting them know just a little bit more, that they are worth it.
If you want anymore info about the orphanage, please visit http://friendsoftheorphanages.org/.

My eyes sting...........

Today is a total glasses day. My eyes refused the contacts. They sting, are red, and look like I smoked up before I came to work. I had a 3 shot latte this morning to jolt myself into work, that has officially worn off. What does this to me? Late nights. Repeated late nights. Why do I do it? I just love being around people. I love it so much that I will forgo sleep of more than 5 or 6 hours to stay up talking or hanging out with people. Maybe I'm crazy. But, I have a funny feeling I'm going to look back on these days when I'm old, and be completely happy at the way I lived my 20s. Staying up late with good company: first; work? not even a close second. :)

Is it just me?

Or is work TOTALLY boring?! AM I in the majority, when I say I can think of soooooo many things that I'd rather be doing between the hours of 8:30-6:30 besides work! Is this normal? I know there are people that say they love their jobs, so am I just the weird one? Is it just me that will never find a satisfying job? or is it the jobs that I keep picking? Anyone who says they find a job in accounting to be satisfying is either lying, or i dont know what, bc I officially can find no joy in what I am doing. So what do I want to do? I don't know. The thought of having to work at a desk sounds wretched. Is my degree a waste? My license? I am actually a bit shocked at how quickly I get bored. People ask what I like to do, and I say, helping people. So if there was a job, where I could walk around and help people, a new person, family, etc everyday, I think I would be in Heaven. Even if said job existed, could it support me? Probably not. So I am stuck doing the work I loathe bc I am good at it. But that can really only get me so far. Then what? More schooling? For what? I don't even know what is next! ah! Dios ayudame!